All signs are pointing in the same direction – the run has begun! On all fronts, striped bass are bringing on the fun with inshore and offshore options aplenty. Deep water options remain mainly a pollock-fest with an occasional haddock or other gadoid adding variety to the catch.
New Hampshire Fishing Report
According to Captain Bob Weathersby of Seacoast NH Sportfishing striper action has finally picked up after the post-Erin smackdown. The dreaded and invasive brown weed is clearing up, but even so, steer clear of leeward shores. Mackerel remain in all the familiar spots and, while good bait, don’t measure up to squid, which some have likened to cow crack! The Piscataqua still runs hot, but so does out front now with ledges off beaches producing good bass. Without a doubt, it’s looking as if the run is on. While much of the offshore effort is focused on the one-bag-limit cod, there are still plenty of pollock, cusk, and dwindling haddock. As for tuna, Jeffrey’s remains the land of the giants with most fish 100” plus!
While working on his ride, Captain Andy of Adventure and Catch Charters continues to see stripers by Cape Ann Marina, crashing squid, and small fish. Sharpies in the area are taking advantage of all those loligos by live-lining them for stripers with some fish surpassing 40”. The captain and crew continue to pound pollock with 160-170’ in the strike zone at The Prong. Platt’s has also been productive with cod generally foraging deeper than the pollock.
Coastal Maine Fishing Report
According to Ben from Webhannet Bait and Tackle/Boatyard, for many, mackerel remain the key to catching stripers, with bait acquisition easy. Wells Harbor has been holding slots busily slurping up sand eels. Come nighttime, anglers packing eels and soft plastic imitators are catching some of the biggest bass around. Zach from Saco Bay Tackle told me that herring fry dumping down from upstream of the Saco River are attracting impressive surface feeds, with most fish consisting of schoolies and slots. Drop a sabiki rig near Wood Island, and most likely it won’t take long to catch enough mackerel for a tide. You can put those macks to good use off Biddeford Pool, Camp Ellis, and Pine Point. As for groundfish, keeper cod have been found off Tantas Ledge.
Captain Lou of Diamond Pass Outfitters said that, finally, striped bass fishing has settled into a predictable pattern. What’s also predictable is that striped bass are in the midst of the fall run! Stripers are schooling in a number of areas now. Fish have returned to the rivers and are feeding on the young river herring that are dropping down. Small hollow flies, Albie Snax, and Jumpin minnows are producing. The Presumpscot, Saco, and Royal are all examples of this. Out front, the fish are still feeding heavily on sand eels with the bite best at night and at first light. Once the sun comes up, the fish go deep, and your best bet is to drop live mackerel down on top of them. At night, GT Eels, live eels, and Mega Shads are producing best. During the day, Albie Snax XLs, Doc’s, and pencils have been most effective. On the fly side of things, dragon tails, and hollow flies in the 4-6” range have been getting it done, as have deep Clousers and jiggies. As for beaches, Scarborough through Kennebunk have been among the best. A strong signal that the run is on is the appearance of big bass a mile offshore feeding on mackerel and pogies.
New Hampshire And Southern Maine Fishing Forecast
The first stage of the fall run has begun with herring fry, the fuel for impressive river feeds. The Piscataqua, Saco, and Presumpscott are examples of the more productive rivers. Beaches are also solid options with chunk or live mackerel proving too much for most bass to pass up. What could be another sign that the migration is on is the appearance of big bass just offshore. Should you encounter them, a mackerel dripped in front of their maws should prove too enticing for them to pass up.