Striped bass have now pushed well into Maine, reawakening an obsession for many, which will not end until the fall. Rivers and estuaries are running hot thanks to alewives, but a few who are going it alone are encountering the occasional bass from the beach. Groundfishing remains good, especially for those who enjoy a splash of red in their cooler.
New Hampshire Fishing Report
My friend Bob informed me that slot stripers and larger are cruising just off the coast of New Hampshire and beginning to hook into Great Bay after the alewives. First light among the herring run rivers, such as the Oyster and Lamprey, will improve your chances of hooking up, as will an incoming tide. Ideally, anglers want to find an upstream ledge that stops the herring in their tracks, making them easy prey for striped bass. A swimmer, spook, or paddle tail dropped at the edge of that structure should catch them up, especially at dark.
Haddock fishing is hit or miss, with fish concentrated, on the large side, yet fussy when found. Clams are working best with Platt’s Ledge and Southern Jeffrey’s two standouts. Redfish are not so challenging as they are willing and seem to be swarming among most offshore ledges. Porbeagle sharks are not a factor yet, but with burgeoning numbers, these coldwater sharks should eventually find the groundfish and hopefully not those on your line. While not a factor yet, encouraging reports of bluefin in the canyons now bode well for the future.
Southern and Coastal Maine Fishing Report
Ben from Webhannet Bait and Tackle/Boatyard told me that striped bass have just recently arrived and are particularly numerous in rivers that hold herring. Two rivers that have been fishing well are the Saco and Mousam Rivers. A few anglers fishing bait off area beaches have been catching mainly slot and up stripers. The tube-and-worm has been catching a few as well in the Webhannet River, and working cormorants are a sign that when more bass move in they’ll find forage. Mackerel acquisition is still slow, with offshore producing more than in close. Groundfishing for cusk, haddock, and redfish has been good, with some fish even cooperating closer at such spots as Tantas Ledge.
Timing was good to catch up with my friend Captain Lou Tirado of Diamond Pass Outfitters, as bass just this week arrived in Maine! He said that it was as if a switch was flipped from 32 degrees one day to 24-32” stripers swarming marshes and rivers the next. When water temps are chilly, bait – clams and sandworms – is best, but those sticking with soft plastics, jigs, and flies are eking out a few fish. As to the all-important “where” – check out the marshes near Scarborough, Kennebunk, Parsons, Saco, and Presumpscott.
New Hampshire And Southern Maine Fishing Forecast
It’s time to ditch the lethargy and reignite the linesider love. Alewife runs will be our best bet for bass, with Great Bay tributaries fishing well, as are Maine rivers such as the Saco and Mouaam Rivers. With water temperatures still below a striper’s comfort zone, you can’t beat fresh bait, but artificial aficionados who are dogged are catching with lures/flies in the marshes of Scarborough as well as Kennebunk and the Presumpscott. Groundfish trips have been lights out for redfish, while haddock tend to be concentrated, but once found, are of good size. Clams have been the best bait so far.