The favorable east winds have blown in a better bass bite and along with a bump in bait anglers are very happy. There has even been flounder fun while offshore remains a game of right place, right time.
New Hampshire
By the time last weekend rolled around water temperatures had crested to uncomfortably warm temperatures resulting in lethargic striped bass. You can expect a difference the next time you are out as the east wind has ushered in water temperatures more in line with the striped bass sweet spot. With cocktail bluefish – 18-21” – making an appearance as far north as the North Shore of Massachusetts don’t be surprised if you encounter something with – chomp! Bring along a few snag trebles with you as well as the thick schools of pogies which have been offshore could very well be an inshore factor as well. Mackerel should be readily available from the mouth of the Piscataqua River out to the Isles of Shoals. Consider drifting with those macks along the Piscataqua River or throughout Hampton Harbor or Wentworth Harbor on an incoming tide as it should pull in cooler water temperatures which may ignite the bite. When the surf is kicked up along beaches such as Wallis Sands or Rye, clams make for excellent bait since stripers will grovel along the bottom looking for a mollusk meal. Jeffrey’s Ledge has been consistent for cusk with haddock hunters having to search to find them.
Southern and Coastal Maine
From Ben of Webhannet Bait and Tackle came word that the east wind has picked up striper fishing with Moody Beach, Parsons Beach, York Beach and Biddeford Beach all productive. The bass bite in Wells Harbor has been hot as well with a number of big fish caught there last week. The shop is sponsoring research at UMaine by donating striped bass carcasses of fish harvested. Flounder have been taken in the York River by Wiggly Bridge. As for bait mackerel are plentiful, squid are available and pogies have pushed in from offshore and can be found off Biddeford and Cape Porpoise.
Captain Lou Tirado of Diamond Pass Outfitters found the east wind an asset as it improved the striper bite. He found a good bite along the ocean front of bass on squid as they were hitting in 40-60 feet of water off the beaches. Z-Man StreakZ XL’s in pearl white were the ticket. There are some signs that the bass are back to their sand eel diet. The crew connected with them on Joe Baggs paddletails and Albie Snax XLs in olive. Action has slipped a bit with some opining that the period between major moon tides are to blame. What is not to blame is bait: sand eels, squid, mackerel and now pogies squarely check that box off!
Fishing Forecast
Angling success is often linked to finding the trifecta of bait, ideal water temperatures and matching the forage. Seek out mid-60 degree temperatures for stripers with a larger feeding window. Pogies are now in play with glide baits working well in such schools as are live bait. Squid are also a factor with some finding that bucktail jigs work well. Sand eels are swarming along sandy beaches with Slug-Go type lures killing it. As for mackerel, in addition to the real thing a finish swimmer such as Crystal Minnows and SP Minnows are effective. As for locations, Moody Beach, Parson’s Beach, Higgins Beach and Biddeford Pool have been productive.