The calendar and temperatures may say August, but there has been an uptick in striper action, which is almost reminiscent of the fall. The mackerel mob has moved inshore and is the key to much of the catching. Larger macks can be found offshore and are proving very appealing to Charlie.
New Hampshire Fishing Report
Live and free-lined mackerel drifting along the Piscataqua River has been productive, as has searching along coastal “fingers”. There has been a resurgence of the offshore Isles of Shoals big bass bite with open water blitzes tipping off the bedlam. Mackerel remain abundant along the coastal ledges and the Isles. Ironically, should you find mackerel on the surface that are reluctant to feed, then odds are pretty good you’ve found the bass or maybe even bluefin. Jeffrey’s Ledge has been the venue for pollock and haddock, with sharks less of a factor than before.
Captain Andy from Adventure and Catch Charters said that pollock and tuna are the big stories. While his boat remains on the mend, the skipper has been a guest on a buddy’s boat. Provided that you don’t mind wading through dogfish, you will find haddock on Jeffrey’s Ledge. There are also good-sized pollock, which are becoming plentiful. Tuna can be found throughout Scantum, South and North Jeffrey’s, and even at the Isles of Shoals, as well as up and down the coast. Charlie is chewing anything and everything from haddock to herring to mackerel. Regarding mackerel, they are an easy find by the 2KR Can, and if you’d prefer stripers, take a livewell full over to the Isles of Shoals where there are bass.
Southern and Coastal Maine Fishing Report
Stripers are on the move all along the coast as they seem to have increased their feeding rate. Hot spots to consider are Kennebunk, Pine Point and Freeport. Anglers are catching on the Albie Snax XL, Al Gag’s Whip-it-Fish and GT Eels. As for bait, mackerel have been an easy score with many anglers using them for bait. Pogies have been encountered just north of Saco with big bass shadowing the schools. As for groundfish, if Jeffrey’s or Platt’s is too far to reach, consider Tantas, which is much closer yet still giving up a few haddock and pollock.
From Captain Lou, of Diamond Pass Outfitters, came word that most of the fish in Maine seem to be hanging off the beaches, and it has turned into a combat-style fishery. Lots of boats in small pods jockeying for the same school has been the rule. The fish off the beaches are feeding on sand eels, so matching that has been pretty successful. If you’d rather skip out on all the casting, then live lining mackerel has been the go-to. If you want to avoid the crowds, you can venture outside and look for the roving schools of bass. These fish are happy to eat almost anything you throw to them, so dealers choice. The Diamond Pass Charters crew and friends have been chucking soft plastics, Docs, and swim baits, and all have been working. The inside tuna game has quieted down a bit with only sporadic sightings and attempts. The Casco Bay area had one school of bluefish move in for a day and set up on the Hue and Cry Ledge. Anglers are all too willing to welcome them back.
New Hampshire And Southern Maine Fishing Forecast
Mackerel caught up by the 2KR Can and drifted among the current of the Piscataqua River are accounting for steady striper action. However, with the reappearance of a big bass bite near the Isles of Shoals, you may be better served going on a boat ride. Farther up the coast, soft plastics such as Albie Snax are accounting for striper action off Wells, Saco, Pine Point and Kennebunk and other area beaches. Mack striper snacks are always a solid alternative. Offshore, some haddock can be found off Tantas, while the better bet is Jeffrey’s Ledge, but beware there are tuna as interested in your groundfish as you are!