While beaches continue to be a best bet for bass, the buffet of bait in rivers should not go ignored for long. Mackerel are still a reliable catch and an equally reliable bait. Inshore structure is giving up cod, with many taking a farther trip offshore to add variety to the cooler.
New Hampshire Fishing Report
Captain Andy of Adventure and Catch Charters said that he’s been into a “nice, big, beautiful pollock” bite! The action has been best on high spots throughout Jeffrey’s Ledge as the pollock are usually prowling just below bait schools a few feet above the bottom. Cod can be found in 205’ of water along with a few haddock and cusk. The skipper gave a special shout-out for Pigeon Hill and the Curl for the full gamut of gadoids. Finding mackerel has been no problem from Rye all the way through Wells. Some anglers are finding the bass with the bait, but to hedge your bets, check out the Piscataqua River, especially by marinas where slot-size and up stripers are sniffing around for squid and herring fry. Another option is trolling mackerel along area beaches such as Salisbury, Wallis Sands and Rye.
Of course, there is always the sweetwater option, as big lakers in big water such as Winnipesaukee are hounding smelt schools which are coming closer to the shoreline.
Southern and Coastal Maine Fishing Report
According to Captain Lou from Diamond Pass Outfitters, when seas settle, they are finding fish out front off area beaches, with most fish found between Fortune’s Rocks and Scarborough Marsh. The fish are nomadic, with anglers doing the most searching doing the most catching. Rivers have filled up with bait, making for good prospects for a sustained fall run. Night fighters in estuaries tossing eels or eel-imitators are most consistently catching bigger bass. As for cod, that cherished keeper – 23” minimum – has been easy to find among inshore humps/ledge. Offshore structure from Tantas to Platts has cod along with the added bonus of haddock and pollock. Ron Zs as well as Shimano Flat Fall jigs are catching those cod up!
New Hampshire And Southern Maine Fishing Forecast
Try jigging up a trip’s worth of mackerel by the 2KR or 2MR Can, and bump troll those macks over marked fish off beaches such as Wallis Sands or Rye. Elsewhere, the Piscataqua River holds herring fry and squid, making those striper snacks too tempting for bass to pass up. Nights along with tossing eels among Maine estuaries and marshes are accounting for some of the bigger stripers in northern New England. Cod are in close proximity to the shore and can be caught with clams and artificial offerings. While things are still salty, freshwater options are starting to become increasingly appealing, with big lakers in Winnipesaukee among the better options.