The speed at which striped bass are moving leaves little wonder why September is referred to as the fall run. In addition to open water action, rivers are also producing, making for a very even playing field. Tuna are on a tear, with the ubiquitous squid making for ideal and convenient bait.
New Hampshire Fishing Report
Captain Andy of Adventure and Catch Charters said that his successful striper charters are coming in two ways – drifting live mackerel or mackerel strips throughout the Piscataqua River or fishing among ledge off area beaches. Macks are conveniently located by the 2KR Can as well as Hampton Shoals Ledge. Ledgy drop-offs off Rye and Wells have also been giving up bass. Boone Island has been another best bet for deepwater bass. Squid continue to be one of the dominant storylines this year, with many corker 18” specimens available, which make for awesome tuna bait. The issue is when attempting to use mackerel for bait in deep water, where they are invariably set upon by squid and quickly torn to pieces. The big offshore news is big pollock, which can be found on top of both southern and northern Jeffrey’s Ledge.
Southern and Coastal Maine Fishing Report
According to Ben from Webhannet Bait and Tackle/Boatyard, Parsons Beach went off as surfcasters have been getting in on the action, with sandworms accounting for a lot of fish. Saco Bay as well as the Webhannet River have also been productive for the tube-and-worm. Cod can be found as close as Three Tree Island, with haddock also figuring in the catch. Some are jigging up mackerel, chunking them up and finding that they make excellent bait for the full gamut of gadoids.
Captain Lou of Diamond Pass Outfitters said that Downeast rivers are loaded with bait, leaving stripers to make occasional sorties inside to take advantage of all the forage. Bass are moving with purpose now off area beaches with rocky points, outcroppings, and upwellings holding the most fish. In open water, anglers are marking mackerel under siege by striped bass. While the real deal is working, so are old-school Gibbs Deep Diving Danny plugs. Those plugs may not look like much, but they are an unheralded cow crusher when the fish are hunkering down in deep water waiting to ambush bait. If all else fails, Lou suggests that anglers keep on the move and let birds tip you off to where the blitzes are.
New Hampshire And Southern Maine Fishing Forecast
Rivers such as the Piscataqua and Saco Rivers have no shortage of bait and bass with mackerel and the tube-and-worm effective offerings. Mackerel can be jigged up off inshore ledges, and along with deep-diving metal lips, are deadly when trolling over marked fish in open water. Surf fishers should try soaking sandworms off Parson’s Beach. Offshore beckons for those interested in pollock or tuna, with the omnipresent squid making for the perfect bait.