Cool and windy weather may have slowed down the migration but full moon tides this week turned up some very big bass from Raritan Bay to the Cape Cod Canal. Warm, stable weather should get more big bass moving into inshore waters this week.
NEW JERSEY
As water temperatures return to normal, large stripers are returning the the inshore waters of Northern New Jersey. Fish larger than 40 pounds were caught by boat fishermen this week as the bass resumed feeding on the large schools of bunker off Ocean and Monmouth counties.
NEW YORK
Large stripers have spread throughout the South Shore and Long Island Sound. Fish to nearly 50 pounds have been landed in the Montauk surf in the past week. On the Long Island Sound side, large bass are shadowing bunker schools. Live and chunked bunker are the best bets for hooking a 20-pound or larger bass.
CONNECTICUT
Big bass to 40-plus pounds have entered the western portion of Long Island Sound and are feeding on bunker. Bass over 20 pounds have been reported in many locations including the lower Connecticut River.
RHODE ISLAND
More bass over 30 pounds were reported this week in upper Narragansett Bay, where they are chasing schools of bunker (menhaden). Good numbers of small keepers in the 30-inch range and some 20-pound fish have been reported from the ocean front.
MASSACHUSETTS
The Cape Cod Canal gave up several fish over 40 pounds this week, and stripers to 30-plus pounds have been reported off the South Shore and just outside Boston Harbor. Stripers to 40 inches have been reported around Cape Ann and from Ipswich to the mouth of the Merrimack.
NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MAINE
Fish over 30 inches have arrived on the New Hampshire Seacoast and in Southern Maine.
The biggest bass that I’ve caught this season was 40 inches, 25 lbs. It was caught in the Cape Cod Canal.
Im curious as to why the Maine temps are listed at 42. Outside of Casco Bay the temps have been very similar to outside Boston harbor. The fishing has been great with solid numbers of fish moving into the rivers and beginning to spread throughout the bays. Most fish have been 22-26″ with some larger 30″+ fish mixed in.
I’ve been to the canal 4 times this year..Skunked all four…When is the best time to hit the canal? I feel its all or nothing with this place.
Too early man…
Join the club bro! The canal is hit or miss in my experience, don’t rely on reports just go when you can and you might get lucky. Just be sure to pay attention to the tides and what bait is kicking around.
West end at high tide is always productive