New Hampshire and Maine Fishing Report 6-26-2014

Drag-pulling, chunk-gulping, 30- to 40-inch striped bass are swarming from the Piscataqua River through the Webhanet River. For those who are found of flatfish, there are blackbacks at Perkins Cove and halibut out at Jeffrey’s big enough to smoke your reel if you’re not careful. Bluefish have found the mackerel schools off Boone Island and another sort of toothy altogether has been taking a bite out of kayak paddles in the Belgrade Lakes.

New Hampshire Fishing Report

Chad from Dover Marine emphasized the sweet in “sweetwater” when we spoke since the largemouth bass fishing has been excellent. Swains Lake as well as Union Meadows Pond have been good for those tossing slop frog baits, especially the “hybrid” Zoom Horny Toad. Patrons of the shop are catching their most striped bass off the coastline as opposed to the bay or rivers. Odiorne State Park through the Seabrook Shoreline has been consistent for chunkers. Some are using a Sabiki rig to jig up macks and liveline them to awaiting striped bass at the mouth of the Hampton River. There continue to be halibut encounters from Jeffrey’s Ledge, especially New Scantum. A Dover customer reported a 45 minute war of attrition that eventually led to a bust off. Live or freshly dead mackerel matters when targeting the king of flatfishes. For more totalitarian fare, while you have to cull through the dogfish, the haddock haul has been making it worthwhile when combined with pollock, cusk and redfish according to Chad. While hardly world-class cod fishing, some are reporting a spike in catches.

Tim from Suds ‘N Soda was in the middle of a tryst with a toothy pike at one of the Belgrade Lakes when we spoke. That fish, one of many, fell for a Daddy Mac whisperer fished along deeper edges of weedlines. The fish are in a summer pattern now so Tim suggests you look for the edges of old river banks as a starting point. There are obviously far bigger pike than that eleven pounder he landed as evident by the tooth marks one left on his paddle. Tim figured that he and his Old Town Kayak were the top “Predator” in the lake until an aggressive northern chomped down on his paddle; he’s probably thinking twice before dangling the toes overboard. Closer to the coast the Piscataqua River has been productive for both bass and even squid. The question now is whether or not black sea bass have followed their favorite prey? Tim suggests that you look for most any lit bridge or pier at night for some potential calamari. Little Bay has been good also for stripers up to and over 40” long. Mackerel have moved into the river and seem to be most common in the lower half of the Piscataqua. Flounder can still be found in the Hampton and Rye Harbors.

Southern Maine Fishing Report

For surprising catches, Brandy from Webhanet Bait & Tackle is the uncontested winner this week. A 61-pound halibut was taken from Jeffreys Ledge on what she suspects was clam. And for much smaller flatfish, Perkins Cove has been productive for winter flounder. Flounder are a fish you seldom here caught in Maine.  And there even was an estimated 15” tautog taken from the shop’s dock. On the heels of tog taken last year just maybe these fish are taking up residence in southern Maine. Tube and worm anglers are scoring stripers in the York, Webhanet and Piscataqua Rivers. A kayak angler took a 41” fish with a tube and worm here as well. A lot of mackerel have arrived by Boone Island, the “Bell” and outside of Bib Brook. Some stripers are with the mackerel making for convenient catching. Surfcasters have been enjoying steady action with topwater lures off Moody Beach.

Ben from Saco Bay said that some blues tore through the area scattering the mackerel and making them harder to find. Now I know where that blip of blues that was around in Boston last week went. Striped bass catching is in full swing off Camp Ellis as well as Pine Point. Worms and chunk mackerel are standard issue for the cast and spike-it crowd. However, the lure casters are scoring with SP Minnows. Those who are groundfishing are having a tough go of it as Jeffreys Ledge teems with sub-legal haddock and not much cod.

Fishing Forecast

Make striper magic in the Piscataqua River with a live mackerel for bait. The tube and worm trolled along the Webhanet and York Rivers has been hot for boater and kayak alike. A toothy presence has scattered the mackerel schools off Saco Bay and another toothy presence is making putting paddles (and digits) in peril at the Belgrade Lakes Region.