The tranquil seas of the last few days have held finned fury as tuna from schoolie to giant continue to make this a fall to remember. Ironically, one of the best bluefin baits, whiting (or silver hake), have made a close-to-shore comeback not seen since the 1980s!
Massachusetts South Shore/Westport Fishing Report
About the only thing tautog have in common with winter flounder is that both species have the word black in their pseudonyms: blackfish and blackbacks. They do share one other common denominator in that they offer the best choice for consistent fast and furious action in their respective seasons. While aboard my friend Captain Jason Colby’s Little Sister, I made that comment more than once to fellow anglers from May through the end of July in Boston Harbor. While bailing blackbacks, it was obvious that this was the best Boston had to offer. Now the same could be said for tautog in the Westport side of Buzzards Bay. Drop a jig/crab or rig/crab onto a wreck or rockpile and get ready for a crab-crunching rumble.
Pete from Belsan’s in Scituate said that some schoolie striper blitzes have given the gift of a November bass – hardly an accomplishment to knock. Bob Pronk from Green Harbor in Marshfield told me of a far different school-size fish, one which will take you to school if you’re unprepared – tuna! The bluefin bite continues. In fact on Wednesday when we spoke, a charter captain had just left who tallied 7 fish the day before! From footballs to giants, they are running the gamut with latest hot spot the Southeast edge of Stellwagen Bank.
Greater Boston Fishing Report
Winters are tough enough in New England without something to fish for, and for many, the whiting or silver hake, along with the smelt, tommycod and cod, were the lifeline during the offseason. From what I recall, it’s been about 30 years since the word whiting was whispered among those looking to catch into the winter. But it’s beginning to look as if these silver, toothy members of the cod family have made a bit of a harbor renaissance. The area around the Reserve Channel appears to be loaded with these 10” to 14” fish, which make for fun and fine eating. One experienced angler said he could have caught “bucketfulls.” Like most kin of the cod, keep your bait – squid, clams, seaworms – close to the bottom. Some have been caught off the Summer Street Bridge along with smelt, and with a little poking around for access near the Reserve Channel you should be able to find other winning places for whiting. The Harborwalk is a ribbon of access to much of the harbor shoreline and you probably can find stretches along this public path where you can wet a line for whiting. I would also consider Piers Park on the other side of the harbor in East Boston. State cod regulations are such that anglers can only keep up to 2 fish per day (75-pound boat limit) at a minimum of 19 inches, but it is usually about now that cod appear throughout President Roads so it could be worth your while to give it a try. Shore locations worth a go are off Deer Island, Castle Island and Nut Island.
Massachusetts North Shore Fishing Report
They’re also catching some whiting on the North Shore and from shore! Tomo from Tomo’s Tackle in Salem said that anglers baiting with squid, clams and seaworms are picking up a few whiting off Salem Willows Pier. Keep your offering higher in the water column and you may pick up a few mackerel. Mackerel are also being bested off the Beverly Pier. You can catch smelt in Salem as long as seaworms or silversides strips are your bait. Smelt sharpies are catching the silversides first on small Sabiki rigs and then putting strips on an Aberdeen hook and catching smelt. Tomo was given a bag of about two dozen with some 10” beauties! Having been in the bluefin business for decades, Johnny White of the Fisherman’s Outfitter in Gloucester is the last person I expect to hear talk about foot-long fish but even he had good things to say about silver hake. Anglers are catching them off the State Pier in Gloucester! And for something more typical, he also commented that the tuna bite at Southern Jeffreys Ledge and by the Double LLs on Stellwagen Bank is fantastic for tuna of all sizes!
Massachusetts Freshwater Fishing Report
Pete from Belsan’s in Scituate said that the shop is sending customers topped off with shiners to Long and Little Ponds in Plymouth and they are catching beautiful rainbow trout! Jim from JCB Bait in Cheshire said that cooling waters should turn on the toothies which prowl among Cheshire Reservoir, Lake Onota and Lake Buel. It’s easy to forget that those guys had ice for Thanksgiving last year and didn’t quit to well into April. If there ever was a case of hardwater burnout they had it! Consequently hardly anyone fished for pike during the open season so the fish have felt little pressure! Eddie of B&A in West Boylston is seeing either in the flesh or in photos a dizzying array of bragging size rainbows and salmon which anglers are taking among the Quinapoxet and Stillwater Rivers. It’s not all that different, albeit in a smaller scale, from the storied fisheries out west or in Lake Ontario with big, colorful rainbows and the occasional brown trout tailing spawning salmon and feeding on the eggs. Obviously matching the hatch is your best bet and if you swing in B&A you’ll be in lucky since he’s providing spawn sacks to his customers! Get yours quickly before he sells out!
Fishing Forecast
Tuna show no sign of letting up their torrid pace! Troll a squid bar at first light at the Southeast edge or Southwest Corner of Stellwagen Bank. A whiting suspended under a balloon is another best bet. Whiting have also made an appearance inshore in good numbers and have been swarming wharves along the Reserve Channel in Boston Harbor. Salem has been super for smelt and the mackerel mob occasionally moves into Salem Willows and Beverly Pier. The Gloucester State Pier is a good choice to hook whiting on the North Shore. Grab a bucket of shiners and try your luck at Little or Long ponds in Plymouth for rainbows. For some of the most beautiful bows in the Bay State and maybe a salmon or two bounce a crawler or salmon egg-sack among the Stillwater or Quinapoxet Rivers.