It might be a case of Boston’s loss is New Hampshire’s gain! Many in “The Hub” are wondering where all the mid-20” stripers had gone. After a recent account from an arm-weary friend, I think I know, they’re now in the Granite State! Squid numbers have surged also and if you haven’t given the groundfishing in the GOM much thought there’s reasons to reconsider!
New Hampshire Fishing Report
Roland from Suds ‘N Soda said that the striper fishing has become child’s play. Whether it’s Little Bay or Little Harbor, surface feeds feel as if they are the norm throughout the Piscatagua River watershed. All manner of lures will work on these mid-20” fish but patrons of the shop are doing especially well with junior Daddy Mac Vipers and DM Minnows. For a chance at a bigger bass, drop a live mackerel below the mayhem. Mackerel are also the ticket throughout Seabrook, Hampton, Rye and Wentworth Harbors. The night crew is doing well with chunk mackerel off the beaches from dusk to dawn as well as at Hiltons Park. Eels have been effective at night while focusing around the shadow edge of the Route 95 Bridge as well as the General Sullivan Bridge. There is no shortage of squid, with some 2’ long, from the bridges of Newcastle, Kittery Point as well as the Navy Yard. With the surge in squid have come increased reports of black sea bass.
It sounds as if Tim from Tim Moore Outdoors barely had enough energy to send me his fish-filled report. The striper fishing in Little Bay and the Piscatagua River has been nothing short of phenomenal. And best of all it’s mostly on the surface! A recent outing had fish on top and still up at noontime when Tim left exhausted. The 5” smelt Daddy Mac Viper was crushing them. Tim suggests having a backup plan just in case the fish don’t flash on the surface. He has been vertically jigging effectively structure in 15-25’ of water. If you’re in a kayak without sonar, look for rips which are indicators about the most important ingredients: moving water and “interesting” bottom. Tim suggests the Daddy Mac Elite Series in sand eel green. Crippled herrings and Shimano Butterfly jigs and Lucanus’ will work as well. The latter has the added advantage of being a black sea bass magnet.
Southern Maine Fishing Report
Peter from Saco Bay told me that rising water temperatures have had an inverse effect on fishing in the rivers causing them to cool down. Odds are good, however, if you put in the time at night you’ll find that those same rivers come alive, especially if an eel are at the business end of your line. Popham Beach State Park remains productive as has Biddeford Pool, Old Orchard Beach and York Beach. Blues have arrived making short work of live mackerel just outside of the Saco Bay Islands. Kayaks trolling tubes by the Camp Ellis Jetty are having a pretty good pick of stripers.
Brandy from Webhannet said that seldom does a day go by when tourists don’t comes into the shop telling tales of big stripers lurking under the bridges of local rivers swirling on sand eels. They’re being spotted at the Mousam River, Parsons, Webhannet River as well as the Ogunquit River. These fish are being spotted at the lower stages of the tide. Fish up to 47” have been caught at the mouth of the Mousam River at night on eels. Moody Beach and Parsons Beach have been productive for chunkers casting at the top of the tide. Sliced and diced mackerel off Saco Bay are a sure indicator of a yellow-eyed presence. The groundfishing on Jeffrey’s Ledge has been great with limits of nice haddock a cinch! Pink and purple cod flies are making for the most effective teasers with clams as the bait of choice. Dogs seem to be spot-specific with some anglers immune while others are plagued.
Fishing Forecast
Launch early this weekend at Little Bay and keep an eye out for surface feeds. A backup bass plan is to vertically jig rips throughout the Piscatagua River. For something scrumptious for the table, check out the bridges of Newcastle for squid. With reports of chomped up mackerel off Saco Bay, it might behoove you to troll the outer edge of the nearby islands with a deep-diving X-Rap or CD18 for blues. With reports of big bass prowling among the bridges of the Webhannet and Ogunquit Rivers now may be the perfect time to slap an eel into their domain at dark. If it’s been a while since you hauled in a haddock, give Jeffrey’s Ledge a shot; provided that you’re sporting pink and purple teasers you should have plenty of groundfishing action.
Planning a evening on Parson’s Beach. Any advice???
It’s been blitzes or nothing in my past experiences there.