Dropping water temperatures have opened the feeding window of striped bass from a crack to a chasm. Some shops are even using the phrase, “best fishing of the year”! And as if that’s enough, some anglers are mothballing the rods and readying the Remington’s so you’ll probably have your favorite honey hole all to yourself!
New Hampshire Fishing Report
Roland of Suds ‘N Soda has quickly found a toehold in the competitive charter captain business by putting his clients into striped bass day in and day out. In spite of depending on this for a goodly dose of his livelihood, Roland isn’t afraid to spill the beans about what works for him. First up, you have to have the mackerel and this year more often than not if you poke around the usual spots such as the 2KR Can and Hampton Shoal Ledge you should find them. The bass this year have never really left the harbors such as Wentworth, Rye and Hampton. He eschews a float or simply live-lining the baitfish in favor of a 1- or 2-ounce egg sinker to keep the mackerel belly to the bottom and eyeball to eyeball with the stripers. The average fish is a 27″ bass with the occasional biggie thrown into the mix. Beaches should start picking up as cooler nights lower water temperatures and bait begins to shoal. Throughout the Piscataqua River there has been an improving topwater bite as the fish feed on herring, sand eels and silversides. Jeffrey’s Ledge ground fishing remains solid in spite of the haddock being overwhelmingly short. Many however who are making the steam out there are being distracted by what they are marking – namely, tuna – which are following herring schools.
Speaking of tuna, on Wednesday Chad from Dover Marine lost a tank that dumped over 700 yards on him until terminal gear failure almost caused coronary failure! The big fish gulped down a whiting before it unleashed a blistering, albeit brief, run. Big blues are chasing mackerel schools near the Isle of Shoals. If you’re looking for mackerel, you had better be searching at first light before any chance of random slaughterhouse schools of blues show up. What you will find is that the striper fishing is the best of the season right now and competition is at a nadir. Habitually for some odd reason the Granite State gang just stops fishing for stripers in September just when the going gets really good! Since it’s the season of the blitz, consider the “Route 1 crawl”! Begin at Odione Point State Park in Rye and drive the route, stopping at the many lookout/access points which dot the route until you see a blitz. One of Chad’s customers heeded just such advice and is still talking about the epic outing he had of non-stop action on big bass, not a one with was under 45 inches.
Southern Maine Fishing Report
Nick from Saco Bay Tackle said that the disposition of stripers is running contrary to anglers – the bass are bunching up and the fishermen are giving up. Chunking mackerel off Camp Ellis, Scarborough Marsh, Old Orchard and Kennebunkport has been hot with most bass running between 13″ and 27″ but plenty of drag-pullers still in the mix. For artificials they’re doing well with green and white RonZs. You can find mackerel in the Kennebunk area with incoming tide seeming to be the best. There were a few recent bluefish attacks off Wells, so if you want to get that last gorilla of the year, trolling a gaudy swimming plug around there may be the way to go. Reports of ground fishing remain strong although you’ll have to poke around to find the schools of cod and haddock. Recent Intel has them gathering in only 180 feet and there have been few dogfish.
New Hampshire, Maine & Vermont Fishing Forecast
A striped bass fisherman’s dream would include equal parts of comfortable temperatures, willing fish and no crowds. Throw in the mix a drop-off of biting bugs and this can be your reality right now! You should expect bird/bait/bass blitzes so let your eyes and ears be your guide to the action throughout the Piscataqua River. For a backup plan top off the live well with a few mackerel or pollock. Hampton, Rye and Wentworth Harbors have been productive all season and there should be no let-up now. The bass fishing in Southern Maine is nothing short of fantastic; get your piece of the action on chunk mackerel off Perkins Cove and with a white RonZ at the mouth of the Mousam.