New Hampshire and Maine Fishing Report – September 20, 2018

New Report Coming on Friday, Sept 28

An angling architect would be hard pressed to design better fishing conditions than what we have on our doorstep now. The fussy fish of yesterday are feeding with purpose and that applies to tuna, pollock, stripers and even bluefish.

New Hampshire Fishing Report

Jason of Suds ‘N Soda said that right now fishing is the best of all worlds. Striped bass, tuna, and pollock are feeding aggressively, temperatures are comfortable, and there’s that little old thing about far less competition, which makes for special days indeed. For stripers, it’s a buffet of bunker, both big and peanut-size in Little Bay as well as Seabrook, Rye, Hampton, Wentworth and Portsmouth harbors. There’s a lot of surface activity right now as bass as well as the occasional blue beat up peanut bunker and the adults. Anglers are also finding baby bonito at the end of their Sabiki rigs. Tuna on Jeffreys Ledge are hitting whiting and mackerel well, especially when the current is cooking on the downtide side of structure. A consolation prize for those for-hire captains feeling the pinch of the closure of the haddock season is big pollock, which have been hitting jigs in 190’ of water.

Southern Maine Fishing Report

Brandy from Webhannet Bait and Tackle feels that with water temperatures still in the unprecedented 65-degree range, the fall run has yet to begin. For evidence of that, exhibit 1 is that bluefish reports are arguably more numerous than at any time of the year so far. Pogies and peanuts are attracting the blues and keeping the bass in residence by Bibb Rock, the Salt Pool by Parson’s Beach, Moody Beach, Crescent Beach and Scarborough Marsh. A word to the wise from Webhannet is not to fear the angry seas but rather seek the sanctuary of rivers. This time of the year, rivers can be loaded with fish thanks to all the bait such as herring, silversides and sand eels. You could do worse than troll a tube and worm throughout the lee of these sheltered areas. Mackerel can still be found and there are adult pogies in the bays with big bass not far.

When asked if peanut bunker have invaded the Portland area, Josh Thelin of All Points Fly Fishing + Outfitters said, “thank god yes!”. The craggy coast coves of Downeast now have bass and bait making life a heck of a lot easier for fly fisherman. Plus, it’s easier to mimic a baby bunker with a fly than a full-sized adult! With water temperatures firmly in the comfort zone of the striper look for things to remain good for a while. A couple places to consider are Cape Neddick Harbor as well as Sohier Park.

New Hampshire And Maine Fishing Forecast

For schoolie surface feeds, look for the blitzes in Little Bay or some of the New Hampshire harbors such as Seabrook or Hampton. For larger, keep on the lookout for adult pogies, as obviously a bigger meal will warrant attention from larger fish. On Jeffreys Ledge the tuna bite has been hot on the downtide section of structure as long as the current was moving. With water temperatures stuck in the mid-60-degree range, the striper run in Maine has yet to pick up steam. Pogies off beaches are your best bet for a big bass but should the tossed-up surf keep you at bay, don’t worry a tube and worm trolled in the Merrimack, Piscataqua, York or Saco River will attract a lot of striped attention.