Let’s get right to it shall we – the stripers are back! While most are micros, there are even a few mid-20s in the mix. Flounder fishing is promising for so early in the season and haddock action remains solid.
New Hampshire Fishing Report
Captain Jon Tregea of Sea Run Charters told me that fresh striped bass have arrived in the Piscatagua River. Some of the fish have been mid-20” specimens too! Jon and pals are getting them with Clousers but spin fisherman tossing slim-profiled paddletails are doing well also. What’s especially promising is the burgeoning sea run brown trout fishery, especially in the New Castle area. Those fish are commonly caught on streamers as well.
Captain Andy from Adventure and Catch Charters has been finding haddock a bit closer at The Curl section of Scantum. There have been good numbers of cusk there as well but the redfish are beginning to wane. A few mackerel have been caught by Murray’s Rock.
Ky from Dover Marine said that numbers of mackerel can be found off Hampton Shoal Ledge and out to the 2KR Can. In freshwater smallmouth bass are on their beds in Southern New Hampshire with largemouth about a week away from doing the same. Ky had a good day for bass at Sunrise Lake working Z Man Sling Blades and Chatterbaits.
Jim from The Tackle Shack in Meredith told me that his favorite fish to eat – horn pout – can be caught on worms right from the shore of Meredith Harbor. He mentioned the north end of Waukewan as especially good also. His tip for the best tasting horn pout is to to make sure the one’s you eat have white bellies! Salmon fishing in Winnipesaukee is challenging at the moment with successful anglers trolling streamers and bait with 2/3 colors of leadcore out. Welch Island towards the Broads is Jim’s pick for success.
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Southern Maine Fishing Report
Peter from Saco Bay Tackle Company said that fresh schoolies have arrived off Biddeford Rocks, the Mousam River and Scarborough Marsh. Bucktail jigs with curly tails are working well on the migrants although some have been caught on SP Minnows. A few fish have even been caught on worms from the beach. Shad have invaded the Saco River and are falling for darts and wobbler spoons. Groundfishing remains good on Southern Jeffrey’s with the sweet spot 175-250 feet of water. A few flounder have been stirring off Wells and Ogunquit.
Fresh from a kayak tournament win, Brady from Dag’s Bait & Sportgoods in Auburn had some interesting things to say on the bass subject. Black and blue jigs have been money for him on pre-spawn largemouth bass in Arrowhead Lake. Trolling for salmon in Thompson Lake, Sebago Lake and Lake Auburn is still the hot ticket for most. Typical of the way things are done in Maine, most don’t opt for leadcore line but rather troll with sinking fly line. Brady is the bait trapper for the region which ensures that Dag’s is not likely to run out any time soon!
• Want to get in on the bite? Find an OTW-approved Charter Fishing Captain for Maine!
New Hampshire And Southern Maine Fishing Forecast
Schoolies have arrived in the Piscatagua River watershed and I suspect harbors such as Hampton and Wentworth as well. Soon much bigger bass will be pushing river herring upstream of Great Bay into the tributaries which support herring runs. Newcastle even has a growing sea run brown trout fishery. Flounder can be found off Rye Harbor and Wells Harbor with haddock the draw off Jeffrey’s Ledge. Freshwater still has game however, with cooperative pre-spawn largemouth hitting well at Sunrise Lake and Arrowhead Lake.
