The big bait, big fish mantra certainly holds true in northern New England as schools of pogies are holding big striped bass! Regarding bait, mackerel are most consistent by the Isles of Shoals with pollock much more omnipresent and making for more than adequate bait!
New Hampshire Fishing Report
Captain Bob from SportfishNHSeacoast said that the striped bass fishing is back on after being interrupted by the surfer’s swell of last weekend. They are now seeing bass up to the mid 40″ range right around the shore rocks. Mackerel is still the preferred bait with the Isles of Shoals the most consistent producer of macks. Also prior to the big swell, cows were available under the pogy schools that had moved up to Rye. Those pogies moved nearer the Mass border and bear watching. Haddock fishing is still good on Jeffrey’s when anglers can get through the dogfish! School tuna have not arrived as of yet but Jeffrey’s Ledge is holding 75-100” fish with mackerel preferred over haddock or whiting for bait since they are more evasive and less likely to wind up as dog food!
Ky of Dover Marine told me bigger bass seem to be arriving almost by the tide in Little Bay, the Newcastle Area and throughout the Piscataqua River. Savage Reel Eels and eel colored Slug-Gos are hard to keep in stock so it’s pretty obvious what’s working. Both pogies and mackerel have been available for bait and there has even been the first rumblings of squid off lit piers and docks in the Piscataqua. A few flounder are also being taken from Hampton Harbor, Odione Point and Rye Harbor.
Regarding flounder I spoke to Tim Moore of TimMooreOutdoors who said that while he’s been catching a few in the harbors, the big draw has been the spectacular salmon fishing on Winnipesaukee! It has really become world class and a 4 – 6 pound silver leapers is not out for the question!If you’re looking to check a big salmon off your personal best list than now is the time to book a stellar guide such as Tim! At first light the fish are 30’ down but plummet just below the thermocline in 50’ of water. Spoons and teasers in orange and purple are working well for Tim!
Southern Maine Fishing Report
According to Brandy from Webhannet Bait and Tackle/Boatyard the big striper night bite has kicked in! Yo-Zuri Mag Darters, especially the larger size in yellow, are producing fish up to 45” from the Saco River through Ram Ledge. Anglers who are having a tough time finding mackerel have been loading up on harbor pollock and finding quality linesiders outside of the Kennebunk River, Wells Harbor, Boon Island and Bibb Rock. Pogies are roaming around and with them you’ll find big bass with the latest clash of both species happening off Higgins Beach and Ogunquit. Offshore you’ll find haddock on top sections of Jeffrey’s Ledge with pollock and dogs congregating on slopes towards deep water.
Captain Lou of Diamond Pass Outfitters had a hunch that the new moon would shift fishing into the next gear and he was right! The bite on the ocean front has been electric with the flats stellar also! Casco Bay has been hot around the islands with soft plastics and Jumpin’ Minnows working very well. Right in time for the new moon, the night stalkers have been getting out the eels at the mouths of estuaries and beach fronts and catching some of the largest linesiders around! Look for a bit of a spillover after that moon phase.
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New Hampshire And Southern Maine Fishing Forecast
Pogy schools just over the New Hampshire border are bringing on the heat from some of the bigger stripers around. The graveyard shift gang working eels during the new moon at the mouths of estuaries and beachfronts in Maine were doing real well also, so look for that to continue. Regarding groundfishing, haddock on top of Jeffrey’s Ledge as well as pollock along drop-offs are your best bet just use bait sparingly since the dog pack is out in force!