As the “preseason” progresses, species availability keeps growing. This week Acadian redfish as well as white perch make the list. In spite of the increasing diversity few are taking their eyes off the seven-striped prize which should be here within two weeks!
Massachusetts Freshwater Fishing Report
First up is an example of gluttony that can’t be ignored! I have no problem with legally keeping some fish to eat, but Eddie of B&A Bait and Tackle Co. in West Boylston told me of a customer who comes into the shop nearly every morning with a bucket full of slab crappie! Wachusett Reservoir is a huge place, but the crappie are concentrated in only a few areas and it’s highly possible for one angler to make a significant dent in the biomass of these fish. What’s more egregious is that he’s fishing well before dawn, which is trespassing, and then comes into the shop as early as 6:30 clutching his full bucket of dead slabs. If you’re that guy, “Come on man!” And if you just know that guy have a heart to heart talk to him about conservation. The Chu’ is an awesome place in so many fronts let’s do our best to keep it that way.
The upside of fishing at the Chu’ is that by and large, things have been excellent and for that we can thank a species that no one is actually fishing for namely – rainbow smelt! It seems that every harvested fish is chock full of this most valuable forage. If there is a downside to this it is if you are casting a cove away from a big shoal of smelt you may find the water in front of you nearly barren – at least of cold water species. All the while the fortuitous anglers fishing near the bait ball are probably having a banner day! The outlier to that is black bass, which as crayfish start crawling free of their winter lairs, are looking for a lobster dinner.
Many of you will be ditching the Chu’ for the Q’ beginning this Saturday as that mammoth reservoir opens for the season. For an insider perspective I consulted my friend Rod Flagg of Flagg’s Fly and Tackle in Orange. Rod said that in April the going is easy as salmon and established rainbows should be following smelt schools close to shore as well as within the first 10’ of the water column. Freshly stocked rainbows should be easy pickings right from the shore of all three boat launch areas. Two other shore goodies are gates 35 and 37 where Rod says most every everything which swims in Quabbin is available. Should you have a boat or choose to rent one from Gates 8, 31 and 43 than plan on adding a 20’ leader of 8 pound fluorocarbon to your main line. Rod’s hand tied streamers are killers here and in great demand but if you can get your hands on a few troll one in the wash and the other well back. Vary the trajectory of your troll with exaggerated S turns modus operandi for salmon sharpies. Shiners will work as well as DB Smelts, Speedy Shiners and Mooselok Wobblers.
Massachusetts South Shore/South Coast Fishing Report
Haddock have been found and if you’re schedule is free Friday (the last day of the spring cod season) a keeper cod should be a cinch! Pete from Belsan’s Bait and Tackle in Scituate said that The Mussels area, which sits on the north edge of the Northwest corner of Stellwagen, has been giving up haddock! For cod it gets easier and closer as humps, ledge and wrecks within only a couple of miles from Scituate are holding keeper cod. The species check offs should be growing by the day with shad cruising up the North River, flounder foraging among the flats of Green Harbor, Scituate Harbor and Peggotty Beach and of course a South Shore swarm of striped bass soon. There’s good news regarding Captain Jason Colby of Little Sister Charters, he is ready to splash in his 31’ Contender on Monday and following that we should have reports on cod and more coming from Westport until Monday May 1st when he begins his flounder “seek-and-destroy” missions in Cape Cod Bay. His slip will be in Sesuit Harbor, and boy will this be interesting when he takes his decades-long expertise in all things blackback to this swath of CCB. The other “blackfish” he’ll target is literally – blackfish – as he intends on toting along green crabs for tautog. Typical of a conservation-minded captain, he’ll recommend that anglers only keep male tautog and release the females which breed during the month of May. Expect this report to really take off next week.
Greater Boston Fishing Report
Higher water temperatures and more river herring add up to happy harbor holdovers as well as anglers fishing for them! Captain Brian Coombs of Get Tight Sportfishing has been deploying a novel hybrid drop shot method of presenting a seaworm in front of marked fish. So how has it gone? He has 40” of proof already! As for my first attempt I managed a half dozen up to about 24” on a tube and worm. Next on the the skippers schedule is a haddock honey hole that he’s planning on chartering a crew to this weekend. He’s hearing that southern Jeffrey’s Ledge out towards the northern rim of Stellwagen has been hot. Expect redfish, catch-and-release cod and maybe cusk to be part of the catch.
Lisa from Fore Fore River Fishing Tackle in Quincy is now carrying seaworms so reports should exponentially improve for flounder from Nut Island Pier, Peddock Island and in front of Quincy Yacht Club. A few holdovers are on the hunt in local rivers with the Weymouth Back, Neponset, Charles and Mystic all possibilities. For trout, the top local choice to target them has been the Weir River. Regarding the Weir River, I used to work with a guy who looked forward to the tax deadline every year and it had nothing to do with a big refund. Instead it was about that time of the year when he usually caught his first striper in the Weir River.
Pete Santini of Fishing FINatics in Everett said that while the salt is gradually coming on, trout fever is raging, especially in Lexington Reservoir and Crystal Lake in Newton. Cod have been crushing jigs and bait among the humps near the B Buoy with a few stragglers straying near Graves Light and the outer Brewsters. Anglers disembarking from the American Classic out of Lynn have been observed clutching impressive bags of groundfish fillets. The quarry have consisted of cusk, redfish, haddock, cod and pollock. With encouraging reports of flounder in Gloucester it might be time for a Governor’s Flats or Deer Island Flats recon trip!
Massachusetts North Shore Fishing Report
It’s nothing new for anglers to view Tomo’s Tackle in Salem as a one-stop shop for all angling goodies but from a writer’s perspective I’m starting to feel the same way. The reason is that Tomo now has a boat and is giving me a first person report now! Recently his quest for cod took him to Tinkers Island off of Marblehead but all he managed was a skunking, Saturday Night Ledge proved much more interesting as repeated drifts produced repeated short cod until finally the rod buckled under the weight of a 27/28” keeper that fell off just out of reach. Not to be outdone, he went back again and notched a 24” for his effort! A 5 ounce gold/orange Shout Shotel jig was what the fish found most enticing. There has been a bird show just off Salem Sound as it appears that something has been pushing something towards the surface. The guess is on whether it is sea herring, whiting or mackerel. A sabiki rig would surely have found it out and Tomo will be packing one on his next outing. John from Three Lantern Marine out of Gloucester said that the inner coves in Gloucester Harbor are giving up flounder! That’s mighty impressive considering that water temperatures have yet to pass the mid-40 degree range. When temps near the more blackback friendly 50 degrees things should be very interesting. While we are on the subject of “black fish”, John said that headboats have been reporting a few black sea bass among the more typical fare of groundfish! I was so taken aback by that that I asked him to repeat it. John’s been around the North Shore for awhile and never heard of such a thing. It’ll be interesting to see what happens once inshore water temperatures rise and there are more lines in the water regarding what’s more typically a southern fish. Martha from Surfland Bait and Tackle told me that river herring have been spotted in the Parker River. That prompted me to enquire about any efforts for white perch. While she did say that salter white perch have been caught in the Exeter/Squamscott Rivers, she didn’t know of any perch yet in the Parker. A few anglers still target the vestige run there as more of a historical habit than anything and are content with a fish or two.
• Want to get in on the bite? Find an OTW-approved Charter Fishing Captain for Massachusetts
Massachusetts Fishing Forecast
Haddock have moved from the lost to the found category thanks to anglers having a nice haul between southern Jeffrey’s Ledge and the northern section of Stellwagen. Cod have proved far easier as inshore ledges from Minot to Magnolia are holding them. Holdover harbor stripers are increasing in activity by the day with the rivers of Greater Boston a best bet. On the North Shore, cod continue to congregate close to shore while a certain flatfish is foraging among mudflats of Gloucester Harbor. For a freshwater fix it’s hard to beat Wachusett thanks to the ample smelt forage. Those who love Quabbin may beg to differ as salmon rein supreme there and right out of the gate this Saturday they should be in close and on top!
He is not a knucklehead for looking to be rewarded a state spin for a Crappie. He deserve it , if the fish is qualified !!!!! Not your place nor this idiot bait shop owner.
How dare you guys.
That is so judgmental and not nice!!!!!
Very disappointed in you Powers!!!!
In fact Crappie are a very delicious pan fish to fry up
and eat.
What do
You really know about fishing?? Really!!! Seriously!!!!
They are sought out big through out this Wonderful Most Beautiful Country.
Crappie are all
Over this State and are not in declined like cod or pressure on pogies that this State increase the quota.
Powers you really have no clue and need to get a new job. And stop advertising to certain Charter Boat Captains.
My God .
I have caught so many Crappie back when I rode my bike at age 12. Before I started commercial fishing at age 14.
This is your lowest point in your so called
Professional Fishermen where you hack calls yourself.
People Crappie and brown bullheads are great eating freshwater fish.
I don’t recommend eating these species out of a cranberry bog pond.
But take them from nice deep water clean pond or lakes.
No shortage of these species!!!!
Better Crappie brown bullheads or any other catfish, yellow perch are better tasting than what you buy t Fran raised tilapia!!!!
You can be rewarded a state pin for crappie without killing it, killing just to weigh is absolutely pointless in my opinion, there is no way you can be eating a bucket full of crappie every day. Many of us here have a few pins without any dead crappie
Hahaha yeah the knuckleheads like you who “caught so many Crappie back in the day” even while they school up to breed are the same ones who wonder why the fishing is so poor now compared to back then lol. It’s borderline hilarious. And no they do not stock crappie, lol
You and Facebook are the reason
Look in the mirror and blame yourself
You gave away every good spot in the state then u blame others
Mark
We went out scouting from Plymouth Harbor. No cod no haddock inshore from the top of the Offleddge to the SW Corner of Stellwagon Bank.
A lot of bait!!!
Ocean herring and Macs from 5 miles off of Grunet Point to SW Corner.
Had Humback whales dolphins attacking these fishies. No cod or Haddock though.
This is real intel fished Monday the 10th.
It was a head scratcher out there.
Caught some whiting small size and scalping. Fished with clams jigs and sabiki rigs too.
Had to do the 10 mph speed for the Right Whales witch we only saw one.
Real fish Intel.
Might wait a week or so to try again.
NW Corner I wouldn’t recommend with the speed limit of 10 mph. Long trip!!!
For
Maybe a bit?!?!?
Heard the seals were eating almost all the herring in the North river
There are 20 or so waiting for the to show up then they poirpise them in the air and devour them
Great
Thanks Feds
My Dad would never take me fishing with him again if I reveled his spot
Egos bigger than Brains nowadays?
I guess
In fact crappie and catfish are very common fish that the state stocks lakes with and ponds in the State forest
Shameful post Cape. Shameful.
Yo Cape- if you feel that strongly about Ron’s reports, then don’t read them anymore. Negativity seems to be your sweet spot so keep your opinions to yourself before people form opinions about you. -slack lines…………
Joppa man
I stand up to bullies!!!
Also Ron is out of line in unprofessional !!
I’m not negative
Ron is and you.
What is so wrong taking nice pond fish to eat and display for hard work.,
If he is so about conservation
Then cod should be closed period durning spring and fall when breeding . Cod don’t breed during summer months. So why kill the cod durning breeding season?
Don’t make sense to his theory????
WTF?
Think before you bully or loose your cool.
Calling out bullies.
Not negative just sad about how people like Ron can’t stay professional and not depend on bait shop and charter boat captains fish report. Those guys want customers no matter what. Sell sell .
Real fishermen depend on their own skills and homework.
Right?
Bait shop will say how great things are to sell bait and lures. Charter boat captains say they catch trophy fish or bag limit all the time.
True Captains fishermen sincere fishermen tell it the way it is and not bully people and act like they no something they don’t know.
Lol slack line….
Looser
Hey Cape, relax Bub before you blow a gasket! I had no problem finding ground fish. I suggest you take that bud light money, and invest in a good bottom machine! Slack lines Mongo.
Hey can you r tell me one pond the state stock crappies a bullheads ?
A betting man would say you can not
Wright-Patterson lakes stock up on trout, catfish
Published June 14, 2018
By Mark C. Lyle
88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio – The Wright-Patt Natural Resources program prepares for the summer fishing season by stocking the base waterways with fish.
The Natural Resources program generally stocks the lake with two types of fish during the year. In the spring and fall, trout is stocked and catfish is stocked in the summer.
“The total amount of fish the base stocks annually depends on the amount of base fishing permits sold the previous year,” said Darryn Warner, Natural Resources program manager. “The fish stocking program is part of the Morale, Welfare and Recreation program and is self-supporting.”
Trout is stocked in deeper waters. The cold water species needs deep, cool waters to survive during the warm summer months.
Bass Lake and Gravel Lake are where trout is introduced due to the depth of their waters. This usually takes place during March and November months, but is dependent on the weather. Trout weigh between 3/4 to 2 pounds each.
Catfish are normally stocked into Bass Lake and Twin Lake during the month of June and weigh between 1.5 to 5 pounds each.
“All the fish are introduced into the water by net,” according to Danielle Trevino, Wright-Patt environmental specialist. “We last stocked trout on March 14 and we plan to stock catfish on June 27” she said.
To fish at the Wright-Patt lakes you must possess a valid Wright-Patt fishing permit. Children under 12 years of age are allowed to fish on base, but they must be accompanied by an adult with a valid fishing license.
The limit on trout is four. Fish caught by children will be included in the limit for the licensed adult.
When fishing in the Mad River, Hebble or Trout Creeks while on Wright-Patt, anglers must possess a valid Wright-Patt fishing permit and a current state of Ohio fishing license.
The price of an annual base permit is $18 and a daily permit is $6. A new state license and/or base permit is required on March 1 every year.
You can purchase a base fishing permit at the Outdoor Recreation office in building 95 or at the Rod and Gun Club in building 892. Both locations are in Area A. For additional information please call Outdoor Recreation at 937-257-9889 and the Rod and Gun Club at 937-257-3935.
DAILY CATCH/ POSSESSION LIMITS ON WRIGHT-PATT:
Fish caught by unlicensed fishermen (children under 12) will be included in the limit of the accompanying licensed fishermen. When four trout have been caught, fishing must be discontinued for that day, regardless of whether or not the trout are given to another person or if fishing for a different species. Throwing trout back in the lake once they are caught is not permitted. Limits on non-landlocked waters are according to State of Ohio fishing laws. Limits on landlocked waters as follows:
Walleye
2
Trout
4
Bass (Large and Smallmouth)
4
Catfish (Channel, Blue, and Shovelhead)
4
Bullhead (Black and Brown)
10
Mixed Panfish (Bluegill, Rock Bass, Perch, Sunfish, and Crappie)
Unlimited
Forage fish (Carp, Gizzard Shad, and Suckers)
Unlimited
Oh Mark
The Plymouth Myles Standish State Forest ponds
Large Mouth Bass and your Pan Fish
If you don’t know what Pan Fish are
It’s a catigory of fresh what fish
Yellow perch crappie bull gills etc…
Where introduced to those ponds
You see real fishermen
Knows these things
Salt and fresh water.
Stop having people find fish for you go out do scouting trips
Read books
Well
When I was young I went to a library and read about fishing.
No internet back then.
45 yrs old now.
Hate bullies hate arrogant hack so called fishermen.
But this was entertaining.
Hope you you all be safe and think before you speak and type in articles.
Ron don’t billy people who want to take fresh water fish for food and earn a State Pin.
A lot of folks out there do these things on Cod Stripers etc….
It’s actually heathy that you take fish out of ponds so more fish can reproduce and grow larger.
.
.
Brain surgeon that is in Texas not Massachusetts
https://stacylynharris.com/crappie-with-white-beans-and-basil/
Great Crappie recipe
White beans and basil!!!!!
Yum Yum
I am done with this site
And Company!!!!!
Imagine not knowing that catfish are different than bullheads, lol. Hope you truly are done with this site, good riddance haha
He is within his lawful rights to keep as many crappies as he wants as there are no bag or size limit to crappies in the state of MA. If you have a problem about it then take it up with the MassWildlife director and lobby about changing the regs.
Show me in the massachusetts fish and wildlife where crappies and cat fish are stocked you must read fiction
Hey Cape cowboy,
Pan fish equal southerners
End of story,
No judgement just the truth most folks just remove the hook and toss them back as trash fish
No more no less
Show me in the massachusetts fish and wildlife where crappies and cat fish are stocked you must read fiction
Who in gods name would eat white beans?
Mexicans?
Mark… no need to be a dick. White beans are used to make Boston Baked Beans, not noted as Mexican cuisine. Trash fish? Are you kidding me?
Try to respect all fish, not just follow the results of a popularity contest. They ALL contribute their part to fisheries.