Hotbeds abound here and there for bass, blues, and stripers
This week's rundown of fishing reports from around the region:
Area A: Striped bass are improving and haddock and mackerel are plentiful too in Boothbay Harbor. Saco Bay has been infested with bluefish in the 5-12-pound range (bright orange Yo-Zuri lures and Gags Grabber lures work best). Tube-and-worm anglers can find plenty of schoolie stripers in the Saco River. Salmon and brown trout are doing well at Sebago Lake, but action at Mooselookmeguntic has tapered off.
Around the mouth of the Piscataqua River, most of the fish are being caught in deep water, but legal-size and schoolie stripers are heading into the river. The Isles of Shoals has been a hotbed for blues (have some wire leaders as well as cut bait and swimming lures ready), while Rye, Little, and Hampton/Seabrook harbors have good flounder fishing on their jetties. Trout fishermen have had luck in Barbados Pond, as well as Stonehouse Pond in Barrington.
Area B: The smelts are still around Hook Lobster and they're not too big, about 7-8 inches. There's a new public landing by the Intercontinental Hotel, but the action there's been hit or miss. Pete Santini of Fishing Finatics is calling the northwest corner of Stellwagen Bank a prime tuna spot, as he reports of a 250-pound bluefin caught by one of his customers with black squid bars.
Boston Harbor has had good flounder, bluefish, and striper fishing lately with 16-18-inch flounders bagged by Hospital Shoals. The blues are near the surface off Logan Airport, while off Deer Island and Faun Bar, the red and honey mustard Santini tubes are getting stripers left and right. For surf fishermen, hit Wollaston and Revere beaches. As for Plum Island, you'll have to go outside the jetties to get at the blues.
Area C: Bass have spread out across the Bay. The deep water off Billingsgate Shoals and the south end of the shoals have had some decent action, with a few 40-inch bass caught. Go about 45 to 60 feet deep to get the larger ones. A small amount of bluefish are in Sunken Meadow; have a few plugs and some patience. The Race and around the back side has seen a bass and blue mix -- your best bet is jigging. Barnstable Harbor is still hot and cold, although a good wind in the bay can help.
Area D: In and around Martha's Vineyard, a few bass near the 40-pound range have been snagged. However, the Canal has slowed as the fish begin to spread out. There are some blues and stripers in there, but there's no mass of fish. As for Marian Harbor, the blues have replaced the stripers. A variety of baits (squid, flukes) and lures (bucktails, sluggos, swimming plugs) are being used.
Area E: The fishing along the east beach near Chappaquiddick has been OK, with bass and bluefish about 30 feet deep. On the north shore, lots of fluke at the bottom are causing anglers to use lead jigs on wire and bounce them along the bottom. There's also a few bass around Gayhead, but the weather has kept more from being reported. The wind has been strong on the islands and there's been a lot of squalling on the south shore, as well as fog for the last two mornings.
Area F: Brewster Flats has been hit or miss -- there's fish, but for some reason they're spooked. Goose Hummock recommends using a lighter line and making slower, smaller presentations to coax the stripers. Overall, the water temperature has been relatively cool. Meanwhile, the Chatham area (particularly the eastern side) remains a hot spot, with plenty of pogies getting caught with snag hooks and cast nets. There's also been reports of 40-plus-pound bass and 14-15-pound blues. Tuna action is also hot. 