Riding the tide for mackerel, tuna, stripers
Mackerel are plentiful up north in Area A, especially in the Kittery area, according to the Kittery Trading Post's fishing department. This has made it difficult to catch striped bass since they feed on mackerel and do not need to travel far to find food.
Striped bass, along with bluefish and tuna, can be more readily found at Stellwagen Bank. Tuna are especially abundant. They will stay until early November, and the Fisherman's Outfitter in Gloucester recommends squid spreader bars for the smaller tuna.
Area B: Smelt are starting to appear near the Summer Street Bridge in South Boston. They are also popping up around the Congress Street Bridge near the Children's Museum.
Also here are tautog, usually found in the Cape Cod area. These inshore fish can be found between the Black Falcon Cruise Terminal in South Boston and Quincy Avenue in Braintree.
Area C: The southwest corner of Stellwagen Bank has been the hot spot for tuna, including bluefin, which seem to be hitting the squid bars. Russ Eastwood of Monahan Marines cites success with Russ's Custom Made Squid Bars.
Striped bass are in nearly all the rivers and harbors, and Eastwood recommends live-lining the mackerel. While striped bass can be found nearly everywhere, Point Allerton, Boston Light, and Graves Light have been particularly kind.
Stripers can also be found in the Weymouth Back River, Weymouth Fore River, and Hull Gut.
The situation is ideal for those who fancy flounder, as size restrictions and catch limits seemingly have helped the fish rebound in New England waters. Winter flounder have been popular around Hospital Shoal and Georges Island.
When the mackerel head toward Canada, pogies and bluefish will start to move into the harbors. Bluefish are already starting to make their way in - Hull Gut has some.
Area D: The canal area in Buzzards Bay has been excellent for striped bass and bluefish.
Bluefin tuna can be found at Race Point Beach, while yellowfin tuna are about 30 miles southeast of Martha's Vineyard. The Vineyard is also the place to find fluke and sea bass.
Area E: Though they started off slowly, the islands have been the go-to place for beach fishing, fly-fishing, and boat fishing. Boat fishing is probably the best method, since you can catch bass, bluefish, scud, and fluke around the island. Squid flies have been the most effective on boats.
Those fishing onshore have been successful at night using floating sand eels as bait.
Striped bass can be found on the southern side of Chappaquiddick and near Wasque Point. Bluefish are also around Wasque Point, and there is a heavy volume nearly everywhere in the area. To find flat-sided fluke, Hedge Fence would be the best bet. Scud are settling in the harbor areas.
Area F: Tuna abound from eastern Chatham to Stellwagen Bank, where you can also find cod. Fluke can be found in Nantucket Sound. Striped bass are everywhere on Cape Cod, as well as the flats of Brewster and all the way down to Provincetown. Bluefish are similarly scattered everywhere.
The lottery ticket to bass and bluefish has been to fish in the morning at the Brewster flats during low tide or during high tide at Billingsgate.
For bait, sand eels, mackerel, clams, and sea worms are recommended.
