Stripers are finding the area to their liking
Striped bass are the catch of the week, it seems, with reports of nice pulls everywhere from Nut Island to Race Point to Buzzards Bay. Squid and parachute jigs have been working well, with the time of day not much of a factor.
Area A: Surfland Bait and Tackle reports that boat fishing has been much stronger than surf fishing of late, though a few stripers and some nice flounder have been caught near shore. Worms, clams, and mackerel have worked well for stripers off the beach. Boat fishing has been strongest at night, with live eels and tubing worms working best as bait. Joppa Flats at high tide has been an especially hot area. The surf has produced most at low tide.
Area B: The activity off Nut Island and the piers has been very good, according to Rick Newcomb of Fore River Bait and Tackle. Stripers, including one of 41 inches, have been plentiful. Areas such as Rainsford Island, Hangman Island, and Quincy Bay have seen the best catches, with squid jigs and snag hooks being recommended. Pogies have also begun to school and are ripe for being snagged. Flounder are doing well in many of the usual hot spots - Georges Island, Hospital Shoals, Rainsford Island - as well as Deer and Calf islands. Surprisingly, mackerel are still around, and can be caught best with Christmas tree rigs.
Area C: Russ Eastman of Monahan Marine says Race Point is "the place to be" for big fish. Stripers are also in the area, and umbrella rigs and parachute jigs are getting the job done. Boston Harbor has been a little slow, though it's still possible to get a catch by live-lining mackerel or using tube worms. There is the occasional smelt at the Congress and Summer Street bridges. Flounder have moved out a ways, but can still be found around Graves Light, or generally around any moving tide. Inshore cod fishing, around Harding's Ledge or any of the offshore humps near the area, has picked up. The tuna bite near the northwest corner of Stellwagen Bank is also said to be very good. Use squid bars.
Area D: The Canal at Buzzards Bay has produced stripers in the morning, and night fishing has been successful with jigging. There are bluefish toward the west end of the Canal, according to Red Top. Russ Delano at Buzzards Bait reports there are also some fluke and sea bass in the west end of the Canal. Heading out between 4 and 6 a.m. is advised. Three- and 4-ounce jig heads have resulted in some big fish being caught at night, and fresh pogies have been working better than mackerel. There are scattered reports of stripers in the bay.
Area E: There are bass off East Beach, with bluefish starting to come in more, according to Larry's Bait and Tackle. Bluefish have hit especially well at the Wasque Rip. The Edgartown Lighthouse has also seen fine results for bluefish. The Chappaquiddick beaches have seen some big fish recently, mostly in the way of stripers. Use poppers out that way. Fluke are also said to be pretty steady.
Area F: Bass and bluefish have been found off Monomoy Island and Handkerchief Shoals, according to Tom McLaughlin of Goose Hummock. There have been big fish off Nauset in the rips and toward Truro. There are bass and bluefish around Race Point. Nice bass in Village Gate, caught mostly using tube and worm rigs, and the bass have been big at Sesuit Harbor. The incoming tides have been the best times to get a catch.
