Thunderstorms and heat have made fishing a bit more of a mystery over the last week, but fish are still biting and there are some big bass out there for the taking. Bluefish, tuna, flounder and a potpourri of groundfish should provide you with ample motivation to take your rod and reel and go. On a personal note, Happy Birthday to my daughter Caitlin!
Marblehead: Bluefish are keying in on thick schools of mackerel in and around Marblehead harbor. If you'd like to weed out the blues and find bass, you'll need to find deeper water or at least get your bait below the toothy ones. Surfcasters are having excellent luck with live eels off the Neck.
Salem: Flounder and bluefish have been front and center this week around Salem, with bass taking a bit more work to find. Anglers have found willing bass around the Harbor Islands, mostly hitting on live mackerel swimming deep. Things have slowed down considerable around Salem Willows, but some fish are still being taken at night.
Beverly: Some decent bluefish and flounder catches have been reported from the Beverly Pier this week while most of the striped bass action has been further out in deeper water or more of a nighttime activity. Large bass have been slurping up eels and tube-'n'-worms trolled around the Landmark School vicinity.
Cape Ann: Flounder fishing has been quite good from Magnolia to Essex, with some large ones being taken right in Gloucester Harbor. Bass and blues blitzes have been reported several times this week just outside the breakwater, with bass keying in on thick schools of mackerel. Rockport beaches are fishing well, especially at night with live eels. Offshore, "football" tuna between 40 and 60 inches have invaded Stellwagen, and fishermen are having a ball catching these tuna on spinning gear with various metal lures. Party boats are delivering excellent catches to their patrons.
Ipswich: Fishing around Crane Beach and environs has slowed considerably, but fish are still being taken before dawn and after sundown. The key seems to be a slow retrieve to entice the bass that are lazing in some fairly warm water close to shore. Ipswich Bay is still full of bait and larger bass have been in water between 60 and 120 feet deep.
Newbury: If you can stand the greenheads, Plum Island Sound has had some excellent surface feeds around high tide this past week with both blues and bass in the mix. The Parker River is still yielding fish, though anglers are finding the bass a bit slow-moving. The Parker River NWR is still mostly off limits due to piping plover nests.
Newburyport/Plum Island: If you are looking for big bass, your best bet is live eels at night on Joppa or live-lined mackerel at the mouth of the Merrimack. Bluefish have become more prevalent so keep your wire leaders handy. Flounder remain fairly consistent along the oceanfront, and some decent surface feeds have been reported from 55th Street to the South Jetty. Cod fishing remains steady for the party boat fleet.
Salisbury: The options are somewhat slim in Salisbury as sunbathing season is fully upon us. You can join the crowds off the State Reservation and take your chances, or you can patrol the miles of open oceanfront at night for big bass. Best bets are clams, cut bait or live eels.
New Hampshire Seacoast: Bass fishing has slowed and greenheads have arrived, making fishing somewhat of a challenge in New Hampshire. Fish are still hanging around the Hampton marshes and harbor, but are slow to take most offerings. Further north, flounder are still biting just outside of Rye Harbor, and bass are feeding on herring falling back into the Great Bay. Bluefish seem quite abundant from Seabrook to Portsmouth.
Frank Dwyer is a freelance fishing and outdoor columnist. Contact him at dwyer.f@gmail.com or www.frankdwyeroutdoors.blogspot.com Facebook users can search for Frank Dwyer Outdoors.
Tip of the Week:
In heat, go deep
In this heat, it's best to find deeper water or at least larger holes close to shore as bass seek out cooler waters. Scout out your favorite shore location at low tide looking for nice holes that will fill in at high tide.
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