Coastal New Hampshire and Maine Fishing Report- August 10, 2023

Rivers/bays are fishing well in between downpours with fresh bait necessary in the roiled water. For big bass the Isles of Shoals remains hot, but for blues the deepwater troll is tops!

New Hampshire Fishing Report

When the freshwater flow lessens in the Piscataqua River, the striper fishing improves in Little Bay and other spots according to Captain Andy of Adventure and Catch Charters. Of course that has been a rare scenario during this odd season. There has been a big school of blues and bass by the Isles of Shoals which have pushed mackerel out into deeper water. Anglers have been doing well by the lighthouse, the leeward side of Star Island, Duck Island and The Flag. Groundfish good times mainly consist of a terrific pollock bite with The Curl and Hill 142 catching well. A few tuna and variety of sharks prowl the same area.
 
According to Captain Bob Weathersby of Seacoast NH Sportfishing coastwide bluefish are making for interesting outings for live-liners and expensive ones for paddletail fishers! Inshore of the Isles of Shoals is THE place to be for 30- to 50-pound stripers! Should you find mackerel you’re halfway there but don’t fret if your sabiki comes tight with small pollock, they make for great bait also! Bluefin are most consistent on the upwellings of southern Jeffrey’s, although they are encroaching on Scantum thanks to a bump in herring. Farther south, the Ice Pick area of Salisbury Beach has been holding solid stripers as well as the occasional blue.

Southern Maine Fishing Report

Brandy from Webhannet Bait and Tackle/Boatyard reported that good size blues have been taking down trolling plugs by Ram Ledge, Kennebunkport and Saco Bay. Twenty-forty feet down seems to be the sweet spot. Local sharpie Larry Blanchett has tallied over 100 bass over 45” this year by fishing at night with eels as well as Gravity Tackle soft plastic stick baits! Not surprisingly he’s fishing the graveyard shift and is clandestine about specifics. When asked about her hunch, Brandy offered up Ogunquit, The Cliffs, Cape Neddick and Drakes Island! There are some pogies finning around and even a few inshore flounder found around Parson’s Beach with York, Mousam and Wells all spots where they have been caught in the past.

Paul Hood of Touch of Gray Fishing Charters said that he’s dialed into big, slammer codfish which he will be targeting beginning September 1st when the slim harvesting window opens up for about a month. Along with those brown bombers are big pollock as well as a few haddock. Because of the prevalent sharks, bait is out and jigs/teasers in around Northern Jeffrey’s as well as The Fingers.

According to Captain Lou of Diamond Pass Charters up until the rain everything was going great. Muddy water and weeds are making bait a necessity for striped bass. They are still getting bluefish in roving packs from Saco to Harpswell, and they are big and hungry. Live mackerel, chunk mackerel and clams during the day coupled with trolling a tube and worm are the best bet. Night anglers should find a good source of eels and stick with that. If you’re hell bent on fishing flies or artificial lures, make sure it has some scent or some sound to it.

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New Hampshire And Southern Maine Fishing Forecast

Salisbury Beach has been steady for bass with chunkers doing well there. While they move in and out, the Isles of Shoals area remains among the more reliable spots for really big bass. Anglers working the night shift in southern Maine with eels or big soft plastics on the line are catching numbers of cows. Until the roiled water of Casco Bay clears up, bait will remain a best bass bet. Flounder off Parson’s Beach make for a dash of diversity as well as fine dining. Farther out, big pollock and catch-and-release cod are testing tackle on Northern Jeffrey’s. Should you locate those big cod save that waypoint for September when a limited season opens up once again!