While hardly a banner year for bunker, in both small and large proportions they are rewarding anglers who find them. A drop in water temperatures has had a corresponding effect on bluefish numbers but there is at least one location where there are plenty. Regarding larger critters with bite they are certainly making their presence known.

It used to be the only concerns about landing a cow was hoping that the hook stayed put and the line remained strong. Now with so many seals and sharks among us, my how things have changed. During a nighttime North Shore tide the other night while fishing with my friend Mike “The Bloodhound” we were enjoying a nice little bite when I hooked into something substantially larger. At end of the first yak sleigh ride I watched in amazement as my striper completely cleared the water, more like a tarpon than a bass. While I’ve seen smaller fish jump, I never saw a 4’ long beast pull that off. That uncharacteristic behavior sent a chill up my spine and convinced me that something sinister was among us. The power at the end of my line hardly allayed my concerns as I was certain I was tight to something that had a hold of my striper. Thankfully much to my elation the torque at the end of my line was because the bass was so strong and when it came to hand – intact and gorgeous – I breathed a big sigh of relief.

Still I was sure that something was not quite right!

My suspicion was confirmed the next day during a conversation with Captain Brian Coombs of Get Tight Sportfishing who told me he is aware of juvenile Great Whites, which are still formidable 8 foot predators, on the prowl in the very same area I was fishing! I’ve also been seeing pictures of “guillotined” striped bass. They don’t always rob anglers from their catch but are putting everything which swims in these parts on edge. Just be aware and have your wits about you, especially if you’re a surf fisher or kayaker.

Massachusetts South Shore/South Coast Fishing Report

There’s more of a pogy presence now on the South Shore. Captain Mark Rowell of Legit Fish Charters has been experiencing the smaller version in Scituate Harbor as well as Cohasset with adults hanging around the North River. Blues are less of a factor which may be the reason that mackerel acquisition is a bit easier. Those macks tossed around structure from The Gurnet through High Pine Ledge to Cowen Rocks as well as off Gunrock Beach are resulting in a reliable slot-to-larger bass bite. With an influx of peanut bunker, blitzes are getting more common which bodes well for a significant fall run.

Haddock as well as double-digit cod can be found by the Double LLs on Stellwagen. Having a feel as to bottom composition matters as cod are more likely to frequent rocky, irregular bottom while mud is good for haddock. Just maybe best of all is the lack of dogfish, making clams and other types of bait a viable option. For consistent blues, Provincetown is where it’s at, with everything from snappers to gators figuring in the mix.

Pete from Belsan Bait and Tackle in Scituate said that night sharpies are consistently out-fishing everyone else with eels and soft plastic stick baits worked among hard bottom between Egypt Beach and Minot accounting for some very nice fish. An experienced angler who knows a thing or two about smelt swears that he’s seeing them in Scituate Harbor!

During a recent “slow” trip aboard the Little Sister, Captain Jason Colby told me that rough seas negated his wishes to hit farther waypoints. Having to stick close to Westport River meant that his charter could only capitalize on black sea bass, fluke, striped bass and bluefish – and that was a disappointing day! Plans to cod fish Coxes Ledge are on hiatus because of the recent DMF overture which delayed the cod season until September 1st. Still, the five fish bag limit for 22-28” fish makes this something to consider next month. A tip to file away should you venture out there is to use clams as opposed to jigs. When harvested, the cod there are full of muscles/crabs with few signs of fish forage. Simply put, those cod are spending their time groveling rather than chasing fish which makes jigs less effective. The skipper also has been seeing some funny fish feeds and is packing bonito and false albacore favorites.

Greater Boston Fishing Report

If Boston Harbor had an unofficial “mayor” my money would be on my friend Captain Dave Panarello who spends more time on the harbor there than most liveaboards! Dave told me that Boston Harbor has just gotten a surge of pogies and the bass know it! He’s been finding both species between the Lower Middle and Castle Island. His sweet sport for catching slot to upper 30” fish is at the corner of the “blue building”. In addition to pogies, bone SP Minnows are catching well. Dave told me that Joe “Joe Fish” D’Orsi of Fish Tales Charters came into the harbor on Thursday with a livewell full of mackerel that he found just outside the harbor. Macks fished among those pogy schools is a sure-fire method for catching any striped bass there. It’s good to have a backup plan should you not find bait and if I’m in a boat, Plan B or more accurately Plan P is Pete Santini’s Tube with a nice plump seaworm on the business end! I was reminded of this during a conversation I had with Peter, when after not finding much bait, he used it to troll up a bunch of bass along the edges of Thompson, Spectacle and Long Islands. Pete also said that pogies in both big and small denominations are in the harbor, and mackerel can be found not far from Boston Light and Graves Light. The night shift throughout Boston Harbor’s’ area beaches, such as Nantasket and Revere, are catching big stripers on eels and soft plastics. Generally soft plastic stick baits such as Billy Hurley’s Squid Jerk Bait, Slug-Gos, Hogys, and Gravity Tackle Eels will outfish plugs among area beaches because they more accurately match the predominant inshore nighttime prey which right now is squid! The added bonus being that the slim profile and one hook rigging make the soft plastics less likely to get cloaked in mung!

Captain Brian Coombs of Get Tight Sportfishing has a bead on Boston Harbor bunker as well, the result of which has been tired charters who can barely lift their arms from catching cows up to 50 pounds! He’s also been having his way on fluke in harbor estuaries up to 21”!

Massachusetts North Shore Fishing Report

The man at the helm of Tomo’s Tackle – Tomo himself – has been trolling up stripers up to 44” around pogy schools in Salem Sound. Nomad DTX 145 Deep Divers in bunker pattern have been getting it done. There have been less blues around making mackerel obtainment easier by Satan’s Rock and Newcomb Ledge. Pogies are around but generally not thick enough to snag. They still matter however, because those schools are holding bass. The commercial striped bass quota in Massbay was largely filled on the backs of Gloucester and the Merrimack River and now that that is over, you should find big fish and less boat traffic!

TJ from Three Lantern Marine referenced my friend Captain Tom Ciulla of T Sea Charters who has been doing really well! Water temperature has dropped significantly into the 60s: the result is – exit blues, enter mackerel! Tom has been putting charters and his kids onto stripers up to 41” on mackerel fished under a balloon, tuna style! There is no shortage of ledge in Cape Ann and sometimes it takes hitting a few spots to find the fish.

Martha from Surfland Bait and Tackle in Newburyport said that there has been some surface feeds on small bait – peanut bunker maybe? The wait is still on for the last of those cute little piping plovers to take wing so that the surf contingent can once again lay claim to the wildlife refuge. There has been a respite from bluefish and not surprisingly mackerel have become available. Combined sewer outflows from all the rain had put a damper on a really strong striper bite throughout the Merrimack River, especially in the “flats”; once the salinity level returns to normal, those fish are expected to return. Anglers with the proper gear are trolling mackerel and fishing them under a balloon in Ipswich Bay and catching the occasional recreational tuna!

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Massachusetts Fishing Forecast

Underscoring what many feel is the most important fish in the sea, the emergence of pogies has been a game-changer resulting in an uptick in angling success. Look for both peanuts and adult pogies in the Three Bays as well as throughout the South Shore and you should find willing stripers. Blues aren’t quite as prevalent as they have been with dropping water temperatures but you can still find plenty of Provincetown. Bonito and possibly false albacore have been pushing bait not far from the entrance to the Westport River. Boston Harbor has become decidedly hotter thanks to a bump in bunker numbers with reports of fish all the way up to 50 pounds. Eels or soft plastic stick baits at night off Greater Boston beaches as well as through the North Shore are accounting for some very big bass. Try trolling plugs near pogy schools in Salem or live-line mackerel among the bait ball. The reappearance of mackerel has also resulted in a tuna bite in close just off Ipswich Bay. Steel leader sales among shops have slacked off during the last week but that’s not to suggest that there are no toothies around; just ask an angler who has had his prized striper shredded!