Don’t sing the blues, be glad they’re here
FISHING FORECAST
Striped bass follow patterns. They migrate south to north along the coast in the spring, arrive in certain areas at the same general time each year, and often reappear on the same tide in a given location several days in a row. Those of us in the business of fishing forecasting appreciate this modicum of predictability in nature.
Bluefish, on the other hand, are rebels. They live by their own rules, moving inshore and offshore on a whim, appearing without warning to crash through schools of bait, disappearing suddenly despite no apparent change in conditions.
It’s tough to be mad at them, though, because when they do show up, it is a boon for local anglers, especially when they arrive during a summer slowdown in striper fishing.
Over the past week, fishermen who were lamenting the lack of stripers have been distracted by the topwater antics of big “gator” blues. I can’t predict how long they’ll stay, so get out when you can and give thanks for these summer saviors.
South Shore
The Cape Cod Canal has been quiet this week. It seems the stripers have moved out into Cape Cod Bay, where the commercial striper fleet has been pounding them on Mondays and Thursdays off the Sandwich beaches from Scorton Ledge to Sandy Neck.
Bluefish have shown up outside Plymouth Bay from Warren Cove to Manomet Point. While the blues feed outside, striper fishing has improved inside Plymouth and Marshfield harbors.
Stripers 10-25 pounds have been frequenting shallow structure from Marshfield to Cohasset. Live mackerel are magic, but live pogies and eels are also working. High Pines Ledge, the cliffs, Sunken Ledge, Enos Ledge and The Glades to Gun Rock all have the crunchy shallow-water structure that is attracting bass right now.
Giant bluefin tuna have been breaking tackle and hearts on Stellwagen Bank. Some captains are traveling down the backside of the Cape to get in on the tuna troll bite east of Chatham. Boston Harbor
The big schools of pogies in Boston Harbor are under attack from a barrage of bluefish. Look for pogies from Castle Island to Winthrop Harbor and out to Deer Island. Although it’s mostly 10-pound-plus blues on the bait, there are also some 20-pound stripers beneath the mayhem.
There have been scattered bluefish attacking pogies off Snake Island in Winthrop and on Lower Middle, occasionally pushing into the inner harbor. Shore fishermen should launch fresh pogy chunks on bluefish rigs from the pier at Castle Island and at Deer Island.
There are also pogies off Wollaston Beach at first light, but they tend to roam out to deeper water once the sun gets high.
Black sea bass catches are surging as fishermen target them with bucktail jigs and Gulp trailers on rocky structure around Hull and Peddocks. For flounder, look to deeper water out by Green Island, Toddy Rocks and Strawberry Ledge.
North Shore
Bluefish are scattering pogies in Broad Sound off Winthrop Beach. They’ve also been making quick work of live mackerel off Egg Rock.
For keeper stripers, live mackerel have been productive off Peach Point in Marblehead and out at Coney Ledge. Gloucester Harbor is the place for fast action with schoolie bass.
Mackerel remain easy to find out past the Groaner and in deep water by Thacher Island. Try pitching them in tight to rocky structure where breaking waves make foam and white water.
Pogies are not nearly as plentiful as they were thanks to purse seiners putting a big dent in the schools in Ipswich Bay. However, fishermen are still reporting schools north of the Merrimack River. Snag the pogies and drift along just inside the Merrimack River on the second half of the incoming. If the bass are chasing the pogies but won’t commit, try tossing a live mackerel.