Fishing continues to be quite good, considering we're supposed to be in the summer doldrums. Flounder, bass, tuna, bluefish, haddock, cod and pollock are all available to anglers from Boston to Maine.
Bait continues to stay close to shore, which has been especially helpful to rock hoppers and beach-bound anglers. It also means bait fishermen are outscoring others in a big way.
Marblehead: The area around Castle Rock to the lighthouse has been producing bass to 30 pounds, mostly for late-night anglers using the tried-and-true live eel.
Salem: Mackerel and pogies remain in Salem Sound and a live-lined mackerel around the outer islands is a solid wager. Shore-bound anglers have found cooperative bass off Winter Island, mostly on bait.
Beverly: The Kernwood area of the Danvers River is fishing well for anglers using bait at night. Keeper striped bass are still quite numerous in the area. Some anglers have found their limit of flounder just outside the harbor.
Cape Ann: Mackerel are still available around Gloucester and live-lining these striper treats will be your best bet to land a legal-sized bass. Unfortunately, you will also find numbers of dogfish, which might inhibit your search for bait.
Live-lined macks have worked well around the breakwater and the groaner. Football-sized tuna have made their way closer to the Cape with fishermen reporting fish in the 60-pound class just outside Thacher's and not far from Halibut Point.
Anglers taking the ride to Stellwagen have been finding tuna in the 200-pound class, with some around 400 pounds reported. Party boats are producing good numbers of fish for patrons.
Ipswich: Crane and Pavilion beaches have seen fish sporadically this week with anglers reporting some bass catches from both locations. Ipswich Bay still has a number of mackerel swimming about, so the bass and blues continue to be in the area. It's just been taking a little more time to find the fish.
Newbury: Parking lots 1, 6 and 7 at the wildlife refuge continue to attract anglers who in a few weeks will also be able to drive their beach buggies over sand with the proper permits. Sea worms, cut bait and clams have worked the best for bass with a few bluefish being taken in the early-morning hours.
Newburyport/Plum Island: Things have slowed just a bit around the Port, but there are still good chances for bass, bluefish and flounder. Joppa Flats has been fishing sporadically this week with surface-feeding fish declining all offers at times despite taking most offerings at other times. Try your luck with eels, Sluggos on lead heads and small popping plugs.
Bass fishing from the beach has been somewhat slow with most fish being landed at night on bait. Flounder have been reported close to shore near the south jetty. Some bluefish are still around, but most seem to be in deeper water out of reach of surfcasters.
Salisbury: Bass continue to be taken from the shores of the state reservation, and bait fishermen have been outfishing most others. Keeper-sized bass have been sparse with most fish being taken in the 22- to 26-inch range. A better bet is to explore the vast Salisbury beachfront, especially in the early morning or at night.
New Hampshire seacoast: Mackerel remain numerous from the mouth of the Piscataqua all the way out to the Isles of Shoals.
Fishermen using live-lined mackerel have found large bass in and just outside the river. Bass are also taking bait in Great Bay and are providing shore-bound anglers with good action. Flounder fishing near Rye also continues to be good.
Frank Dwyer is a freelance fishing and outdoor columnist. Contact him at frankdwyeroutdoors@gmail.com or www.frankdwyeroutdoors.blogspot.com with your fishing news, pictures or questions.
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Tip of the week
Practice makes perfect
If you can't get out to your favorite fishing spot but are itching to make a few casts, strip some old plugs of their hooks and set up some targets in your backyard to cast to. This will sharpen your ability to cast where you want to and allow you some time with your rod and reel even if you can't get on the water.
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