Coastal New Hampshire and Maine Fishing Report- August 3, 2023

While water temperatures have cooled it has had the opposite affect on the fishing as it has gotten hot. Even rivers which were slow, picked up for the shore folks. Offshore pollock continue to please but you had better reel in your catch quickly since there are no shortage of sharks on the prowl!

New Hampshire Fishing Report

Captain Andy of Adventure and Catch Charters told me that big pollock are pummeling jigs on Jeffrey’s Ledge especially on high ground and near ridges. Jigs are working well because of the volume of herring that are around. Those herring have also attracted tuna. In addition to the herring, pollock are making for mighty fine Charlie candy. The Piscataqua River has plenty of 25-31” stripers with bluefish just outside from the 2KR Can out to the Isles of Shoals. The birds are the tipoff that the toothies are on the feed. Inshore of the Isles, there are 30-50 pound bass prowling!

From Captain Bob Weathersby of Seacoast NH Sportfishing comes news of consistent bluefin fishing among upwellings on Southern Jeffrey’s Ledge with Scantum getting honorable mention thanks to the arrival of the heretofore absent herring. Bluefish within a half mile of Rye Harbor have had the predatory tables turned on them thanks to tuna!

Southern Maine Fishing Report

Captain Paul Hood of Touch of Gray Fishing Charters has been finding big pollock, big cusk, whiting and a few haddock on the northern end of Jeffrey’s. There have been happy charters as a result with dogs not much of a problem. To keep the dogs at the pound, the crew is sticking to jigs/teasers, assorted bucktails/curly tails and gummy teasers. Color selection varies from trip to trip which is why aboard Touch of Gray you’re likely to see everything from white to pink to chartreuse being employed. As for stripers in the Portland area the skipper said that pogies, harbor pollock and mackerel are keeping them in check. Many are sticking with pollock as bait since they are more reliable.

Captain Lou Tirado of Diamond Pass Outfitters told me that gator blues have just moved into the area and from Kennebunk to Scarborough anglers are getting into them good! Dropping water temperatures has brought bass back into Casco Bay embayments and rivers. Soft plastics as well as fresh bait tossed into the wash near rocky shorelines has been effective.

Brandy from Webhannet Bait and Tackle/Boatyard told me that the headline news in the area is of the invasion of bluefish! Fish in the 30” bracket have been taken on bait, soft plastics and plugs off Moody Point. Rivers have seen a resurgence of striped bass with everything from schoolies to slots being taken right behind the shop on the Webhannet River as well as the Saco River. Some pogies have been encountered by Boone Island. The blues have scattered the mackerel but with perseverance you should be able to find some. Scott Lee continues to catch an interesting assortment of groundfish as close as Tantas Ledge with hake, redfish and pollock all cooperating. Brandy did tell me that shark numbers continue to surge offshore with one angler tallying 50 of the apex predators so far.

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New Hampshire And Southern Maine Fishing Forecast

The determining factor regarding inshore striped bass is water temperature: where it’s topping out in the mid-60s there will be stripers even in the Saco and Webhannet Rivers. Once it climbs past 70, conditions are more favorable for bluefish which many anglers are welcoming! Many anglers are trolling plugs to find the blues but once located the fishers are pulling out the topwater plugs. Some of the bigger bass remain by the Isles of Shoals as well as off Kennebunkport. Pollock remain the top prize for groundfish with Northern Jeffrey’s Ledge and Tantas the top tickets.