Fish On!: Season draws to a close

As the saltwater fishing season is drawing to an end, this will be the last report of the year. While there are bass and blues to be found, the fish are on the move. Some spots are great one day, and then barren the next. Bass and Blues are migrating south to spawn in warmer waters, and we’re seeing the last waves of fish trickle by us from up north, on their way towards Chesapeake Bay. It was a Fall Run that never quite materialized, which is surprising given the enormous amount of bait this year. It’s not over yet though, as Tuna have been crashing mackerel schools on the surface as close as Egg Rock and the front of Nahant lately! And those waves of bass trickling by us could hold that season’s best striper! So pick a nice day or two and give it a few last shots!Here’s a look at our areas:Boston HarborReports from the Harbor are beginning to change from Striper reports to Smelt reports. Those tasty little fish are showing up already around docks and piers throughout the Harbor. Crystal Cove Pier in Winthrop and the Summer Street Bridge in South Boston are a couple places that they are thick at. There are still plenty of Bass around, but the key is being at the right place at the right time. And finding the bait usually finds you the fish. Mackerel and Pogies are still in the area, with bass around them. Wollaston Beach is a good place to look right now, as well as Deer Island, Winthrop.Lynn/NahantMackerel are reportedly thick around Egg Rock, which is probably the reason that Football Tuna in the 50 inch range are being spotted there chasing the Macks. These tuna can be caught using StriperSniper topwater plugs and Waxwings, which have worked well all season, but the bait of choice: Live mackerel. Lynn fishermen Marc Holey and Cory Moore caught a dozen stripers at the Nahant Town Wharf a few nights ago under the lights in the 25″ range on pearl colored Storm Shads, so it’s not over yet!Salem/MarbleheadStripers are hit or miss around Salem Harbor and the Islands. There are “Schoolie” stripers around the docks and piers under the lights at night here as well, and small plastic baits like Storm Shads are working well. Mackerel are thick around Misery and Bakers Islands right now, and livelining one of them is a good way to catch a late season cow striper. Macks are being taken from the Salem Willows and the Beverly Piers. Devereux Beach and Castle Rock in Marblehead are a few good Fall spots to look for topwater action in the mornings and evenings.Cape Ann/NewburyportCape Ann is seeing loads of Mackerel schools, but not too many stripers with them. Plum Island still has tons of mackerel schools off the Oceanfront and just past the mouth of the Merrimack, and there are bass hanging around them. Swimming plugs and topwater poppers are doing well in the mornings around the mouth of the river, and the refuge is fishing well in the afternoons. Clams and Seaworms are still working for those few surfcasters still going out, with bass to 35 inches from the beach.Season RecapThis year we North Shore fishermen were lucky to see more baitfish in our waters than in many recent years, and with that brought some truly impressive catches. Many anglers caught their “personal best” Striper this season. Mackerel, which typically stay with us from Mother’s Day to Father’s Day, stuck around in great numbers until almost September, which is unheard of! And then made a re-appearance again in early October! Pogy numbers were great as well, and although they showed up late this year, when they did arrive, they set off some world class Striper fishing that lasted for a couple of months. Overall, it was a great season. I’d like to thank all you readers who have sent reports and pictures, and helped to make this Fishfinder as accurate as possible. So until next year, may you and your families have a safe and happy Holiday Season! See you in the Spring!