Fish On!: Big bass on doorstep of North Shore

A key part of being a successful striped bass fisherman comes down to understanding bait patterns. Bait patterns change constantly and throughout the season, and being able to find the bait, most of the time, will equal being rewarded with bass. This includes mackerel, pogies, herring, peanut bunker, sand eels, etc., all prime forage for stripers. Mackerel, or striper candy, as they’re aptly nicknamed by some, are arguably our best bait right now, and they’re in thick! Some of the biggest bass of the season are taken on them each year, and now that larger stripers are right on our doorstep, it’s time to find the bait. When you do jig up a bunch of live mackerel, it’s always a good idea to live line a couple right away, one up on top, and one below the school with a weight. Just to see if there are bass on this particular bait school. If you don’t get so much as a sniff, take them to the nearest structure such as a rockpile, bridge, or ledge, where stripers will often “stage.” And this week, with 40 pound class fish being caught on the South Shore on live macks, get ready, because those cows will be in North Shore waters any day now on a mackerel school near you!Here’s a look at our areas:Boston HarborStriped bass to 38 inches were reportedly taken in the Harbor this week, and live mackerel were the key. Macks can be found just outside the Harbor and off Deer Island. Flounder fishing is still hot in Boston right now, and although relatively smaller than last year’s catches at this time, there’s no shortage of this prized table fare. Look for flounder around the Deer Island flats, the Fawn Bar, and Governor’s Island Flats. Early morning surface feeds were reported as well, from Castle Island to Deer Island, mostly with bass in the 25-28 inch range crashing bait on the surface. Look for the birds to give away the fish. No pogy reports this week, but chances are they’re in the Harbor, and fishermen are just being quiet about them.Lynn/NahantSome nice early season topwater blitzes were reported again this week in Lynn Harbor. This action has been at the mouth, as well as inside around the Gas Wharf. Mackerel is still king around Nahant, with large schools of them hanging around daily off East Point. Larger bass should be on them any day now. Revere Beach was consistent this week, with bass being taken from the surf on both seaworms and clams in front of Kelly’s Roast Beef, although nothing of size was reported.Salem/MarbleheadThe Salem/Marblehead area has been invaded by schoolie stripers as of late. Kids were catching bass to 28 inches right off the Palmer Cove Yacht Club’s docks this week on chunks of herring, and whole herring. Check out any well-lit dock, pier, or bridge in this area at night, and you won’t be disappointed, as bass are sure to be crashing baitfish under the lights all night long. Misery and Bakers’ Islands are holding mackerel, and they can be jigged up between the islands, and a particularly fishy spot has been the southeastern side of Misery by the red can. Squid fishermen are doing pretty well also, from the Beverly Pier as well as Salem Willows pier. A squid jig, darkness, and a well-lit pier are all you need to catch yourself some calamari!Cape Ann/NewburyportPlum Island Sound is arguably the best place to be right now for both numbers of fish, and size. Bass to 20 pounds were reported this week by the folks at Surfland Bait and Tackle. Worms and clams have been working best in the bait department, and as for the lures, SP Minnows, Jumping Minnows, and Slug-Go’s are working great. For the Merrimack, the two hours before low tide, to a couple hours into the incoming seem to be the best time to be there. Mackerel are still thick around Cape Ann, and bass are on them. Crane’s Beach as well as the Annisquam River have held bass all week long, and the reports were encouraging.The Bottom LineMackerel is the word. If you’re going out this weekend, look for schools of mackerel around sunup. In the mornings, they c