Fish On: Big bass here, more on the way

We’ve been seeing some world class striper fishing lately all across the North Shore.There’s certainly no shortage of fish around right now, and bluefish have finally appeared in some numbers, tearing up tackle and biting through the toughest of leaders. And on top of all this action, word is that a large school of jumbo bass moved through the Cape Cod Canal last week, so with any luck they’ll be in our waters by the time you read this.The morning and afternoon bite has been great, and fishermen are hoping this will continue for a little while longer, before it changes to a night time bite when the water warms up some more. So get out there and cast a line while the fishing is hot!Here’s a look at our areas:Boston HarborThe harbor, like most areas lately, is seeing solid fishing. I received an email from fisherman Bob M., who reports Castle Island has been hot as of late. He’s seeing bass and blues being caught at high tide from the back fish pier, as well as along the harbor walk across from the airport. Stripers in the 35-inch range, and blues in the 18-20 inch range. Pogies have been spotted at Wollaston Beach in the morning, with quality stripers on them. The Deer Island area has heated up with morning and afternoon surface feeds being reported. Look to the Fawn Bar just off Deer Island for breaking fish.Lynn/NahantFantastic reports have been coming in for two weeks in our area. Just last week a 50-inch striper was taken off Nahant on a live mackerel, as well as a 47. Local fisherman Jay Ludwig had a great day last week, fishing a blitz off Lynn Beach, and catching bass to 40 inches on topwater plugs. Another local sharpie, Brian Deleo hit a good school of fish in the Lynn/Swampscott area, connecting with stripers and a couple of huge bluefish. Live macks and sluggo’s did the trick. Look for mackerel at the mouth of Lynn Harbor by the big green channel marker, as well as East Point, Nahant, as they’re still around, and anglers are filling their livewells without too much trouble.Salem/MarbleheadLive mackerel are the key still out around the Islands. Some nice fish were taken this week on them, as well as on topwater mackerel colored plugs. Stan Gibbs makes a beautiful mackerel colored pencil popper and was the lure of choice this week in the Salem area. Devereaux Beach in Marblehead fished well for the surf crowd this week, and some quality stripers were taken there on chunk baits from the beach as well as live eels tossed into the surf at night. The Beverly area had an invasion of small blues this week in the 5 pound range, chasing juvenile Herring around the harbor. These blues must be delighting the Tuna crowd, as these little snappers are the perfect size for big Bluefin Tuna.Cape Ann/NewburyportThe folks at Surfland Bait on Plum Island reported a good week of fishing this week. Some nice fish were weighed in at the shop, and the lures of choice have been pearl colored Sluggo’s and metals right from the beach such as Hopkins, Cast Masters, Crippled Herring and Point Judes. Bass in the 15-pound range were reported around the mouth of the Merrimack as well as on Joppa Flats. The rocks around Gloucester and Rockport fished solid this week for those casting chunk mackerel into the foam. Bluefish have been taken on swimming plugs trolling, and there have been some monster blues cruising around Cape Ann, so have those steel leaders ready!Bottom LineThe weather hasn’t really cooperated lately, but the forecast looks brighter for this weekend and next week. With the bass so keyed in on mackerel right now, live macks are the way to go. If you’re having trouble finding them, any mackerel colored topwater or swimming plug should work too. And remember, wire leaders are a must with all the blues around. I usually give it two cut offs of my 50 pound test leaders before I switch to wire. Good luck this week, and be safe!