Fish On!: Reviewing the fishing season on North Shore

As I write this, I?m sitting at the old “new” boat ramp in Lynn Harbor on the causeway watching an impressive surface feed just off the Gas Wharf. It?s complete with cormorants, terns, gulls, and breaking fish. It?s hope for future fishing, and an obvious sign that it?s not over yet, not by a long shot. This week reports were great up and down the North Shore, with blitzing bass being reported from multiple beaches. It?s finally happening, we?re now seeing a Fall Run, even though it?s somewhat lackluster compared to years past. Two years ago I remember Lynn Harbor being absolutely stuffed with adult pogies for September and October, with 30-40 pound stripers being taken daily. Last year as well as this year, I haven?t heard of those massive schools of pogies once in Lynn Harbor, and the size of this year?s Fall Run bass is much smaller, to say the least. The state of the Striped Bass population on the East Coast is in trouble again, which is troubling because just 20 years ago after the last population crash, regulations changed to protect them, and the Striped Bass became the poster child for successful fisheries management. Let?s hope for those same changes in regulations next season, and that the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission gets it right, so that our children and grandchildren can enjoy this great fishery that we all so love. But for now, the fish are biting, the weather has been beautiful, so get out there and catch some fish before it?s over!Boston HarborThe Harbor, compared to seasons past, was somewhat of a letdown this year. I heard of 3 fish over 50 pounds taken in the Harbor this year, which is great seeing how most agree that 50-pound fish are rare North of the Cape, but each year we usually hear of more 50?s being taken by guys like Russ Burgess and Dave Panarello. This week the Deer Island area heated up, with a few bass to 30 pounds being taken on the front side, and Smelt fans will be delighted to hear that they?re being caught already in Crystal Cove, Winthrop.Lynn/NahantThe most consistent action this season, even when all other areas were fishing poorly, has been the Lynn area. Mackerel were with us for most of the season, disappeared, and are now back in solid numbers. Lynn Harbor has seen blitzing schoolies lately, with some larger fish mixed in. This week my buddy Jay Ludwig reported seeing bass of 45 and 39 inches taken at Red Rock on Seaworms. Revere Beach I heard was loaded with fish a few mornings and afternoons this week, with bass to 32 inches taken on topwater plugs and Storm Shads. Keep an eye out for those pogies from here on out. If you happen to find them, big bass are sure to be nearby.Cape Ann/ NewburyportGreat reports lately. Some of the best fishing is going on at Singing Beach in Manchester, Crane?s Beach and all around Plum Island. Blitzing fish are being reported daily at the mouths of the Parker River and Essex River. Bass to 44 inches were reported, and live mackerel has been the hot ticket. Macks are stacked up around Breaking Rock just off Salisbury Beach. This action should remain hot throughout the month. My pal Rick Delacono was surprised to see Bonito, small, delicious members of the Tuna family, this week while jigging mackerel off Lanesville, Rockport!The Bottom LineI?m hoping that these fish I?m watching splashing all over Lynn Harbor right now will stick around a while, but that?s probably not going to be the case. But that?s alright, because the next tide will bring another wave of fish moving through our waters heading south, and another one after that. Large numbers of fish are still North of us, so we?ll see great fishing I?m guessing through the end of this month, and a couple weeks into November. Water temperatures and Fall storms will dictate how long the fishing will last, and once it gets into the low 50?s and high 40?s, that will be it, and our beloved Striped Bass will be gone until Spring, spawning in the Chesapeake Bay and Hudson River, among other