[surfcaster]

I have opened up this forum for the folks at Surfland to post their observations and comments.

:surfing:

This forum is only to be seen by members.

It is a restricted view to you people who have made this community and site what it is today.

:bluefish:

Now we have to keep reminding them for a little while to keep posting. I was told we will hopefully get a post once a week.

It is to start out as a one sided post - so for now, we can't ask questions online. BUT we can go to the store to get nitty gritty discussions with the people there.
:fish:

Please let me know what you think!

:boat:

[Surfland]

Report: 8/26/04
Surf:
Bluefish this morning at Parking Lot#1 about 5:30 this morning. Not a lot of fish. Lots of casting. Yesterday, no fish. Tuesday morning, 8/24, lots of bluefish. We weighed in two small keepers yesterday, from the river, outgoing tide, with clams and herring. On the incoming, there have been on and off days between the jetties just after low tide.
Boat: Lots of bass on the flats in close to the road with chunk herring. Big bass are there. Very fussy. Eels at night are also working. Start drifting eels along the oceanfront at night also. PI Sound- small bass and blues behind the maintenance sheds. Not too many reports of blues off the island. People still trying along the 30 foot line. Rumors that footballs are back. You must have a licence (go to noaa.gov) and limit has increase to two fish. Also rumors of flluke in the Merrimack river.
Thank you, Martha

[Surfland]

8/29/04

Slow weekend but that is typical. I think that the extreme amount of boat traffic affects the river fishing.

Surf: A few small stripers along the beach down the wildlife at night. Four wheel drive fisherman usually use worms, clams, and some chunk bait. A 20 pound striper was weighed in on Saturday AM. Caught that night on worms. A few schoolies were caught out in front of us at sunrise also on Saturday AM but not a lot. No reports of bluefish.

Boat: Weighed in a 25 pound striper today at noon from the Plum Island Sound using a tube and worm. Lots of boats on the flats at night, not sure of the catch. Some guys are floating worms and did well a couple of nights ago. They also used eels and caught several keepers. Bluefish were reports along the 50 ft. line off PI but hopefully this east wind will bring them in closer.

Start trying between the north and south jetties at the start of the incoming tide for both boat and surf especially if the east wind continues. Low tides are early mornings this week.

[Surfland]

Sorry so long since the last one.

Surf:

On Sept. 6th, we weighed in a 31 pound striper from the wildlife refuge, caught at night (early morning) on a eel. On 9/10, we weighed in a 25 pound striper caught at the sandbar at low tide in the river. On worms. Small worms because the digging tides are not good right now. Lots of reports of schoolies along the entire beach. Mostly on worms and clams. Some busy nights, some slow. Guys walking the refuge at sunrise are picking up a few bass and blues on plugs. Over the weekend, a guy on the south jetty reported that he had an amazing time, catching both bass and a lot of bluefish. Said he stopped counting at 50. Right place at the right time.

Boat:

Not many reports from inside the Merrimack. A few from the Plum Island Sound. Lots and Lots of bluefish in the mouth of the MR and out in 30-50 feet on water. Lots of dogfish and skate both from the boat and surf fishermen. A few mackeral showed up last week. The first time we had fresh mackeral for bait since late June. Not that many though, bluefish were scattering them around. Several guys have been trying for the footballs. Ed Fewtrell hooked up and it smoked his drag. He was fishing with George Bossi. The 200 pounder was caught by Jim Dudley (the man who put a big diamond ring on my finger last Christmas). He was fast trolling a big Yozuri Bonito lure on a small standup rig (Uglt Stik SU with Shimano TLD 25 with 50 pound Trilene Big Game mono. It measured 65 inches. The tuna was great tasting. A lot of work though.
At 6:00 this afternoon, a customer just came in and reported that he had caught a lot of bluefish. From the bell buoy out. Bossi just came in, he caught a lot of blues in 40 feet of water off high sandy (wildlife refuge).

[Surfland]

I can't believe I haven't been on since 9/13. The rainy Saturday was extremely busy. Rainy days tend to be fix it days. And this weekend was great.

Surf:

The wildlife refuge has been very good with the exception of Friday night. A lot of ground swells made the beach difficult to fish. Thursday night, several people got into bass on top water just around sunset. We weighed in a 13 pounder caught by Emily Noonan (daughter of John, PI surfcaster member) caught on my favorite popper, the Storm Chug Bug. Saturday night and all day Sunday, there were mixes of bass and blues reported by the beach buggy guys. One fisherman had a great time down at #7 around low tide. Have also heard reports of bass and blues off the jetty. Kay says there was a lot of fish around. Down on Sandy Point on the backside has been very productive also. Not hugh fish, but in the small keeper size. Everybody reporting in has had a great time.

Boat:

Report of pogies in the Plum Island Sound with bass and blues around. Lots of brine shrimp in the Merrimack River but no reports of bass. Lots of sandeels by Captain's and the sandbar. Birds are everywhere, seals are everywhere, haven't heard of any bass. Lots of bluefish outside though. Some people are saying that they are tired of catching blues. No news of mackeral, too many bluefish. No football tuna that I know of. Sighted some once the sun was high and water temp was up, but couldn't hook up. Great night to go fish eels on Cranes. See ya!

[Surfland]

It's 6:15 Saturday evening. Lots of blues down at the Jetties at the start of the incoming this morning. I was out checking my traps and saw a lot of boats start at the jetties and work their way toward the refuge. Bluefish heads make great lobster bait. Worms are the magic bait down off the oceanfront on the refuge. Mostly schoolies but a lot of action. We did weigh in a skinny 40 inch bass friday early evening from the refuge. Only weighed 20 pounds. Just also heard that there were some decent size bass in the mouth this morning at high tide taken on lures.

Saw a few boats in the mouth anchored on my way in. Didn't see any fish caught. I don't understand why boats anchor. There is a reason why there are names of runs like the "Salisbury drift". I have never set an anchor in the mouth, my father, brothers, or Jimmy have never set an anchor, nor have I fished with anyone who has set an anchor in the mouth. I don't get it.

See ya.
Martha

[Surfland]

Howdy,

It is Sunday, October 17. There are still fish around. Bluefish were caught this morning by boats in the mouth of the Merrimack River. Haven't heard of much for bass inside the river with a few exceptions up by chain Bridge. Only small schoolies. There have been a couple of bass along the southern end of the refuge and Crane's beach at night. Heard of some bluefish along the oceanfront on Wednesday.

For the surf fisherman, it has been a lot of fun. Most everything is schoolies, reports up to 30 inches. Saturday afternoon, we weighed in a 15 and 22 pound bass caught at Parking Lot #7. (15 pounder was on a popper and 22 pounder on bait) Incoming tide and outgoing revolving around high. Most all schoolies being reported are on plugs. Poppers and metal. The stillwater smack-it and the Charlie graves have been popular. Last weekend was very hot for a few guys. A lot of fish, small, but a lot of action. Bring waders and get in the water at number 6 and 7. Heard of fish Wednesday and Thursday as well as on Saturday. I have not heard of anything in the river off the beach.

Thanks, Martha

[Surfland]

I heard of four bluefish caught last Wednesday. Since then,
nobody has fished since last Thursday. That storm that stalled over us produced 5-10 feet waves. The beached was unfishable. Some people tried to fish on the backside of Sandy Point, but they had difficult there with the waves washing in. As of Wednesday of this week, there has been too much weed in the water to hold bottom with bait and plugs were dragging in weed. There is weed, trash, and balls of lobster pots rolling in.
A few guys I know are planning on trying the refuge beach tomorrow AM.
A sailboat was trying the enter the MR River on Saturday. The Coast Guard was called and advise the vessel not to enter on the outgoing tide. Too dangerous.

I will try to post if anything is caught on Friday or Saturday.
Martha

[Surfland]

Howdy

We got a couple of reports in.

Saturday on the incoming, there were a some schoolies caught at Parking lot #3 on the refuge using worms.

Heard of some fish in the Hampton area.

Mark Fulton called me to report that he caught a lot of schoolies in Marblehead.

Beautiful day today. Warm and humid. Last day for drive-on and many of the regulars have come down. Selling worms and clams. High tide is at 12:56 (Yesterday was 1:17, today is corrected for day savings).

Good luck!

[Surfland]

This is the first time I have logged on this year. Life is exceptionally busy. Only 25 more school days left.

The fish are in. Mostly on the oceanfront. Have heard of a few fish down the river at low tide but most everything has been on the oceanfront. the largest I have heard of was a 36 inch yesterday and a 34 inch today. Neil, who works here got 20 fish the other night in front of his house. The typical season starts with lead head jigs with shad or sluggos, bucktails, some metal. The 34 inch was on a 9inch sluggo with no weight (6AM-no wind-30 feet from shore--fly rodders would have had a great time this morning). This fisherman caught about 7 fish this morning. One customer ran in here about 2:00 this afternoon, asked for some Storm Live Mackeral and headed back to the jetties. Said he was having a great time. Ocean side.

Some small stripers in the Parker. Was fishing off my dad's Marina. VERY SMALL FISH but fun on light tackle.

Heard mackeral are 15 miles off shore.

Shad fishing has had good days and bad. Flutters are working at Rock Village Bridge. Heard of some shad also behind the old Spiro's in Lawrence area. Also heard of a 22 inch salmon caught at Rock Village.

A lot of people doing their shakedown cruises, but rough water.

[Surfland]

The crappy weather hasn't stopped the fish and there have been fish all over the place. Incredible amounts of very small fish 8"-18" and very hungry. Lots of schools of fish in that size range. Other schools have had fish as big as 36". Lead heads w/ shad, w/ sluggos, w/ sickle tail grubs, bucktail jigs, tin squids have all been producing fish. The biggest fish we have weighed in so far has been 36" and 15 pounds. Average weigh-ins have been 11-12 pounds.

Surf:
Guys casting along the oceanfront (PR Refuge Lot #1 to the jetty) have been doing well. Today, guys fishing off the ocean side of the jetty had a great time. Lots of fish averaging 25". Clams and worms have been the hot bait. Work high tide along the oceanfront and start fishing the mouth of the Merrimack two hours before and after low tide. Tough parking at the point because of the water and sewer lines going in. That is where they have been dumping all the sand they have been digging up. You can park up at the center (parking lot near us). If that is full, come back to us and ask about parking in our lot on the side. Right now at 5:50, the ocean is kicking up a little and will probably become too tough to fish tomorrow. Weed may start to move in down in the jetty pocket. Also, some guys reported that once they started catching fish, a few seals showed up and moved the fish around a couple of times this week.

Boat:
Guys have been doing well on the Salisbury side of the river by where the high tension wires were. Bucktail jigs (chartreuse), 9" sluggos (try w/out weight also), lead head with shad or tails. Drift -don't anchor. Inside (PI side) of Woodbridge Island is starting to produce. In the Plum Island Sound, reports of fish breaking around Dole Island (mouth of the Parker River).

Lots of fish. Heard of some big fish up towards Lawrence. Some shad up behind Spiros and at Rock Village bridge. Not too many reports about shad.

Overall lots of fish. Use jigs, lighten up the tackle, and have fun. Go fishing. We are starting to get the phone calls "Is it worth my time to come up?" Please.... that is why they call it fishing, not catching.

Have fun!!
Martha

[Surfland]

Howdy!

I went out fishing Sunday evening about 5-8:30. Caught lots and lots of very little bass on the Salisbury side drifting from Lunt's Rock up to the Ice Breaker. I used a chartruese Storm shad and a homemade chartruese jig. We moved over to the green can across from Shad Creek and drifted on the incoming tide. Did very well again with bigger fish up to about 25". Fly rod and light spinning. Fun but got cold fast.

This weather has really kicked up the surf. The oceanfront is impossible to fish. Monday morning and this morning, there were fish down at the river at low tide. Just got a phone call a couple of minutes ago that they are catching 30" fish right now (5:00 Tuesday night) down next to Captain's.

Our condolences to the Charos family of Captain's Fishing Parties. Chris (George's father) passed away on 5/19. He was a wonderful man. He was 88 years old and I would see him frequently for shrimp teasers. Or making the water run. And great old stories!! We will miss him. Chris must of kicked up this storm to enable the fishing season to stop for a couple of days to celebrate his life. Our thoughts are with the Charos'. Take care.
Martha

[Surfland]

Hi people!

I started a post last night and about 3 paragraphs in, I hit a button and deleted it all. So I will start again.

Great weekend for fishing but too many people fishing in too small a space. But the first timers and rookies were very excited and a few weighed in their first keeper. We ran out of fresh and frozen clams as well as worms. We had some fresh mackeral and herring to hold us over though.

Lots of fish off the surf during the past few days. Largest fish off the shore was a 28 pounder. However, rumor has it that the fisherman took his kayak or float tube to get to a sandbar (inside the PI sound or MR). Since 6/1, we had weighed in about 10 fish from 15 to 22 pounds from off the surf. A few more in the 10-14 pound range. Spro jigs, Storm Saltwater shad, Storm mackeral, and Charlie Graves have been hot for lures. Clams and worms are always hot. Chunk baits are starting to work.

Biggest fish off the boat was a 33 pounder. This fisherman snagged one live pogie and caught a 33. In the ocean, outside the PI sound. Also, weighed in a 26 pounder from the MR mouth. Guys are starting to drift with chunks and whole mackeral (tinkers are the favorite, but tough to get). Heard reports that a lot of people anchored this Sunday and the Coast Guard was having a fit. REMEMBER PLEASE!!! EVERYONE SHOULD BE DRIFTING. FISH SWIM. FISHERMEN WHO KNOW BEST, ALWAYS DRIFT. I had one customer tell me that he didn't trust his engine-- then he has no business being in the mouth of one of the most dangerous river entrances on the East coast.

[Surfland]

This is a continuation. I don't know if I ran out of room or hit the wrong button again, but I figured I had better hit post.

Anyways, the Coast Guard says it is illegal to anchor in a channel. The mouth of the river is a channel. Please drift. Everyone will be happy.

Saturday night, my brother and boyfriend were trying eels. About 7 keepers, 30" to 40" range.

As I am writing this, Bob Smith is out on the front beach right now using his Charlie's and doing well. Having fun.

Low tide is the hot tide. Two hours before and after low at the mouth of the MR. From Captain's to the jetty. Incoming and high along the oceanfront.

Great fishing and it will only get better for June. Take care.
Martha

[Surfland]

Howdy,

Martha here.

It is 8:50 Friday night. We got 700 pounds of clams in today. Hopefully, that makes it through the weekend.

Lots and lots of fish. Just now, we are weighing in a 22 pound 15 ounce striper caught down at the river on the outgoing. This fisherman is Ralph Upchurch and he lives in Brookline. He rents a house here for a week. He reported that he has caught 14 keepers. He has fished every tide. On 6/8, he weighed in a 26 pounder (41"). Since I was online last, there have been about 10 nice fish weighed in.

Also again, one of our PI charter boats, The Leading Star, brought their day's catch in to weigh up. 10 cod weighing in at 39 pounds, 41 lbs., 33lbs., 45, 38, 32, 33, 24, 30, and 26. Anybody wanting to fish with Captain Leo Stevens, give us a call and we will give you his number.

It's 9:12 and we are closing. Remember, there are great low tides this weekend, But I think the boat traffic has a lot to do with the fishing. A lot of boats going in and out of the river and it is a fairly narrow channel. Fish probably don't enjoy that much turbulance in the water.

[Surfland]

Howdy,

It is Monday evening at 7:20. School's out and I am at Surfland FULL time. Sorry that is has been so long since my last report. We have been very busy and I can't seem to catch up on the reel repair/cleanings.

The sad news is that the bluefish are here. Great for pluggers, but they scatter the mackeral. We haven't been able to get any fresh mackeral for about a week. The blues have been running the oceanfront more at sunrise than at sunset. Billy D. (who works for us) was done at Sandy Point -oceanfront- at 6AM and had a blast today. All blues on top water and tins. One small bass. Reports of blues at Sandy Point on Sunday AM also. There are been some picked up at Parking Lot #1 and north towards the jetty. As the tide turns around to come in, there have been a few between the jetties. For boaters, snapper blues on Joppa chopping those 9" Sluggos in half. Outside the mouth on the right, between the green cans, by the new sandbar out there. And anywhere you try to jig up some mackeral.

Bluefish are lots and lots of fun, but they are a little early. The water seems to have warmed up very quickly. They are great to have when the summer lull with the bass begins. So please don't take offense when I say they are sad news. They are just a little early. Be prepared and enjoy them. Use lures to have the most fun. Don't forget the wire leaders or a shock leader. Try Duolock snaps or Breakaway clips for your lures. Nothing like a bluefish in a frenzy chasing a Ballistic Missile.

As for bass, they are either BIG or very small. All day today, there were lots of small bass being caught down at parking lot #1 on clams and worms. This is true for the river at low tide. Mixed in with these small bass, seem to be some very nice stripers. Today, we weighed in a 32 pounder caught out by the MR Buoy on a whole mackeral. On Friday, we weighted in a 30 pounder caught on a clam belly off the point by the old sandbar by our Shakespeare rep. Very nice fish. Another fisherman weighed in a 27 pounder he caught on the flats in his kayak. The same day, a 24 pounder came of the jetty. Earlier, last week, lots of fish in the 15 to 25 pound range came in. The transition from clams/worms to chunk herring/mackeral is starting to take place. On or near the jetties are the site for larger bass.

On Joppa, night tides seems to be better than the morning tides lately. Big sluggos, live eels, and floating worms have done well. I had a report of some big carp hanging out in the grass towards the Audubon building.

It was exceptionally difficult to fish here this past weekend. Lots of people, both fisherman and beachgoers. Not enough parking. Some people reported that hundreds of boats were in the Merrimack. Lots of tangled lines. Please be patient with everybody. I will gladly work every weekend and do the 15 hour shift to have my time off during the week. I am one of the lucky few. I headed out to fish on Wednesday AM just as the rain and wind started. Short trip.

There have been reports of some pogies (AKA: bunker, menhaden) in the mouth of the Merrimack and PI Sound. A couple were snagged and used to catch some stripers. Hopefully, we will see more of them.

Also, reports of flounder coming in. In the "cove" at the mouth of the Merrimack. Out in front in 30 feet of water---DRIFTING. Off the beach to the right of us to parking lot #1. No reports of fluke yet.

Hope this was helpful and I will try to post again soon. Thanks!
Martha

[Surfland]

Sorry, it has been so long since the last post.

Big fish are becoming finicky and it starting to transition to night fishing. Still, lots of small schoolies cruising around. Low tide down at the mouth of the MR. Some guys are using worms along the oceanfront at night and picking up lots of schoolies.

I have heard of some bigger fish on and around the flats at night with eels or worms. I plan on trying some eels at night along the south end of PI and Cranes. I'll let you know.

Boat/Kayakers are using short tube and worms on the flats and doing well.

Bluefish are around. Guys plugging along the oceanfront at sunrise are picking some up. At the turn of the tide on the incoming between the jetties. Boats can find them everywhere. Go try to chum up some mackeral and you will get bluefish and dogfish. No mackeral are being reported.

Dogfish are being a huge pain if you are cod or haddock fishing.

Reports of good flounder fishing. Off the oceanfront at Parking Lot #1. Inside the "cove" at the mouth. Boats are finding them inside the river and along the bar outside the south jetty. Drift with worms.

Herring is getting increasingly difficult to get. The boats are not finding them or if they do, the herring are late spawners and spoiling quickly.

Take care.
Martha

[Surfland]

Hi folks,

Sorry I have not reported for a while. We have had the typical summer lull, but it is over. I have been continuously busy but have been able to take two days and fish for fluke down in RI. Didn't catch much fluke. Caught more scup than fluke but had lots of fun. Towed a boat down and fished out off Point Judith. Then I had another two days off and went to Martha's Vineyard. Tried to see if there was any bonito off the shore but not quite yet. I have an aunt who lives on the Vineyard and a step-daughter on Nantucket. I got the best of both worlds.

Anyways, I just started back at school today. I'm already tired. I'm down a the shop now, just finished cleaning a few lobsters and have been meaning to sit down and give out some info.

Lots and lots of baitfish around. We have identified alewives, herring, and peanut bunker. The bass and blues have been chasing them up and down the oceanfront. From the ocean side of the south jetty down to Emerson Rocks. Blues in one frenzy, bass in another, and blues and bass together in another. If you are in the right place at the right time, and the gods are with you, the fishing is amazing. But the fish are proving to be a little smarter lately. If they are at Parking Lot #1 on Saturday morning, they are at the south jetty the next morning, and #3 the next. Sunrise and sunset have been both productive times.

Today we heard of some decent size bass inside the mouth. Boats have been in the mouth and along the beach. Can't miss.

I have also been trying for some football tuna. Haven't had enough opportunities to get out there. (I should have stayed around here, instead of traveling). People have been catching them anywhere from inside Ipswich Bay to 15-20 miles out.

Some have been caught trolling Yozuri Bonitos and similar stuff, trolling squid bars, etc. Billy, who works here, has caught two. One 62 pounder on a 9" pearl Storm Shad. Those who are casting are using everything. Some poppers and lots of metal. Fly guys are also doing well.

Remember, you have to have an angling permit to target these fish. Go on the National Marine Fisheries Service Permit Shop. Costs $22.00. Bargin.

Sorry again about the delay in reports. But the fishing is picking up. Enjoy!
Martha