Hey Everyone!
Sorry for the long gaps in Merrimack River fishing reports but we have been very busy out fishing and catching stripers! I'll give a quick review of some recent happenings....Striper fishing in Newburyport remains very consistent with most trips bending rods with all the fish you want in the 26" - 27.5" range with anywhere between 1 - 4 keepers in the mix with an occasional day of more keepers. It's super fun as we always use light tackle!
The Donahue boys cleaned up last Monday with 10 keepers in Newburyport! Their technique was flawless as they hooked nearly every bite they got!
There have been blasts of some bigger class fish dropping back from Lawrence chasing the hordes of 5" herring we have been blessed with this year! Also, we have consistently running into pogies the past two weeks! We haven't got them in recent years in the numbers we have been seeing but they are BIG baits and are usually followed by BIG fish. Mackerel, however, has been a different story...it has been difficult as a few waves of bluefish have made a run in the past week and made scared them away. I know of a few bluefish that have actually been caught and experienced two bite off's myself while drifting for stripers. Hopefully they start making appearances in their "regular" spots but until then I HIGHLY suggest booking a 6.5 hour striped bass charter as it gives us time to go to where the live mackerel are at the moment.
Al (or as we called him "Ray" as in a Ray of sunshine lol!) with a nice 35" caught in the Merrimack River on Manolin Charters!
I'm going to try to take a day next week and go scout the scene for sharks. There is still a ton of porbeagles around and even though they are super cool, I'm hoping the blue sharks move in soon. Today is July 5th and they should be in pretty solidly by next week. If you are looking to tug on one of these bad boys book a shark charter out of Newburyport! Don't forget, Manolin came in 2nd place last year in the Newburyport Shark and Tuna Tournament!
Cam and Ethan to go along with a TON of 26 - 27" fish aboard Manolin Charters in Newburyort!
Here are some pics from the past couple weeks.
Despite the weirdest daily weather changes, Brian and the boys made it count on their north shore fishing charter!
John with a nice keeper to go along with a good mix of schoolies on his trip!
Casey bagged a keeper for Meg to cook aboard Manolin Charters in Newburyport!icheM
Michelle and her family came back for a third straight year and had 6 keepers, all released, including this 35" in the Merrimack River on their charter
Harry! Pogies are for stripers! Snagging some pogies that have been invading Plum Island and Salisbury.
Bob and his sons from Sunday afternoon limiting out on stripers on their Merrimack River Charter!
Adam banging out a nice 33"! See you again next week!
Nice pic by JJ of a 27" caught live lining a mackerel in the Merrimack River
Speaking of JJ..here he is with a keepah in the Merrimack River. See you on Saturday for another trip on Manolin Charters!
Another keeper on Manolin Charters! Had a bunch just miss the cut this day at 27"
Striped bass fear the Donahues! Back on their second trip this season, the boys did work today with 6 keepers and about 30 fish!
Tight Lines,
Captain Chris
I even snuck in some time for myself and grabbed this 43" fishing the area!