Frank Dwyer Outdoors

Thank You First Light Anglers!

2011-04-22T11:09:00.001-05:00

This is a great thing that a local shop is doing for us all!

LINK

2011 Massachussetts Massachusetts Saltwater Recreational Fishing Guide Available

2011-02-19T10:53:00.002-05:00

From the Division of Marine Fisheries Website:

This annual guide is designed to provided basic information about the Commonwealth's recreational fishing opportunities.

You can get it in PDF Version Here.

The Fighter Trailer - That's My Girl!

2010-09-17T20:13:00.001-05:00

My daughter Caitlin play's Kasie Ward, Micky Ward's (Mark Wahlberg) in the soon to be released movie The Fighter. We are all very proud of Caitlin!

Fish cashing in on last weeks of summer

2010-08-24T21:02:00.000-05:00

Fish cashing in on last weeks of summer

Plenty of options for Anglers - Even in this Heat

2010-08-05T18:10:00.001-05:00

BY Frank G. Dwyer
Publication Date: August 6, 2010

I’m still jittery and having dreams about that big tuna that got away on Stellwagen a few weeks back and hoping to get another shot soon. You should try to get out as well, since fishing has been quite good as August goes.

Some big stripers are still being taken at night from Marblehead to Portsmouth by patient anglers, with plenty of other fish out there to target as well.

Marblehead: (3 hooks) It may sound like Zeppelin’s The Song Remains the Same, but if you want to catch striped bass, you need to get out at niht. Eels, cut bait and plugs are all taking fish from the beaches in Marblehead as well as around the Neck. Bluefish activity has been good during the day if your enjoy rumbling with the toothy ones as I do.

Salem: (3 hooks) Give the North and Bass Rivers a shot at night as both spin and fly anglers report an uptick in schoolie activity at dawn and after dark. The Danvers River has done well for anglers using sluggos and other soft plastics. Salem Harbor has seen a bit of a decrease in mackerel and Pogie numbers, but bass fishing is still OK in the area if you keep at it.

Beverly: (3 hooks) The Beverly Fishing Pier has been giving up bass at dusk on sea worms and clams. Anglers have also found some bluefish off the West Beach and Islands area, while anglers have reported a pickup in activity in the Kernwood and Ober Park areas.

Cape Ann: (4 hooks) Bluefish remain somewhat abundant around the Cape as mackerel are still quite thick. Good Harbor beach has seen several big surface feeds this week with a mix of bass and blues in the mix. In the outer harbor and just outside the breakwater, bluefish have been busting and taking most offerings. Poppers and metal lures have been taking fish on every cast when you get on them. Further north, Rockport beaches are also producing bass, mostly at night on cut bait or eels. Some anglers have had success with large wooden poppers reeled at irregular and slow speeds. Anglers heading out to Thachers and beyond have reported many tuna sightings with fewer hook ups, but just seeing them makes you crazy to get out there again. Party boats have been into a good mix of cod, haddock and pollock.

Ipswich: (3 hooks) Pavilion and Crane Beach continue to be your best bet for both bass and some bluefish. Anglers have had good luck on metals like Kastmaster’s as well as smaller popping plugs with a buck tail teaser. Even bait dunkers have been getting decent hits from the beach this week.

Newbury: (3 hooks) I hate to sound like a broken record, but getting out on the beaches of the Parker River NWR before dusk is your best bet for a bass around Newbury. Clams, eels and worms have all been taking fish. The activity in and around the Parker seems to have slowed considerably.

Newburyport / Plum Island: (4 hooks) Joppa Flats has had skittish fish wary of most offerings on the morning tides this week, but eels and tube-n-worm set ups have been working well at night. Bluefish are somewhat closer to shore with beach catches on the rise. Flounder and Fluke are still around, but numbers seem to be dwindling a bit. Bluefish are still quite prevalent and mackerel are still around our area. Tuna fishing on Tillies and Stellwagen is still hopping, with plenty of hook up’s but not all fish getting on the boat. David Moulton (yes, Kay from Surfland’s son) landed a 52 pound bass from a boat last week in the river! Matthew O’Leary of Newburyport hooked and landed two 16 pound bluefish just outside the mouth of the Merrimack River (at the same time!) during boat camp on the Erica Lee. Not too shabby for an 11 year-old! (Photo)

Salisbury, MA: (3 hooks) Keep trying that fairly under-fished Salisbury Beach front for blues during the day on Ballistic Missiles or Rangers and bass by night on eels, clams and cut bait. If you want to cross up your lines, get into arguments and raise your blood pressure, feel free to head over to the river front off the State Reservation.

Seacoast, NH: (4 hooks) There is a lot of small bait fish in the water around Portsmouth and Rye, making hooking up with fish on artificial’s a bit more challenging, but not impossible. Bass are chasing herring, mackerel and silversides so your offering should resemble one of these bass treats. Small metal lures and sluggos have been working best around the mouth of the Piscataqua and all around Rye, including off the harbor jetties. North Hampton beaches have also been fishing well at night. Bigger stripers are taking live-lined macks out by the Isle of Shoals while Tuna fishing in the Gulf of Maine remains strong.

Tip of the Week: Keep it Clean: You need to fresh water rinse ALL your gear after each extended foray into the surf. Saltwater is extremely corrosive and it’s always a good idea to splash down your rods, reels, hooks and lures to ensure maximum catch numbers.

Blues, tuna and stripers all can be had in local waters

2010-07-30T08:15:00.002-05:00

Blues, Tuna and Stripers can all be had in local waters.

BY Frank G. Dwyer

When the sun goes down, it's time to start fishing

2010-07-23T09:46:00.001-05:00

When the sun goes down, it's time to start fishing

Midsummer heat sends fish into the deep

2010-07-16T07:55:00.001-05:00

Midsummer heat sends fish into the deep

Blues on the move-scattering the bait

2010-07-02T11:33:00.005-05:00

Bluefish are on the move, as are the bait fish.

Fishing in full throttle as blues move in

2010-06-26T12:17:00.000-05:00

Eagle Tribune Column - June 25, 2010

Fishing in full throttle as blues move in

Weekend Promises Good Weather and Better Fishing

2010-06-17T00:44:00.003-05:00

BY Frank G. Dwyer
Publication Date: June 18, 2010
The Father’s Day weekend weather forecast looks great and should help provide for some great fishing. There’s no shortage of fish around the North Shore and anglers should find plenty of options.

The tuna bite is officially on off-shore while flounder, bluefish and bass are providing terrific inshore action for shore and boat fishermen alike.

Marblehead: (3 hooks) Devereux and Singing beach have been hit or miss for surfcasters this week but anglers fishing in and around the harbor have found surface feeding bass around Fort Sewall, Lady’s Cove and Chandler Hovey Park.

Salem: (4 hooks) There have been a multitude of surface feeding bass in Salem Harbor this week, and anglers lucky enough to catch one have found the fish quite cooperative. The bass are chasing herring and mackerel and top water plugs, metals and sluggos were all working and live mackerel helped anglers find the bigger fish. Some bluefish have been in the mix, but they have not overrun the area just yet.

Beverly: (4 hooks) Both Dane Street Beach and West Beach have seen surface feeding bass this week which are willing to take most offerings from anglers. Mackerel have been taken from the pier this week and we all know that’s good for striped bass fishing! Fishing around Lynch Park is also a good bet.

Cape Ann: (4 hooks) Mackerel are still available around the cape, mostly at first light. There are also lots of small herring in the water which has made bass fishing quite good over the last week. Surfcasters working the rocks around Magnolia have found bass taking most offerings including sluggos, deadly dicks and top water plugs. Boaters have found large bass by Dog Bar Breakwater, Halibut Point and off Lane’s Cove. Bluefish have also started to show in more numbers and bait anglers have been fending off more and more dogfish. Rockport beaches are fishing well with bait at night while the Essex River fishing has slowed a bit. Party boats have had good action for Cod, Haddock and Pollock while Tuna fishing on Stellwagen and Tillies is on the up-tick.

Ipswich: (4 hooks) Pavillion Beach has been fishing well for mid-sized bass with the occasional keeper thrown in. Sand eel patterns for fly fishermen are deadly right now and un-weighted sluggos are working well too. Crane and Steep Hill continue to fish well at dusk, overnight and at dawn.

Newbury: (3 hooks) Plum Island Sound has been hit or miss this week and a few bluefish have made their way into the sound. The Parker is still giving up schoolies, mostly in low light hours and Sandy Point has been good for bait fishermen.

Newburyport / Plum Island: (4 hooks) Joppa Flats remains very hot for large bass at night. Eels and tube and worm are working best for 25+ pound bass. Anglers drifting the outgoing tide from the Toothpick to the mouth of the river have found excellent bass action, especially with live mackerel. Shore anglers are getting in on the action as well on the outgoing tide near the sandbar at Plum Island Point. Beyond bait, metal lures like Hopkins and Kastmasters are also hammering the fish. Flounder fishing remains strong along the Plum Island Beachfront with shore anglers also limiting out! Party boats have been having great success with cod, haddock and Pollock. The tuna action is heating up on Stellwagen, especially around the NWC, while Tillies is also providing tuna action, mostly on the southern side.

Salisbury, MA: (3 hooks) Keeper bass have been taken off Salisbury beach this week on eels and black sluggos. Top water plugs are also attracting bass. A few stray bluefish are in the mix near the mouth of the river and flounder limits are still being caught just off the beach.

Seacoast, NH: (4 hooks) The mackerel are thick from Seabrook to Kittery and bass are there for the taking. The best fishing has been around the Great Bay and throughout the Piscataqua river system. Anglers are using Sabiki rigs outside the mouth and then live lining mackerel for bass to 40 pounds. Eels have been working upriver and around the Bay at night. Ground fishing has also been good for the party fleet and anglers spending the gas money in search of Tuna have found them on Stellwagen and the footballs should be on Tantas Ledge any day.

TIP OF THE WEEK: No Bananas! The reasons are many, some more reasonable than others, but any angler worth his salt knows to NEVER bring bananas or anything remotely related to bananas on a boat when going fishing. (Related items could be Banana Boat sunscreen, Banana muffins, etc...) Bananas are considered bad luck for numerous reasons and you’ll save yourself a lot of grief by staying away when fishing on a boat.

Don't let wet weather stop you from casting a line

2010-06-11T18:31:00.001-05:00

Don't let wet weather stop you from casting a line

Bigger bass chasing newly arrived baitfish

2010-06-04T07:38:00.007-05:00

BY Frank G. Dwyer
Publication Date: 5/28/2010

Fishing is really starting to pick up as bait is becoming more abundant in North Shore waters and attracting larger bass.

One word of caution: There have been two drownings in the Merrimack River in the last two weeks. Neither was fishing-related, but they are another reminder that the waters we fish can be quite dangerous. Know your surroundings and please be careful and use common sense out there.

Marblehead: Fishing the harbor this week on the outgoing tide has been consistent for bass over 25 inches. Closer to shore, the Neck has provided good action for bass for fly and spin anglers alike. Try poppers during the day, Sluggos at night.

Salem: The Salem Harbor entrance has seen several surface feeds of hungry bass. Poppers via spin or fly rods have been working best. Mackerel have been active around the islands so if you can get a few and live-line them, you will likely find yourself with a keeper-sized bass. Flounder catches are on the rise just outside the harbor.

Beverly: Striped bass are being taken in the environs around the Beverly-Salem Bridge, with small flies and Sluggos working best. The areas around West Beach and Endicott College have been fishing quite well, especially at sunrise. Mackerel were taken this week off the Beverly Fishing Pier.

Cape Ann: Fishing has been great from Magnolia to Essex as bass and bait become more abundant around the Cape. Just outside the breakwater to Thacher's, there have been good schools of mackerel to attract bass. Larger bass have been taken in deeper water off Halibut Point with both tube-n-worm set ups and bait working well. The Annisquam continues to provide good fishing action, especially around deeper holes. Rockport Beaches are fishing well and the Essex River also has been good for striper activity.

Ipswich: (3 hooks) Pavilion Beach and Crane Beach have both been fishing well, especially in the early morning or after sundown. Top-water activity persists at both beaches, with the mouth of the Ipswich also yielding its fair share of fish.

Newbury: The backside of Plum Island has been fishing well around high tide. Fishermen have found top-water plugs and lures as well as soft plastics working well. The Parker River continues to fish quite nicely from the 1A Bridge out to Plum Island Sound.

Newburyport/Plum Island: Fishing from Deer Island to the mouth of the Merrimack has been good this week, with more bait arriving and larger bass in pursuit. Anglers drifting worms, clams and chunks by Deer Island and the I-95 bridge have found keeper bass, especially at night. Joppa continues to please fly and spin fishermen as larger bass feed on the surface and take most offerings. The oceanfront has been producing but has been hit or miss, with the rising tide the best time to fish. Plum Island Point continues to yield keeper-sized bass, especially on the last two hours on either side of the low tide. Flounder catches are increasing along the Plum Island beachfront and party boats report a consistent pick of good-sized cod.

Salisbury: Boat fishermen bouncing worms have been limiting out on flounder just off Salisbury Beach. Bass fishing has been good from the banks of the State Reservation with worms, clams and chunks working best.

New Hampshire Seacoast: (2 hooks) Fishing is still a tad slow in the Granite State, but as bait continues to increase, I'd expect in the next week that from Seabrook to Portsmouth fishing will improve greatly. Bass have been taken off the beach in North Hampton as well as at Rye. Jigs, Sluggos and flies have all been working. The Great Bay area has provided bass opportunities for the patient angler, while striper activity in and around the Piscataqua has definitely improved. Cod catches have been good off the Isles of Shoals.

Tip of the Week: In case of emergency

Whether you are heading out to fish on a boat, jetty, sandbar or anywhere else, always let a few folks know where you are and your time-line for return in case of emergency.

Wolffish ugly, tasty, but not endangered | SeacoastOnline.com

2010-05-29T09:20:00.000-05:00

Wolffish ugly, tasty, but not endangered | SeacoastOnline.com

Bigger bass arrive; blues not far behind them

2010-05-28T07:44:00.002-05:00

Bigger bass arrive; blues not far behind them

Holiday Weekend Should Provide Excellent Fishing Opportunities

2010-05-27T03:58:00.007-05:00

BY Frank G. Dwyer
Publication Date: 5/28/2010

Fishing has been slowly improving with bigger bass arriving and bluefish biting south of Boston. Flounder catches are on the uptick and the Cod boats are doing well.

I mentioned it last week, but you need to register to fish in saltwater this year. You can register by calling 888-674 7411 or visiting countmyfish.noaa.gov to do it online.

Enjoy your time on the water this Memorial Day weekend!

Marblehead: (2 hooks) Keep checking out on the Neck as fish have been just within casting distance this week taking most small to mid-sized offerings. Devereux beach has also been producing larger bass at night, especially for bait fishermen.

Salem: (3 hooks) Just outside Salem Harbor has seen many surface feeds over the last week. Small plastics, and medium profile flies stripped fast have been taking striped bass to 25 inches. Shore anglers have found cooperative bass around Winter Island.

Beverly: (2 hooks) Fishermen have been finding their limit of flounder around Beverly Harbor with depths of 15-25 ft working best. Sea worms and clams are attracting these flatties. Bass have also been taken around the harbor, but more sporadically, while fishing off West Beach and around the islands has been good for fly fishermen and spin anglers alike.

Cape Ann: (3 hooks) Surf fishermen casting bait from Singing Beach have found cooperative bass at night and just before dawn. Cut bait, sea worms and clams are all taking fish. Further north, the Magnolia/Gloucester coastline is heating up as more and more bass arrive, with bigger fish arriving every day. Most of the beaches from Gloucester to Essex are also yielding fish and some big fish are still being taken in the Annisquam and Essex. Mackerel have been abundant and easy to find and have led to some larger bass being taken outside the breakwater. Cod fishing for the fleet has been good.

Ipswich: (2 hooks) Steep Hill and Crane Beach have been fishing well as larger stripers seem to have arrived. Fly fishermen throwing clousers and the like have had good success as have spin fishermen with mid-sized plugs and metals. The mouth of the river has seen a few surface feeds this week.

Newbury: (2 hooks) Plum Island Sound striper activity has definitely picked up with sporadic surface feeding bass. Some anglers have reported good bass activity on chunks drifting their boats near Emerson Rocks. The Parker still has plenty of small bass for the taking.

Newburyport / Plum Island: (3 hooks) Fishing upriver of Route 1, anglers have found cooperative shoolies on the moving tides all the way up to the Route 95 bridge. Small flies, sluggos and top water plugs have all tallied bass for this angler this week. Joppa flats has started to see more action from both spin anglers and fly fishermen, with the outgoing tide fishing best. Mackerel are just starting to show up, but mostly off shore a few miles. The ocean front has been less predictable but bass, to keeper-size, have been taken on the front beach, both on jigs and bait. There have been sporadic reports of flounder catches just outside the mouth of the Merrimack. The party boats are keeping customers busy with excellent cod action.

Salisbury, MA: (2 hooks) The crowds have increased substantially fishing from the banks of the river at the Salisbury State Reservation, but if you can stand the crowds, you are likely to find striped bass on the moving tides. Sea worms and clams with heavy weight have attracted bass as have larger sluggos bounced along the bottom on lead heads. Avoid the crowds and try your luck on the vast expanse of Salisbury’s ocean front.

Seacoast, NH: (2 hooks) Mackerel are around the Granite State waters, but not in large numbers just yet, however the striped bass activity has been getting better with fishing from Hampton to Portsmouth getting better with each tide. The Piscataqua in Portsmouth has become more active and many are catching decent sized bass on swimming lures and soft baits. Bait fishermen have also found bass off the beach from North Hampton to Rye. Cod trips have been coming back with good hauls.

TIP OF THE WEEK: Often anglers cast their jig or plug and start retrieving immediately. Let your lure or jig settle first, then experiment with your retrieve speeds. You’ll find that different timings will work depending on tide, time of day and weather.

Stripers are back but don't forget to register

2010-05-23T13:24:00.002-05:00

Stripers are back but don't forget to register

Posted using ShareThis

Fish are Showing Up in More Numbers

2010-05-20T00:02:00.001-05:00

Frank G. Dwyer
Publication Date: 5/21/2010

Welcome to the 2010 fishing season!

Please be advised that you need to register to fish in saltwater this year. It is likely the first step towards a saltwater fishing license. You can register by calling 888-674 7411 or visiting countmyfish.noaa.gov to do it online. You will receive a National Saltwater Angler Registry card and number and if asked you will need to show it to the EP’s or Fishery Manager’s.

The season is just getting underway north of Boston and based on early reports, fishing is improving every day.
Marblehead: (2 hooks) Rock hoppers in Marblehead have found cooperative striped bass around Castle Rock on the Neck with small to mid-sized schoolies taking small flies, plastics on small lead heads and small swimming lures. Fly anglers have found quickly stripped small flies to be working best. Reports have bait taking some keeper sized bass off local beaches.

Salem: (2 hooks) Bait has been seen in and around the Harbor this week in Salem and fish have been taken by anglers willing to spend the time. Bass have been taken from shore off Winter Island as well as near Salem Willows; however most bass have been small. The warm weather over the next few days should turn the fishing on.

Beverly: (2 hooks) There have been some early season surface feeds off West Beach, as well as in the Harbor, but the fish have been somewhat finicky. The areas around Kernwood Bridge as well as Ober Park have been providing anglers with decent action for small bass.

Cape Ann: (3 hooks) The local rivers have been producing bass for some time now with your best bet being the Annisquam or Little river. Additionally, you’ll find bass along the shore from Magnolia to Rockport, with small plastics, swimming lures and even metal picking up bass. Fly fishermen are also having good luck around the Cape. In Rockport, fish have been taken from Cape Hedge, Front and Pebble Beach. The Essex River has also been a good producer as bass continue to feed upon their arrival.

Ipswich: (2 hooks) Crane Beach and the Ipswich River are heating up as surface feeds continue to appear as recently as Wednesday evening. The fish are feeding on micro bait and possibly juvenile herring, so keep with the small profile lures and flies.

Newbury: (2 hooks) The Parker River has been holding good numbers of striped bass this past week, with small flies stripped fast and small plastics working well. Reports have fast moving pods of schoolies appearing sporadically in Plum Island Sound.

Newburyport / Plum Island: (3 hooks) The environs around Plum Island are absolutely heating up with your best bet being the river near the mouth or on the ocean front. Fishermen need to put in time as the fish are somewhat finicky and moving quickly. Pods of fish have made appearances on both the front beach and the river over the last week, with stripers to 25 pounds being landed. These fish are hungry, but a tad finicky, but soft plastics and sea worms have been producing best. Joppa Flats has been fishing well, with fly fishermen tallying the most bass. Upriver, the flats and area north of the Gillis Bridge have yielded some bass, but stick closer to the ocean for the upcoming week. The party boats are running and reporting decent Cod action.

Salisbury, MA: (2 hooks) Salisbury Beach is actually fishing well as is the area by the Toothpick and North Jetty. Enjoy the area off the State Reservation now as once Memorial Day arrives, the crowd’s will be here to stay. Sea worms, buck tail jigs and sluggos have been most effective on both the river and oceanfront.

Seacoast, NH: (1 hook) The Granite State is always a few weeks behind us, and this year is no different. While fish are around, most catches have been taken in the river systems around Hampton and Portsmouth, and typically well upriver. The ocean temps are still a bit chilly, but expect the ocean fishing to get better as we work towards Memorial Day.

TIP OF THE WEEK: If you are out fishing this new season with last year’s line, do yourself a favor and re-spool those reels with fresh line. You’ll thank me in the summer when you don’t lose that 40 pounder due to frayed line.

Saltwater Fishing "Registry" This Year = Saltwater Fishing Fishing License Next Year

2010-05-11T20:47:00.001-05:00

Might as well get used to carrying the little card you can have sent to you from here, because when you read the below excerpt from this, you'll see why:

In 2006, the United States Congress amended the Magnuson-Stevens Act to require a national recreational saltwater fishing registry. Congress charged the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) with creating the registry, which scientists could access to improve recreational fishing data and fisheries management. Under the federal system, saltwater anglers must register online or by telephone in 2010. Beginning in 2011, federal registration will cost from $15 to $25 in states that do not have a saltwater permit systems.

The federal legislation included a provision allowing states to create their own saltwater fishing permit systems in lieu of participation in the federal registry. The law signed by Governor Patrick enables the Department of Fish and Game’s Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) to require saltwater anglers to purchase a saltwater fishing permit beginning in January 2011.

Under the new state law, the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) will propose an individual permit fee of $10, with revenue from permit sales deposited into a state Marine Recreational Fisheries Development Fund administered by DMF in consultation with a newly created Marine Recreational Fisheries Development Panel. The revenue will pay for data collection and administration of the permitting program, programs to improve public access for recreational fishing, and better fisheries management.

FishFinder Returns May 21

2010-05-03T18:46:00.004-05:00

Look for the FishFinder to return to thein the Lawrence Eagle Tribune, Newburyport Daily News, Gloucester Daily Times and the Salem News on Friday 5/21.

You can also find me on Facebook as well.

Until then, here's a hint....fresh stripers have been taken as far north as Plum Island, so get out there!

Free this year, next year not so much...

2010-05-01T21:06:00.003-05:00

From Mass.GOV Division of Marine Fisheries:

New federal law [Magnuson-Stevens Act Reauthorization of 2006, Saltwater Angler Registry Final Rule - NOAA Fisheries] requires most saltwater recreational fishermen to be documented in 2010. Massachusetts fishermen will be required to register with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). However, recently enacted state law, “An Act Instituting Saltwater Fishing Licenses”, enables MarineFisheries to build and implement a permitting program for 2011 and beyond that will exempt the Commonwealth’s saltwater recreational anglers from the federal registry. The new state law triggers a transition from the federal registry in 2010 to the state’s marine recreational fishing permit program in 2011.

Trout are Good Practice until the Striped Bass Get Here!

2010-04-27T01:51:00.000-05:00

Trout Stocking has begun and you can find these little fish all over the Bay State. So regardless if you fly, spin or bait fish, there's plenty out there to catch.

You can keep up-to-date on the most recently stocked waters by vising the MassWildlife Site. Over the last two weeks, the following waters have been stocked according to MassWildlife:

Town / Stocked Waters (As of 4/19/2010)
------------------------------------------------------------------

Acton	Fort Pond Brook, Nashoba Brook
Andover	Shawsheen River
Ashland	Sudbury River
Bedford	Shawsheen River
Billerica	Shawsheen River
Boxboro	Fort Pond Brook, Guggins Brook
Byfield	Parker River
Dover	Charles River
Georgetown	Parker River
Groton	Squannacook River
Hopkinton	Sudbury River, Whitehall Reservoir
Ipswich	Ipswich River
Lynn	Sluice Pond
Medway	Charles River
Middleton	Ipswich River
Millis	Charles River
Natick	Charles River
Norfolk	Charles River
North Reading	Ipswich River
Pepperell	Nissitissit River
Shirley	Squannacook River
Tewksbury	Shawsheen River, Strongwater Brook
Topsfield	Ipswich River
Townsend	Squannacook River
Wilmington	Ipswich River, Shawsheen River

Town / Stocked Waters (As of 4/12/2010)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Ashby	Locke Brook, Pearl Hill Brook, Souhegan River, Trapfall Brook, Upper Wrights Pond, Willard Brook
Ayer	Bennetts Brook
Boxford	Fish Brook, Pye Brook
Canton	Massapoag Brook, Ponkapoag Brook
Carlisle	River Meadow Brook
Chelmsford	Crooked Spring Brook, River Meadow Brook, Stony Brook
Dover	Trout Brook
Dracut	Beaver Brook, Richardson Brook
Dunstable	Salmon Brook, Unkety Brook
Essex	Alewife Brook
Georgetown	Penn Brook
Groton	Cow Pond Brook, Unkety Brook
Haverhill	East Meadow River, Little River
Hudson	Danforth Brook, Hog Brook
Ipswich	Bull Brook, Dow Brook
Littleton	Beaver Brook
Methuen	Bartlett Brook, Spickett River
Middleton	Boston Brook
Milton	Pine Tree Brook
Natick	Charles River
Newbury	Mill River
North Andover	Boston Brook, Mosquito Brook
Norwood	Traphole Brook
Pepperell	Sucker Brook, Unkety Brook
Rowley	Batchelder Brook, Mill River
Sharon	Beaver Brook, Massapoag Brook
Shirley	Catacoonamaug Brook, Mulpus Brook
Stow	Assabet Brook
Topsfield	Fish Brook, Howlett Brook, Pye Brook
Townsend	Bixby Brook, Mason Brook, Walker Brook, Witch Brook
Walpole	Traphole Brook
Westford	Stony Brook
Weston	Cherry Brook, Stony Brook
Weymouth	Old Swamp River

Soon!

2010-04-11T10:30:00.004-05:00

Look for my column towards the end of May in the Lawrence Eagle Tribune, Newburyport Daily News, Gloucester Daily Times and the Salem News. Until then...

Bass are Lazy in Summer Heat

2009-08-05T23:26:00.004-05:00

BY Frank Dwyer
Publication Date: August 7, 2009

The heat and humidity have affected both fishermen and fish alike. Much like we don’t enjoy running around in the humidity, the fish also head for deeper water and are much less active in this weather.
Bait is your best bet during the so-called “dog days”, however plugs and other assorted artificials will still work, especially at night.

Marblehead: (3 hooks) Fishing from Devereux Beach at night with bait is the best bet around Marblehead if you are looking for keeper bass. There have been some smaller bass and a few bluefish around the Neck as well.

Salem: (3 hooks): There have been surface feeds around Misery and Baker’s Island this past week as bass and bluefish have been foraging for both mackerel and peanut bunker. The fish have been hitting the surface and disappearing as quickly as they appear.

Beverly: (3 hooks) The outer harbor in Beverly has been home to some great action as bass have been hitting the surface for a meal of peanut bunker, herring fry and some mackerel. Chartreuse clousers stripped quickly have been nailing these fish for the fly fishermen while most any top water plug will do for spin casters.

Cape Ann: (4 hooks) Pogie and Mackerel chunkers have found action at night for bass to 30 pounds off Singing Beach in Manchester. There have been some mackerel in the vicinity of Eastern Point and around Brace Cove, and anglers lucky enough to find them have been live-lining them and bringing in some cows! Cod, Haddock and Pollock fishing has been quite good for the charter captains and some large bluefin are keying in on schools of mackerel on Stellwagen Bank. Rockport beaches have been fishing well at night, especially with clams and chunk mackerel, while the Essex River action has slowed considerably.

Ipswich: (3 hooks) Hit or Miss is how it’s playing out around Ipswich Bay this week as bait has bee somewhat scarce and bass hard to find. Crane Beach has slowed considerably and larger bass catches are coming from those using bait. Hopefully the bait will fill in and the fishing will improve.

Newbury: (3 hooks) Anglers working the night shift from the beaches at parking lots six and seven at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge have found sporadic action for bass to 35 inches. Plum Island Sound has been very spotty with bass becoming quite finicky in the heat. Not much happening in the Parker River either.

Newburyport / Plum Island: (4 hooks): While it may take some looking, there are still big bass around the Port. Joppa Flats has been doing very well for anglers using eels at night. Also working on the flats are sluggos bounced slowly along the bottom as well as trolling a tube and worm rig. The oceanfront, particularly near the South Jetty has been good for bait fishermen with some flounder being taken by surfcasters using worms. Bluefish have been somewhat scarce, but have been popping up, mostly for boat anglers off the Plum Island oceanfront. Party boats continue to please patrons with good action for Cod, Pollock and Haddock.

Salisbury, MA: (3 hooks) Reports have some anglers having success off the beach near the Seabrook town line for both bass and some flounder. Do some exploring and avoid the crowds at the usual spots! Google maps can show you some very fishable areas that are fairly untapped.

Seacoast, NH: (4 hooks) There is sea herring and mackerel available from Hampton Bay to Kittery, and with that the bass fishing has been quite good. You’ll still need to seek out deeper water or fish after dark, but large bass are there for the taking. The Piscataqua has been fishing well with both bait and plugs, with large Danny plugs and needlefish working well. Cod fishing out by the Isle of Shoals has been quite good with some large fish in the mix.

TIP OF THE WEEK: Don’t forget the float. At this time of year, skates and dogfish tend to irritate anglers fishing with bait. Limit the irritation by using a float between your weight and hook to keep the bait off the bottom. Vary the leader length based on your experiences.

Frank Dwyer is a freelance Fishing and Outdoor Columnist. Contact him at frankdwyeroutdoors@gmail.com or www.frankdwyeroutdoors.blogspot.com with your fishing news, pictures or questions!

Saltwater Action Remains Good

2009-07-31T23:07:00.005-05:00

BY Frank Dwyer

Publication Date: 7/31/2009

Despite Mother Nature’s best efforts, fishing remains quite good on the North Shore and off the New Hampshire coast.

Surface feeding bass and blues have been seen this week from Marblehead to Portsmouth while the tuna bite has remained consistent for offshore fishermen.

Marblehead: (3 hooks) Mackerel and Ocean Herring remain plentiful around Marblehead, and with that, bass and bluefish have been crashing the surface in search of an easy meal. Large baitfish imitation flies stripped quickly have been attracting bass, while anglers live-lining mackerel have been weeding out the small fish.

Salem: (4 hooks) Salem Sound and its environs has been fishing quite well as mackerel continue to attract bass and bluefish. Just outside the harbor, several bass over 30 pounds have been taken, mostly on live lined mackerel. Chunkers fishing off Winter Island also report good action, especially at night.

Beverly: (3 hooks) Early morning surface feeds off West Beach have attracted anglers in search of fish prior to the arrival of sunbathers. Bass and blues are intermingling to key in on mackerel and some ocean herring, and when feeding are taking most offerings. Anglers working the nightshift near the Salem-Beverly Bridge have found decent action for bass, mostly with bait.

Cape Ann: (4 hooks) An abundance of bait has kept the fishing off Magnolia and Gloucester quite hot. Large bass are keying in on mackerel and you can find the macks by the breakwater and groaner. Eels have been producing good numbers of keeper bass from the beaches around the Cape at night while anglers fishing deeper water by Halibut Point and Thachers have found some 40-pound bass on live mackerel and tube and worm rigs. The Essex River fishing has been quite spotty, with greenheads making things even less enjoyable. Ground fishing has been good according to the Party Boat fleet.

Ipswich: (4 hooks) Crane Beach has been fishing well this week with surface feeds breaking out on several occasions. Larger bass have been in the mix along with some monster bluefish. Large popping plugs, hopkins/kastmasters and swimming plugs have all been taking fish.

Newbury: (3 hooks) Fishing from Parking Lot 1 of the NWR has yielded good numbers of bass and bluefish for bait and lure fishermen, and some flounder are also being taken on worms. Lot’s 6 and 7 remain open and a decent option for surfcasters. Bluefish numbers have increased in Plum Island Sound while the Parker River has slowed considerably.

Newburyport / Plum Island: (4 hooks): The Port remains a hot fishing destination as several 30+ pound bass have been taken from Joppa Flats, the Oceanfront and the sand bar near the mouth. Eels, cut bait, large plugs and needlefish have all been taking fish. Flounder remain available just outside the mouth and off the beach near the south jetty. Bluefish are around, but most have been taken from boats trolling deep swimming lures. Party boats continue to please their patrons with good cod, pollock and some haddock catches. Tuna fishing out by the NWC of Stellwagen continues to attract throngs of boaters in search of fresh sushi.

Salisbury, MA: (3 hooks) Bluefish and Bass continue to be taken from the river bank of the State Reservation, with anglers using clams and cut bait out scoring most other methods. Surfcasting off the northern end of Salisbury Beach has been good, especially at night.

Seacoast, NH: (4 hooks) Flounder fishing off Rye remains good, as many anglers are catching their limit. The Great Bay has been yielding some big stripers, mostly on bait, while the Piscataqua has been quite hot this week as mackerel are still abundant and with that blues and bass are quite active. Offshore, cod and pollock are being taken by the Isle of Shoals with some consistency.

TIP OF THE WEEK: There are many choices for fishermen when it comes to selecting a new pair of waders. Surfcasters tend to cover a lot of beach and I have found that Neoprene Waders are the most comfortable for long walks. Neoprene, while perhaps not flattering for some anglers body shape, provides a comfort that is unequaled by traditional wader materials.

Frank Dwyer is a freelance Fishing and Outdoor Columnist. Contact him at dwyer.f@gmail.com or http://www.frankdwyeroutdoors.blogspot.com/ with your fishing news!