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Merrimack River Report >
The fish are where you find them
The fish are where you find them
Jul 19, 2011
July is the month when going fishing can also be called going fish "hunting". In June the fish are in very predictable locations. You go to breaking rock, get bait and come back to catch fish. While there is nothing wrong with that, if you do it on a regular basis it becomes less of a challenge. In the seventh month you have two choices, you can sit and wait for the fish to come to you or you can go out and hunt them. The striped bass have settled down and are well fed by now but they will feed, you just need to find where they are feeding and present them with something they want to eat.
In the past week I have found stripers on Hampton Shoal ledge, inside but near the 3 mile line, off the MR Buoy, at "the end of the houses" on Plum Island and in the mouth of the river at the end of the out going tide and on the incoming tide. They have mostly been from 28"-31"s but there were also a few 27's, 39's, 40's & 41" bass. All in all a very good reason to get out of bead and go fishing!!
I have only tangled with (and landed) one bluefish this month. That was on the 15th and I believe the Captain's Lady got into them big time that evening but then they left the area. My feeling is that they are in a down cycle (fewer fish), the water is a little cool for their liking and there is so much bait available that they are staying offshore in our region. They are a lot of fun to catch but most of my clients want stripers so I have not missed them.
Good fishing
Capt. Scott
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