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Merrimack River Report >
Stripers are back.
Stripers are back.
Sep 8, 2013
Some may not know that the stripers went on vacation to other locations for a few days, but it was painful to those of us who had to find them for clients! On my last report I was giddy with excitement that the bluefish had arrived. The next day they were gone! That was not what anyone wanted to happen. Especially those of us who enjoy the "never quit" fight of a bluefish. To make it worse the stripers followed them to points unknown and I could not find enough fish, even schoolies, to make a worthwhile trip & canceled a charter. There were pods of dolphins within 3 miles of the beach chasing mackerel, maybe they like bluefish & stripers too.....
Two days ago there were more sand eels in the water than I can remember seeing and we have had a lot of sand eels this season. So many that even the lazy seagulls were getting into the act and feeding on them. There were bass under them but no surface feeds. Yesterday the surface feeds started. They were not the prolonged feeds of fall but it was happening and with the cool nights coming, I'm hoping it is just the beginning of a great fall fishery.
I was also finding fish, including a few "keepers", trolling and drifting mackerel chunks. I was trolling north and south of the jetties and drifting inside the river.
Mackerel have become very scarce and I'm relying on frozen bait for the first time in years. Then again we normally have so many bluefish around at this time of year that no self respecting mackerel would be in within miles this area! Cheer up, they normally return with the cooler water so I would not put away the mackerel rigs just yet.
It's time to go fishing 'cause the season is coming to a close, but it is not over yet!
Good fishing
Capt. Scott
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