This week, Fish and Game's Joshua Borgeson reports from the New Hampshire seacoast with advice for hitting the salt in the peak of summer.
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"Football" Season for the Saltwater Angler By Joshua Borgeson, Biological Aide, N.H. Fish and Game Marine Division/Durham
Now that the dog days of summer are upon us, it's time to start fishing under the cover of night on New Hampshire's seacoast. During May and June, striped bass are active nearly all day, feeding on an abundance of alewives and Atlantic mackerel. Fishing either end of the high and low tides usually produces a fair number of fish. But with warmer water temperatures and a high sun angle, they wait things out until a more opportune time. At night, stripers are pursuing American eels and sand eels just as readily as they would Atlantic mackerel and pollock in June. Using live eels for bait can produce some of the biggest fish of the year, but topwater action can also prove to be very productive and explosive at night. Try fishing the beaches of Hampton and Rye from shore, or around the Schiller Plant in the Piscataqua River with your boat.
All is not lost if you're not a night owl. You can still catch some big stripers during the day using live "harbor" pollock or even cut herring and mackerel. There have also been reports of large schools of pogies in Little Bay near the mouth of the Oyster River. Menhaden make for great bait if you can catch them. Most folks use a large snag hook and cast into a school of fish, hoping to hook an unsuspecting fish. You can also use a cast net or throw net -- but if you're planning to use a cast net, you must have a coastal harvester permit. (These are free and you can get them from Fish and Game's Region 3 office, or call (603) 868-1095 for more information.)
In the past couple of weeks, the Isles of Shoals have been giving up some giant stripers. I have talked to a handful of fishermen that have caught 2 to 6 keepers in a morning of fishing at the Shoals. Just remember, you can't fish for or possess striped bass in out-of-state waters (more than three miles from state shores). The Isles of Shoals are part of New Hampshire and Maine, so make sure you follow the correct regulations.
While we're on the offshore subject, a fair number of "football" bluefin tuna are starting to show up in the Gulf of Maine. These feisty fish put up an incredible fight, especially on light tackle. They rival the pulling power of a small car, peeling line off your reel faster than you can say FISH ON! They also make for great table fare if you choose to keep one. Most guys that target "football" tuna cruise the edges of Jeffreys Ledge, Old and New Scantum, and Boon Island looking for actively feeding and surfacing fish. These schools of fish resemble a pod of dolphins from a distance.
Once a school of tuna is located, most anglers set out their trolling plugs using downriggers or flat lining and commence to trolling. Try using Yo-Zuri Hydro Magnum plugs, Rapala X-Rap High Speed Trolling Magnums, or Blade Runner squid irons while trolling. The real challenge-seekers will cast a fly or even troll teasers until the fish come into range of the caster. Once you hook up, hang on for the fight of your life. Fishing for bluefin tuna requires a federal permit. A recreational Atlantic Tunas permit can be obtained from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) permit shop at http://hmspermits.noaa.gov/default.asp (see next section for info).
Recreational Fishing for Tuna? Get Your Atlantic HMS Angling Permit from FWS
All owners/operators of vessels fishing recreationally for and/or retaining regulated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (Atlantic tunas, sharks, swordfish and billfish) in the Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, must obtain an Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) permit. Similar to Atlantic tunas permits, 2007 Atlantic HMS permits cost $28.00 and are valid from the date of issuance through December 31, 2008.
Remember that the groundfishing in late summer can still produce great catches as well. The haddock fishing last weekend (August 4-5) was great. I spoke with some anglers that caught 12-18 haddock each!! They are also still catching 20-30 pound cod and the pollock should really start to hit in the next couple of weeks all the way into September.
SIGN UP NOW! Intermediate Fly-Fishing Workshop for Women
Spread the word -- Fish and Game is offering women a chance to build their fly-fishing skills while enjoying a beautiful New Hampshire weekend getaway. This intermediate fly-fishing workshop for women will be September 28 - 30 at Purity Spring Resort in Madison, N.H. Some fly-fishing experience is required. Click here for information and a print-and-mail application, or call (603) 271-3212.
The Dirt on "Rock Snot"
As you have been reading in this report, a aquatic nuisance algae known commonly as "didymo" or "rock snot" has recently invaded the northern reaches of the Connecticut River, marking the first official report of Didymosphenia geminata in the northeastern U.S.
Anglers and boaters need to be extra-aware that didymo is on the move and easily spread by even just one cell of the alga breaking off and drifting downstream in infested reaches. It is very easily spread by waders, fishing gear and other gear that touches the bottoms of streams in infested areas, so it is critical to check and clean your fishing gear to prevent the spread of didymo and protect New Hampshire's waters.
If you see didymo in New Hampshire, contact Amy Smagula at the N.H. Department of Environmental Services: 603-271-2248 or asmagula@des.state.nh.us.
REMINDER FOR LAKE WINNIPESAUKEE BASS ANGLERS:
N.H. Fish and Game continues to count on help from anglers for a study of the movement of largemouth and smallmouth bass after bass tournament release. Bass are being tagged upon release from tournament weigh-ins at Ames Farm Inn on Lake Winnipesaukee, identified with a numbered yellow tag at the base of the fish's dorsal fin.
Angler captures of tagged bass are the major source of information for this study, so tell your bass-fishing friends to look for tagged bass when they fish Lake Winnipesaukee. Download and print a reporting form here (PDF).
CONTACT: Gabe Gries, Fish and Game Warmwater Project Leader: Region 4, 15 Ash Brook Court, Keene, NH 03431; phone 603-352-9669; fax 603-352-8798; email ggries@nhfgd.org.
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