Fishing the Merrimack River

[Knotiboy]

Hi folks,<br /><br />I'll be fishing the Merrimack this coming weekend for strippers and blue fish. I here there aren't too many stripper keepers. So where should I go for them?

 

[Sublime]

Re: Fishing the Merrimack River

Hay Knot,.. I fish the Merrimack at least every weekend. If you want more stripers fish around Dear and Eagle island approx 1 1/2 mi. up river. If you want more Blues, than anywhere in the mouth. Keepers are hard to come by. Early morning or late evening on an out-going tide is your best bet. I've boated probably 150+ stripers so far this season. Only a hand full were keepers.<br /><br />Good Luck.

 

[yater]

Re: Fishing the Merrimack River

The strippers around here are pretty haggard looking too for the most part. Generally speaking, the all-nude joints attract the trashiest ones

 

[Sublime]

Re: Fishing the Merrimack River

LOL,.. It's amazing what a "p" will do.

 

[Knotiboy]

Re: Fishing the Merrimack River

Sublime,<br /><br />Do you fish for flouder also and cod?

 

[Sublime]

Re: Fishing the Merrimack River

Hi Knot,..<br /><br />Only when I'm hungry! Ya know,.. I could and they can be caught at the mouth, but catching them kind of boars me. I like to feel my line streach and poll bend, BIG TIME, and you just don't get that with flounder or Cod. If I want to eat fish, I'll go to shaws market and buy it.<br /><br />The season is waaay too short for me to spend time catching something that dosen't get me hard.

 

[Knotiboy]

Re: Fishing the Merrimack River

I know what you mean , I just wanted to get the breeze frpm you local fishermen sort of speak.<br />Anyway I'll be fishing stripers and blues ,what's your prefered lures for both species?

 

[Sublime]

Re: Fishing the Merrimack River

Geez,.. I've got way too much time on my hands at work today. Thank god for long run parts. Anyway, I mostly use chunk bait (herring or mackrel)herring being the best IMO. Plus, I'm kind of lazy. It's hard to crack a beer open while your casting. When the tide is slack or the river is flat (early am or evening) I use a popper or rapala. One other tip: If the blues are hitting use a steel leader or they will clean your clock.<br /><br />Do you know the river at all, or are you going to be on a charter?

 

[Knotiboy]

Re: Fishing the Merrimack River

I don't konw the river at all, all I've got is a detailed map of the river with dephts and hot spots.I'll be fishing on 18.5 foot boat , if I can will try useing my downrigger.

 

[Five O'Clock]

Re: Fishing the Merrimack River

Hey i'm from the Merrimack River area too, let me know how your trips end up.

 

[Knotiboy]

Re: Fishing the Merrimack River

My fishing trip at the Merrimack was definately excellent though I didn't get any keepers the first time.On the second time arround I got two of them at 28" (caught with herring) one after the other on high tide at the mouth of the river,<br />I'm going back on the first September weekend to try my luck.

 

[Fly Rod]

Re: Fishing the Merrimack River

if you are planning to come in September, you want to come the 2nd or 3rd week!!!Should be fantastic fishing as the bait fish start to empty out of the rivers !!!! fish along the jetty and also where the river starts to calm down at the mouth!!! Some times you want just enough weight to let your bait to bounce off the bottom!!! Big fish on bottom, little fish on top!!!

 

[Knotiboy]

Re: Fishing the Merrimack River

Thanks Fly Rod I don't think I'll be able to make it in that time frame but I'll let you know anyhow!

 

[Five O'Clock]

Re: Fishing the Merrimack River

FlyRod where are some good jetty fishing spots on the Merrimack?