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View Full Version : Essex, Ipswich Spring Fishing Up River


Cliffisher
05-31-2007, 12:55 PM
First, to say the bay from Crane Beach to Halibut Point is totally packed with mackerel would be an understatement. If you need to load up on frozen bait bring a jigging rod and mack rig and you should be set for the summer.

Weirdly enough though, the bass are up river, mostly at the 64F water, give or take a degree or two. Not so say that there are not fish on the beach-front moving N and peggin' macks; I am talking about the fish seeking the warm water of the coastal estuaries. That's where they are, consistently for me anyway.

If you have access to the Greenbelt property and can get over towards the tributary that leads to Farnhams ( I believe it is Lufkin Creek) is killer from a canoe if you have one. Farm Creek Behind Coffins and Castle Neck behind Cranes, Soginese and Eben Creeks have all been fishing well at the high ends of the tides. It has been easy to follow the fish out on the drop. On that idea, Wading of Conomo Point might also be productive with access to Walker Creek and the Essex River. No doubt the fish are there.

Similarly in Ipswich - the Rowley River was hot 2 nights ago and the Eagle Hill River seems to have lots of fish and very few fishermen. Up on the flats along Grape Island and Middle Ground are showing their usual bursts of activity as the fish move through on the tide. I anchored up off the Middle Ground flat and fished the drop on the channel edge as well as the flat - 2 hours of non-stop action including several fish just below legal. I am guessing that wading off Pavillion Beach or Crane at the end of the tide would be quite worthwhile, as it usually is when they are moving in the plumes of warmer water coming out of the rivers and tidal flats.

lhonda
05-31-2007, 01:57 PM
Nice report. Thanks.

fly
05-31-2007, 04:00 PM
Seconded. Extremely timely as I plan each side of the midnight high in that general area tomorrow night. Will likely be a wading all nighter. Will report. Thanks.

fly
06-02-2007, 12:51 PM
0030 high Pavilion / Cranes area. Full moon. Wind W 5-6. Clear. 65F.

Started at Pavilion Beach 2200. Schoolie second cast. Then nothing else until dawn. Water roaring in - felt cold. Must travel with a thermometer in future - any one recommend? Fished until slack and then moved to back side of Cranes. Castle Neck Marshes under 1 ft or water. Lots of topwater action way off in the middle. Nothing within reach. Stunning full moon. Went front side. Big structural changes - lots of flattening out - huge amounts new sand. Water felt v. cold again. Moved up past Steep Hill to the narrowest point and enjoyed some schoolie action in good currents at first light. A lot of very small bait.

Overall I feel that the very high tide bought a lot of cool ocean water in and that the action (bait) was slow at and near the frontsides as a result. Definately a lot of fish further back.

Just a beautiful night to be alive. Mosquitos agree.

lhonda
06-02-2007, 12:59 PM
Sounds like a fair bit of work for little payback, but personally I don't think it'd be fun for long if you knew you were going to slay them each time out. Appreciate the follow-up, and good on you for putting in the work. Lastly, that was a pretty moon indeed. :) Thanks for the report.

Cheers,

L

fly
06-02-2007, 01:25 PM
I'd have slept as happily this morning without catching anything. The sunrise was a beautiful as any I have seen, ever. Additionally I look upon it as investment in the rest of the season. I have now seen a place I like to fish a lot at a seriously low tide, right at the start fo the season. Invaluable. Also huge changes since my "family walk" that co-incided with a similar tide in Feb!

Good luck.

fleshfly
06-02-2007, 05:18 PM
That sounds like a great night under the stars, with all the subtle changes to front side each year, it takes some time to figure out the new spots that fish well from shore. Sounds like you covered lots of ground. What you fishing with? Fly, Wood, or Bait?

fly
06-03-2007, 10:45 PM
Fly.

The changes this year aren't subtle. Somewhere (PI front?) is missing a lot of sand!

brianmoc
06-04-2007, 01:21 PM
fly do you have a gold car or a green truck? And you can walk out to this at low tide "Lots of topwater action way off in the middle. Nothing within reach." i was out there and the fishing was awesome! better on friday but what can you do.