I too use May 1st as THE DAY! I'll start poking around 2 weeks before then...but I expect to catch the first schoolie of the year on or about May 1.
Light spinning tackle...soft plastics of course.....either Joppa Flats in Newburyport( or atleast somewhere on the Merrimack) or the Little River behind the Candy House in Gloucester.
Guys...I will try fly fishing this year! I promise!