Capt. Charlie Crue at Channel Edge Charters reports:
Merrimack River Report #6 June 30, 2005
Over the past weekend, in spite of hot weather and heavy boat traffic, we got a lot of small stripers. The best action for big fish was very, very early in the morning. At first light there was good action for about an hour. Then the smaller fish took over on Joppa Flats. They provided constant action on flies and spinning soft baits but they were all under twenty inches. Sunday morning my client Rich and his son, Kevin, enjoyed the action. After a little lesson on fly casting and technique, Kevin caught his first stripers using the long rod.
The bluefish are invading just out from the beaches. A surf fishing friend reported that Monday morning there were some good blues off of High Sandy on Plum Island. For the first time in a long while I saw some pogies in the river. There weren’t many but it was good to see them. I hope they come back after
being decimated by the factory ships off shore over the last few years. These menhaden are an important food source for striped bass and their presence in the area will attract more big stripers.
The beach front has been good for surfcasters. Visit Surfland Bait and Tackle on Plum Island to see photos of the trophy stripers and to get all the honest, reliable advice that you want. It should be a must stop if you want the latest reports on the fishing around the island. Pick up some of my gurglers while you are there. They provide great striper surface action when using a floating line.
Tuesday I enjoyed my first day off from chartering in a while so I went out on my own to enjoy some striper fly fishing. I didn’t get any keepers but enjoyed fighting the feisty little ones for about three hours. It was a beautiful fishing morning with no wind, a mostly overcast sky, and comfortable temperature.
I had a charter scheduled for Wednesday morning but couldn’t make the trip due to a broken throttle cable. So I can’t update my fishing experience. However, one of my friends at the marina went out and came back saying there were some good stripers down on the Salisbury side, near the jetties, early morning.
I have open dates in July and August. If you are interested in a trip call me at 978-462-9212Captain Charlie Crue
Channel Edge Charters
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Mark N. Cahill has been writing and editing for Reel-Time.com since 1995. He started fishing in the mid-1960's and caught his first striper off World's End in Hingham in 1966. From there on in it was an obsession. He loves fishing for tuna, and fly fishing for striped bass. In a pinch, anything with fins will do...
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