NORTH SHORE NOTABLES: STRIPER SUCCESS AROUND SALEM

The Salem area has justifiably earned the reputation as one of the best striper areas along the North Shore. With it’s many islands, shoal areas, rockpiles and bars, it isn’t hard to understand why Salem has earned this prestigious reputation.

Shore fishermen enjoy many productive locations. One of those is Winter Island where anglers cast chunks of bait into the night surf from the lighthouse, around the corner to Wikiki Beach. Both schoolies and keeper sized stripers test angler’s skills as they try to guide them away from the numerous rocks that make up the shore of Winter Island. This is especially true around the lighthouse.

Boat fishermen have an almost infinite number of locations to present a wide assortment of baits to waiting fish. Eagle Bar is a productive location where good numbers of stripers respond to tube n’ worms and umbrella rigs trolled along the face of the bar. The gut between Cat Island (now Children’s Island) and Commorant Rock usually hold good numbers of big stripers. Divers in the area have reported seeing stripers hugging the bottom that have been estimated to be as big as sixty inches. The Gooseberries are a series of small islands that always produce good numbers of fish. I don’t think I have ever been skunked when fishing along this series of islands.

Fishing the ocean side of Baker’s Island along the edge of the channel to Newcomb’s Ledge is not only productive but can be challenging as well. The rocks are numerous and caution is advised as many props have been claimed by unseen rocks that have interrupted a live lining trip.

OTHER SIDE: On the Marblehead side of the harbor, you will find one of my favorite spots, a pair of islands that hold good numbers of stripers. Brown and Gerry Islands are best fished during the late afternoon into evening with live eels. It was in this location that I experienced one of my best days of striper fishing. I landed eleven keeper sized stripers in one afternoon of fishing. At he time the length limit on stripers was 36 inches. Just a short distance away is Peach’s Point, another area that is good for bass.

Crossing the entrance to Marblehead Harbor, fishermen find themselves on Marblehead Neck. Castle Rock is a favorite among both the boating crowd and the surf fishing fraternity. Chunks work well for both styles of fishing. Moving along the Neck, the next productive area that fishermen encounter is the gut between Tinker’s Island and the Neck. This area is very tricky but well worth the effort to work it effectively. It is very rocky and caution is advised. Fishing the top of the tide is safest but good sized fish are caught at all stages of the tide. Live eels and live mackerel consistently produce year in and year out.

IN TIGHT: Rounding the Neck you come across waters that are not meant for the faint of heart. Working chunks of bait in tight to the Breakers and the Pigs will generally yield fishermen impressive catches of good sized bass. The best time of day to fish these areas is generally during the early morning. Impressive and eye opening strikes will occur on the drop as fish hit fast and fight hard. Once you are in the area, don’t forget to give Ram Island a shot. Devereux Beach is always favored by local surf fishermen. Devereux produces best during the fall.

Over to Swampscott, Little Point is a good location for impressive bass. Galloupes Point and Tedesco Rocks are great areas for presenting live baits. Hungry bass are usually quick to respond to these offerings. Surf anglers show a preference for Prescott Beach, King’s Beach and Red Rock.

JUMBOS AND SCHOOL FISH: Nahant anglers fish Egg Rock as well as Sanders Ledge. Chunkers and live liners show a preference for Castle Rock and East Point. Bass Point and Forty Steps yield good catches and are well known among the experienced striper fishermen. Every year, good numbers of jumbo bass are caught from the waters around Nahant.

Around Lynn, schoolies are caught from the Lynn Marsh Road at many of the bridges. Sea worms are generally the choice of bait for most bridge fishermen. In the harbor there are numerous rocky locations for both bait and artificial bait fishermen. Revere fishermen like to cast baits along Point of Pines and then work their way up the Saugus River. Shore fishermen cast chunks of bait from the pier below the General Edwards Bridge during the night tides. Revere Beach is also frequented by scores of local surf fishermen. It holds a reputation of being friendly to surf fishermen and impressive bass are taken each year from the celebrated location. Many local anglers like to fish the beach by Kelly’s Roast Beef. I am not totally convinced that anglers like to fish this area because of the great fishing or because of the nearby food and coffee. I suppose that any time you can combine good food with good fishing, it’s a plus.

Winthrop guys and gals fish both the Broad Sound side of town as well as the Boston side. Casters work the rocky shores and high spots with bucktails or plastics while trollers show a preference for tube n’ worm combinations, trolling bars and 9er rigs. Casters can improve their productivity by adding a strip of bait to their jigs.

These are but a few of the best areas around Salem. When in the area, give them a try it will be worth the effort.