Now that the summer season has
come to a close and most of us are not quite ready to surrender our rod and reel
combinations for shotguns and yard work, why not squeeze that last bit of
fishing out of the season and shoot for good, old-fashioned flounder? The waters
have started to cool, flounder have moved into shallow waters and they are
actively feeding. Droplines, hooks and sinkers, and bait are the implements
needed to pursue this delicate gastronomic delight.
For years, flounder have been
taken for granted by most recreational fishermen. Over fishing and loss of
habitat are only two of the culprits that are responsible for the decline in the
numbers of flounder in local harbors during the past decades. With current
regulations and strict conservation measures in effect, we are now starting to
see a slow reversal of the downward swing in populations. The current
regulations call for a minimum length of 12 inches and a maximum bag limit of 10
fish per person.
Despite the gloom and doom
reports of many fishermen, flounder fishing in the Salem area has staged a
comeback. Though the numbers are not what they were in the heyday of flounder
fishing during the sixties, there are sufficient numbers of flounder so that
anglers are satisfied. The bonus is that fall flounder are generally the
heaviest of the catches of the year. Many fish weigh in excess of two
pounds.
For those fishermen that throw
the hook over and wait for the flounder to come to them, fishing is usually a
disappointment. In order to be successful, fishermen must work for their catch.
If you choose to still fish, at least use a spinning rod and cast and slowly
retrieve your bait along the bottom in a systematic manner so that you cover all
the water around the boat. Once you have completed the initial pattern then a
move might be mandated.
BOAT LAUNCHING:
There is no problem for fishermen that want to launch a boat late in the season.
There is a launching facility located at Winter Island that remains open
throughout the year. The ramp is paved and accessible during all tides.
Fishermen can also launch their boats at Pope’s Landing in
Danversport.
POPULAR LOCATIONS:
Flounder can be plentiful without having to travel great distances. The first
locations to try are found just inside the Salem/Beverly Bridge at the mouth of
the North River and at the mouth of the Bass River. These areas are well
protected and can be fished during a slight blow. Depending on the tide, the
currents generally favor drift fishing.
Moving out of the river and into
Beverly Harbor, the next stop should be at Tuck’s Point. The channel is often a
good location for picking up a few flats. Some of the most productive areas are
where the channel makes a cut as flounder will lay in the quiet water of the
curve waiting for bait to pass by.
Moving on, the next stop should
be at Monument Bar. This is a favored location by scores of fishermen. Fish at
halftide or better. The whole mooring area from Monument bar to the Salem
Willows should be worked systematically to produce the greatest numbers of
fish.
Can numbers three and five
located in Beverly Harbor have almost always produced flounder. When there were
half day flounder boats in the harbor, Captains sometimes found it difficult to
make fishermen realize that it was not necessary to travel to deep water to
catch flounder. These locations almost always produced flounder.
OUTSIDE WINTER
ISLAND: Two other productive spots that are located a short distance
from Winter Island are buoys 18 and 22. These locations were always favorites of
mine and generally produced well. Lining up the buoys between you and the power
plant always seemed to be the right combination for success. Position yourself
on the shallow side of the channel.
Heading further out is another
location that was always good. This area is known as the Middle Ground. Work
this area right over to the Haste. This is best fish by drifting. If the drift
is running a bit too fast, throw over a five gallon bucket and secure it to the
transom. This should help to slow you down to the proper drift speed. By the
way, Great Haste is the location of the outfall pipe of the South Essex Sewage
District. Any fisherman that spent his childhood fishing for flounder is quite
aware of the reputation of the Haste. Some of the largest flounder were always
caught in this area.
Many anglers like to fish in the
area between Cat Island and the mouth of Marblehead Harbor. Even though flounder
fishing can be good on all sides of the island, most fishermen prefer the
Marblehead side. Hefty flounder are common in this area and it should not be
overlooked.
RED ROOF MARKS THE
SPOT: The stretch of water between Curtis Point and Mingo Beach has
always been a favored location for hard core flounder fishermen. This is one
area that produced good numbers of hefty flats during the fall months. Just a
short distance away is the yellow house with the red tiled roof that is a marker
for fertile flounder waters. When the drift is right, resist the urge to throw
over the anchor. Fishing in depths of twenty to thirty feet seems to be
preferred by most anglers. Chum pots or mesh bags filled with crushed sea clams
are very effective in attracting flounder to the area.
Of all the flounder locations
located within Salem and Beverly Harbors, Manchester Bay is probably the most
productive and favored overall. It attracts all fishermen from the serious to
the worm dunker that enjoys relaxing in "Cocktail Cove". Even the most laid back
fisherman will generally score on fat fall flounder.
The mouth of Manchester Harbor
draws fishermen from all around. It enjoys a reputation for holding fat fall
flounder. On many occasions fishermen report limit catches from this
area.
House Island is a great location
for catching flounder all throughout the season but is particularly productive
late in the season. This is another area that lends itself well to drift fishing
if conditions allow. For the most part early fishermen score best.
BEST TIME: Just
because the Labor Day holiday has come and gone. the Columbus Day holiday is
nothing more than a memory and Veterans Day has slipped by doesn’t mean that the
flounder fishing has also passed. This is generally considered to be the best
flounder fishing of the year. It is also a pleasure to get out an extra day or
two before winter grips the area.
It may be difficult to find sea
worm this late in the season but that hardly presents a problem because there
are other baits that are just as effective. Strips of clams will attract
flounder as will night crawlers. I know, night crawlers are a fresh water bait.
Crawlers are washed into the harbors during heavy rains and flounder will feed
on them. The biggest drawback to using crawlers is that they will "bleach out"
on the hook faster than a sea worm an=d require more frequent bait
changes.
When the days are warm and the
night brisk, brightly colored leaves tell us we should be getting ready for
winter, I say play hookey for the day and convince a friend to do the same. Head
to the harbor for one last try. Who knows, you just might catch enough flounder
for a good meal and a few fillets for the
freezer.
