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Random Quote: Even a bad day fishing beats a good day at the office.
Bought my boat late season and all we fished for were strippers and blues. This is my first salt boat and don't know when what fish start to come in. I fish out of Newburyport, I was told Jeffries get the cod in around April. The strippers spawn in the river but the when abouts of fishing I don't know. I know the dates change but would like some when abouts, thanks in advanced.
I used to go out of Newburyport. You can go for cod year round if you are ambitious. Depending on the late winter weather, shad will be in the Merrimack by early May, you will find stripers in places like the Parker River and Ipswich River as early as May 1 and in the Merrimack by mid-late May.
I splashed my boat on Good Friday (early-mid April, typically) for several years and it was always fun to get out but it is darn cold and you need to keep a watchful eye for junk in the water that is washing down the river after the winter. The Mother's Day storm of 2006 changed a lot of people's perceptions about getting in the water early. Most marinas don't open until May 1 or May 15 anyways.
I fish out of Newburyport as well Cod in April Shad late April/May and Stripers chasing the Herring and shad all the way up the river to the Dam in Lawrence My Marina lost most of it's docks in 2006 so they are definitely more cautious about going in early
I have been fishing out of Newburyport for about 13 years now....Cod are always around and you can fish them if your boat is in that early starting April 1st..i usually get my boat in the beginning of May and we fish the inshore grounds for big cod. Usually around that time you can fish the river and Carr and Deer island up river from the rt 1 bridge, generally there are just light tackle schoolies though.
Towards the end of may and beginning of June the mackeral start to show just east of the Merrimack and surrounding areas, followed by much bigger bass inside and outside the river and ocean front. In years past the mackeral only stick around for a few weeks, but the last two years we caught them into sept. Also, June/July provides a decent flounder bite just outside the mouth on the Plum Island side.
Tuna showed up on Jeffries early this year, i saw the first schoolie in the beginning of June. They are around but are not plentiful until at least july, with august- october your best bet. We usually start doing a few sharking trips in the middle of july when water temp heats up.
July you can find big stripers at night on the flats or during the day in deep water. Around the end of july/august bluefish start to show up.
Sept, brings in a great and really fun pollack bite offshore too. However, personally 90% of my fishing past the middle of july-october is tuna/shark and whatever groundfish are around and nighttime on the flats
I have been fishing out of Newburyport for about 13 years now....Cod are always around and you can fish them if your boat is in that early starting April 1st..
Be aware that cod season in the Gulf of Maine (federal waters) opens April 16, 2010. However, you can fish for haddock, pollack, etc anytime.
__________________ Capt. George Full Strike Anglers
F/V Lady Diane
2005 2325 Pacific Plate Alloy Boat
USCG 50Ton Master
Maine Tidewater Guide
Be aware that cod season in the Gulf of Maine (federal waters) opens April 15, 2010. However, you can fish for haddock, pollack, etc anytime.
Is that new? I thought it has always been on April 1st? My boat usually isn't in the water and I work on the party boats so when I have a day off while I'm still at school and not working I fish on them for the mean time.
1st timer in the ocean would be best spent on learning the ropes before you start thinking about fishing offshore. If you haven't yet I'd enroll in a boater's safety program. For years I was in the water by Patriots Day but over the last few years the weather has been on the rotten side and now target the 1st week in May. That gives me more room to do the bottom painting. What type/size boat do you have?
Is that new? I thought it has always been on April 1st? My boat usually isn't in the water and I work on the party boats so when I have a day off while I'm still at school and not working I fish on them for the mean time.
New this year...it was either give up the 14 days or reduce the bag limits which would have killed us.
__________________ Capt. George Full Strike Anglers
F/V Lady Diane
2005 2325 Pacific Plate Alloy Boat
USCG 50Ton Master
Maine Tidewater Guide
1st timer in the ocean would be best spent on learning the ropes before you start thinking about fishing offshore. If you haven't yet I'd enroll in a boater's safety program.
Very Sound Advice
__________________ Capt. George Full Strike Anglers
F/V Lady Diane
2005 2325 Pacific Plate Alloy Boat
USCG 50Ton Master
Maine Tidewater Guide
The strippers spawn in the river but the when abouts of fishing I don't know. I know the dates change but would like some when abouts, thanks in advanced.
Stripers spawing in any New England river is a highly debated issue. Some say there are no rivers in New England accessable enough or un obstructed over its length enough for striper eggs to hatch. This includes the Conn. and the Merimack
Went out on a commercial hook boat last week to Stellwagen. Cod are stacked up pretty good right now. Lots of double headers of keeper fish. Got an invite to go tommorow too but it looks alittle cold to me!
I just spoke with the MA. Marine Fisheries today and was told April 1st for recreational cod fishing. She did ask where I was fishing out of in MA. and I told her it would be off Jeffries and out of Gloucester. I know the MA. fisheries police are based right off the Gloucester ramp, so if you launch there, you might as well just ask, but I'll be working off the April 1st date myself.
I just spoke with the MA. Marine Fisheries today and was told April 1st for recreational cod fishing. She did ask where I was fishing out of in MA. and I told her it would be off Jeffries and out of Gloucester. I know the MA. fisheries police are based right off the Gloucester ramp, so if you launch there, you might as well just ask, but I'll be working off the April 1st date myself.
Well, she gave you the right answer for MA state waters, however, cross the 3 mile line into federal waters and it's April 15th. If you want regulations for federal waters you don't call MA Marine Fisheries.
Well, she gave you the right answer for MA state waters, however, cross the 3 mile line into federal waters and it's April 15th. If you want regulations for federal waters you don't call MA Marine Fisheries.
Fresh..take Capt Dave's advice and save yourself some hassles and $$$$.
Heres a couple more for you..starting 5/1/2010
IN Gulf of Maine FEDERAL WATERS (beyond the 3 mile limit)
Haddock...18" minimum
No longer restricted to 2 hooks per line but still 1 line per angler
No Wolfish may be retained (one reg which I think is totally misguided)
Tight lines,
__________________ Capt. George Full Strike Anglers
F/V Lady Diane
2005 2325 Pacific Plate Alloy Boat
USCG 50Ton Master
Maine Tidewater Guide
I hear you on the offshore regualtions, but that early in April, you can still catch cod within the 3 miles, and often, off Halibut Point, sizeable cod to satify the keeper requirements, while still being able to bag 10. All must obtain a National Saltwater Anger Registry. Fed law requires the card be with you in designated waters, and available to theri law enforcement (CG).
Now, do any of you fellows know if cod must be cleaned onshore (similar to Stripers being kept in the whole until at the dock). I always fillet offshore, but a buddy who owns a 37' Hatterras says he always has thought cod had to be cleaned back at the docks. Maybe he is just used to catching whale cod and doesn't want to get his deck bloody
You sure George? I think you and dave are in cahoots to get a 2 week jump on everyone!!
Dave and george are right Fresh. State and Fed waters have different regs..And outside 3 miles is definately fed water.
I got more than a two week jump on you, I was out commercial cod fishing Sunday. A little nippy, freezing spray, icing on the rod and reel, but non-stop action with the cod. Didn't even have to jig, fish were on before it even hit the bottom for a couple of hours straight.
Went out on a commercial hook boat last week to Stellwagen. Cod are stacked up pretty good right now. Lots of double headers of keeper fish. Got an invite to go tommorow too but it looks alittle cold to me!
I thought Stellwagen is closed year round to commercial cod fishing even for hook gear 911,912,913.
I hear you on the offshore regualtions, but that early in April, you can still catch cod within the 3 miles, and often, off Halibut Point, sizeable cod to satify the keeper requirements, while still being able to bag 10. All must obtain a National Saltwater Anger Registry. Fed law requires the card be with you in designated waters, and available to theri law enforcement (CG).
Now, do any of you fellows know if cod must be cleaned onshore (similar to Stripers being kept in the whole until at the dock). I always fillet offshore, but a buddy who owns a 37' Hatterras says he always has thought cod had to be cleaned back at the docks. Maybe he is just used to catching whale cod and doesn't want to get his deck bloody
Recs (including individuals and charter/party boat patrons) have always been allowed to fillet groundfish at sea. There was confusion over this point as the CFRs had different regs for commercial fisherman which some people thought applied to recreational as well (which they did not as stated later in the CFR) The other issue had been can you skin the fillets at sea...an argument I refused to discuss ever again That issue will finally be laid to rest on 5/1/10 when the regs will clearly state recreational anglers are required to leave "2 sq inches of continuous skin" on each fillet. This reg is to aid enforcement officials in the identification of fish fillets when determining if bag limits are being observed.
Pretty soon you will need a law degree to go fishing
Tight Lines,
__________________ Capt. George Full Strike Anglers
F/V Lady Diane
2005 2325 Pacific Plate Alloy Boat
USCG 50Ton Master
Maine Tidewater Guide
when to start fishing MA 
