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Cod fishermen have been enjoying a great season full of near record numbers of cod and plenty of trophy sized fish. Good numbers of whale sized cod have bee taken on party boats and private boats able to make the run to the offshore fishing banks. Smaller boats have tallied impressive numbers and sizes of cod from many of the productive inshore locations. Cole's Ridge, Saturday Night Ledge, Hills 47 and 101 have been among the top producers for small boat anglers. The numerous hills and bumps between Halfway Rock and Tinker's Ledge have produced well. Anglers stress jigs produce best and bait draws dogs. Reports indicate That it has been easy to bring home enough fillets to stock the freezer for the winter. I have heard of a couple of just legal sized cod being caught from the shores of Plum Island during night tides. This is great news as it has been years since cod have been caught from shore.
Mackerel have been caught in limited numbers by sharp-eyed fishermen from Boston to Gloucester. Small schools of mackerel have been limited and quick moving. One of the best locations for mackerel has been in Gloucester along the State Pier. Herring rigs work best at attracting these late season arrivals.
Die hard flounder fishermen have been reporting limit catches and near limit catches. Some of the best flounder fishing has taken place along the Middleground of Salem Harbor and along Manchester. Although sea worms have been hard to locate as most shops have stopped carrying them for the season, night crawlers have worked well. Just remember to change you bait frequently as the crawlers generally "bleach out" and become soft fairly quickly. Drifting is your best choice as this technique allows you to cover more ground. If you choose to still fish make sure you chum the area.
Local smelt fishermen have spent a great deal of time searching rivers, inlets and creeks trying to find these tasty little fish. In the local area smelt fishing has been spotty at best. There have been a few smelt caught at the Congress St. Bridge, deep within the Danvers River, Manchester Harbor and along the Beverly shore. Better catches have been made in water just south of here. Limited numbers of smelt have been taken in Lynn while the best catches have been reported at Winthrop, Constitution Wharf, Marina Bay, Crystal Cove. The floats along Boston Harbor have yielded some smelt. From reports I have heard, the floats along the South Shore have been running hot and cold. If you are lucky enough to get a good night you will reap a good meal. Fishermen have been reporting bait such as small minnows produce well. The best offering according to most smelt fishermen has been a herring rig.
Trout fishermen have experienced a wide range of emotions from disappointment to frustration and excitement to satisfaction. Trout have taunted fishermen by gently "tapping" baits causing fishermen to quickly respond with a quick snap only to realize that the fish was able to "steal" their bait without getting hooked. This has been a common complaint by scores of frustrated fishermen working local trout waters from Pleasant Pond to Baldpate Pond and from Sluice Pond to Horn Pond. One suggestion for trout fishermen is to make sure your hooks are sharpened to a needle point, even if they come right out of the package. Although many of the trout that have been caught have weighed about 3/4 of a pound, there have been good numbers of trout that have weighed in at a pound to a pound and a half. Early morning remains the most active period for trout fishermen. Light lines are still preferred by most fishermen despite the cooler water.
Fishermen have noticed the change in the feeding habits of largemouth bass as they prepare for the cold winter months ahead. Bass have moved their preferences from the faster moving baits and artificials towards the slower moving choices. Over the past couple of weeks Largemouth bass have preferred night crawlers, plastic worms, jigs, jig n' pig combinations and large bladed spinnerbaits. At times, deep diving plugs have attracted bass when retrieves are slow and erratic. If fishing during the early part of the day baits must be slow and jigs, plastic worms and jig n' pig combinations have been preferred by the largest bass. Later in the day, usually during the afternoon when water temperatures rise slightly other plugs such as swimming plugs and shiners and minnows with a pectoral fin clipped seem to attract the greatest numbers of bass. During this period, bass appear to be the most aggressive and it has been important to work any submerged structure like rockpiles, fallen trees and pilings. A favorite location for many bass anglers during this time of year is rockpiles and breakwaters where crayfish, minnows, blood suckers and other baits usually hang around.
During the past week local fishermen showed plenty of interest in panfish activity. Good sized perch were actively feeding on bits of night crawlers and dillies. Young anglers were encouraged to get out and enjoy the action. Kids returned home with stories of great catches and the big ones that got away. Perch and pout were the most active panfish as crappie action was reported as spotty and sunfish seemed to have disappeared. Some fishermen set out minnow traps and were quick to use small minnows for bait. The minnows drew the attention of the largest of the perch. The largest of the perch, those around a pound, were fast to respond to the minnows. When anglers came across a school of crappie the action was good but the school generally moved on in a relatively short period of time. Schools of perch usually stayed around a bit longer.
The following specials are good through Thanksgiving weekend: $25.00 gift certificates for $20.00; Back pack rod and reel combo with case Reg, $99.99 sale $79.99: Previously rented fishing and hunting video tapes, $5.00 each; decorative flags $5.00 each, values to $32.99: Smelt rods with reel and line $19.99. Some quantities are limited and there will be no rain checks.
It is that time of year that contracts for the website need to be renewed. In order to avoid a membership fee, we rely on your generous donations to keep the site alive. Like everything else in this world, costs associated with website production, maintenance, storage and publishing are on the rise. Donations not only help with costs but they also show us that the site is appreciated and wanted. You can donate by pressing the donation button and fill out the information. This is secure option. You can mail your donation to Pete's Bait, 121 North St., Salem, MA 01970. Or, you can stop by the shop to make your donation. Remember, it is only with the help of your donations that this site can stay online. Thanks in advance for your support.
Cod continued to be the most sought after fish of he fall season. Good numbers of cod have been caught from Plum Island to Boston. Party boat anglers have been scoring on big cod. There have been good numbers of fifty pound plus fish coming over the rails. There was a sixty-two pound cod caught on the American Classic. Captain Jimmy Walsh is one of he best winter party boat skippers along the North Shore. Jimmy started the popular "snowball" fishing trips. Small boat anglers have scored on good numbers of cod weighing between ten and twenty-five pounds. Cole Ridge, Newcomb's Ledge, Tinker's Ledge and the many hills and bumps between Halfway Rock and Tinker's have produced well for small boat fishermen. This s the time of the year to stock the freezer with cog fillets for the upcoming winter. Just a reminder, if you freeze your fillets, remember to freeze them in a container of water for the best results.
Schools of large mackerel have continued to make their presence known in local waters. Fishermen have reported large schools of mackerel consisting of hundreds of fish per school. Anglers score on herring rigs, mockerel trees and jigs rigged singularly or in tandem. Drift fishing produces the greatest numbers of fish. This is the time of year to freeze or salt your catch for later use.
Flounder fishermen have reported flounder to be very finicky sometimes being very active while other times flounder are ignore everything. When anglers get into flounder they will usually catch their limit and the fish they catch are doormats. The most productive area has been along Manchester from the mouth of the harbor to House Island. Some flounder have been taken just inside the mouth of Marblehead Harbor.
During the past few weeks trout fishermen have had to put in many hours in order to score a trout. Moat trout that have been caught have been drawn to night crawlers and dillies. Action has been limited to morning anglers. A secondary period of activity has taken place during the late afternoon. The biggest trout generally are caught during the morning hours. Very few trout have been caught on artificial baits.
During the past week or so fishermen have been waking up to a coating of skim ice on many local ponds. This has started many fishermen thinking about the upcoming ice season. Anglers have stated to dig out the ice gear and checking it over. strategies are being worked on and fishing locations being plotted. Are you ready for ice fishing? Any predictions for first ice?
Largemouth bass anglers have been surprised by more than one trophy bass. Big bass have been drawn to numerous baits ranging from jigs to plastic worms and tube baits. Working any structure will generally produce good numbers of bass. Many of the largest bass have been caught on jigs and plastic. Now that the water has started to cool down a slower retrieve is mandated. During the past couple of weeks anglers have scored a four and half pounder at Lake Attitash, a four pound nine ounce bass at Round Pond, a five pound 12 ounce bass at the Merrimack in Haverhill ad a three and a half pounder at Chebacco Lake. Good numbers of bass have been caught on artificial baits with about the same number caught on live baits. Shiners have attracted numbers of fish but fins should be clipped in order to slow the bait to make it easier for the fish to strike. Some of the best fishing has taken place along the Merrimack from Haverhill to Lawrence.
This is the time of year that the draw of panfish action is hard to resist. Anglers f all ages line the banks of local ponds casting everything from small baits to small spoons and spinners hoping to hook up with a perch, crappie or pout. New Englanders are known for their enjoyment of a god chowder or a Saturday night supper of fried fish and a generous portion of home made baked beans. A tasty meal of fried fish fillets and beans served with a couple of slices of hard crusted bread is a meal that is difficult to beat. Fishermen have caught good numbers of panfish at most local ponds. Panfish are a great fish to catch with kids and novice fishermen as they are plentiful and easy to catch. So far this fall we have weighed in perch up to two pounds, crappie close to three pounds and pout around two and a half pounds. Catfish have tipped the scales at better than five pounds.
This weekend only, you can purchase a $25.00 Gift Certificate for only $20.00. That is a 20% savings on whatever you choose to use it on. There is no expiration date and it can be used next summer for bait. Boy, what a gift! The only restriction on these popular gift items is that it can not be exchanged for cash. It can be used for any purchase. We have an Ugly Stik Combo on sale for $29.99.
Donations are now being accepted by anglers that have found this site to be helpful. A wide assortment of fees and charges are coming due for this site. You can make your donation by coming to the shop, mailing your donation to Pete's Bait, 121 North St., Salem, MA 01970 or clicking on to the Donation button and filling in the information. As you know, we do not charge a membership fee for using this site and rely solely on your donations. Thank you in advance for your generous contritions to keep this site online.
Flounder fishermen in Salem and Manchester have scored big during the past week. Flounder up to three pounds have been caught in near limit and limit catches. Some of the best flounder action has come from the Manchester side f the harbor. With sea worms experiencing limited availability, fishermen have been using trout worms, night crawlers and strips of clams. All baits have been successful at attracting flounder but seem to work much better when anglers work the bait.
Big mackerel have arrived in Salem waters during the past week. Anglers have reported schools of Jack mackerel in local waters from Boston to Gloucester. Fishermen have filled buckets with large mackerel. Anglers using herring rigs have been complaining that the mackerel have been too big and active for the light leaders of the popular rigs. Some fishermen have been switching to the standard mackerel tree but when they do they seem to watch their catches decline. Tandem rigged mackerel jigs seem to be becoming the most popular rig. Schools of mackerel have been observed along Winthrop and Lynn while Salem anglers work the schools that have been observed along the Islands and the channel between Misery Island and the Manchester coastline. Anglers report catches into the hundreds. Many anglers cut the mackerel into small chunks and strips and add them to cod rigs. Many fishermen report additional cod activity when they add the mackerel to their jigs.
With local waters dipping below the magical fifty degree mark this week, stripers and bluefish have been exiting the area in big numbers. As of this writing the local water temperature stands at 48 degrees. A few stragglers have been caught in Gloucester around the State fishing pier. Boston Island fishermen have also reported a few stripers. In Salem, fishermen have reported no striper or bluefish activity although some limited bird activity has been reported. Even fishermen at the outflow at the Power Plant have been reporting no action which is very unusual. It appears tat the striper and bluefish season is all but over in the Salem area.
Trout fishermen continued t score on a limited number of feisty trout. Morning fishermen appeared to core best with the most productive time for the best catches taking place from just before dawn to the period when the sun starts to rise above the tree tops. Fair numbers of trout were caught by persistent fishermen but large numbers of anglers were frustrated by rising fish that refused take any offering presented by anglers. Pleasant Pond and Sluice Pond anglers did all right at dawn when the cast baits to waters along the shallows. Productive baits turned out to be bits of nigh crawlers, meal worms, meal worm marshmallow combinations and power bait. Small spoons and spinners caught the attention of cruising trout along the shores of Stiles Pond and Baldpate Pond. Horn Pond fishermen scored along the wall with power bait and meal worm combinations. Small spoons and spinners were successful at on Pond when they were cast along the shore and retrieved in an erratic motion. Speed also needed to be varied. At times small jig, sweetened with a tiny bit of bait. Often times a small strip of shiner attracted trout. The season is not over yet, so take the time of one of autumn's brisk mornings to get out and present a bait.
Largemouth bass fishermen have been challenges as scores of anglers head to productive bass waters hoping to score that "trophy" fish of the season. Most bass fishermen have reported good numbers of bass falling victim to live bait, jigs , jig n' pig combinations and plastic worms. Water temperatures have fallen at a steady pace over the past couple of weeks and successful fishermen have had to slow their retrieve as well as shift to slower offerings. Spinnerbaits with larger blades have attracted a few bass. Shiners with clipped pectoral fins prove to be more productive than unaltered bait. By clipping a fin, shiners swim more erratically and in a circle making it easier for a bass to strike it. A slower retrieve makes it easier for bass to strike. A slower retrieve along with a side to side movement helps to increase the numbers of strikes experienced in cold water conditions. Although bass have been caught throughout the day, the most active appears to be during the late afternoon. This could be because there is a larger number of fishermen working the lakes and pond during these after work hours. Or it could be that water temperatures have risen slightly from the sun beating down all day long. Fair to good numbers of largemouth bass have been caught along many rocky shores and points, fallen trees and bush, breakwaters and docks. Jig n' pigs seem to workbest along these structured areas. Plastic worms have been productive along rocky structure but have been best along decaying weed lines. This week Chebacco Lake, Pillings Pond, Hood's Pond and Cedar Pond h ave all given up fish. Putnamville Reservoir saw some pretty good action with most fishermen working the wassl at both ends of the reservoir. The wall on the Rt. 1 side of the reservoire seemed to be the most active. Most of the bass that were caught were under three pounds. Catching a larger bass seemed to be a challenge for most anglers.
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It is that time of the year that contracts for the website, www.petesbait.com must be renewed. We are accepting donations for the coming year. As you know, we do not charge a membership fee for this site. This site runs solely on your generosity. Petesbait.com provides the fishing public with valuable information and supplies a forum so that you can exchange fishing information. If you have used the site and it has helped you out, please make a donation to keep the site in operation. There are three ways you can make a donation, first you can click on to the donation button and make your donation thru our secured site by credit card, mail your donation to Pete's Bait, 121 North St., Salem, MA or stop by the shop.
Dwindling numbers of stripers suggest that their southern migration has started. Schools of bass have taken advantage of the numbers of mackerel that are in the area. This fall the weather has been less than acceptable, keeping anglers off the water and preparing their crafts for winter storage. Those anglers that have gotten out have scored nicely on good sized stripers. Trophy sized stripers have been caught by anglers presenting live and chunked mackerel. Chumming helps to attract stripers but chumming too heavily attracts dogfish.
Local water temperatures have been dropping steadily signaling a start to the southern migration of bluefish. Pods of bluefish are converging into schools in preparation for their departure. As blues enter schools they destroy mackerel and other baitfish. Flocks of birds signal bluefish activity. The sad thing is that there are no fishermen around to take advantage of the numerous blitzes.
Schools of mackerel have been observed along the coast from Gloucester to Boston and have sent scores of fishermen, armed with herring rigs and jigs to local waters to stock up on fresh mackerel. Some anglers freeze their mackerel for use next spring while others enjoy their catch as tablefare. Schools of mackerel have been cornered in Manchester and have schooled up along the State Fishing Pier in Gloucester Harbor.
Flounder fishermen drift the shores of Beverly and Manchester scoring on near limit and limit catches of doormats. Successful anglers present sea worms, strips of clams, night crawlers and dillies. Many doormats were tallied in most catches. Limited numbers of flounder have also been caught just inside the mouth of Marblehead Harbor. Putting a chum bag at the anchor helps to bring flounder close but if you chum too heavily be prepared for dogs.
Local smelt fishermen have started to report limited catches from the local area. Some smelt have been caught at the Congress St. Bridge, Manchester Harbor, The Danvers River, Winthrop and Boston Harbor. So far the best smelt fishing has taken place along the State Pier in Gloucester. Are you ready for cold weather fishing?
Cod fishing has been rated as excellent by local fishermen. Good numbers of "steaker" sized cod have been caught at all the offshore banks and ledges. Jefferies Ledge fishermen enjoyed a great fishing experience while presenting jigs and bait on a moving tide. Jigs, rigged with teasers attract whale cod. Thirty and forty pound cod were common and helped to fill fish boxes rapidally. Cusk, wolffish and haddock were all part of the catch. Smart fishermen filleted the fish, cut the fillets into family sized portions and placed th fillets into tupperware containers and covered the fillets with salt water making them readey for the freeze. Tillies Bank fishermen scored very well with good numbers of whale cod taken by excited anglers. The largest cod weighed in at the shop was 60 lbs. Stellwagen Bank fishermn scored well on big cod bending rods close to the breaking point. The best fishing took place along the eastern side of the bank. Cod of all sizes are moving inshore creating a lot of excitemnt among small boat anglers. Fishermn fund good numbers of cod at Tinker's Ledge, Newcomb's Ledge, Gales Ledge, the 101 Hill, Hill 47, Cole Ridge and Satuday Night Ledge. Cod to 20 lbs. were haule over the rails. Fish boxes were filled to overflowing and anglers complained o sore arms,
The fall fishing season for largemouth bass started off with a bang. The strong tart dwindled to a near standstill. By the first of October, fishermn started to observe another change with more and bigger bass being caught. Bass fishing seemed to make another about face. As the season moved on, the bass fishing continued to get better. Over the last week, more bass fishermen have been fishing the normally productive bass waters of the North Shore and realizing great success. The latest challenge has not been to catch largemouth bass but to catch a "bucketmouth" with some size to it. Largemouth bass have donned the feed bag and have been aggressively chasing after any aavaiable bait to help him put on weight and build up layers of fat to get him through the winter that lies ahead. Good numbers of big bass have falen victim to medium and large sized shiners. Water temperatures have fallen and bass movements have started to slow. Clipping a pectoral fin on the bait causes the bait to swim off center and in a circular pattern makng it easier for the predator to hit. Generally speaking, the bass fishing has been best later in the afternoon. Water temperatures make a huge difference when t comes to bass fishing. A change in water temperatures, as little as a degree or two, can make a big difference in your success rate. Plastic worms, plastic grubs and jig n' pig combinations have been among the most popular artificial baits. Shallow wate ridges, hills and bumps have al proven to be successful. Some productive local ponds have been Brow's Pond, Pillings Pond, Beck's Pond and the Merrimack River.
Trout fishermen continued their quest for the highly sought after trout. Fair numbers of good sized trout have been caught by experienced trout fishermen. Early morning anglers have been successful at Pleasant Pond. Power bait, meal worms and meal worm and marshmallow combinations have attracted good numbers of trout. The only bait that has attracted greater numbers of trout than the above listed baits has been night crawlers and dillies. Small spoons and spinners have also attracted trout bur the response to hardware has not been steady. Active periods have been early morning and a brief period right at dsk.
Pickerel fishermen have been almost guaranteed a good sized catch if they present large shiners along any leftover weedlines. Most pickerel have been on a feeding binge for the past couple of weeks aggressively chasing large shiners and many styles of metal spoons with the Dare Devil and Johnson spoons strong favorites among dedicated anglers. Despite the reputation of the pickerel as the trash fish of fresh water, scores of fishermen continue to go after these bullies of sweet water. Pickerel strike hard from ambush locations, fight hard and prefer long, hard battles in the thick salad, creating many break offs. Some of the better pickerel locations have been Chebacco Lake, Pillings Pond, Longham Reservoir and Johnson Pond. Pickerel activity has been good at Lake Attitash but most anglers were disappointed at the size of the fish that were landed. Most pickerel that were caught were between one and two pounds.
Perch and panfish activity has kept scores of anglers close to the shorelines casting assorted hardware and worms to waiting fish in all bodies of water from small farm ponds to large lakes. It appears that from most reports that have filtered into the shop, white perch have been responding favorably to hardware. Shiners have also attracted good numbers of white perch. The best white perch has taken place along the rocky points of Chebacco Lake during the late afternoon and into dusk. Yellow perch action has been unbeatable throughout the day with the largest yellow perch falling victim to generous offerings of night crawlers and medium shiners. Although most yellow perch have been caught while cruising in open water, the largest number of yellow perch caught were drawn from deep water around decaying weed patches. Medium shiners were preferred by most anglers. Yellow perch were found in Chebacco Lake, Brown's Pond and Putnamville Reservoir. Probably the most sought after panfish, the calico bass or crappie, has been caught in good numbers by persistent fisher. Crappie have gained the nickname, papemouth, for a reason. As any good crappie fisherman will confirm the crappie has a very soft mouth that fails to hold up to a hard fight. The most successful crappie anglers have preferred shiners as bait.
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