New England - South Shore Massachusetts to Maine Fishing Reports

Seem like the crew at Belsan’s Bait & Tackle has been closing early on Sundays, because no one picked up the phone for the second week in a row! After a few calls to local friends, I was able to piece together a local report. Tog fishing is still producing well from Boston down to the Canal. There were some respectable fish landed this week, with the largest going just over 8 pounds. There have even still been a few fish being caught from shore. The striper action has actually gotten a little better this week, sizes have been mostly under slot, but a few fish up to 34 inches have been reported. These fish are on the move and have been hard to track from day to day, but they are around.

Capt. Tom Lukegord of Beauport Fishing Adventures has put the 2026 season to bed. After his final trip of the year was weathered out, he took his small boat out for some inshore codfishing on Saturday and he and his deckmates landed a few keepers at Saturday Night Ledge to put a cherry on top of another great season fishing out of Gloucester. Tom wanted to thank all of his patrons for another awesome season, he also wanted to wish all of our readers Happy Holidays and a quick and painless winter.

Over at Surfland Martha said the striper season seems to be done on the North Shore and it’s been tough for some of the hardcores to let it go. They had a few reports of guys going out to try for stripers, but no one caught any fish and it’s been a good two weeks since they had a positive striper report. There’s a ton of bait around though and it’s the type that brings the gannets with it, probably sea herring or mackerel; so keeping an eye is still advised. There have been a few guys heading up the Merrimack in search of pike and a few others chasing white perch in Essex. Stocked trout is always an option as well. The shop hours changed as of November 1, they are now open Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and closed Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. They will also be closed (this Monday) November 9. The shop will return to 7 days a week in December, to accommodate holiday shopping.