Boston Globe Fishing Rep 8/5/05

With ocean water reaching its seasonal high temperature, the fishing activity is at its low point. But that doesn't mean there are no fish being caught, just that the numbers are lower. One obvious change is that the topwater action -- or anything close -- has diminished a lot, but every rule has its exception, and in this case it's the burst of bluefish along the shore and near rivermouths, most likely in early morning.

Area A: Northern waters, of course, are cooler and the fishing activity closer to prime. The ledges are producing for party boats and there are big bass strikes in the waters of the Penobscot and Casco bays. Along with the mix of bass and bluefish in places such as Saco and York, you can hook some large pollack, cod, and haddock feeding deep. Livelining small pollack is an excellent draw for big bass. Haddock and cod are still in abundance on the eastern slope of Stellwagen Bank. Plenty of bluefin tuna activity the entire length of Stellwagen. The Merrimack is alive with feeding bluefish, and anglers fishing off Plum Island are doing fairly well. Salem Harbor has bait and early-morning action with blues.

Area B: Again, off Boston the bluefin tuna activity is pretty warm, but the onshore action has been frustrating. Some blues deep around the outer harbor. The channel between Thompson Island and the UMass breakwater had some early action, as did the Fore River and Hull Gut.

Area C: Cohasset offshore has plenty of football bluefin action, but the big bassin' around Minots and among the ledges is slow. A few bluefish flurries are seen, often announced by the noisy wheeling of terns. Peggoty Beach was the scene of such fishing yesterday morning, and the North River mouth is still worth checking out, as is the South River toward Humarock. After some pretty decent action last weekend, Duxbury and Kingston bays have quieted.

Area D: The Canal blows hot and cold, with blues working the length, usually early. Some decent fluke activity in the Buzzards end, Wareham, and Pocasset, and big scup are in the mix. Scup to Clevelands Ledge and well over toward West Island. Best fishing action is still in the Elizabeths, Robinsons the hottest. Livelined eels are the way to go. Cuttyhunk nights have some bass action on the reefs, especially in the full moon. Early-morning fishing there is also active. Most boat guys are heading out toward the Hooter and around Nomans.

Area E: The patterns have also changed on the Vineyard, as Wasque is too warm, yet the fish still move along this shore -- just deeper. Blues are feeding here and there in the Nantucket Shoals, and on the Squibnocket side, as well.

Area F: Mung is present on these beaches, and the fishing has been pretty bad because of it. Inside, the action has slowed around Billingsgate, but there are still some bass to the Race. Again, the big game in Cape Cod Bay and farther offshore is bluefin tuna. [org. pub. Boston.com By Tony Chamberlain]