07-06-2007, 03:10 PM
By Robert Royer, biological aide, Marine Division (Region 3/Durham)
Well it has been another exciting early summer on New Hampshire's seacoast.
Even though fuel prices are a little higher than last year, that's not stopping the anglers from trying their luck at hooking one of the many species in our waters right now.
Like last year, the big Atlantic cod -- "white bellies" -- were in near shore this spring in good numbers. About 9 miles from shore, the location known as "The Mudhole" produced some very large Atlantic cod, upwards of 60 pounds. It made a short steam for the headboats out of Hampton and Seabrook to get to the big fish. Instead of the approximately 2-hour ride out, it took only about 20 minutes, which made for more fishing time and happy anglers.
The mackerel rush has pretty much come and gone now, with only small numbers being reported in the area. Reports from the creel survey conducted by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department showed that it was a pretty good spring for bait fishing. Atlantic mackerel and "harbor pollock" both used as striper bait were easy to catch on a good number of days.
The story now is that the bluefish are in New Hampshire waters early this year. The reports coming in so far are showing good numbers of bluefish being caught. Talking with some anglers it seems like the evening bluefishing is having better luck at this time. As we go into July, the bluefishing should only get better as the water continues to warm.
In early July, the cod and haddock have moved offshore again. Fishing out at Jeffreys Ledge is fair in midsummer months and some nice cod are still being caught and the haddock seem to just keep coming up. But right now the cusk is the main fish biting out at Jeffreys. We can't forget about the spiny dogfish (even if some of us would like to), which can make it a little hard to get the bait through them to the groundfish below.
It's a great time now to be fishing the waters of New Hampshire -- from the bay to Jeffreys, you should have fun fishing for the many species we have available to catch all summer long!
Well it has been another exciting early summer on New Hampshire's seacoast.
Even though fuel prices are a little higher than last year, that's not stopping the anglers from trying their luck at hooking one of the many species in our waters right now.
Like last year, the big Atlantic cod -- "white bellies" -- were in near shore this spring in good numbers. About 9 miles from shore, the location known as "The Mudhole" produced some very large Atlantic cod, upwards of 60 pounds. It made a short steam for the headboats out of Hampton and Seabrook to get to the big fish. Instead of the approximately 2-hour ride out, it took only about 20 minutes, which made for more fishing time and happy anglers.
The mackerel rush has pretty much come and gone now, with only small numbers being reported in the area. Reports from the creel survey conducted by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department showed that it was a pretty good spring for bait fishing. Atlantic mackerel and "harbor pollock" both used as striper bait were easy to catch on a good number of days.
The story now is that the bluefish are in New Hampshire waters early this year. The reports coming in so far are showing good numbers of bluefish being caught. Talking with some anglers it seems like the evening bluefishing is having better luck at this time. As we go into July, the bluefishing should only get better as the water continues to warm.
In early July, the cod and haddock have moved offshore again. Fishing out at Jeffreys Ledge is fair in midsummer months and some nice cod are still being caught and the haddock seem to just keep coming up. But right now the cusk is the main fish biting out at Jeffreys. We can't forget about the spiny dogfish (even if some of us would like to), which can make it a little hard to get the bait through them to the groundfish below.
It's a great time now to be fishing the waters of New Hampshire -- from the bay to Jeffreys, you should have fun fishing for the many species we have available to catch all summer long!