North Shore Saltwater
The North Shore, including marine waters from the Merrimack River around Cape Ann and down to Nahant, offers the saltwater angler a wide array of fishing opportunities. Whether you are looking for beach and surf, rocks and wash, rivers and rips, estuaries and outflows, its all there to be fished on the North Shore. Many anglers pursue striped bass and bluefish from shore while others take to the water in boats. Either way, there are many accessible areas that are well known to produce quality fishing opportunities. Listed here are some of the well known destinations in the area. Rivers Edge has guides who can put you on fish in any of the areas listed below.
Merrimack River/Plum Island
 This area is renowned for its striper and bluefish action! Wade fishing is excellent on the Merrimack River. Joppa Flats is about 1 mile inside the mouth and can be accessed from a simple boat ramp with free parking off of Water Street in Newburyport. It is wadable only 2-3 hours on each side of low tide. Another spot is the mouth of the river at the north end of Plum Island, where you will find heavy currents running along a sand beach and over an ever-changing sand bar. Just cross the bridge to the island and go to the north end. Parking is plentiful.
Surf fishing opportunities along the front of Plum Island are plentiful. Park at the north end, at the "Church", or on the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge and simply pick your spot. You can also proceed to the southern end of Plum Island, known as Sandy Point, and explore Emerson's Rocks along the beach, the sand bars at the tip or the flats and mussel beds on the backside. Some parking restrictions may be in effect at certain times on the refuge and at Sandy Point, so check at the gate when you enter.
The best boat ramp for accessing the Merrimack River is Cashman Park in Newburyport. Recently upgraded, this state of the art ramp puts you onto the river just above the Route 1 bridge from which point you can go upriver or down. Joppa Flats, the Salisbury drift, Badgers Rocks and the mouth itself all offer superb action for stripers and blues. Use caution when fishing in the river mouth as tidal currents, wind and vessel wakes can lead to challenging conditions.
If you can get outside the mouth, work Salisbury Beach to the north or Plum Island to the south. Also keep your eyes open for schools of fish off of the beaches.
 Plum Island Sound/Ipswich River
Plum Island Sound is a vast body of water that lies behind Plum Island and is fed by the Plum Island, Parker, Rowley and Ipswich Rivers. The mouth of the sound lies between the southern end of Plum Island (Sandy Point) and Crane Beach. Shore access to the sound is limited but possible from several points. In Rowley look for Stackyard Road off of Route lA. Park at the small lot at the road's end and walk out to Nelson's Island abutting the sound. Wade the marsh banks at high tide or the mud flats at low tide for best results. In Ipswich head out Jeffries Neck Road to Great Neck and wade the banks of the Eagle Hill River between half and low tide. Or continue out to Great Neck to Pavillion Beach, where excellent wade fishing exists, especially toward the mouth of the Ipswich River.
The other legendary spot in Ipswich is Crane Beach. Drive to the end of Argilla Road, park at the beach and walk in either direction, although most anglers fish to the northwest toward the mouth of the Ipswich River. You can also fish the backside of Crane Beach along the Castle Neck River; it's productive but a long walk to get there. Visit the Ipswich town hall and pick up an overnight parking permit that allows you to park outside the Crane Beach gates after hours.
The best boat launch in Ipswich is the town ramp on Jeffries Neck Road. It puts you onto the Ipswich River which flows out into Plum Island Sound.
Essex River/Essex Bay
The Essex River System, which includes the Castleneck and Essex Rivers has emerged as one of the premiere fly fishing rivers for striped bass. Unlike the Merrimack River and Plum Island Sound both to the north, the Essex is surrounded in large measure by Greenbelt and Trustees of Reservations land which has kept development away. Most of the system is pristine environment.
Access for wade fishing in Essex is very poor. One spot is the Cox Reservation off of Route 133. You can park and walk out to the banks of the Essex River. However, this area offers outstanding fishing from a boat or wading areas accessed by boat. There are several marinas in Essex that have boat ramps open to the public for a charge. Fish the banks of the river or the many channels, cuts, points, rock piles, mussel beds and beaches out in the bay.
Annisquam River
Wade fisherman flock to the marsh banks behind Nichol's Candy Store off of Route 128 in Gloucester. For boat access, go to Dufudgin Landing off of Centennial Avenue. The Annisquam River holds fish, but boat traffic can be heavy, especially on weekends.
Rockport
 Some of the best kept secrets of saltwater fishing are found in Rockport. The shoreline is ruggedly rocky, with steep drop-offs and surf pounding ashore but the fish hang in close. Go to Halibut Point off of Route 127 and wade the shore there. Or try the waters down around Long Beach. If you have a boat, put in at Pigeon Cove and fish anything that looks good. If you can get out to Thatcher's and Milk Islands you won't be disappointed.
Gloucester
One of Massachusetts' great fishing ports, Gloucester also offers fabulous recreational fishing opportunities. Wade fishing can be done from Good Harbor Beach, Stage Fort Park and Eastem Point. Or launch your boat at St. Peter's Park and fish the rocky shoreline.
Manchester/Beverly
This area offers both a rocky coastline with scattered beaches along the way. Beaches like Singing, Black, White and West for good shore fishing. From a boat launched either behind the Manchester Town Hall or from one of several marinas in Beverly and fish the numerous islands off of the coast like Misery or Bakers.
Salem/Marblehead
Better fished from a boat but still some good wade fishing, particularly by the Salem power plant or at Devereaux Beach. Launching a boat is challenging, Winter Island is your best bet. Once on the water, head to Crowninshield or Tinkers Island and cast into the rocky ledges.
Hampton Harbor, NH
Hampton Harbor is an estuary formed by the Blackwater and Taylor Rivers. Fishable from both shore and boat, there is productive fishing for stripers and blues. The rips and creek mouths are especially productive as are the flats which are on the left when entering the harbor. Outside Hampton Harbor are the Inner and Outer Sunken Rocks and Great Boar's Head. Shore fishing can be productive on Hampton or North Beaches. Watch for birds or climb on the rocks.
FRESHWATER
Squannacook and Nissitissit Rivers
The best fishing in the Nissitissit occurs in Pepperel, Mass from the New Hampshire line downstream. In this stretch is a fly fishing only section, the upper and lower portions of which can be excellent. The Squannacook fishes best both upstream and downstrem of the Rte 119 bridge. Both these medium sized streams offer some good fishing for mostly hatchery trout. Early season tiny black stoneflies give way to various cadisflies in May with a smattering of mayflies. Fishing will generally hold up until July, when water temps and recreational traffic both rise.
Swift River
The lower portion of the Swift flows out of Quabbin Reservoir in Central Massachusetts. Nearly every type of trout water can be encountered here: pools, pocket water, eddies, runs and backwaters. The section between Windsor Dam and the Route 9 bridge is catch-and-release and very fly fishing friendly. Midge hatches abound almost year around: even in mid-Winter on a warm afternoon. Fishing pressure is high and the trout are very well educated, but the trip will be worthwhile, and there are some real monsters!
Deerfield River
In the northwest corner of the state, the Deerfield has become a first class trout river. 2 no-kill sections and a good deal of attention by Fisheries and Wildlife has resulted in excellent fishing. A drawback to the Deerfield is that it is dam controlled and in the Summer, water is released for kayakers and rafters making sections unfishable. Although far from reliable, you can call 1-888-356-3663 for release information.
Lamprey River
The Lamprey River is located in southern New
Hampshire with some of its best fishing in
the town of Durham. This is a heavily
stocked river by the state and in the fall
the stocking is supplemented by Trout
Unlimited making it a good fall and winter
fishery. There are some large fish in the
sections from Wiswall dam down thru Packers
Falls. Some of the best fishing occurs from
early spring thru mid June. After that the
water starts warm and get very low making
fishing difficult at best.
Stonehouse Pond
Located in Barrington New Hampshire,
Stonehouse is a float tubers dream. The pond
is small and with no houses dotting its
shoreline, has a wilderness feel. The early
season midge hatch is incredible here in the
evenings from late april thru mid may. Big
streamers tossed into the shoreline is also
productive in the early season. This is a
brook trout fly fishing only pond, and the
state puts some very nice fish in to go
along with the typical 9 to 11 inch brookies.
Sugar River
Located in Newport New Hampshire, the fly
fishing only section is a beautiful piece of
water stretching for about 4 miles. This
section has all the water types, nice
riffles and runs, some great pools, and good
pocket water. Rainbows are predominant but
there is a good mix of brookies and some
browns. Nymphing is my favorite way to fish
this river and even though there are some
good hatches dry fly fishing is not usually
too productive. Driving distance is only a
couple of hours from boston making this a
good day trip destination. |
