Conference wahoo::fishing-v2

I have been boating in Newburyport and the Merrimack for the past 6 years.  Most
of the time the mouth of the river isn't very bad.  However, sometimes it is
downright nasty.  The worst conditions are outgoing tide and an easterly wind.
The last half of the outgoing is the worst.  Sometimes the waves will be breaking
in the mouth - this i very dangerous - if one breaks into your boat your done
if it doesn't empty fast enough.

For the most part you really won't have a problem.  Listen to the weather
channel (VHF) or forcast and use common sense and you'll be ok.  When going
out slow down and look at what the waves are doing and where the other boats
are going.  Sometimes when you get part way out the waves are a lot bigger
than you thought they were.  

I use the north jetty sode the most when going out.  once out you can turn north
and get out of the rough water.  Be careful here because the bottom comes right 
up to 8' and the waves can stand up and break here.

When coming back in try and get on the back of a wave and ride it in -- sometimes
your really moving to keep up with it.  The theory here is -- if you're on the 
back of the wave the next one can't catch up to you.  It's actually not too 
difficult to do with some practice.  I try and do it regardless of conditions
just to practice.

There is a rough bar light maintained by the Coast Guard on the old coast guard
station on Plum Island and There are two new this year lights on the North jetty.
If these are flashing don't try and go out.  If you are coming in use extreme
caution or wait until the tide turns and starts coming in  and it should calm
down.

If you have a doubt use the VHF radio andask someone of the conditions.  I have
heard other boats call the coast guard and ask what the conditions are.  They will
then make a decision, will tell the CG they are coming in and will call them
back once they are in ok.  The CG has a TV camera out there somewhere.

All is all it really isn't bad, just remember to error on the side of caution.

Gordon (Rock'n 'n Reel'n)

	The major factors at any inlet are tide vs wind direction.

	Time your trips in/out when the wind is going -with- the tide.

	That's the condensed version.
					B.C.

	just to make you feel safer?

	Remember that the Merrimack R is the most dangerous R to navigate
	along the US East Coast and 3rd worse along the entire US coastline.

	Treat her with respect (and fear) and you should do fine ;^)

	-< Tuna Tail >- fishin her since early 70's....but not often enough :^(

	PS: re: .1 Ditto

        Thanks for the replies! Gordon, I didn't have binoculars out
    	there yesterday but thought I could see markers further out 
    	on the Plumb Island side. We went only less than 100 yards
    	from the green buoy by the rocks when we decided that it looked
    	too rough. Are those markers part of a channel that your suppose 
    	to follow?? Thanks..
    
    	Gus

re:                      <<< Note 388.4 by STRATA::RINELLA >>>

A couple of the last few issues of The Fisherman had some good articles
on fishing the Merrimac.  The one last week, or was it the week before?,
covered some of the hot spots and had a helluva description of what the
mouth can be like.

fwiw, one time a 70' party boat didn't think he could make it into the
mouth of the river during one of those outgoing/incoming clashes at the
mouth.   Another time, the mouth was so calm a *canoe* was at the mouth
and outside the jetties!  (He got a talking to by the coast guard though).

>      	on the Plumb Island side. We went only less than 100 yards
>     	from the green buoy by the rocks when we decided that it looked
>     	too rough. Are those markers part of a channel that your suppose 
>     	to follow?? Thanks..

If it was the last green bouy on the northern side, then yes, they are
for navigation.  You should familiarize yourself with them on the salt,
for sure!   At least the red and green ones.   "Red Right Returning" is 
the phrase to remember, meaning keep the red bouys on the right when 
returning from the sea.  You keep the green ones to the left when returning.
Follow the same path when heading out to sea.

In a smaller boat it probably doesn't matter too much, but it all depends on
the tide, and a lot of other factors.

/Ken

    re:-1

    Ken, what I meant to say is beyond the last green buoy on the north
    jetty side. It looked like further out there were more markers but 
    I couldn't tell what color they where.
    Thanks...

    Gus

The roughness that you saw was probably created by the sandbar which come off
Plum Island and extends toward the Lighted green buoy that you were talking
about.  After you get by that it calms down until you get closer to the
mouth.  The current is really running fast there because the whole river is
trying to get out thru a narrow area,  It slows down as it widens.

I agree that you should get a chart of the area. Also learn the rules of the road
what side of the buoys to go on, etc.

You should also take compass headings of the buoys, landmarks on how to get back
when the fog rolls in.

Gordon

re: .5

  >>fwiw, one time a 70' party boat didn't think he could make it into the
  >>mouth of the river during one of those outgoing/incoming clashes at the
  >>mouth.   Another time, the mouth was so calm a *canoe* was at the mouth
  >>and outside the jetties!  (He got a talking to by the coast guard though).

	I've seen a single person Kayak out there once too.  But I would
	think a canoe a worse risk.  I also noticed the bigger boats waiting
	outside the mouth but I could run in close to the North Jetty 
	making a quick turn in ok.  But in a 19' boat and a reasonable tide
	it's ok to bypass the "Red Right Returning" safeway ;^)

	-< Tuna Tail >- dick

	PS: Hello to a good friend of mine (read-only-noter) in WFO
	    Jim A. and I with other facilities gang members did some great
	    charters out of Niantic, CN back in the early 70's.
	    Stipers were big and plentiful back then :^)

    Weather and tides aren't the only things to worry about in the mouth
    of the Merrimack.  Not only is it one of the most treacherous because
    of those, it is also one of the busiest harbors on the East.
    
    One of the problems is the channel along the North jetty is very 
    narrow and carries all of the larger boat traffic with no speed
    restriction.  This means all of the cigarette boats, sailboats,
    Captains fleet, you name it, going both ways with lots of wake.
    
    I got tired of taking my life in my hands and go out of Essex harbor
    most of the time now.  There are a couple of marinas there with great 
    ramps and the river leads right out to Cranes beach and the ocean.
    If you want to cruise the Anisquam or fish off of Plum Island, you're
    right in the middle of them both.  It's a lot saner afternoon.

    	From what I remember, Rye Harbor was pretty quiet too, and I
    believe it's the closest to the Isle of Shoals (7 mi.) if you want to
    fish that.
    
    	RAYJ

       I forgot to mention that my cousin has a slip at Boat Works.
    Really makes it convenient to just drive down and not trailer anything;')

    Not too long ago, we were heading for the Merrimack, trailing it, and
    just as we pulled out onto the main road from his house, one of the
    wheels just about feel off! The trailer has bearing buddies on it and 
    we took for granted that they were well greased and didn't need to be 
    checked. Wrong, there was nothing left of the outer bearing and we
    were stuck, on a Sunday morning, just about in the middle of the road,
    without spare bearings. Thats when my cousin looked at me and said
    "Boats are made to stay in the water, NOT be trailed around" Thus the 
    slip at the Boat Works;')

    The Atlantic Fishing Charter is out of Rye Harbor and your right,
    it's a fifteen minute ride to the Isle Of Shoals. We went out on that
    charter a couple of times at night for blues. Thanks for all the
    replies.

    Gus 

	Now that I got out of the DIGITAL notesfile I'll ask in here 8^0

	Does anyone have the tides for tommorrow on the Merrimack?
	I want to be on the river before dawn.
	Anyone else going to be out there tommorrow?

	-< Tuna Tail >- aboard the "FishTeaser" monitors VHF CH9 & CB CH19

Dick,

I'm planning to be out on the Merrimack Sunday afternoon around 1:30-2:00 PM.
I think low tide is somewhere around 4:30 for Sunday.

No radio onboard, but will be in a 14' blue Princecraft w/25 Merc, trolling 
motor on the bow.

As I understand, there are lots of schoolies in the river, so we're looking
forward to some light tackle fun.  Of course, if a keeper decides to happen
along, I'll take that too!

Will post an update on Monday.

Joe

    Tuna Tail,

              I'll be out on my cousins boat Erica tomorrow morning around
    5:00am. High tide is at 8:36am. Maybe I'll see ya out there!
    
    Gus

	Gus,
		I'm trying to find someone to meet me at Salisbury ramp to
	help launch the "FishTeaser" my family can't make it.

	Alternative it to go out on Sunday instead.
	Does the Erica have VHF or CB aboard?
	If I'm there I will monitor VHF CH 9 & CB CH19

	-< Tuna Tail >- aboard the "FishTeaser"

    Tuna Tail
    
    High tide for SAturday is 9:07 in the merrimack. We are going out
    tonight with eels. If your by yourself I would suggest launching at
    Ferry Land Marina,formerly 3R. They charge $10 on the weekend but have
    tie-up space right there on the ramp. They will even help,when they see
    you by yourself. Good luck I'll save a few for ya.
    
    Jim

I'll be on the river all weekend.  Will be fishing for stripers, macks, and
mabye run out to find some cod.  Give me a call on vhf 9

Gordon (Rock'n 'n Reel'n)

	Have heard from a few of you but can't find "volunteer" for an
	early launch tommorrow morning.  before 5:00am.

	I will try some friends at home again tonight  If no luck will be
	on Merrimack Sunday morning and fish the day.

	I'll call you Gordon aboard Rock'n 'n Reel'n when I get there.
	If ocean is calm I may want to drive out a bit when Stripers are
	sleeping :^)

	Good fishing to all
	Enjoy your weekend
	-< Tuna Tail >- aboard "FishTeaser"

Well, Paul and I got on the water (Salisbury) Sunday about 1:15 P.M. and
within a minute of wetting a line we each had a small schoolie on.  LOTS of
small ones, but Paul finally managed to pick up a 31" fish.  We used big
sandworms.  They weren't interested in any artificials.  We just hung 
around Badger's, the Toothpick and across the channel by the fish piers.  
Action really fell off after the tide turned and he hauled out about 6 PM.

I spoke with a guy Saturday and he fished the river up in Lawrence this 
past week and picked up 7 keepers, all on live herring.  He used shad darts 
to catch the herring.   Where's a launch ramp up that way?

Anyone else have any luck out there this weekend?

-Joe-

    Well three of us were out on the water by 5:00am. Fished with poppers
    for awhile and hooked into a 27" stripper and 24". The river was 
    pretty still, I couldn't believe how calm it was! Headed out of the 
    mouth, cause it was so calm, and hooked up with a fleet of boats. 
    Caught about 37 macs between the three of us with only two jigs, got
    to get some jigs;')

    Sooo now we have a good idea of how to get out of the mouth in nice
    weather, piece of cake, but we will see when it's a little rougher!

    Joe, I'm not sure where the launch is in Lawrence but I've heard that
    they have been catching keepers at the chain bridge using herring.FWIW.

    Gus

   There is a launching ramp right below the Essex Dam.  I've seen all
   kinds of boats in there but it is most suitable for 12'-14' metal boats
   with  small motors - say 10 horse.  If you don't know the river there
   are all kinds of submerged rocks right below the ramp just waiting for
   a new prop for diner.  An article in the Sunday Tribune basically
   documented the Striper poaching that has been going on there the last
   two weeks.  It seems that keeper fish have chased the herring up to the
   dam and some people have been taking several > 36" as well as
   undersize Stripers.  I talked to  one guy who told me 50 keeper size
   fish were caught in his boat last Tuesday, all livelining herring. 
   Seeing the crowds and the way they were fishing I suppose it is
   possible.  Thankfully this is not real common.

   Anyhow to get there - The Essex Dam is on Rt. 28 in Lawrence.  I 
   believe Rt. 28 is the first exit off 495 north of 93.  I'll guess
   the dam must be 3 miles from the exit.  Once you cross the river
   take an immediate right behind the factories and before Canal Street.
   The ramp is right there.

   A bit of unsolicited advice - this ain't the country.  If you
   go more than 20 feet from your vehicle then lock it.  Don't leave
   loose change, cigarettes, etc on the dash or you may not have
   windows when you return.  Park among other cars and get out of
   there before dark.

    Nobody could come on the "FishTeaser" with me Sat morning.
    Finally decided to go it alone Saturday anyway.
    Launched from Salisbury State Park at around 6:30pm.
    Fished till 10:30pm with no luck at all using lures and worms.
    Anchored in the flats and got some Zzz's off/on till 4:30am.
    Was going to go out to the mouth as river was calm all night.
    Got as far as the green can next to the north jetty (closest to wall)
    
    Stripers were bustin water all over the river at this point.
    The most Striper action I have ever seen.  All schoolies.
    Stopped "FishTeaser" right in the middle of them and drifted with them.
    Could not catch any using big lures so shifted to 6" and was catching
    them left/right and losing some left/right.  Awesome fishing.  Only two
    other boats fishing with me.  This was from 5:00am-6:00am Sunday well
    before the High Tide of 9:00ish.
    
    Fish went upriver and got slow.
    Met up with Jim who was out with a gang on his boat.
    We both went outside the mouth to fish for Macks or Flounder.
    I went to 100' depth and tried for Sharks using cut macks but no luck.
    Came back in closer to South Jetty where around 20 boats were anchored
    fishing for flounder.  I caught/released 3 of them using worms then
    called it a day pulling out at 11:00am.
    
    Total catch for the day: 15 Schoolies caught/released largest 22"
    			     15 Schoolies hooked/lost on way in.
    			      3 Flounder caught/released.
    
    All in all great time but wished someone could have joined me.
    Maybe next time.
    -< Tuna Tail >-

	Anyone have the forecast for this weekend for the Merrimack R. ?

	May go Fri night to Sat afternoon launching from Salisbury State Park
	Or may go for 3:00am Sat morning launch to Sat afternoon pull out.

	My son will join me for either option.  Not sure of wife/daughters yet.

	Give the "FishTeaser" a call on VHF CH9 or CB 19 if your out there.
	-< Tuna Tail >- dick

re:           <<< Note 388.24 by CAPL::LANDRY_D "Warbirds 1939-1945" >>>

>	Anyone have the forecast for this weekend for the Merrimack R. ?

I heard temps to 75 on saturday.  10-15 winds, variable direx, clouds coming 
in/increasing throughout the day, showers moving in sunday.  All subject to
change of course!  

I'll be out there sat a.m. till sometime in the afternoon - look for an old
Thompson, white with brown trim, and a relatively new natural-colored transom.
I'll be with my wife and 2 young kids.

My VHF died last year, so I have no radio.  Considering installing a CB
one of these days - for inshore fishing, and trouble, how useful would a CB be ?

/Ken

    Anyone been fishing surf inside mouth of river on state park side. Plan
    to go up tonight with my boy's and was wondering how fishing has been
    off beach. Anything in particular that they have been hitting on
    besides plugs. Goona leave here at noon and get some stuff done at
    house then hit beach around nine and fish night.
    
    
         John and Boy's

	When in doubt, throw chunk Macks or live eels, pogies, whole or
chunked if they're in...  -Very- basic bait info...

						B.C.

    Looks like a bunch of us may meet up at the Merrimack this afternoon
    tonight or early morning.
    
    	re: .25	Ken where/what time will you launch from Sat am?
    
    	re: .26 John talk about "The Luck of the Irish" see you tonight!!!
    
    I will be launching from the Salisbury State Park ramp at 6:00pm
    tonight where my son and his friend will meet me.
    
    We will fish all night till around 8:00am when they both go back to
    work in Concord.  I most likely will pull out as I will be alone.
    
    John if you had a CB you could call me on CB CH19 and I might be able
    to convince Stephen and his friend Matt to let me take you and the boys
    out while they do some surf fishing for a bit.   I could not take
    everyone although the "FishTeaser" can do it.  Having six of us
    fighting "Stripers" at the same time would be too much a challange.
    
    If anyone else it out there give me a call.
    "FishTeaser" VHF CH9 CB CH19  19" Alum SeaNymph ctr console white/blue
    trim 70hp Johnson.  US flag flying high above center console.
    
    -< Tuna Tail >- dick 

re:          <<< Note 388.28 by DASMI7::LANDRY_D "Warbirds 1939-1945" >>>
                             -< The Gathering... >-
>    	re: .25	Ken where/what time will you launch from Sat am?

Around low tide, probably after.  I'd be happy if we're on the water by 9 a.m.
Later than I'd like, and hopefully earlier.  First time with family on the MR,
and a lot depends on the mood of my kids Timmy (4 yrs) and Allie (2 yrs) when 
they wake up.  Should be interesting, and I hope we get into some fish. Timmy
is already nervous the fish will be too big for him to handle ;-)

Launching from Salisbury State Park, though I'm also considering the new ramp
at Cashman's, with the pier and all that to help us board.  Problem is I don't
know where the new ramp is.  Anyone know where it is in relation to Hilton's
and Cap'n Lew ?  Same side of Rt 1 ?

/Ken

    I'll be out there too, around 5:00am tomorrow morning. We will 
    be aboard my cousins blue and white Sunbird named Erica. The boat 
    has VHF so I'll try and give you guys a holler on channel 9. Anyone 
    know what the seas are gonna be like?? I'd like to head out of the
    mouth again tomorrow and go for some more macs!

    Gus

    Regarding new ramp....
    If it is the one being built next to the "State" ramp that the
    town/city of Newburyport maintains, it wasn't complete as of last
    Sunday as I stopped by there and the barge was still pulled in and they
    were doing more work. Nice brandy new pavement all around there though.
    Like I said I'm not sure where Cashman's is, but this is the only area
    where I've seen work being done where it looks like a new ramp.
    
    	John "Fish-I-Do" who will be going out of Salisbury late Sat. PM
    for an all nighter.....rain and all. 22' Sylvan with white Hardtop.

re:                      <<< Note 388.31 by SOLVIT::PHELPS >>>

>    Regarding new ramp....
>    If it is the one being built next to the "State" ramp that the
>    town/city of Newburyport maintains, it wasn't complete as of last

I never know where the old state ramp was.  The new one being built must
be Cashmans, well, probably.   Is it near the Hiltons dock where the Capt Lew
boat leaves from ?  

/ken

    This one is not. It's upriver beyond the rte. 1 bridge on the South
    side of the river. If you go back upriver from Hiltons's dock past
    Rte.1 bridge,(South side of river),it'll be about .5 - 1.0 miles on 
    right hand side. I could
    be all wet, though, as I don't know where Cashman's is. What ever this 
    ramp is going to be, it is top notch. By upriver, I hope you know I
    mean towards Lawrence.
    
       Hopefully it will be done before summer ends.

re:                      <<< Note 388.33 by SOLVIT::PHELPS >>>

Thanks for the info - I don't know the Newburyport too well, just the
Hilton's and the Grog for landmarks, so that's all I have to go by...

/Ken

	I appreaciated all of you who called to "FishTeaser", -< Tuna Tail >-
	and one even to the Tuna Teaser?

	I heard you all very well but could not reply as my ^&#$%@# VHF
	decided to die on my Friday night.  I believe it's the antennae
	as I was able to receive all incoming calls.  I even was able
	to talk to Jim but he was right on my tail just past the Rt-1
	bridge late Fri night.  I did get one radio check to respond
	but they were next to me at Badgers Saturday morning.

	Sorry to all of you who called.  I wasn't being antisocial I was
	just to busy kicking the ever loving %^&#$^ outta my VHF and
	twisting the bah-Gee-Bahs outta my antennae ;^(

	But fishing went well.  My son Stephen and I each caught 10 schoolies
	and his friend Matt caught 5 his first Stripers ever. Largest caught
	was only 27 1/2"....mine ;^)  My son also caught a "Catfish" by the
	chain bridge around midnight and a flounder by the mouth early Sat am.
	Our best fishing was dusk Friday and dawn Saturday.  I was in river
	from 4:00pm Friday and pulled out 11:00am Saturday.

	Hope you all had good fishing.
	Thanks for calling.
	It was good to hear you even though I could not be heard
	-< Tuna Tail >- dick

	I didn't make it out on saturday due to boat troubles, 	
	specifically, more battles with carpenter ants (and mouse nests)!  :-(

	While getting ready fri nite, I noticed trails of ants in my wooden	
	boat, and I couldn't risk anything with my young kids on the MR -
	my biggest fear was the keel.  I started spraying the trail, and 
	before I knew it there were hundreds of ants all over the floors!

	Some of you might remember the destruction ants did to my transom,
	I think they were there when I bought the boat, and I had to replace
	the whole thing.  Months of work and potential disaster on the water,
	so I wasn't pleased...

	I didn't find any signs of any ant nests under the floorboards which	
	I removed/cleaned/replaced saturday, but found a couple of mouse nests.
	Most importantly, no rot or any problems below deck that I could see,
	so the ants were either checking out the place and/or starting to
	move in.  No ants till recently, so it must be a new development.
	I hope!  
	
	After applying powerful ant spray, dust, and diazinon, I hope to have 
	cleared up the problem.  I'll probably have to regularly treat the boat
	to avoid ants in the future.  :-/   I hate using em, but I don't
	seem to have any alternative... either the ants get the boat, or me.

	/Ken

Ken,

Sounds like it's time to invest in either a fiberglass or aluminum boat.

NO ant problems ... NO rot problems ... No painting, caulking or 
refinishing problems!

I used to have a 16' lapstrake hull years ago that sat upside down in my 
father's yard unused for about 5-6 years.  It developed a little dry-rot in 
the keel up by the bow, and nothing I did would keep it from leaking.  It 
wasn't worth ripping out the keel and replacing.

I ended up buying an inexpensive bilge pump with water-level sensor to pump 
it out whenever I left it in the water.  It would have easily sunk 
overnight if I didn't install the automatic bilge pump.

Good luck!

-Joe=

re:            <<< Note 388.37 by XCUSME::TOMAS "I hate stiff water" >>>

> Sounds like it's time to invest in either a fiberglass or aluminum boat.

Yeah, as much as I like the feel and feel of the boat I have now, it's 
a lot of work!  The keel and hull are solid, and with the new transom 
I'll keep it for as long as I can, just gotta get used to preventing ants
and stuff like that.

It leaks like a sieve, mostly because it never has a chance to swell up.
It would sink if I left it overnight without an auto bilge pump.  I use
a manual bilge now, which isn't a problem as long as I'm in the boat at
all times ;-)

/Ken

    I have to get out on the Merrimack this weekend. 
    
    Does anyone have the tide info for Saturday night?
    Also, are any of the bait shops open late if I decide to launch
    around 11:00PM?

	See note 44.51 for June tides on Boston

	18-Jun Sat High Tide 11:16pm for Merrimack River

	Tim's Bait 172 Beach Road (Rt-1a) Salisbury Beach (before the State Park)
	(508)462-1574

	Ask them if they are open till 11:00pm (they live above the store)

	-< Tuna Tail >-

    
    re 388.41 - 
    
    Or is the Saturday, June 18 high 7:16pm in Boston?? - so correct for 
    Merrimack some minutes?
    
    Great Bay is up to two hours later - depending how far into the bay.
    
    Transposing 7 & 11..  the other gaming interest, is it?
    
    Jack

If you stop by Tim's Bait store, pick up one of their business cards.  It
lists the Salisbury P.M. high tides thru Sept.  Just add/subtract about
6 hours and 5-15 minutes either way to figure low tide.

According to his tide chart, high tide for the 18th is 7:34 PM, and 8:34 PM 
for the 19th.

ANyone heading out for Father's Day?  I might try to get out around 7 AM 
and fish the outgoing tide. 

-Joe

    
    Joe,
       I'll be out both Sat. & Sun. this weekend. I'll most likely fish the
    river but may go out for Macks too depending what the weather does.
    I've got a 22' Sylvan Offshore and a buddy of mine will be in his 21'
    Starcraft. Give me a shout on VHF Ch.9 when you get out. Boat name is
    Fish-I-Do. If you're married, just remember what you said to your wife
    on the day you tied the knot. :=)
       John Phelps

re: 388.41
	WOOPS
	I forgot to throw away my 1993 Tim's Bait shop card with tides.
	Sorry about that....
	7:34pm is HT for tommorrow 18-Jun "1994" as -joe mentioned in .43 

	;^)

	-< Tuna Tail >-

re: .44

John,

Not yet confirmed that I'll be out there, but if I am, I have no radio.
I'll be in a 14' blue Princecraft w/25 Merc and bow-mounted elec. motor.

If I get on the water by 7-8 AM, I may head upriver above the Rt 1 bridge. 
Towards mid-tide outgoing, I'll be around the toothpick and Badger's Rocks.

Hail me if you see me.  Good luck!

Joe

    Based on an 8:30 high tide on Sunday, I'm going to put in at about
    5:30 AM and head out to the rocks.
    
    I'll be on VHF 9, call for "Reel Fun".

    This note indicates a bunch of folks were planning to fish the
    Merrimack over the weekend.  Any fish reports from you guys?
    
    Mark,
    

I didn't make it but heard that there were lots of schoolies around and
not too many keepers.  

Will try to get out this weekend.

-Joe-

    re:.49
    Joe,
       I tried to call you a couple of times Sunday morning. Guess that's
    why I didn't get you 'cuz you weren't there. There were a ton of
    schoolies, but there also were a ton of Sand eels, so they were being 
    particular about what they were eating. Managed a few on artificials 
    including flies. Also one keeper at 37 1/2" on chunk bait.
      Too many hours with 6:30 AM Sat. - 10:30 Pm and again at 6:30 AM
    Sunday. I think I'll be taking this weekend off.
    
       John
    		"Fish-I-Do"

There were bluefish on top from about 5 miles out all the way to jefferies.
They wern't hitting much.  Not very hungary after gorging themselves on
mackeral.  Needless to say the macks are gone.  Managed one about 8-10 lbs.

Other guys in my marina were out about 8-10 miles and were chumming them in
with ground sand eels mackeral chum.  They didn't get many but had a ball
casting surface plugs to them.

Gordon (rock'n 'n reel'n)

	Made it out yesterday from about 7:30 am till 3 pm.  I picked up 3,
	and my bro-in-law 2, biggest (mine ;-) 12 lbs probably less, 29+".
	We launched at high tide, and picked up 2 while trolling plugs 
	within about 5 mins just off the south jetty inside the mouth.
	
	Headed towards Half-Tide rocks, couldn't figure out where they
	were, and settled in at Badgers.   A couple hours later I got 2
	on each of my 2 rods on mack chunks..

	The waters were saturated with bait fish - not sure what - they looked
	like thin smelts.

	Sure was disappointed to find all local bait shops (Tim's and a place
	on Rt 110 before Rt 1 intersection) *closed* till 8 am!  Found a
	place for frozen macks up Rt 1A in NH.

	/Ken
	

    I launched at 5:30 AM out of Ferry's in Newburyport.  Got out just
    past the no wake zone and saw the stripers breaking the surface all
    over the place.  Everyone was catching them.
    
    I got three schoolies between 6:30 and 7:30 with a surface plug. By
    7:30 the sun was up a little higher and the action turned off like a
    switch.  I cruised around the mouth and the flats for another couple of
    hours with plugs and chunk baits but got nothing and saw only one other
    person land one. I was back at the ramp by noon.
    
    Next week I'll get out earlier.

    I was out on the Merrimack Friday night. There was a large school of
    fish up on the flats feeding on sand eels. We caught about half dozen
    fish 28-29inch range using small kastmasters. We also caught a number
    of smaller fish. During the night we heard of a few keepers being
    caught.
    
    Jim

    Anybody been fishing the Merrimack the last few days. Were going to
    lauch after work today in Newburyport and work our way towards the
    mouth.

    
    Went out last saturday morning. Had two fish on within minutes of leaving
    the mouth. Lost one and boated a 10 lb blue. Then no more for the rest
    of the day. Both fish hooked trolling with Rebels. I noticed LOTS
    of very small bait fish outside the mouth and that's where we hooked up.
    (we fished the very last of the outgoing tide)When the tide stopped, 
    the baitfish were gone and so were the fish. There were LOTS of boats 
    out there too.
    
    Walt

re: .55

Let me know how you do.  I'm thinking about heading out to the Merrimack
on Friday afternoon and into the evening.  Hope it doesn't get *too* chilly
once the sun sets!

-Joe-

    re: .57
    	I'll report in thursday morning. Hopefully with a keeper. :-)

The Merrimack is still chock full of schoolies.  The blues seem to move in
and out with no regularity.  The guys on the beach by the sand bar were
constantly pulling in fish, the folks drifting near the 11 can were
constantly into fish and I witnessed one guy who got out of his boat at 
the edge of the hump reel in at least 20 schoolies in a little more than
a half hour.  I took my first skunking of the season.  I only got a 
couple of follows on the fly.  I would venture to say that every fish I
saw caught was taken on sand worms/sea worms.  I did not see one fish
hooked on an artificial.

At times even stripers can be fussy.

    Well it was another slow night last night. We did not fish that long
    because of Motor problems. We put her in about 6:00 and drifted around
    badges for an hour of so with no luck. We then went to the mouth to see
    what was happening and noticed 5 boats around the mouth and all 5 boats
    were on to something. Turned out to be a buch of small schoolies. I
    noticed 3 of the 5 boats were using sea worms but could not tell what
    the other 2 boats were using. We decided to blast out just past the
    mouth when the motor decided to bog down. Dont know what happened but
    the max speed we could get from the 85 horse was about 4 knots. :-(
    
    	Once this happened we took a long slow ride back in to the
    Newburyport landing and went home. :-(
    

    I was out Tuesday night and can confirm that the fishing was slow.
    

Fished the sandbar at the mouth of the Merrimac last night at low tide. there was medium
schoolie action.  I landed 2 around 25" and dropped 3-4 others. A few other folks did the
same. There was TONS of bait around.  Lots of large sand eels; the gulls were going nuts
all night.

Heard of some big fish caught off the beachfront at Plum Island and at the Hampton River,
but I didn't see them.

fyi, 
...bill