I have an 18' aluminum fishing boat. Have done OK fishing the mouth of the Merrimack River with clams on the bottom....no keepers yet this year though. Looking for any suggestions on other good spots on the north shore to try with my boat...Would especially like to find stripers that I can take trolling tubes or umbrella rigs (too much traffic in the Merrimack for that sort of thing!)..I am heading to Boston Harbor today for the first time, plan on launching at Winthrop.

Thanks,

Jim

Welcome aboard Jim,

I don't fish the north shore much anymore but there are many ledges and rocky outcroppings that produce very large fish just south of Plum Island. You can use live eels or any live bait that you are able to jig up, like mackeral - which should still be in your area... Tube-n-worm, U-riggs, you'll want to find some underwater ledges where you get quick drop offs and work those ledges. There must be plenty of them up that way...

Have you tried drifting across Joppa Flats (motor off)? Some very big fish come through there and few boaters work it...

Jim

Salem and Beverly have been active of late, especially in the very early hours, and dusk. Good topwater action reported by lobstermen around 5 AM. The stretch from Marblehead rock through Tinkers Island gut and down Devereaux beach has shown some good fishing. Of course that's from a guy (me) who has been skunked using everything from eels to plugs the last three outtings from the shore....

Hope you can find 'em, they're out there.