I fished Boston Harbor yesterday afternoon. Caught three cod (biggest was 5lbs) with clams. Tried trolling tubes, umbrella rigs, rapalas, mackeral chunks, and clams on Faun Ledge....NO STRIPERS...maybe it was the low tide....not sure.

My question to the experts are
1) I live in Methuen (north shore) - is Winthrop state ramp the best place to launch? Any other suggestions for launch sites for an 18' boat?
2) Names of some good bait shops - I don't remember driving by one on my way to the Winthrop ramp (although we were kind of lost!)
3) Any help on tides/locations of stripers in the harbor and how to catch 'em

I am used to fishing clams and mackeral on the bottom in the mouth of the Merrimack!

Thanks,

Jim

I'm not too familiar with Winthrop but I know there is nice fish caught from shore from the jettys and rockpiles just north west of Deer Island. I have ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA whether it's safe for a boat or not...


2) Names of some good bait shops - I don't remember driving by one on my way to the Winthrop ramp (although we were kind of lost!)

Fishin Finaddicts in Everett - good boat stuff
Sportsmans Den in Quincy - they also have a small bait & tackle on the fuel dock at Marina Bay...

3) Any help on tides/locations of stripers in the harbor and how to catch 'em
I know FW and GS were getting fish along the humps, reefs, and ledges of B-Harbor and the So shore... Look back over the past 2 weeks of post as there is a fair amount of info. The vast majority of the big fish have been on live mackeral or extremely fresh whole dead (as in died in the livewell fresh) mackeral.

What kind of a boat do you have??

Try the ocean side of Georges Island, the flats by the Airport, Boston Light. Fresh herring, mackeral, and live eels. You need to find the rips, get about 100' -150' up current, then either anchor up and let the bait free spool in the current over the rip, or drift the boat over the rip. If you anchor up try chumming with some fresh herring cut up into small pieces, but don't use too much. If you don't catch anything within 15-20 minutes it is probably not gonna happen there. We alway fish this way, and always score fish.

Jim,
I hate to give away my secret super honey hole, but if you want to email me try
rabomba@rcn.com
I buy all my bait from Winchester's in Gloucester; that should be in your neck of the woods.
Later,
Rick

Mr Kav and some others might hang me for this but.....try about 500 yards south of Boston Light. If you have a depth finder, you'll find the spot......

There's an idea for the board, John. A list of public boat launches and there addresses... or if there are any good sites that provide that info, you could link to them. Then a link to mapblast and away we go.

That would be cool. Obviously, that could be a large list, but I think that would be a nice feature. Maybe a good winter project.

Actually, it is a good idea. I'm also thinking about a boater's forum but I would need some volunteers/nominations/recommendations for moderators for it....

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Fishin Finaddicts in Everett - good boat stuff
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Do you have an address?? Couldn't find them on the web.....do they sell bait??? From all the help folks have posted, it sounds like I need to get fresh bait - not sure if they buy it or catch it!

All the 'books' say to snag bunker.....I haven't seen one yet!

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What kind of a boat do you have??[/quote]

I have a Procraft FishHunter 18.....aluminum with a walk-through windshield....75HP Mariner.....It's nice if the water is not too rough.....although I am usually more concerned about the other 'boaters' on the Merrimack than the rips in the mouth!

Thank you all for the posted information!

Jim

schoolie monster (07-20-2001 10:24):
There's an idea for the board, John. A list of public boat launches and there addresses... or if there are any good sites that provide that info, you could link to them. Then a link to mapblast and away we go.

That would be cool. Obviously, that could be a large list, but I think that would be a nice feature. Maybe a good winter project.

For Mass boat ramps go to...

http://www.state.ma.us/dfwele/PAB/pab_table2.htm

That's how I found the Winthrop ramp.

Jim

jim try bobs bait shack in winthrop for the best and fresh pogies all the time, hes on 19 crest ave in winthrop, also a nice place to fish for stripers in winthrop as soon as you come out of the boat launch about 1/2 mile out of the harbor youll see a long pier to your right after the airport landing strip if you have a dept finder youll come across some nice holes, fish them on the out going tide, lots of luck, billymack!~!!!!!