Striper Fishing from Canoe

[dryflie]

Looking for some advice and direction regarding fishing for stripers in Estuaries, harbors and Bays from my canoe. I'm looking for places I can put in along the northern MA, NH and southern Maine coast. Comfortable fishing rivers from the canoe, it's rigged to row. Thanks for any help you can provide.

[JohnR]

Dryflie, thanks for coming aboard... I know some do very well along the rivers and bays along the Nort Shore. Historically good action up in Danvers/Salem/Beverly area. There are some juicy areas all along Glouscter, Essex and Ipswitch. The Merrimack holds fish high up the river. Best bet is to work some of the flats (like Joppa Flats). Word of caution though, those tides scream out of there on the drop. Also, the boat wakes can be rough down there.

[Bill-C]

dryflie,

Speaking from many trips on the Merrimack with a 24' boat I would advise against fishing the river with a canoe. Like JohnR said the tide screams in and out as do some of the 40' speed boats. I know up in NH there is the Piscataqua (Sp??) river, although that may be difficult at places there are some areas that are not too bad. What you may want to consider is Rye Harbor. If you are not familiar it is a small harbor that dumps right into the open ocean, it is a short row from the ramp to the inlet but the currents are not strong at all (if there are any). You can fish right along shore, we found out by chance that there are a lot of good places to fish for stripers right outside the harbor.

Gotta run.

I can give you some more info later...

[dryflie]

Thanks to both John and Bill. I have fished Newburyport and Joppa flats by boat for many years and understand just how dangerous it can be in that area. You're both right, no place for a canoe.
Bill, thanks for the tip on Rye Harbor, I'll give it a look.

Best fishes...

Dryfly, if your looking for QUIET water try the cape, you could't fish
all the bays, estuaries, creek. harbors,in a few seasons. lots of shelter. when it's high one side it's low on the outher. if it's windy on one side its quiet on the outher. give it a shot you will never leave. good luck,good fishin