Massachusetts
Massachusetts Fishing Report- September 11, 2025 – On The Water
“Take me to the river!””, the song of which was popularized by the Talking Heads in the late 70s, about sums up the striper fishing. Hordes of herring fry moving through the river systems are keeping stripers in check, and where you find the bait, you’ll find the bite. Elsewhere, anglers are capitalizing on fish that may have already migrated from parts up north.
My wife and I occasionally jump aboard the water taxi, which ferries folks between the Encore Casino and Long Wharf in the harbor. While she indulges in gaming, the only slots I’m interested in are between 28” and 31”. Nevertheless, the boat trips are a really cool way to access Boston without having to worry about the hassle of parking. During a recent visit while others were watching for the next ferry, I was more interested in what was swimming below. As I had hoped for, a ribbon of herring fry was sticking tight to the dock shadow line. Even though the baby herring are but months old, they exhibit the same self-preservation instincts as the adults and keep as close to structure as possible, thereby limiting predation.
Not surprisingly, there were a number of kayaks and boats all targeting striped bass from the Amelia Earhart Dam to the Shraffts Building. While I didn’t see anyone hook up during the short cruise to the city, there was no question that those anglers were on the right track. That scene is being repeated all along the Bay State as the herring fry are proving to be a striper snack too hard to resist.
Massachusetts South Shore and South Coast Fishing Report
Captain Jason Colby is no stranger to the graveyard shift while casting eels to striped bass, but lately he’s been more likely to be found in the – boneyard. Bonito, bones, hardtails, funny fish, regardless of what you call them, most of all, they are called – fun! After a few starts and stops, bonito have moved onto the Westport side of Buzzards Bay big time, and the Little Sister Charters crew couldn’t be happier. They are gorging on “rainbait”, so keep your offerings small with epoxy jigs, Deadly Dicks, RonZs, and Bill Hurleys among my favorites. Bonito are notoriously leader shy, so go long with (7’) fluorocarbon leaders of no more than 20-pound test. The perfect trip for many would be a few hours blowing out any drag rust with bonito and then ending it with blackfish. That’s quite the odd couple, but such has been life aboard the Little Sister.
My friend Bill Hurley put a few of his choice soft plastics to good use in the South River earlier in the week and crushed stripers of all sizes. His namesake white 5” squid bait caught numbers, but it took his 12” eel to hook an unstoppable beast.
Pete from Belsan Bait and Tackle in Scituate wasn’t all that surprised with Bill’s success, as friends of the shop have been having similar luck as the fish have reformulated and are back to gorging on sand eels and herring fry throughout the North River and South River. There have been bass-on-peanut bunker blitzes as well off Peggotty Beach and by Damons Point. As for where to pick up a cod, Flatt Ledge is one of the better, easy-to-reach inshore spots. Captain Mark Rowell of Legit Fish is sticking to deeper water fishing and is still picking up better than average bass between 1 and 1 1/2 miles out as the fish follow mackerel schools. While hardly a slam dunk, there are occasional bluefish sorties to liven things up. The crew is also grabbing the allotted one cod per person on clams at Stone Ledge, where haddock can also be found. Cape Cod Bay has some monstrous tuna terrorizing most everything.
Greater Boston Fishing Report
Laurel of Hull Bait and Tackle told me that shop steadies such as Bobby are picking up stripers up to 38’ inside of Hull. Far from an aberration, a number of fishermen are reporting good luck on stripers, with most getting it done with the tube-and-worm. Hull Gut has been good also. From a personal perspective, I’ve done very well drifting through that area while jigging the bottom with a Crippled Herring. Little fish are making a big splash, according to Lisa from Fore River Bait and Tackle. Herring fry moving downstream of the Weir, Weymouth Back, Weymouth Fore, and Neponset Rivers are lighting the fuse for some impressive feeds. Peanut bunker are intermittently being pounded between Sheep Island and the West Gut, while adult pogies and bass can be found deep inside the harbor. The demand for grass shrimp is only intensifying as all signs are pointing to a smelt season this year, which is building upon last season’s surprising rebound! Find a pier throughout Hull or Hingham, and chances are you’ll find smelt with anglers fishing at night, increasing their odds. Marina Bay has been holding schools of pogies with bass shadowing the schools. The piers there are also giving up some smelt.
Pete Santini of Fishing FINatics in Everett told me of Johnny Walker, who, with a Toscano Santini tube, has been catching mixed sizes of stripers throughout Dorchester Bay. Sporadic surface feeds have been a call to arms to get out the lures with pencil poppers and needlefish all working. The area in front of the JFK Library has been especially hot. Seal Harbor through Cherry Bar have been going off with trollers, even reporting an occasional bluefish. Schoolies-through-slot stripers are holding in tight to the rocks of Nahant. Cod can be counted on among the scads of structure dotting the bottom from Graves Light to the BG Buoy, the NC Buoy, and out through the B Buoy. Anglers dropping Zobo Rigs with seaworms onto Finn Ledge are picking up slab sea perch; this spot could be a wild card cod spot when waters begin to cool next month.
Massachusetts North Shore Fishing Report
While anglers anxiously await reinforcements north of the border, Salem Sound has been fishing hot and cold, according to Tomo of Tomo’s Tackle. Even Tomo could not shake the stink of the skunk for two days, but then was rewarded with a multiple-fish day on mackerel. Patrons of the shop have had luck in Lynn Harbor with surface feeds pointing the way. It’s been encouraging to hear of many 19-20” schoolies: a size which has been lacking this season. Mackerel remain an easy find with Misery Channel consistent, while anglers in Cape Ann are reporting an easy go as well. Squid, while not as plentiful as a month ago, can still be jigged up off the Beverly Pier as well as the Salem Willows Pier. “Dory Dave” has been fly casting Clousers and catching stripers off Nahant.
Could Plum Island be the recipient of the first wave of migrating bass from up north? It almost seems like it after hearing from Martha of Surfland Bait and Tackle. There’s been a definite uptick in action with anglers working the ocean front with Ava Jigs and Deadly Dicks catching stripers keyed in on sand eels. The rocky section off Sandy Point has been producing at night for anglers tossing eels among the structure. The same can be said for tube-and-wormers who have found willing fish in Plum Island Sound. When asked about the Merrimack River, while there has been a dearth of reports, herring fry migrating through the river system have to be attracting stripers. With uncomfortably high water temperatures a thing of the past, there is no reason to believe that the section from the mouth upstream towards Deer Island shouldn’t hold fish. South of the island has been good also with fishers working live mackerel at the mouth of the Essex River catching.
Massachusetts Fishing Forecast
The unlikely duo of bonito and blackfish makes the Westport side of Buzzards Bay a must-fish location. The possibilities there are so varied that some anglers have been observed passing on obvious striper feeds to sample the other species the South Coast has to offer. Herring fry and peanut bunker make for a bait combo among the Three Bays that stripers can’t seem to pass up. The bite has also been solid in the South River, North River, and off Rexhame Beach and Peggotty Beach. The Hull side of the harbor remains hot, especially for those working a tube-and-worm. Another option to consider is Dorchester Bay and Marina Bay. Cod can be caught off inshore ledges such as Strawberry Ledge, Ultonia Ledge, and off Grave’s Light. Roaming surface feeds are something to keep watch of off Seal Harbor and Salem Harbor, with Misery Channel mackerel the bait of choice. Action off Plum Inland has picked up thanks to what might be the first wave of the fall run from up north.
Fire broke out at an apartment building in North Attleborough, Massachusetts, on Monday afternoon, sending a column of smoke high into the air.
NBC affiliate WJAR-TV reports the smoke was visible from miles away from the building on Juniper Road.
More details were not immediately available.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Life Care Center of Raynham has received a deficiency‑free inspection result from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, a distinction awarded to a small share of the state’s licensed nursing homes, according to a community announcement.
The inspection was conducted as part of the state’s routine, unannounced nursing home survey process overseen by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. These comprehensive, multi‑day inspections evaluate multiple aspects of facility operations, including staffing levels, quality of care, medication management, cleanliness, food service and resident rights.
State survey records show that Life Care Center of Raynham met required standards during its most recent standard survey, with no deficiencies cited, based on publicly available state data.
The announcement states that fewer than 8% of Massachusetts nursing homes achieve deficiency‑free survey results. That figure could not be independently verified through state or federal data and is attributed to the announcement.
In addition to the state survey outcome, the facility is listed as a five‑star provider for quality measures on the federal Medicare Care Compare website. The five‑star quality measure rating reflects above‑average performance compared with other nursing homes nationwide, according to federal rating methodology.
Officials said the inspection results reflect ongoing compliance with state and federal standards designed to protect resident health and safety. According to the announcement, the outcome is attributed to staff performance and internal quality practices.
This story was created by Dave DeMille, ddemille@gannett.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.
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