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.
Republican John Deaton is back in the political mix in Massachusetts following a failed bid to unseat Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren in 2024.
This time around, Deaton is running for the seat currently held by Democratic Sen. Ed Markey. He believes voters are ready for a change in political priorities.
“Polling suggests already that I could edge out Ed Markey … 1.35 million people voted for me last time, and now, I want to reach another million,” he said.
One obvious difference from 2024 is the competitive Democratic primary in 2026. Rep. Seth Moulton has already announced a primary challenge to Markey, while other Democrats like Rep. Ayanna Pressley are rumored to be considering a similar move.
“While Ed Markey and them are fighting it out in a primary, I’ll be able to bring that common-sense message,” Deaton said.
Deaton secured the endorsement of the Massachusetts Republican Party on Thursday. Some — like former Senate and gubernatorial candidate Geoff Diehl — have suggested that President Donald Trump is already backing Deaton’s candidacy.
“The White House hasn’t made any endorsement that I’m aware of, and I haven’t had any conversations,” said Deaton. “I don’t believe President Trump even knows that I exist.”
Deaton maintains he isn’t seeking endorsements from anyone, and when pressed on whether having Trump’s support would be helpful, he remained noncommittal.
“I don’t know if it would be helpful or not,” he said. “I really haven’t spent time thinking about it.”
While Deaton toes that line, he’s focusing on the issues and convincing voters why he is the best choice for Massachusetts in 2026.
“I got in this race because I see people losing faith,” said Deaton.
You can hear more from Deaton this Sunday at 9:30 a.m. during our @Issue Sit Down segment. Political Reporter Matt Prichard digs deeper into Deaton’s thoughts on Trump and his policies, plus how much of Deaton’s personal money is being funneled into his campaign.
Massachusetts
Weather alert for patchy fog and black ice in 9 Massachusetts counties until Friday morning
A report was issued from the National Weather Service on Friday at 3:13 a.m. for patchy fog and black ice until 9 a.m. for Northern Worcester and Southern Worcester as well as Franklin, Middlesex, Essex, Hampshire, Hampden, Norfolk, Suffolk, Bristol and Plymouth counties.
“Patchy fog and isolated black ice are possible this morning across southern New England, especially in areas that typically fog over. As temperatures are at or below freezing, a few slick patches of black ice may form, especially on elevated surfaces; like bridges and overpasses. Please use caution heading out early this morning and allow for extra commuting time,” according to the weather service.
Navigating fog: Safety tips by the weather service
If you must drive in foggy conditions, keep the following safety tips in mind:
Moderate your speed:
- Slow down and allocate extra time for your trip to reach your destination safely.
Visibility priority:
- Ensure your vehicle is visible to others by using low-beam headlights, which automatically activate your taillights. Utilize fog lights if your vehicle is equipped with them.
Avoid high-beams:
- Refrain from using high-beam headlights, as they create glare that impairs your visibility on the road.
Keep a safe distance:
- Maintain a significant following distance to account for abrupt stops or shifts in traffic patterns.
Stay in your lane:
- Use the road’s lane markings as a guide to remaining in the correct lane.
Zero visibility strategy:
- In cases of near-zero visibility due to dense fog, activate your hazard lights and seek a safe spot, like a nearby business parking lot, to pull over and stop.
No parking options:
- If no designated parking area is available, pull your vehicle as far off the road as possible. Once stationary, deactivate all lights except the hazard flashers, engage the emergency brake, and release the brake pedal to ensure your tail lights remain unlit, minimizing the chance of other drivers colliding with your stationary vehicle.
By adhering to these precautions from the weather service, you can navigate foggy conditions more safely, reducing the likelihood of accidents and ensuring your personal safety.
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Massachusetts
Supermarket chain to open 2 stores in former Christmas Tree Shops, Big Lots locations in Massachusetts
Two shuttered retailers are set to become supermarkets in southeastern Massachusetts.
Big Y announced Thursday that it’s opening grocery stores in Fairhaven and North Dartmouth. The Fairhaven Plaza location used to be a Big Lots, and the Faunce Corner Center store in North Dartmouth was a Christmas Tree Shops.
“These new stores will allow us to better serve families in the South Coast region,” Big Y VP of real estate and development Mathieu L. D’Amour said in a statement.
The supermarkets will open sometime in 2027. Hiring details and a grand opening date will be announced in the next few months. Big Y opened new stores in Westboro and Uxbridge earlier this year.
Big box store closures in Massachusetts and around the country in recent years have created opportunities for other retailers to move into vacant storefronts.
Christmas Tree Shops, the bargain outlet that started on Cape Cod more than 50 years ago, went bankrupt and closed all of its stores in 2023. The old North Dartmouth location is being used temporarily this holiday season as a “Spirit Christmas” pop-up.
Another Christmas Tree Shops in Falmouth has been transformed into an Aldi supermarket. Others have been taken over by Ocean State Job Lot.
Big Lots closed all of its Massachusetts stores last year amid financial turmoil. Just last month, an Ollie’s Bargain Outlet moved into a former Big Lots location in Fitchburg.
It hasn’t always worked out for supermarkets that move into old retail stores. The Fresh Market, which moved into an old Bed Bath & Beyond store on Route 9 in Framingham less than a year ago, is already closing.
A competing grocery store chain, Trader Joe’s, opened two new stores in Newton and West Roxbury this fall.
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