New Hampshire
Coastal New Hampshire and Maine Coast Fishing Report – August 15, 2024 – On The Water
The calendar may say August but the feeding frenzies are saying “fall.” Spike mackerel are swarming inshore and are the key to much of the catching. Larger macks can be found offshore and are proving too appealing for Charlie Tuna to pass up.
There’s great news from Captain Bob Weathersby of Seacoast NH Sportfishing as it looks as if the stellar striped bass fishing of a few weeks ago has returned. Live and free-lined mackerel drifting along the Piscataqua River has been productive as has hopscotching along coastal “fingers.” There has been a resurgence of the offshore Isles of Shoals big bass bite with open-water blitzes tipping off the bedlam below. Mackerel remain abundant along the coastal ledges and Isles. Ironically, should you find mackerel on the surface that are reluctant to feed, odds are pretty good you’ve found the bass or maybe even bluefin. Regarding bluefin, Captain Bob has been putting anglers onto some serious standup tuna including an 85” that was schooled on standup gear! During the same trip, they missed a rec fish. The go-to tuna treat has been mackerel. Jeffrey’s Ledge has been the venue for pollock and haddock with sharks less of a factor than before.
Captain Andy from Adventureandcatch Charters said that haddock and tuna are the big stories. Provided that you don’t mind wading through dogfish, you will find haddock on Jeffrey’s Ledge. There are also good size pollock but they are not plentiful as of yet. Rec-size tuna can finally be found throughout Scantum, South and North Jeffrey’s and even at the Isles of Shoals as well as up and down the coast, Charlie is chewing anything and everything from haddock to herring to mackerel. Regarding mackerel they are an easy find by the 2KR Can and if you don’t find stripers there, take a livewell full over to the Isles of Shoals where big bass are back.
Peter from Saco Bay said that stripers are on the move all along the coast as they seem to head the need to feed. While certainly not fall, the first leg of the highly anticipated “fall run” seems to be happening. Hot spots to consider are Kennebunk, Pine Point and Freeport. Anglers are catching on the Albie Snax XL, Al Gag’s Whip-it-Fish and GT Eels. As for bait, spike mackerel have been an easy score with many anglers using them for bait. Pogies are prevalent just north of Saco with big bass hounding the schools. As for groundfish, if Jeffrey’s or Platt’s is too far to reach, consider Tantas which is much closer yet still giving up a few haddock and pollock.
From our friend Captain Lou of Diamond Pass Charters comes word of an uptick in the bite over the last few days. They’ve have been getting fish mostly off the beach fronts. Slowly trolled mackerel have been like dowsing rods for finding the bass, and once found anglers are staying with the school and pounding them with flutter spoons or jigs/soft plastics. They are also seeing some sporadic surface blitzes off the beaches with school sized bass feeding on spike mackerel. Albie Snax XLs, spooks, and pencil poppers have been best bets for those blitzes. The night bite continues to impress as well. Live eels, and imitation style soft plastics have been best. They are seeing some bite offs and hearing a little about the random bluefish being caught but nothing to write home about.
Spike mackerel caught up by the 2KR Can and drifted among the current of the Piscataqua River are accounting for steady striper action. However with the reappearance of a big bass bite near the Isles of Shoals, you may be better served going on a boat ride. Farther up the coast, soft plastics such as Albie Snax are accounting for striper action off Wells, Saco, Pine Point and Kennebunk. Offshore, some haddock can be found off Tantas while the better bet is Jeffrey’s Ledge but beware there are tuna as interested in your grounffish as you are!
The federal government has activated the New Hampshire National Guard’s 157th Air Refueling Wing in connection with the war with Iran.
“I’ve had a briefing myself, a classified briefing, but it’s really important on the messaging on this that we really coordinate with the Pentagon,” Gov. Kelly Ayotte told reporters during a press briefing following Wednesday’s Executive Council meeting.
Ayotte said she was unable to share additional details about the nature of the New Hampshire National Guard’s activity related to the conflict, including how many guard members have been activated or what role they are playing.
“We’re going to respect what messaging comes out of the Pentagon just to make sure that our men and women in uniform are fully protected and that we aren’t providing any information that could be used in a way that would be harmful to them,” Ayotte said.
In a statement Thursday, Ayotte said the unit had been deployed in late February to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility in support of the operation.
Earlier this week, Pentagon officials confirmed that members of the Vermont National Guard were involved in attacks against Iran over the weekend, though our news partners at Vermont Public were not able to confirm additional details on the nature of the operation.
During the briefing with local reporters, Ayotte also stressed her support for servicemembers and those close to them.
“I have such respect for our men and women in uniform,” Ayotte said. “As you know, I come from a military family, and they have our full support, and we appreciate them and their families, and obviously anyone who is serving right now, and my thoughts and prayers go out to those who have lost someone that they love.”
By PAULA TRACY, InDepthNH.org
CONCORD – While Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte has said she opposes increasing highway toll rates across the state, the Senate voted Thursday to increase rates for out-of-state license plate holders.
It now goes to the House for consideration.
This would be a $1 increase for those who have out of state plates going through the tolls at Hooksett, Hampton and Bedford for out-of-state plates, a 75 cent hike for those taking Hampton’s Exit 2 and on the Spaulding turnpike at Rochester, and a 50 cent hike for those taking the exit off I-93 to Hooksett.
An analysis in the bill shows that this would increase toll revenue by $53.3 million in fiscal year 2027 and go up each year to generate $81.4 million a year in 2036.
Senate Bill 627 passed on a voice vote with two Republicans, Senators Regina Birdsell of Hampstead and William Gannon of Sandown opposing.
Senator Mark E. McConkey, R-Freedom, moved to take the bill off the table and offered an amendment.
He said the last time there was a systemwide increase to the turnpike toll was 19 years ago.
“I am sure we could all agree the cost of operations…has continued to escalate when revenue is not rising with it,” and he noted that with an enterprise fund, the state can only spend what it takes in.
The state has just completed a 10-year highway plan and there was a $400 million shortfall in projects that could not be paid for under the current income.
McConkey said the measure would not increase tolls for New Hampshire drivers with a state license plate.
“Why don’t we ask our neighbors,” to pay a toll increase. “We are getting the best of all worlds,” by passing the bill, he said, including “protecting our residents” and having resources for improvements to the turnpike system.
Sen. Gannon, R-Sandown, asked McConkey if there are any studies on impacts near the border on businesses.
If implemented, McConkey said the state will be the 27th lowest in per mile cost still. McConkey said the bill would also increase from seven to 14 days the amount of time for those with NH license plates to pay for a toll adding there are other states that also have different rates for out-of-state users.
The Hampton toll cost would go from $2 to $3, while Hooksett and Bedford would rise from $1 to $2 for out-of-state plates.
New Hampshire currently has the lowest rate per mile among states with tolls roads.
The governor said she does not support a toll increase.
“We are not going to put a burden on drivers for a toll increase,” Ayotte said. “Families are struggling.”
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