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.
“Charlie” has been doing a lot of chewing for Adventureandcatch Charters.
There’s great news from Captain Bob Weathersby of Seacoast NH Sportfishing as itlooks 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.
Captain Bob prepares to release 85” of tuna caught by Matt Licata while fishing with Seacoast NH Sportfishing.
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.
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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!
Schultz said she “highly respects” Aspell, too, but there was a “dissonance between reality” when eyeing what the public and city employees were earning.
Ward 6 City Council Aislinn Kalob, too, would not be voting for the increase, saying it had been “heavily on my mind since we’ve had our nonpublic sessions,” which lasted about six hours of work. She appreciated Kretovic clearly outlining the job of city manager. But people were frustrated with the city manager, and she saw that in the comments in online forums.
“I do feel, after really digging into this, and learning about his job,” she said, “and thinking toward the future when, eventually, at some point, somebody new will be sitting in that seat, we are the ones who direct policy and he is the one that implements it… there is anger out there that should be directed more toward us.”
Kalob said, too, a room full of firefighters, upset about their contract, also made voting for the wage increase something she could not consider.
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Michele Horne of Ward 2 echoed similar concerns to Schultz, saying there was significant “wage disparity” between the public and staff and the city manager. She also agreed with Kalob’s point that previous councils created this contract.
Sunflowers are my absolute FAVORITE flowers. I truly feel like they have magical uplifting abilities. Hence, why I’ve always kept fresh sunflowers in my house, brightening up my kitchen table or even my TV stand.
Obviously, it was a dream of mine to have my maternity photos taken in a sunflower field. They reflect sunshine and exude happiness.
Not to mention, one of my favorite quotes is about sunflowers! “Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow. It’s what sunflowers do.” Helen Keller
A beautiful reminder to keep an optimistic outlook on life and not dwell on the negative.
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So, you can imagine the joy I felt when I learned that New Hampshire had its very own Sunflower Festival at Coppal House Farm in Lee!
Coppal House Farm via FacebookCoppal House Farm via Facebook
About the Sunflower Festival:
During the summer, the farm transforms into a sea of golden blooms, giving visitors the chance to wander through thousands of sunflowers, snap photos, enjoy local food vendors, artisan crafts, listen to live music, and experience one of New Hampshire’s most beautiful summer traditions.
Other unique activities on the itinerary? Sip-n-snip! Guests can enjoy a cocktail or mocktail of their choice and cut their own fresh bouquet of flowers.
Coppal House Farm via FacebookCoppal House Farm via Facebook
Or maybe you’re a yoga fan? You can join a 60-minute sweat session from Lee, New Hampshire yoga instructors right in the heart of the flower field.
And because the farm grows oilseed sunflowers for culinary oil (which they harvest in the fall months), the flowers only stay at their peak for a brief window, making the festival a limited-time experience, according to the festival organizers…
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What makes this event even more special is the reason behind it. The festival started as a way to share the beauty of the sunflower fields, but it has grown into something much bigger. Organizers say the event has raised more than $90,000 for Make-A-Wish New Hampshire over the years and now shares a portion of its proceeds with several local nonprofit organizations serving the Seacoast community.
Anyone who knows me knows that paying it forward is something that’s incredibly important to me. It’s right up there with my love of sunflowers because both fill my cup in the best way. So, when I found out this festival celebrates my favorite flower and gives back to the community, I knew I had to share it.
Sunflower Festival Details:
This festival only runs from Saturday, July 25th until Sunday, August 2nd. You can get the full list of activities and more on the Coppal Farm website.
Daily Field Hours
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10:00 AM – 6:30 PM (last admission at 6PM because fields close at 6:30) Weekend Tickets (prepurchased online – day before) $12 per person ages 13 & older $10 per person ages 5-12 $10 per person Seniors (65+) & Military 4 yrs & under are always free Weekend Tickets (purchased day of – online or at farm): $16 per person ages 13 & older $14 per person ages 5-12 $14 per person Seniors (65+) & Military 4 yrs & under are always free includes: access to sunflower fields, craft fair, food vending area, tented shade area, picnic area, farm animals, & live music
Weekday Tickets (prepurchased online – day before) $8 per person ages 13 & older $6 per person ages 5-12 $6 per person Seniors (65+) & Military 4 yrs & under are always free
Weekday Tickets (purchased day of – online or at farm) $12 per person ages 13 & older $10 per person ages 5-12 $10 per person Seniors (65+) & Military 4 yrs & under are always free
What tickets include: Access to sunflower fields, food vending area, tented shade area, picnic area, and farm animals
READ MORE: A Classic Fairy Tale Comes To Life At Portsmouth’s Prescott Park This Summer
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This festival might just leave you smiling long after you leave the fields!
What Flowers Thrive in New England
See what flowers thrive in New England weather: Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire.
Gallery Credit: Logan
14 of the Best New Hampshire Farms Offering Locally Grown Strawberries
14 of the Best New Hampshire Farms Offering PYO Strawberries
Ed. Note: If this was you and you are interested, please email [email protected] so I can put you in touch with OP.
“Dear PoPville,
I was biking home from a doctor appointment a little before noon on Friday, and stopped at a red light on New Hampshire & L st nw. There was a woman across the street who was looking fine in her dark blue (I think they were) scrubs. I might be crazy, but it felt like we kept checking each other out. By the third time,
if we were in a romcom, one of us would have waved. Sorry I didn’t, but if you are reading this and date men, reach out to the Prince if you are interested in that man on the bike. Have a great weekend!”
Ed. Note: If this is you, please email [email protected] so I can put you in touch with OP. PoPville is not affiliated with either party, please proceed with any potential connection at your own risk using caution as you would any online encounter. For those curious about past missed connections, many have been made and when possible I’ll try to update when/if more are made.
