The river is loaded with Stripers and we have seen some good action outside of the mouth of the Merrimac River as well. The season is in full swing. A few days ago we started seeing the big mackeral show up instead of the touch and go tinker mackeral action. Some guys have found bait in 30 ft of water right outside the mouth under the working birds. If that fails breaking rock has stayed pretty steady and consistent. The water temperature on Joppa Flats has finally stayed high enough to pull out some nice stripers at night dragging eels and throwing black Hogy's and Slug-go's. Its a little later than normal but I've finally seen enough size to warrant my 12 inch soft plastics. Before this week there just wasn't enough cows roaming the flats to pull out the big baits. Off of Plum Island there have been dozens of reports of Stripers schooling bait up along the sand bar and just boiling to the brim. Very easy casting distance for the shore guys. Throwing small metals into the boils is producing lots of action.
Finally I can report some steady Tuna Action up in this area. Stick boats have been bringing in fish for the last couple of days. There have also been some troll fish hooked between the first and second Islands. Party boats are seeing them bust from the Isle of Shoals to the Curl. I havn't gotten enough reports to figure out what they are keyed in on for rigs so anyone who has had some luck and want to share let me know. If all else fails Live Macks are easy to find and will always work in a pinch. Rig a couple up with a chin weight and some naked on the surface.
Cod and Haddock were doing pretty good out at the Curl but it seems to be more steady on Old Scantum and Tillies. Tillies has had the hottest reports by far. The Oozzie Jig outfished a Norwegian 9 to 1 out at old Scantum earlier this week so make sure you get some scent in the water or stick to bait
