Fishing Report August 25, 2025

Hurricane Erin put a damper on the striper fishing for most accounts, but calmer seas are here, and the fish should be back in and hopefully hungry. Inland lakes that were not affected by the hurricane have continued to follow their typical late summer patterns of following bait fish and feeding well. We have had reports of excellent numbers of salmon and rainbows on Lake Winnipesaukee, and Sebago is producing some huge landlocked salmon lately.

Maine:
Greg Cutting at Jordan’s Store in Sebago says the fishing continues to be stellar on Sebago. “They are catching some very nice salmon. There seems to be a lot of smelt in the lake this year, which is great. I’m hearing of guys trolling flatfish on bottom for lake trout and other guys trolling them up suspended under bait. My brother caught some fish out on top of the Shoals, down 3 colors, using different variations of copper spoons. This time of year, find the bait and you find the fish. I have no doubt that we are in for an incredible fall,” he said.

Captain Tim Tower of the Bunny Clark Deep Sea Fishing in Ogunquit posted the following report on their website: “The fishing was nearly excellent. We had no dogfish to speak of and the sea state wasn't that great, but the rest of the weather was nice with a perfect air temperature. The catching was good to very good. Landings were good. Most legal fish landed were redfish and pollock. Legal landings also included 6 haddock, 5 cusk and 8 mackerel. Released fish included 2 small cod, 10 sub-legal pollock, no short haddock, 45 small redfish, 8 dogfish, a sculpin and 7 mackerel. We saw several blue sharks, but we only lost one jig to them. We drift fished and anchored. Jigs and cod flies caught the most fish.”

“Ali Laflamme (ME) was high hook with the most legal fish. Her largest fish was a 14-pound pollock, the third largest fish of the trip. This is her second largest pollock. She caught a 14.5-pound pollock with Captain Ian Keniston last season. I also weighed a 6.5-pound pollock and a 8-pound pollock that she caught. Jim Cholette (NH) won the boat pool for the largest fish with the largest fish, a 17.5-pound pollock. This is the Bunny Clark's third largest pollock of this year's fishing season so far. The second largest fish was a 16-pound pollock caught by Chris Day (ME). This is the largest pollock that Chris has ever caught. It's also tied for the sixth largest pollock of the Bunny Clark fishing season to date.”

“Other Angler Highlights: Rodd Froebel (NY) landed a 12-pound pollock, his biggest fish today. He caught 1of the 6 haddock that were landed today. Norm Gamache (MA) caught a 10-pound pollock, his biggest fish. Matt Jones (NY) caught 2 pollock of 11.5 pounds each and a 10-pound pollock, collectively his best fish. Alen Silver (FL) landed a 10.75-pound pollock. Noah Day (ME) caught an 8-pound pollock, his best. Thirteen-year-old James Davis (NY) landed a 13-pound pollock and led the boat pool for most of the day.”

New Hampshire:
Tim from Tim Moore Outdoors/Lake Winnipesaukee Fishing Guide Service on Lake Winnipesaukee reported productive trolling for salmon and rainbow trout, but slow lake trout jigging. “The lake trout jigging has been a bust so far. The areas that I normally find them only have a small fraction of the numbers of fish and they seem to be full on spiny water fleas. I have been scouting out some new areas that are not a long boat ride away. The trolling has been mostly excellent. There have been a few slower days with only a few salmon or rainbows, but the fishing overall has been great. The salmon are fattening up and the rainbows are all 3 pounds and up. Orange spoons and flies have been good. AJ’s Blood and Guts with the fluorescent yellow in it have been hot streamer flies,” he said.

Alan Nute at Winnisquam Country Store in Tilton reported excellent fishing for salmon, rainbows, and lake trout on Winnipesaukee. “It’s been good out there. A lot of 3-pound salmon, some decent lakers, and some real nice rainbows. Orange/copper is still my best color spoons, but you can’t go wrong with oranges. Copper Bikini has also been good. Flies are picking up again. Yellows and oranges have been good in those. The fish are starting to spit up some smaller smelt and perch fry,” he said.

Dana Berry at Berry’s Bait in Alton Bay reported that things have slowed down a bit in the shop, with some schools already back in session and others going back this week. Those who are still fishing are enjoying good bites. “Everyone seems to be gearing back up for school, but there are a lot of people gearing up to jig lake trout. I hear that the salmon fishing has been really good. We are selling a lot of AJ’s spoons (BB Gun and Top Gun) and streamer flies,” she said.

Jason Brewster at Brewster’s Bait and Tackle in Portsmouth furnished the following report: “It’s the last official weekend of the summer and the bite continues! Lots of bait fish and birds remain, with the stripers consistent again (if you can find the ones that are not full of shiners). Still catching mackerel in the river with solid results after the big storm churned everything up. Squid and Seaworms were out the door the most this weekend.”.

Massachusetts:
Martha at Surfland Bait and Tackle on Plum Island reported a slight uptick in striper fishing, but she was happy to report that she had the blues. “There have been a few fish, but the ocean has been a little smelly lately and a little weedy. There have been some bluefish caught off the beach between the jetties. Just after the tide starts to come in is typically when the bluefish will enter the river. It’s been a little tough for some of the boat guys to get out of the river and some of the surf guys are complaining about seaweed. Tube and worm still seem to be fairly productive. I am still hearing of some guys picking up some flounder from both boats and the surf,” she said.

Pete Santini at Fishing Finatics in Everett furnished the following report: “Hurricane Erin put a damper on the fishing this past weekend outside Boston Harbor, but it recovered Sunday as people where catching nice bass inside the harbor from Spectacle Island to the casino. Trolling Santini tubes on lead core has been the ticket for a few fish as well as Niner Rigs and X Raps. Fluke and squid have slowed down, but tog and cunner fishing is picking up. Zobo rigs with seaworms or clams will catch them.”