9/1/04 Ipswich Fishing Report from Fred Jennings

The fishing in the estuary remains very slow. There is a lot of bait around, mostly small (1 to 1-1/2 inch-long) minnows, but some bait is 2 to 3 inches long. Sand eels are everywhere on the sand bars and flats. But where are the fish?

In August, which is always slow, all of my recent down river trips gave me (and my clients) single-digit days. I have not had anyone (including myself) catch more than seven to eight fish in a trip this last month. Things should improve.

Another angler from another area than my own said that every angler he has talked to (except for local guides) said that their fishing was way down this year relative to past years. It is too bad that marketing gets in the way of accurate fishing reports for some people, but I fear that may be the sort of society we are becoming today.

I have also heard conflicting reports depending on where and how people fish. My interpretation of such news is that there is not much in the estuaries in this area, but there are bunches of fish offshore and sometimes on the beaches that can be caught if you know where to find them (on any given day, tide or both) or you are lucky.

Some people have said that they have been catching only small fish. Others have said that the big ones are out there, but not close to shore. So go figure. If you get out there and catch some news or a fish or two, why don't you let me know, and I'll then have some more to report in another few weeks, OK? Contact me at 978-356-8819 or peakdawn@yahoo.com.

Tight lines!

-- Fred Jennings