There are some signs that the shift in wind direction to a more easterly direction has blown in cooler temperatures and a hotter bite off the South Shore. Captain Mark Rowell of Legit Fish Charters said that while Race Point was still productive, the area off Scituate has picked up a lot. In addition to more favorable water temperatures the ultimate big bass bait – bunker – have moved in. Areas off beaches are holding schools of bunker and they are even present in Scituate Harbor. On the water"

Captain Mark Rowell of Legit Fish didn’t have to tap into AIS to find what might be the biggest bass biomass in the Bay State — he just had to figure out where the bait was. Squid, sand eels and mackerel, which are awash at Race Point, are holding a huge aggregate of striped bass. A few blues are tearing up tackle and reports of Charlie are beginning to trickle in. This year the craze seems to be centered around Mojo Rigs and Umbrella Rigs of all sorts. Of course, trolling or dropping mackerel amidst the marked fish is a solid idea, too. Others are doing just fine with slow-pitch jigs as well as the tried-and-true diamond jig. "on the water"

Captain Mark Rowell of Legit Fish Charters found feeding stripers in 120’ of water off Plymouth, but all signs have pointed to them moving in off Hummock Beach in 30’ of water. The fish can be fussy as they focus on sliversides. The captain is prepared, however, as he’s topping the livewell with mackerel, including tinkers. The macks seem to associate with an omnipresent green slick that snakes along the surface water about 3 miles out. There are plenty of stripers in Scituate Harbor, with the channel holding fish at low tide, while they are less concentrated at high tide and a tougher find. "on The Water"

Captain Mark Rowell of Legit Fish Charters echoed what others are saying, namely that slot stripers are not hard to find. Scituate Harbor is holding them, as are beaches such as Duxbury Beach, Priscilla Beach, Burkes Beach, and Rexhame Beach. Some are report that after the long haul, the fish are feeding voraciously and prone to hit a variety of plugs and soft plastics. Captain Rowell has a hunch that the haddock are a lot closer than Jeffrey’s Ledge, making them much for accesible for South Shore anglers. He’s hedging his bets that haddock should move well into Cape Cod Bay thanks to a spike in lobster boat activity, along with their inadvertent chumming as they set and pull their traps. Over the weekend, he’s hoping to have a bead on them as they could be near Stone Ledge or the SW Corner of Stellwagen."on the water"

Quality cod such as this 34” as well as hot haddock fishing have par for the course for Legit Fish. Captain Mark Rowell of Legit Fish Charters is finding cod up to 34” and limits of haddock on most trips. That is arguably much better fishing than others are experiencing among more northern offshore structure, such as Jeffrey’s Ledge and Tillies. The key, according to the captain, is to find rocks/wrecks just to the side of soft bottom. Draggers tend to avoid the irregular bottom, which wreaks havoc on their gear, and instead pound muddy/gravely bottom. Clams, as well as pink cod flies/teasers, are doing the job. Ancillary wow moments continue aboard Legit Fish with a noteworthy one happening while the crew was trying to put a patron onto a blue shark. While setting out a chum slick, and as the blue sharks began to get close to the boat, an unforeseen mako exploded out of nowhere and slammed the bait. The takedown was ferocious and furious, but unfortunately, the fight short lived. Without a doubt, that angler will be booking another trip soon. "on the water"

The deep offers a level of excitement unmatched by most of what happens inshore. During a recent haddock excursion in Cape Cod Bay, the Legit Fish Charters crew boated a monstrous whiting in the middle of a solid haddock bite. While for many a 36” whiting would be the catch of the day, Captain Mark Rowell had other designs for the big groundfish. Out came a magnum-sized outfit with the whiting deployed 60 feet down in the hopes of attracting a sea monster of sorts. Not long after the bait was set, the rod went off with a thunderous bang as something wicked took down the whiting. After briefly pulling drag, the fish reversed direction and charged the boat. Slack is kryptonite to the best laid plans, and despite a furious attempt to take up the line, the angler found it impossible to keep tight, and the hook popped out. When asked if his group was devastated, Captain Rowell said the feeling was just the opposite. To an angler, the crew was awed by the spectacle and the brief fury of the fight. There really is no substitute for a trip offshore. When not mixing up with monsters of the deep, Legit Fish is finding a solid haddock bite in 185’ of water on Stone Ledge. If you’re pounding mud with your jigs/sinkers, then you’re in the haddock zone. If you’re wares are coming up chipped and dented, expect to be catching cod and cusk. Heavily scented Gulp Alive grubs on the top hook are working really well, while clams are what the haddock are hitting on the bottom hook. The blitzkrieg of blues inshore has made finding mackerel a dicey proposition. Three to four miles out, the macks are common, but they are avoiding what would surely be an inshore massacre. The stripers are often hit or miss, depending on which bait they are feeding on. When sand eels are on the menu, and unless you’re offering matches the forage, you may find more frustration than fun. When pushing herring, pogies, or mackerel, the bass are usually less fussy. Hummock and Rexhame Beach have been two of the best bets, with even shore anglers getting into it. "On The Water"