The Cape Ann action continues to be very good. Stripers are present throughout the various shoreline and island locations. The significant change from last week is the influx of bluefish. Several large schools of 7-12 pound fish are present from Halibut Point to the flat ground east of the Sandy Bay breakwater as evidenced by the number of “headboats” anchored up in that area over the past several days. I got out there for a short while and landed several nice sized blues on top water poppers. The bluefish on the flat ground validate that the summer pattern is fully in place. I fully expect the stripers and blues to hang around and be consistent day to day.

Porter B. reports having very good striper fishing at Goose Cove last week. Lots of 20-25 inch fish with a few keeper sized fish mixed in.

The schoolie tuna for the most part disappeared from the area S/E of Thatcher last week. We did not see more than a few small groups of tuna in two offshore trips last week. Other reports from sources also suggest the same. I have received reports from the commercial tuna fleet that large numbers of school tuna are present east and north of the Isle of Shoals and on up to the south coast of Maine. We have observed large pods of spike mack’s and peanut bunker just to the east of Rockport and this, with the large numbers of bluefish, should bring the tuna back south ; look for the tuna bite to heat up real soon. We did get a report from Winchester Fishing that boats have hooked up a few 60 -100 pound tuna just to the N/E of Halibut Point live lining small bluefish.