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Blueline Fishing Charters Fishing Charter in Hingham
Striped Bass Fishing in Hingham, MA
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The mighty Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis) is one of the most prized gamefish along the Atlantic coast. Belonging to the Moronidae family, these powerful fish are known for their distinctive horizontal black stripes and can reach impressive sizes of up to 55 inches and weights over 80 pounds. - Striped bass are anadromous, meaning they migrate from saltwater to freshwater to spawn. - They're highly adaptable predators that can thrive in various habitats including rivers, lakes, and coastal waters. - August in Hingham provides excellent opportunities to target these hard-fighting fish.
Fishing Charter by Captain David Horte in August
Meet your Captain David Horte
- Top Fishing Charter in Hingham, MA
Summary
Spent a rewarding Tuesday August day on the water with WEILI and crew aboard Blueline Fishing Charters in Hingham, MA. Our 5-hour inshore fishing charter started early morning with partly cloudy skies creating perfect Gulf of Maine conditions. We employed multiple techniques - surf casting along shorelines, trolling deeper waters, and bottom fishing - resulting in a beautiful 32-inch striped bass catch that made everyone's day. While not landing massive numbers, that trophy striper demonstrated why Hingham's waters are worth exploring. For anglers seeking both beginner-friendly and experienced opportunities, our local knowledge puts you right where striped bass are biting. Summer through early fall offers prime fishing conditions in these productive Massachusetts waters.
Fishing Charter with David Horte – Rates & Booking
Captain David Horte of Blueline Fishing Charters on Tuesday August welcomes anglers of all skill levels for 5-hour inshore trips targeting striped bass in the productive waters around Hingham. Our well-equipped vessel provides everything you need for a successful day on the water - quality rods, reels, tackle, and expert guidance to put you on the fish. As a licensed captain with extensive local experience, David knows exactly where the stripers are biting throughout the season. Whether you're looking to land your first striped bass or you're an experienced angler seeking trophy-sized fish, we customize each trip to match your goals.
Highlights of 5 Hour Inshore Trip
Our inshore fishing charters focus on the productive striped bass waters around Hingham, where we regularly target these prized gamefish using multiple techniques. With partly cloudy conditions providing ideal fishing weather, we'll mix surf casting along promising shorelines, trolling productive channels, and bottom fishing structure where big stripers lurk. The Gulf of Maine offers consistent action through summer and early fall.
The 32-inch striped bass landed on our recent trip demonstrates the quality of fishing available here. We take pride in providing a comfortable, safe experience with all necessary fishing equipment included. Our local knowledge means we can adapt to daily conditions, ensuring the best possible chance for that memorable catch.
Local Species Insights: Striped Bass
Striped bass thrive in the diverse coastal environment around Hingham, making them accessible to anglers throughout the warmer months. These powerful gamefish patrol shorelines, rocky structures, and deeper channels, requiring different techniques as conditions and seasons change. During summer outings, we often find success targeting stripers during early morning and evening feeding periods when they actively hunt baitfish near structure.
August is prime time for striped bass fishing in Hingham, as water temperatures create ideal conditions for these hard-fighting fish. We'll match our approach to daily patterns, using live bait, artificial lures, or fly fishing techniques depending on what's working best. The thrill of a big striper taking your offering and making a powerful run is what brings anglers back to these waters year after year.
Plan Your Fishing Charter Day
Our fishing charters accommodate small groups in a comfortable, well-maintained vessel equipped with quality fishing gear, electronics, and safety equipment. We typically depart early morning to take advantage of prime fishing times, but can adjust departure based on tides and conditions. Dress in layers as Gulf of Maine temperatures can vary throughout the day, and don't forget sun protection. We recommend bringing a camera to document your catch, along with any preferred snacks and beverages. All fishing licenses and permits are covered, so you can focus entirely on enjoying your time on the water and landing that memorable striped bass.
Fishing in Boston: Striped Bass
The Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis), belonging to the Moronidae family and order Perciformes, is one of the most sought-after gamefish along the Atlantic coast. Distinguished by its seven to eight dark horizontal stripes running along silvery sides, these powerful fish make for thrilling catches in Hingham waters, especially during August when they're actively feeding.
Striped Bass Overview
Striped bass, often called "stripers" or "rockfish" by anglers, are prized for their fighting ability and table quality. These fish represent the premier inshore gamefish of the Northeast, drawing anglers from across the country to experience the thrill of battling these powerful swimmers.
Striped Bass Habitat and Distribution
These adaptable fish are found along the Atlantic Coast from the St. Lawrence River to northern Florida, with Hingham Bay providing excellent habitat. They're anadromous, meaning they can move between saltwater and freshwater environments. Around Hingham, stripers frequent rocky shorelines, channel edges, and structure where currents create feeding opportunities.
Striped Bass Size and Weight
Striped bass typically measure between 20 and 55 inches in length, with weights ranging from 10 to 81 pounds. Trophy specimens over 40 inches and weighing 30+ pounds are caught annually in Massachusetts waters, though the average keeper size ranges from 28-36 inches in most areas.
Striped Bass Diet and Behavior
These opportunistic predators feed primarily on smaller fish like menhaden, herring, mackerel, and squid. They're structure-oriented, often hunting near rocky outcroppings, jetties, and dropoffs where tidal currents concentrate baitfish. Stripers tend to feed most actively during dawn and dusk, though tide changes can trigger feeding regardless of time of day.
Striped Bass Spawning Season
Striped bass spawn in freshwater from April through June, with most Massachusetts fish originating from the Chesapeake Bay or Hudson River systems. Water temperatures between 60-67°F trigger spawning activity. By August in Hingham, post-spawn adult fish have typically returned to coastal feeding patterns.
Striped Bass Fishing Techniques
For Hingham stripers, three productive methods stand out. Chunking with fresh mackerel or menhaden works well along channel edges during slower tides. Casting soft plastic jigs (7-9 inch) in white or chartreuse produces well around structure during moving water. Trolling tube-and-worm rigs or swimming plugs allows covering water efficiently when fish are scattered. In August, Hingham anglers often find success targeting bass around the harbor islands and along shoreline structure during early morning outings.
Striped Bass Is It Good to Eat?
Striped bass offers excellent table fare with firm, white flesh and a mild, sweet flavor. The meat lends itself to various preparations – grilled, baked, or broiled – and holds up well to bold seasonings. From a nutritional standpoint, striper is high in protein and omega-3 fatty acids. Most anglers prefer eating specimens between 24-32 inches, as larger fish may accumulate more contaminants over their longer lifespans.
Striped Bass Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the best bait for striped bass in Hingham?
A: Live mackerel, fresh chunked menhaden (pogies), and sandworms are top natural baits in Hingham waters. For artificial lures, soft plastic paddletails in the 6-9 inch range, topwater plugs at dawn/dusk, and swimming plugs all produce consistently when matched to local forage.
Q: Where can I find striped bass near Hingham?
A: Productive areas include the edges of Hingham Bay channels, around the harbor islands, along rocky shorelines with moving water, and near structure that concentrates baitfish. The mouth of the Weymouth Back River and areas with current flow around Grape, Bumpkin, and Peddocks Islands all hold stripers throughout summer.
Q: Is striped bass good to eat?
A: Yes, striped bass is considered excellent eating with firm, white flesh and a clean, mild flavor that's versatile for various cooking methods. Most anglers prefer eating keeper-sized fish between 28-36 inches for optimal taste and texture.
Q: When is the best time to catch striped bass in Hingham?
A: The prime season runs from late May through early October, with August offering consistent action as fish settle into summer feeding patterns. Dawn and dusk provide peak activity, though moving tides (especially the last two hours of incoming and first two hours of outgoing) often trigger feeding regardless of time of day.
Q: What size striped bass can I keep in Massachusetts?
A: Massachusetts regulations require striped bass to be between 28-31 inches to harvest (slot limit), with a one fish daily limit per angler. Always check current regulations before fishing as they can change annually.
Q: What pound test line should I use for striped bass?
A: For Hingham stripers, 20-30 pound braided line is ideal for casting and jigging applications, while 30-40 pound monofilament works well for trolling and chunking. Leaders of 30-50 pound fluorocarbon are recommended when fishing around structure.
