Drifting the Mouth Part I
Paul with 52” striper caught live lining a mackerel in the mouth of the Merrimack in 2021
Fishing for striped bass in the Mouth of the Merrimack River has been such a staple in history that it has to be considered a law of nature. Thousands of anglers from diverse demographics have caught their first-ever striper, first keeper, most prominent, or total stripers while fishing the Mouth. It truly is a relatively unique ecosystem. I can think of nowhere up or down the east coast where striper anglers fish their inlets the way we do. Locally, the Hampton River and Parker River are the most similar, and it's probably because we all know the Mouth of the Merrimack produces.
I always explain to my customers that fishing a tidal river is like blowing up a balloon. When the tide comes in, it is comparable to you blowing into the neck of the balloon. The incoming tide rushes through the bottleneck at the Mouth in between the jetties. Then, it slowly spreads out and over the flats, up into the grass line, and pushes up the river. You are expanding your hunting grounds, just like blowing up a balloon. It is a relatively slow expansion and spreads air out over a large area.
Conversely, the outgoing tide is akin to holding the balloon at the neck and letting it go. The air shoots out as quick as possible out of the skinny neck hole. As the air in the balloon, the water accumulated in the river starts to rush out the natural funnel that is the Mouth of the Merrimack. The only way out for all that water (as well as baitfish and stripers) is a 400 yard opening filled with frothy fury.
Either tide can be excellent for fishing the Mouth, but the outgoing has my vote for its overall consistency. The combination of fast currents, numerous staging holes embedded in the bottom, and the turbulent water makes a baitfish conveyer belt into the mouths of staging stripers in the rips.
Before we get into the how-to's of fishing the Mouth, we have to have a serious discussion about safety. The Mouth is infamous as one of the most dangerous rivers on the east coast. A fast-flowing river, strong moon tide, combined with a stiff NE wind, can be a recipe for disaster. Regardless of where you're fishing, your safety equipment should be in top working order. Before leaving the dock, you should check out the following systems in your vessel.
Quadrupled up in some rough seas with the Morabito family!
Bilge pump check.
Radio check
Running lights check (If you are out in the dark or low light conditions)
A loud horn or sounding device
Basic boating tool kit
First aid kit
Life jacket for every person on board
A throwable float or ring
Spare dock lines
Empty bucket in case of emergency
Fire Extinguisher
Clean and clear deck to avoid tripping.
What an amazing day this was! Nonstop action on “over” fish for hours!
Another critical safety aspect that is frequently overlooked by most recreational boaters, but required by charter boats, is a short safety speech to the passengers before leaving the dock. As the person running the boat, you are responsible for those on board. Communication and an expected plan could be the ticket to saving someone's life. Before every trip with my clients, I spend a few minutes to show them around the boat and where the emergency items are.
I start my tour by showing them around the boat, where they can sit/stand while underway, and where to put their belongings. Then, I direct them to where we store the life jackets in case of emergency and provide a quick example of putting on a Type I life jacket correctly. Next up, I show them where they can find the fire extinguisher, first aid kit, trash can, throw ring, and toolbox. I then guide them to the boat's helm and show them how to use the radio, switch to channel 16 to hail the coast guard, and how-to look on my Humminbird chart plotter to relay our Lat/Long to the coast guard. These simple, preventative steps set a clear expectation of how to use and where to find items in the case of an emergency where seconds can be precious.
Once off the dock, caution and a proper lookout should always be priority #1 when transiting or fishing in the Mouth. Be smart about conditions. Here are a few things to keep in mind before deciding to go out.
Outgoing tides are stronger and stack up waves more than incoming tides.
Full moon tides cause stronger currents, which cause larger waves.
A wind from the east (Substainionally worse from the NE) will push against the current the outgoing tides. If there is any wind over 10 knots, it could be very dicey.
Coming back is much more complicated than going out.
Weekend traffic can make fishing unbearable and transit dangerous.
During/after large amounts of rain, causes more water to flow out and into the river—also, debris.
Significant ground swells from offshore storms - particularly for a few days after the storm.
Do not anchor in the Mouth
That is all for Part I of this mini series of fishing the Mouth of the Merrimack. Our second iteration will focus on the fishing methods to help you succeed when drifting the Mouth. Our third section will be available to members only. It will consist of tips and tricks, adjustments, and outside the box techniques that have been proven productive and never before seen in print! Hopefully, you will be able to catch some slobs like this one from last year!
