**Bottom Line Up Front:** The South Shore is in full winter mode, but there's still plenty of action for anglers willing to bundle up. With striped bass season closed, the focus has shifted to blackfish before the season closes on December 22nd, and the surprisingly good white perch bite in the brackish creeks.
**Blackfish Bonanza:** The blackfish bite has been outstanding, with reports of quality tog hitting the decks. Anglers are finding success on the local wrecks and reefs, with fish in the 5- to 9-pound range being reported. The key has been to find the right structure and to be patient, as the bite can be finicky at times. With the season closing soon, now is the time to get out there and get your fill of these hard-fighting fish.
**White Perch Surprise:** The white perch fishing has been a pleasant surprise for many anglers this winter. The brackish water creeks and rivers have been holding good numbers of fish, and they are providing a fun and challenging alternative to the traditional saltwater species. Small jigs and soft plastics have been the ticket, and the fish have been more than willing to bite.
**Catch and Release Stripers:** While the striped bass season is closed, there are still plenty of fish to be had on a catch-and-release basis. The boat anglers are still finding fish outside the inlets, and there have been some reports of schoolie-sized fish being caught in the back bays. If you do target stripers, be sure to handle them with care and release them quickly to ensure their survival.
**Looking Ahead:** The weather is going to be a major factor over the next few days, with a strong cold front and gale-force winds expected on Wednesday. This will likely shut down the fishing for a few days, so be sure to get out there while you can. The good news is that the blackfish are still biting, and the white perch are providing a fun and challenging alternative.
**Blackfish Bonanza:** The blackfish bite has been outstanding, with reports of quality tog hitting the decks. Anglers are finding success on the local wrecks and reefs, with fish in the 5- to 9-pound range being reported. The key has been to find the right structure and to be patient, as the bite can be finicky at times. With the season closing soon, now is the time to get out there and get your fill of these hard-fighting fish.
**White Perch Surprise:** The white perch fishing has been a pleasant surprise for many anglers this winter. The brackish water creeks and rivers have been holding good numbers of fish, and they are providing a fun and challenging alternative to the traditional saltwater species. Small jigs and soft plastics have been the ticket, and the fish have been more than willing to bite.
**Catch and Release Stripers:** While the striped bass season is closed, there are still plenty of fish to be had on a catch-and-release basis. The boat anglers are still finding fish outside the inlets, and there have been some reports of schoolie-sized fish being caught in the back bays. If you do target stripers, be sure to handle them with care and release them quickly to ensure their survival.
**Looking Ahead:** The weather is going to be a major factor over the next few days, with a strong cold front and gale-force winds expected on Wednesday. This will likely shut down the fishing for a few days, so be sure to get out there while you can. The good news is that the blackfish are still biting, and the white perch are providing a fun and challenging alternative.
