Charles River Fishing Report: Stripers, Panfish, and More on a Picture-Perfect Day

Artificial Lure checking in with your Charles River Boston fishing report for Sunday, June 22, 2025. It’s a picture-perfect early summer day on the Charles. The sun rose at 5:09 AM, and you’ll have good light until sunset at 8:14 PM. Weather’s sitting in that sweet spot—mid-70s, mostly clear skies, and just a touch of breeze to keep things fresh. Tidal action was lively at first light, with the morning high tide peaking around 5:52 AM. That early incoming tide brought in a pulse of bait and sparked some real fish activity—if you’re heading out for a later session, look for another high tide rolling in during the evening. The main headline this week is pure diversity. Right now, the Charles River is packed with action. Schoolie striped bass are still pushing upriver, hot on the heels of herring and stray mackerel coming in from the harbor. We’ve seen a strong topwater bite just after dawn and right before dusk, especially for those tossing walk-the-dog style plugs, flutter spoons, and soft plastics down by the Museum of Science and the Longfellow Bridge. The tube-and-worm rig is absolutely crushing it at the mouth of the river and near the locks—no shortage of slot fish reported there according to On The Water’s June 19th report and confirmed by local guides. If you’re looking to mix it up, largemouth bass and panfish are showing really well around Magazine Beach and the Esplanade docks, especially in the early morning when the water’s calm. Some solid crappie and even the odd catfish have been landed on live worms and small jigs. For panfish, try downsizing to a 1/16 oz jighead with a white or chartreuse grub—can’t miss right now. For striped bass, best baits are live or chunk mackerel, seaworms, and for those covering water, white/chartreuse shads rigged on Mojo rigs. Top color for soft plastics has been bone or silver, especially in low light. Don’t overlook classic flutter spoons if you see surface activity; they’ve been producing both schoolies and the occasional keeper. Hot spots for today? Hit the water just downstream from the Museum of Science, and don’t sleep on the bends around Magazine Beach. Also, the mouth of the river at the locks continues to be a striper magnet during tidal swings. The Arsenal Street Bridge has also been holding good numbers of panfish and the occasional decent largemouth. That’s your boots-on-the-ground rundown for the Charles River, June 22nd. Thanks for tuning in—remember to subscribe so you never miss a bite. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.