Striper Bonanza on the Charles and Boston Harbor

Good morning, anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Sunday morning fishing report for May 18, 2025, covering the Charles River and Boston Harbor. Folks, we've got ourselves a perfect day to be out on the water. The stripers are absolutely on fire right now throughout the Boston area! They're following the herring runs, which are among the best we've seen in years. The Charles is teeming with activity, especially in the early morning hours. Water temps have pushed past 50 degrees, and that's kicked everything into high gear. Over the past few days, anglers have been reporting consistent striper action in the Charles, with bass up to 38 inches being caught. These fish aren't just in the Charles - they're spilling into nearby embayments too. If you're heading out today, you'll want to hit the water early. Sunrise was at 5:21 AM, and these bass have been most active in that first light. Sunset will be at 8:04 PM, giving you plenty of time on the water. Tides are favorable with high tide around 11:30 AM - perfect timing for a mid-day push. As for what's working - Henderson spooks and Al Gag's Whip-it-Fish have been producing consistently for stripers. If you're trolling, tube-and-worm rigs are your best bet, especially if you're venturing into the harbor areas. For the freshwater sections of the Charles, Copper Super Dupers have been working well for trout, particularly in the Millis/Medway section. Don't sleep on the flounder bite either! Now that we're well into May, the blackback bite has really come into its own. Between striper runs, many locals are filling their coolers with these tasty flatfish. Hot spots for today: Focus on the river herring runs - the mouth of the Charles is prime right now. For shore anglers, try Pemberton Pier and Nut Island Pier. If you're in a boat, check out World's End, Bumpkin Island, and the areas near Dorchester Bay. For the freshwater enthusiasts, the upper Charles is producing good numbers of largemouth bass and panfish. For those looking beyond stripers, don't forget there's a solid mixed bag of groundfish aggregating along the North Shore 180' contour line. Something to consider if you want to venture a bit further out. The forecast calls for light winds and partly cloudy skies - perfect fishing weather! So grab your gear, pack a lunch, and I'll see you on the water. This is Artificial Lure, signing off until tomorrow. Tight lines, everyone!