It’s Artificial Lure, your local fishing expert, bringing you the Charles River and Boston Harbor fishing report for Friday, September 19, 2025.

Sunrise broke at 6:28 AM this morning with the air crisp – a perfect classic September feel. Sunset will come at 6:45 PM, so you’ve got a prime window to work the banks and piers all day. Weather’s fair, with temps starting in the low 60s and climbing into the low 70s as the afternoon builds, light wind out of the northwest, and no rain in the forecast. That means stable water conditions, and with visibility up, presentations matter.

On the tidal front, we saw a super low at 4:04 AM, with the first big push of high tide hitting 10:22 AM at nearly 9 feet, followed by another low at 4:16 PM. That strong mid-morning incoming tide always sparks the bite in these parts, especially for stripers and the chunkier bass holding off points and drop-offs around the bridges and marsh edges. According to Tide-Forecast.com, tonight we’ll see that next high just after 10:30 PM – great for the night crew working eels, plugs, or swim shads after dark.

Reports from On The Water and Fore River Fishing Tackle in Quincy have been positive: pogies and peanut bunker are thick, igniting striper feeds all along the rivermouths, seawalls, and inside the Charles’ tidal reaches. Most catches are schoolies to slot-stripers, but a couple of over-slot bass have been landed around the Museum of Science and up by the BU Bridge this week – best results on tube-and-worm rigs and 4-6” soft plastics in shad or bunker patterns. Shore anglers tossing bucktail jigs in the early mornings are also hooking up, and a few have found cooperative largemouths and the occasional crappie in adjacent backwaters.

Downriver, surface action has been good near the Science Park Dam and in the Esplanade coves – poppers at dawn, and walk-the-dog stickbaits just as the sun breaks. Add a jighead with a soft paddle tail for deeper slots as the tide fills in.

If you’re after multi-species, Fishbrain logs show the Charles loaded with largemouth bass, chain pickerel, bluegill, and black crappie – the numbers are steady, with over seventy-eight thousand largemouths reported in area waters. Small crankbaits, live shiners, and nightcrawler pieces will get it done with the panfish crew, especially near the rowing docks and shaded overhangs.

As for saltwater fringe action, legit reports out of Boston Harbor say the striper bite is still consistent, especially where the Charles mixes with the Fore and Mystic rivers. Tube-and-worm in pink or orange, Santini-style tubes, and chunked pogy have all been hot around the Fore River and Deer Island Pier; a few bluefish are popping up, but they’re scattered.

Best bait for bass? Fresh chunk bunker or live pogies if you can net them before sunrise, otherwise stick with Gulp! baits on a slow retrieve. Mackerel are moving out, but check early around the harbor mouths. For plugging, stick with Rapalas and spooks near current breaks.

For hotspots, check out:
- The basin below the Longfellow Bridge in the early hours for striper and bass surface feeds.
- The mouth of the Charles at Charlesbank Park for a mixed bag – cast along the wall on an outgoing tide for your best chance at a surprise trophy.
- Esplanade lagoon edges for panfish and the occasional pickerel.
- At night, the bridges – BU, River Street, and Western Ave – produce stripers cruising in to ambush bait.

For something completely different, some diehards are targeting smelt as the season gets rolling – last year was the best run in years, so it’s worth a shot with Sabiki rigs or bits of clam.

Thanks for tuning in to today’s local report! Tight lines and keep those nets ready, and don’t forget – subscribe for daily updates so you’re never off your game. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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This is Artificial Lure with today’s Charles River fishing report for Wednesday, September 17, 2025. It’s shaping up to be a fine morning for anglers in Boston: sunrise came at 5:46 am and sunset’s not till 7:53 pm, giving us over 14 hours of crisp daylight. The weather’s classic September—cloud cover is light at 21%, air temps drifting from 60 to 70 degrees, a gentle 4 mph breeze, and just enough humidity at 76% to keep things comfortable. Charles River’s water is holding steady at 62°F, just cool enough to kick the bass into an autumn pattern.

The tide’s just coming off the early morning low at 6:21 am and will peak again at 12:30 pm with a nine-foot swing. If you can get lines in the water between 7:08 and 9:08 am, you’re in prime fishing hours thanks to the opposing lunar transit. The evening bite should fire up again between 7:22 and 9:22 pm during the moonrise. According to TidesChart, today is rated excellent for fishing.

Now for the fish—locals have reported a solid uptick in **largemouth bass** action around Magazine Beach and up near the Harvard footbridge. A few chunky **smallmouth** came up from the deeper runs just east of the Longfellow. Early risers this week also hooked into steady numbers of schoolie **striped bass** farther east near the Science Museum outflow, with some pushing 22 inches—not bad for the river. There’s chatter on local forums about feisty **pickerel** ambushing smaller shiners around marsh grasses, and the panfish bite, especially for **crappie** and **yellow perch**, is described as “almost easy” around shaded boat docks.

Best baits right now:
- Topwater poppers or buzzbaits at first light, especially if you’re hitting shallow flats or overhanging willows.
- Soft plastic stickbaits or senkos, wacky rigged in pumpkin or green, fished slow near weed edges.
- Small swimbaits and jigging spoons if you’re searching out deeper holes.
- If you’re going for something live, nightcrawlers and small shiners have accounted for a lot of the recent catches, especially for the perch and crappie.

If you’re hunting stripers closer to the dam, bring along a white fluke or chartreuse paddle-tail on a 1/4 ounce jighead—the moving water near the locks has been prime. Locals focusing on the evenings have picked several bass on black spinnerbaits as the sun dips.

A couple of my favorite hotspots: the stretch by Magazine Beach is always a local magnet and, with the current water clarity and September’s cool-down, the bite there should be hot. The down-river side of the Museum of Science, around the outflow pipes and pilings, has produced some of the best numbers all week, especially around sunrise and sunset when the baitfish are bunched up.

As for the rest of the bite: New England shrimp are still tough to come by with the continued harvest moratorium, but the river’s native and resident species are showing up in healthy numbers. There’s been a slight increase in small invasive green crab sightings near shorelines—if you catch one by accident, toss it to help the local ecosystem.

That’s the scene in and around the Charles for September 17th. Get out there and enjoy what’s left of summer’s warmth! Thanks for tuning in to Artificial Lure—don’t forget to subscribe for all your Boston angling updates. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease dot ai.

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Hey folks, this is Artificial Lure coming to you with your Charles River fishing report for Saturday, September 13th, 2025. With the sun rising at 5:46 am and setting at 7:53 pm, we’re looking at over 14 hours of daylight and prime opportunities for casting lines around Boston’s legendary urban waterway.

Current conditions at sunrise included **cool, crisp air at 68°F**, about 21% cloud cover and a light 4 mph breeze—just enough to put a ripple on the water and keep your casts interesting. Water’s holding near 62°F, great for both bass and panfish activity. Humidity is relatively high at 76%, so plan on layering to stay comfortable.

Tidewise, those fishing near the mouth, especially around the **Charles River Dam or Charlestown Bridge**, will want to note the schedule: Early morning low at 6:21 am (-0.03 ft), followed by a rising tide that peaks at 12:30 pm (9.09 ft), tapering off with another low at 6:32 pm (0.59 ft). These tide changes make for some classic brackish water action—always a trigger for feeding.

Most anglers report today as an “excellent fishing day.” The prime bite windows align with the lunar table: major activity from **7:08 am to 9:08 am** and again **this evening 7:22 pm to 9:22 pm**. Expect a solid morning bite as the sun comes up and a second rush around sunset—typical for Charles River bass, perch, and crappie.

Recent catches speak for themselves. In the past week, locals have landed a solid mix of **largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, pumpkinseed, yellow perch, and black crappie**. Some striped bass and white perch are nosing upriver from the brackish side, especially near the Museum of Science locks and the mouths of major drains.

Best lures right now:
- For bass, go classic with **white or chartreuse spinnerbaits** near shallow weed lines and rocky edges.
- Crankbaits in craw or perch pattern work well along riprap, especially as the tide rises.
- For panfish, use **small soft plastics** on a jig head, like a chartreuse grub, or tip those with a bit of worm for added scent.

Live bait enthusiasts should bring **nightcrawlers or small shiners** for the river’s mixed bag. Nightcrawlers under a float near docks pull up perch and sunfish all day. Shiners will tempt stripers and bigger bass during slack tide and at the start of the outgoing.

Hot spots for today:
- **Harvard Bridge to Longfellow Bridge**: These stretches see steady morning and evening bites, especially when boat traffic is light. Expect bass around pilings and crappie in the slower back eddies.
- **Esplanade near Community Boating**: Always a magnet for smallmouth and largemouth mixed with schools of perch.
- **Museum of Science Locks**: This area is where you’ll get best access to both fresh and salty species. Striped bass have shown up on both live bait and topwaters after dusk.

Additional local tips: Low tides reveal hidden structure, so be sure to cast near exposed rocks and weed beds as the water pulls back. As the weather stays mild, evening sessions are seeing some active topwater strikes—try a popper or walk-the-dog style plug as sunset hits.

That wraps up your local Charles River fishing report. Thanks for tuning in—don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a bite! This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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Artificial Lure here with today’s Charles River fishing report for Friday, September 12, 2025. The river’s come alive under prime late-summer conditions, and local anglers are seeing some classic Boston action from dawn ‘til dusk.

First off, let’s talk **tides**. The next low tide rolled through early at 8:30 am (just about -0.75 ft), and we’re looking at a **high tide peaking at 2:38 pm** with a solid 10.43 ft stack according to the Charles River Dam tide chart. Fish tend to feed harder around these swings—especially right before high tide and at the start of the afternoon ebb.

Weatherwise, we woke up to cool, muggy air at 68°F, minimal cloud cover (just 21%), and a very manageable 4 mph breeze. Humidity is noticeable but not oppressive, with dew point at 53°F. Water temp is seasonally ideal—right about **62 degrees**, so activity for warmwater species is holding steady. **Sunrise** was at 5:49 am, and sunset’s coming at 7:49 pm, giving us a nice long window to cast.

Now—**fish activity**. Major fish movements are expected from 7:08 to 9:08 am, thanks to the lunar transit. Evening bite should be strong too, from 7:22 to 9:22 pm, so hang on tight if you’re still on the water after dinner. Reports from earlier this week suggest good numbers of **largemouth bass**, **smallmouth bass**, and a still-persistent run of **carp** and **pickerel** around Magazine Beach Lagoon and the bends up near Watertown Dam. Word is the bass are feeding off shallow ledges and shadow lines by the bridges in the morning.

Hot spots? Two favorites—**Harvard Bridge** (Mass Ave) where the drop-offs hug some deeper current and **Magazine Beach Lagoon**, where shoreline structure and vegetation make for prime ambush zones. Both are producing bass, with a bonus perch or two thrown in this week. Don’t skip the shore by Boston University Boat House, either; panfish have been heavy along the pilings.

As for **what’s working**: Top local picks are white or chartreuse **spinnerbaits** and soft-plastic **stickbaits** (think Senko, rigged weightless). Recent catches have come on **minnow-shaped swimbaits** and classic silver spoons—especially on the outgoing tide. **Live shiners** and **nightcrawlers** are still the best bait for multi-species action, but don’t underestimate a small crankbait during that morning major bite.

Recent logs and shop talk put numbers at up to eight to ten nice-sized bass for a solid half-day, with plenty of yellow perch, bluegill, and a handful of crappie mixing in. Carp fishermen, keep working the deeper cuts below the BU Bridge with canned corn or dough baits—there’s been some big pulls reported.

For the eager, hit the river early to catch the low tide and pre-sunrise bite, then double down in the evening as the river cools off and fish set up right off the weed beds and bridge shadows. With the water a touch cooler and calm wind, surface lures like poppers are getting action at twilight—perfect for those looking for drama on top.

That’s your Charles River run-down for today, folks—**spinnerbaits, shiners, and outgoing tide** are your keys. If you’re heading out, remember those two hot spots: Harvard Bridge and Magazine Beach Lagoon. Stay safe, stay dry, and keep your lines tight.

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Artificial Lure here with your Wednesday, September 10, 2025 Charles River Boston fishing report! The Charles is serving up that early September magic, and today couldn’t be much better for anglers ready to wet a line before fall creeps in.

Let’s talk sunrise: she crested at 5:46 am, with a sunset lined up at 7:53 pm, giving us a solid 14 hours of daylight. Weather’s prime for a mid-week cast—temps starting around 68°F this morning, topping out near 70 under mostly clear skies with light winds around 4 mph. Water temps have cooled just right, now settling at 62°F. The river’s holding a pleasant 76% humidity, but the breeze makes it comfortable for casting or paddling along the banks.

Tidal flow is key today, folks. According to Tideschart.com, the Charles River Dam had a low tide at 6:21 am, and we’re cruising into a hefty high of 9.09 feet at 12:30 pm, dipping back to low at 6:32 pm. This means you’ll want to hit those moving waters around the tide changes, especially late morning and just before dusk. If you’re headed out early, those first light hours—right as the sun peeks—are dynamite for topwater action, especially during the major bite window from 7:08 to 9:08 am and again this evening from 7:22 to 9:22 pm when the moon’s on the move.

Now for the fish! The Charles and connected waters around Waltham, Needham, and Cambridge continue to pump out respectable catches. Largemouth bass are far and away the main event, with over 80,000 documented catches from outlets like Fishbrain in just the past season. Some sharpies have been pulling 14-inch, 2-pound largemouth from Cleveland Pond, and Chain pickerel remain a wild-card favorite—plenty recorded over 14 inches. Bluegill and pumpkinseed sunfish are consistent for ultra-light setups, with schools pushing up shallow near weed edges. Occasionally, a decent white perch or even a 15-pound striped bass will roll upriver closer to the mouth, so bring gear that can flex both ways.

Best lures and baits for today: early and late, tie on a walking topwater (think Zara Spooks or Heddon Torpedoes), or a black buzzbait—the vibrations are killer in low light. As the sun climbs, pivot to soft plastic Senkos, natural colors like green pumpkin or watermelon, rigged weightless or on a Ned head. Chartreuse spinnerbaits draw reaction strikes in stained water, especially after rain. For live bait aficionados, shiners or nightcrawlers drifted near structure never fail on bass and pickerel, and a chunk of nightcrawler under a bobber can keep young anglers busy with panfish all afternoon.

Hotspots right now:

- **Magazine Beach**: The drop-off along the bathhouse is holding bass, especially as the tide shifts.
- **Herter Park in Allston**: Populated with submerged wood and weedbeds—locals call it the “shore lunch zone” for a reason.
- **Charles River Dam lower basin**: If you’re after striped bass at dawn and dusk, fish close to the locks where salt pushes in.

Fish activity is strong midweek with lighter pressure; crowds will pick up by the weekend, so today’s ideal for solitude and steady bites. Remember to follow the posted regulations—largemouths and pickerel are catch-and-release favorites here, and always double-check for the latest state guidelines.

That’s your Charles River update for this gorgeous Wednesday in Boston. Thanks for tuning in to Artificial Lure—subscribe for your weekly bite window and stay one step ahead of the crowds. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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Artificial Lure here, dropping a sunrise line on your Charles River fishing scene for Sunday, September 7, 2025. Boston’s waking up to a cool morning—temps are starting out in the low 60s and creeping into the upper 70s by midday, with a gentle northwest breeze. Expect partly cloudy skies all day, so those fish will get plenty of breaks from the sun.

Tide’s in our favor if you’re planning a late morning cast. For Charlestown and much of the Charles River basin, the day’s first high tide hits at 10:54 a.m. with a solid 9.45 feet, and you’ll catch the next low around 4:54 p.m. That rolling tide brings action, and between the incoming and just after peak, bass get moving[2]. First light crept up at 6:14 a.m., and sundown’s at 7:09 p.m., so you’ve got plenty of daylight to work those stretches.

Now, let’s talk fish. The action’s been heating up with smallmouth and largemouth bass taking center stage this past week. Pier and bank anglers near Magazine Beach and the BU Bridge have been putting up bass in the 2–4 lb class—nothing to scoff at for an urban river. From the Boston Charles River Daily Fishing Report podcast earlier this week: Folks are reporting bigger largemouth holding tight to the drop-offs and structure, especially during tidal swings. Pickerel have also shown up around the weedy pockets, along with the occasional crappie and some solid perch bites[5].

Your best bet today: Start with 3–4 inch soft plastics, especially in green pumpkin and black/blue, Texas-rigged or weightless. Bass are cruising weedlines and current breaks, so a slow, subtle presentation is crucial when the sun’s up. If you’re seeing surface activity, switch to a popper or small spook-style topwater. Chartreuse spinnerbaits and small crankbaits are hot around riprap and bridge pilings. Live bait allures the bite too—shiners and nightcrawlers will tempt those less-aggressive fish holding in deeper pockets.

For early risers, Magazine Beach is a top spot, with its current seams and lily pad beds drawing in bass at sunrise. Harvard’s Weld Boathouse area is another productive stretch, especially for shore anglers. In the evening, the stretch between Longfellow and Zakim Bridges lights up with activity—work those eddies as the tide starts ebbing.

No recent word on stripers pushing into the basin this week; water’s just a touch warm, but it’s always worth casting a swimbait on an outgoing tide near the dam. Catfish bite’s been decent after dark for those soaking cut bait or chicken livers off the piers west of Central Square.

That wraps it for your Sunday Charles River rundown. Thanks for tuning in—remember to subscribe for daily updates and fish stories fresh from the dock. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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Charles River fishing report for Saturday, September 6, 2025 — brought to you by Artificial Lure, your Boston angling insider.

Sunrise this morning hit at 5:46 am and you’ll have the lines wet until sunset at 7:53 pm. With almost 14 hours of daylight, today is shaping up perfect for full-day anglers. Weather’s cool and pleasant: air temperatures are starting near 66°F, peaking at 70°F, with just 21% cloud cover and a gentle 4 mph breeze. The water temp is right at 62°F — crisp, but just what our local bass and perch like. Humidity’s a bit high at 76%, but that’s nothing new for a Boston September.

Tide-wise, we’re in a strong pattern today. Low tide landed just before sunrise at 6:21 am, barely hitting below sea level, and we’re climbing toward the next high at 12:30 pm, topping out at 9.09 feet. That midday push should set off some serious action along the shallows and channel drop-offs. Another low rolls in at 6:32 pm. According to the Charles River Dam tide chart, today is rated as an “excellent fishing day”! Best times to target bites are the major lunar periods: from 7:08 to 9:08 am and again from 7:22 to 9:22 pm.

Before you get too excited, be aware: as of yesterday, the downstream stretch below Harvard Bridge is under a cyanobacteria (algae) advisory from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. If you see green, soupy water or suspect a bloom, skip that section and fish elsewhere along the river.

On to the bite report. Local reports and videos show the striped bass are thick this week — “hundreds” have been spotted pushing up into the deeper pools and near the locks, with boaters and shore anglers both cashing in. Largemouth and smallmouth bass are feeding hard along weed edges and rocky points, especially near Magazine Beach and North Point Park. Yellow perch and the occasional crappie are hitting early mornings by the docks and pilings. Catfish activity has picked up in the evenings, especially by the bridges.

Best baits and lures for today? For bass, throw topwater baits at dawn — whopper ploppers or classic Rebel Pop-R’s are pulling strikes over submerged grass. Later in the day, pivot to soft plastics; black or green pumpkin senkos rigged weightless have done serious work along the edges. Striper chasers are doing best with swimming plugs or 4–6" shad imitations. Live eels and chunked mackerel will draw big bites if you’re soaking baits. Perch are eager for small spinners or live worms under a float. If you fancy a mixed bag, toss inline spinners or small crankbaits.

Two hot spots to circle today:

- **Magazine Beach to River Street Bridge:** Cooler mornings, good underwater structure, and decent current make this a magnet for active bass and stripers riding the tide. Be cautious about algae, but if it’s clear, fish hard here.
- **North Point Park and Museum of Science basin:** Consistent action from shore or kayak, shelter from most winds, and access to deeper holes and bridge pilings. Good for panfish, bass, and night catfishing under the lights.

Remember to check your leader, bring bug spray, and always carry out what you bring in. Conditions are prime — get out, stay safe, and respect local advisories, especially regarding potential algae blooms.

Thanks for tuning in to Artificial Lure’s Charles River update. If you found this report helpful, be sure to subscribe so you never miss a tide or bite. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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Charles River checked in with a classic late-summer morning: sunrise at 5:46 am, sunset tonight comes at 7:53 pm, giving anglers just over fourteen hours of light to get after it. Right now, the weather is solid—partly cloudy with the air sitting around 68 degrees, just a hint of a breeze at 4 mph, and decent humidity at 76%. Water temps are holding at 62°F, keeping things lively for the river’s fall fish[1].

As for the tides, the low bottomed out at 6:21 am today, and the next big high is rolling in at 12:30 pm, peaking over nine feet. If you’re dawn patrol, the best bite has been documented between 7:08 and 9:08 am and again from 7:22 to 9:22 pm, right in step with the lunar movements[1]. The major times today are set, so if you’re clocking in for an after-work session, you can bet on some evening action.

Recent catches on the Charles have leaned heavy on good-sized largemouth bass, feisty smallies, and ever-reliable perch. Reports from local spin and fly folks have a couple of chunky bass topping the scales north of three pounds, taken on soft plastics and classic spinnerbaits thrown near structure. Word is the perch bite has been steady, especially for those jigging with live worms or small grubs. Rumor around the old boathouses says one angler even landed a slab crappie Wednesday evening near the Cambridge shore.

If you’re looking for the best tackle, it’s hard to go wrong with a 7’ light spinning rod for perch or crappie, swapping up to a medium-heavy baitcaster if you’re chasing those river bass. On lures, the locals are strong on Z-Man soft plastics in watermelon or pumpkinseed and simple chartreuse bladed spinnerbaits for visibility. Fly folks: foam hoppers, small streamers, and classic woolly buggers are producing, especially in that magic hour before dusk. For bait fishing, nothing beats live shiners, but nightcrawlers fished on a slip rig or jig head are pulling in good numbers of panfish and the odd bass.

Top spots today—Old Charlesgate is always solid, especially where the river bends tight by Massachusetts Avenue. Community Boating’s dock edges have produced best in low light, and if you’re willing to walk a bit, magazine beach upriver is a hidden gem for perch and crappie. If you’re tempted to hit the tidal stretch, focus on current seams and eddies formed on inbound tide; big bass are known to sit just ahead.

Given the tidal swing, expect strong current midday through early afternoon. This favors the ambush feeders, so toss lures right at the breaks and let the flow do the work. The evening lunar uptick looks promising for a last light blitz—definitely worth tossing topwater late if conditions hold.

On crowd and regulation—weekdays mean you’ll find more elbow room, especially before 9 am. Remember to keep an eye out for rowing shells and stay clear of the marked navigation lanes.

That’s the Charles today—solid fishing and early autumn action. Thanks for tuning in and don’t forget to subscribe. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai.

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Artificial Lure here, coming to you with a boots-on-the-dock fishing report for the Charles River in Boston on Wednesday, September 3rd, 2025.

It’s prime late-summer river time and conditions are looking solid for anglers today. The sun rose at 6:11 a.m. and will dip below the skyline at 7:13 p.m., giving us a long stretch of daylight to work with. The weather out here is classic early September: low humidity, temps peaking in the mid-70s by mid-afternoon, and steady winds from the northwest keeping things comfortable. Not much rain in sight, so the water clarity is typical late summer—slightly stained but overall good for working artificials.

Tidal action for the lower river, with Boston Harbor as a reference, shows a low tide early this afternoon at 2:17 p.m. and a high coming up at 8:35 p.m., making the late afternoon ideal for that incoming exchange. On tidal stretches close to the harbor—think near the Museum of Science or Lower Charles—creek mouths and bridge pilings should be money near dusk, as bait flushes back into deeper water according to South Boston tide predictions.

Recent activity’s been solid all along the Charles, with local word reporting healthy catches of **largemouth bass**, **smallmouth bass**, and **pickerel** upriver, as well as **carp**, **catfish**, and **perch** closer to Boston proper. Kayakers around Magazine Beach have seen fair numbers of **striped bass** on early morning tides, some pushing into the low 20-inch range, especially when the herring are thick. The big **carp** bite has picked up by the Boston University boathouse, with several fish reported over 15 pounds in just this past week.

Anglers tossing 3- to 4-inch **shad imitations**, jerkbaits like the Rapala X-Rap, or soft plastic swimbaits are landing both bass and the occasional schoolie striper. Under the higher sun, downsizing to inline spinners and finesse worms has been the ticket for finicky smallmouth near Watertown Dam. For bait fans, **live shiners** and medium-sized nightcrawlers drifted under a slip bobber are drawing strikes from catfish and perch right off the Esplanade docks before sunset. With water temps warm but dropping a hair, fish are cruising and feeding before dark.

A couple local hotspots to circle on your map:
- **Weeks Footbridge by Harvard**—riprap edges draw bass, and smallmouth stack under the deeper arches when foot traffic is low.
- **Magazine Beach Park**—pre-dawn or sunset, work the weedlines and drop-offs for a shot at both largemouth and stripers chasing bait.
- Downriver, the **Museum of Science banks** are a great evening play when shiners pile up and the last tide rides in.

If you want numbers over size, pick the shallow coves above the BU Bridge and skip Senkos in watermelon or black, as those colors have accounted for lots of fish lately. Target drop-offs with jigs and craw trailers as the shadows get long, and don’t overlook surface lures like poppers at dusk—explosive topwater takes have been lighting up the flat water after 7 p.m.

Shore anglers have reported pickerel up by the Herter Park lagoon, and those working the railings at the MDC dam are snagging panfish with tiny jigs or pieces of nightcrawler.

Final tip: Keep your setups light, match your lure color to water clarity (go natural if it’s clear), and be patient—the evening bite is best as temps cool down and the city comes alive.

That’s today’s Charles River fishing outlook! Thanks for tuning in. Make sure to subscribe for more river-by-river reports and gear tips from Artificial Lure. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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Good morning, folks—Artificial Lure here, checking in with your Charles River fishing report for Sunday, August 31, 2025, right as first light touches the water.

Here’s the scoop on today’s conditions. Tide-wise, the first high tide came in early at 4:43 am, and low tide’s hitting around 10:43 am, with another high at 4:58 pm and then low again at 11:23 tonight. Tidal movement’s a bit on the low side, with the tidal coefficient sitting at 38 this morning and dropping through the day—so you can expect less current than usual, which means a subtle bite, especially for those river bass that love moving water. If you’re chasing bigger tides or dramatic swings, save it for another weekend, but these mellow flows are tailor-made for a slow, methodical presentation—perfect for picking apart structure with soft plastics or swimbaits, especially as we ride through these longer August days. Sunrise was at 6:07 am and sunset’s not until 7:21 pm, so you’ve got a solid chunk of daylight to work with, and the solar transit is right around 12:44—prime time for river predators to feed.

Weather’s classic Boston August: mild, muggy at sunrise, with a daytime high forecast in the upper 70s. Low wind means the river’s glassy through the morning, which is a blessing if you’re working topwater or sight-fishing, but don’t forget sunscreen—13+ hours of sun today will sneak up on you. According to area weather trackers, no big front expected, so bait movement should stay predictable.

Recent catches along the Charles have been steady. Rumney Marsh to the Museum of Science stretch is seeing solid action for largemouth and smallmouth bass, with the occasional schoolie striper pushing bait up against the seawalls at dawn and dusk. Locals report some slab crappie closer to the boathouse pilings and fat yellow perch hanging in the deeper holes near the Watertown Dam. A few folks hit the jackpot with a rogue carp or two in the Back Bay, especially those chumming with sweetcorn in the evenings. Catfish are firing along the gravel bars as the sun goes down, responding well to cut shiners and nightcrawlers.

As far as what’s working: soft plastic worms in green pumpkin or black/blue fished Texas-rigged are still lights-out for bass, especially in shallow, shaded pockets. For stripers and active smallies, toss white or silver paddle-tail swimbaits just after sunrise, or grab a chrome lipless crank if you want some flash in the stained water. The tried-and-true chartreuse spinnerbait gets calls all day, especially if the breeze kicks up. For live bait lovers, you can’t go wrong with big live shiners for bass or chunked mackerel if you’re holding out for those river stripers sneaking upriver with the tide.

Hot spots to check today: Magazine Beach toward River Street Bridge is holding bass, especially as the sun warms the shallows. North Point Park down toward the locks is a golden hour honey hole for stripers and has perfect current breaks if you’re hunting that river slam. And don’t skip the pilings right near the Museum of Science—they’re loaded with panfish and the odd hungry pike if you’re tossing a flashy spoon.

That’s the line for today, everyone. Thanks for tuning in to Artificial Lure—don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a bite report, gear tip, or river secret. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI