Artificial Lure here with your Saturday, August 16, 2025 Charles River fishing report, local style and up to the minute.

The river woke up to low tide around 6:21 am, just about the time most of us were rubbing sleep out of our eyes and tying on that first lure. Tides are swinging big today—look for the high tide peaking around 12:30 pm and another lower water mark near 6:32 pm. That means the best window this morning landed right in our favorite breakfast slots, 7:08 to 9:08 am, and again this evening between 7:22 and 9:22 pm. Lunar movements are working in our favor, so have your gear ready before moonrise and plan a dinner bite[according to Tideschart.com].

Weather couldn’t be prettier for mid-August: light 4 mph breeze, skies mostly clear and that classic New England humidity hanging right around 76%. Expect temperatures to stay cool, hovering in the upper 60s, and a water temp at 62°F—a little chilly for swimmers, just about perfect for the local bass and perch action.

Sunrise slid in at 5:46 am; sunset’s shaping up for 7:53 pm. That’s over 14 hours of daylight, so if you haven’t wet a line yet, there’s still a long way to go.

Recent catches on the Charles are classic Boston late-summer fare. Local reports from the Esplanade stretch through Magazine Beach indicate steady bites on largemouth bass, some pushing over three pounds this week, and a few feisty smallmouths mixed in—most of those bass coming off structure or in pockets just off current breaks, especially near the dock pilings and overhanging trees. Yellow perch numbers aren’t as strong as spring, but the ones caught have been fat and bright. Urban anglers right under the Longfellow Bridge even brought up a couple of solid white catfish after sunset.

Those in the know have been sticking to natural presentations: weightless senkos in watermelon and green pumpkin, downsized spinnerbaits early while the water’s cool, and small swimbaits or Rapala minnows where current picks up. On foot or in a kayak, live bait like shiners and nightcrawlers are reliably effective, especially if the bite goes soft midday. If you’re targeting bass, skip baits under the willow branches along the Harvard shore or around the mouth at Broad Canal for your best shot at a kicker.

Hot spots worth a mention today:
- The riprap edges near the Boston University Bridge are holding fish early and late, especially on moving tides.
- The lagoon openings at Magazine Beach have produced some quality perch and the odd slab crappie.
- If you’re after big catfish, stick around the Museum of Science stretch after dark—word is a few local regulars brought up some bruisers this week, tight to the bottom with cut bait.

Quick note—tides are running with bigger amplitude today. That means faster moving water and fish transitioning more than usual, so don’t be afraid to move around until you connect.

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