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"Chilly Autumn Bite on the Charles: Smallies, Crappie, and the Unexpected Gator"
Artificial Lure here, bringing you your Charles River fishing report for Sunday, November 16, 2025. We’re kicking things off under chilly but classic Boston autumn conditions — the sunrise crested over the city at 6:21 AM this morning and sunset hits at 4:33 PM. It’s cold out here with temps hovering between 42°F and 51°F, and the water’s sitting at a brisk 54°F. We’ve got just 10% cloud cover, so it’s mostly clear, but be ready for gusty winds pushing up to 37 mph today — those will definitely ripple the surface and test your casting accuracy. Humidity is at 67%, and with these wind conditions, you’ll want to keep those lines tight and an eye on your rod tip.
Tidal action is decent for river anglers today. According to TidesChart.com, the next high tide in Boston rolls in at 10:13 AM and crests at nearly 12 feet, with the outgoing ebb peaking low around 4:38 PM. These tide swings flush bait and get the fish prowling, especially right after high tide in the post-dawn bite. Per the lunar forecast, prime fishing times are between 2:45–4:45 AM and again from 2:45–4:45 PM, timed right with a strong lunar influence and moving water to trigger strikes.
As for the fish, the Charles River’s late fall bite is in classic form. Stripers have largely moved out for the season, but some reports from the upriver stretches — around the Museum of Science dam and farther out toward Watertown — indicate a few migrating schoolies were still caught this week, with most averaging 18–22 inches. Local reports from Bostonians fishing the Esplanade docks mentioned a healthy schoolie landed Friday evening, and there’s still the chance for a surprise late-fall striper if you work structure with patience.
Smallmouth and largemouth bass are the main players now, and they’re gearing up for the winter slowdown. Late fall is all about subtlety: craw-patterned Ned rigs, dark-green or pumpkin soft plastics, and slow-rolled spinnerbaits have coaxed bucketmouths and bronzebacks from eddies and submerged boulders, especially during the pre-sunset window. Crappie and yellow perch are feeding actively in the shallower bays by Community Boating and near the BU Bridge — small jigs tipped with chartreuse grubs or live minnows have yielded good results this past week, with perch pushing 9–11 inches and the odd slab crappie pushing a pound.
Carp remain an under-the-radar Charles River specialty, and the best action has been at Magazine Beach and the mudflats below the Western Ave bridge. A handful of dedicated carpers reported fish in the low teens taken on sweetcorn hair rigged, while dough balls and bread are excellent backup baits for afternoon sits.
Best lures for today are small black or purple soft plastics — think 3" Senkos or curly-tail grubs — paired with light fluorocarbon leaders to counter the extra clear water this time of year. If targeting bass, try Texas-rigged creature baits or a Ned rig tight to cover. For panfish and crappie, downsize to 1/16-oz jigheads and don't be afraid to vertical jig near docks. If you're feeling ambitious, a gold-bladed spinner will call up a reaction strike on the windblown banks, especially along the Cambridge side.
For hot spots, the Mass Ave Bridge pilings always hold fish in the fall, especially on the downstream side — cast tight to structure and let your bait drift naturally with the tide. The shallows around the Esplanade docks are another staple zone for panfish, and bass will shadow bait there late afternoon. And don’t overlook the downstream end near the Museum of Science — deeper channel swings congregate perch and the odd late-season bass in these colder snaps.
One quirky local report: a small alligator was found in the Charles just last Thursday — rescued and removed, but sure made for wild storytelling at the boat ramp and reminded everyone to keep your eyes peeled in the cattails, not just for big fish!
That wraps the action for November 16th. Bundle up, mind the wind, and work those presentations slow and low. Thanks for tuning in to today’s Charles River fishing report — don’t forget to subscribe for more local fishing updates.
This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
Tidal action is decent for river anglers today. According to TidesChart.com, the next high tide in Boston rolls in at 10:13 AM and crests at nearly 12 feet, with the outgoing ebb peaking low around 4:38 PM. These tide swings flush bait and get the fish prowling, especially right after high tide in the post-dawn bite. Per the lunar forecast, prime fishing times are between 2:45–4:45 AM and again from 2:45–4:45 PM, timed right with a strong lunar influence and moving water to trigger strikes.
As for the fish, the Charles River’s late fall bite is in classic form. Stripers have largely moved out for the season, but some reports from the upriver stretches — around the Museum of Science dam and farther out toward Watertown — indicate a few migrating schoolies were still caught this week, with most averaging 18–22 inches. Local reports from Bostonians fishing the Esplanade docks mentioned a healthy schoolie landed Friday evening, and there’s still the chance for a surprise late-fall striper if you work structure with patience.
Smallmouth and largemouth bass are the main players now, and they’re gearing up for the winter slowdown. Late fall is all about subtlety: craw-patterned Ned rigs, dark-green or pumpkin soft plastics, and slow-rolled spinnerbaits have coaxed bucketmouths and bronzebacks from eddies and submerged boulders, especially during the pre-sunset window. Crappie and yellow perch are feeding actively in the shallower bays by Community Boating and near the BU Bridge — small jigs tipped with chartreuse grubs or live minnows have yielded good results this past week, with perch pushing 9–11 inches and the odd slab crappie pushing a pound.
Carp remain an under-the-radar Charles River specialty, and the best action has been at Magazine Beach and the mudflats below the Western Ave bridge. A handful of dedicated carpers reported fish in the low teens taken on sweetcorn hair rigged, while dough balls and bread are excellent backup baits for afternoon sits.
Best lures for today are small black or purple soft plastics — think 3" Senkos or curly-tail grubs — paired with light fluorocarbon leaders to counter the extra clear water this time of year. If targeting bass, try Texas-rigged creature baits or a Ned rig tight to cover. For panfish and crappie, downsize to 1/16-oz jigheads and don't be afraid to vertical jig near docks. If you're feeling ambitious, a gold-bladed spinner will call up a reaction strike on the windblown banks, especially along the Cambridge side.
For hot spots, the Mass Ave Bridge pilings always hold fish in the fall, especially on the downstream side — cast tight to structure and let your bait drift naturally with the tide. The shallows around the Esplanade docks are another staple zone for panfish, and bass will shadow bait there late afternoon. And don’t overlook the downstream end near the Museum of Science — deeper channel swings congregate perch and the odd late-season bass in these colder snaps.
One quirky local report: a small alligator was found in the Charles just last Thursday — rescued and removed, but sure made for wild storytelling at the boat ramp and reminded everyone to keep your eyes peeled in the cattails, not just for big fish!
That wraps the action for November 16th. Bundle up, mind the wind, and work those presentations slow and low. Thanks for tuning in to today’s Charles River fishing report — don’t forget to subscribe for more local fishing updates.
This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
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By Inception Point AiArtificial Lure here, bringing you your Charles River fishing report for Sunday, November 16, 2025. We’re kicking things off under chilly but classic Boston autumn conditions — the sunrise crested over the city at 6:21 AM this morning and sunset hits at 4:33 PM. It’s cold out here with temps hovering between 42°F and 51°F, and the water’s sitting at a brisk 54°F. We’ve got just 10% cloud cover, so it’s mostly clear, but be ready for gusty winds pushing up to 37 mph today — those will definitely ripple the surface and test your casting accuracy. Humidity is at 67%, and with these wind conditions, you’ll want to keep those lines tight and an eye on your rod tip.
Tidal action is decent for river anglers today. According to TidesChart.com, the next high tide in Boston rolls in at 10:13 AM and crests at nearly 12 feet, with the outgoing ebb peaking low around 4:38 PM. These tide swings flush bait and get the fish prowling, especially right after high tide in the post-dawn bite. Per the lunar forecast, prime fishing times are between 2:45–4:45 AM and again from 2:45–4:45 PM, timed right with a strong lunar influence and moving water to trigger strikes.
As for the fish, the Charles River’s late fall bite is in classic form. Stripers have largely moved out for the season, but some reports from the upriver stretches — around the Museum of Science dam and farther out toward Watertown — indicate a few migrating schoolies were still caught this week, with most averaging 18–22 inches. Local reports from Bostonians fishing the Esplanade docks mentioned a healthy schoolie landed Friday evening, and there’s still the chance for a surprise late-fall striper if you work structure with patience.
Smallmouth and largemouth bass are the main players now, and they’re gearing up for the winter slowdown. Late fall is all about subtlety: craw-patterned Ned rigs, dark-green or pumpkin soft plastics, and slow-rolled spinnerbaits have coaxed bucketmouths and bronzebacks from eddies and submerged boulders, especially during the pre-sunset window. Crappie and yellow perch are feeding actively in the shallower bays by Community Boating and near the BU Bridge — small jigs tipped with chartreuse grubs or live minnows have yielded good results this past week, with perch pushing 9–11 inches and the odd slab crappie pushing a pound.
Carp remain an under-the-radar Charles River specialty, and the best action has been at Magazine Beach and the mudflats below the Western Ave bridge. A handful of dedicated carpers reported fish in the low teens taken on sweetcorn hair rigged, while dough balls and bread are excellent backup baits for afternoon sits.
Best lures for today are small black or purple soft plastics — think 3" Senkos or curly-tail grubs — paired with light fluorocarbon leaders to counter the extra clear water this time of year. If targeting bass, try Texas-rigged creature baits or a Ned rig tight to cover. For panfish and crappie, downsize to 1/16-oz jigheads and don't be afraid to vertical jig near docks. If you're feeling ambitious, a gold-bladed spinner will call up a reaction strike on the windblown banks, especially along the Cambridge side.
For hot spots, the Mass Ave Bridge pilings always hold fish in the fall, especially on the downstream side — cast tight to structure and let your bait drift naturally with the tide. The shallows around the Esplanade docks are another staple zone for panfish, and bass will shadow bait there late afternoon. And don’t overlook the downstream end near the Museum of Science — deeper channel swings congregate perch and the odd late-season bass in these colder snaps.
One quirky local report: a small alligator was found in the Charles just last Thursday — rescued and removed, but sure made for wild storytelling at the boat ramp and reminded everyone to keep your eyes peeled in the cattails, not just for big fish!
That wraps the action for November 16th. Bundle up, mind the wind, and work those presentations slow and low. Thanks for tuning in to today’s Charles River fishing report — don’t forget to subscribe for more local fishing updates.
This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
Tidal action is decent for river anglers today. According to TidesChart.com, the next high tide in Boston rolls in at 10:13 AM and crests at nearly 12 feet, with the outgoing ebb peaking low around 4:38 PM. These tide swings flush bait and get the fish prowling, especially right after high tide in the post-dawn bite. Per the lunar forecast, prime fishing times are between 2:45–4:45 AM and again from 2:45–4:45 PM, timed right with a strong lunar influence and moving water to trigger strikes.
As for the fish, the Charles River’s late fall bite is in classic form. Stripers have largely moved out for the season, but some reports from the upriver stretches — around the Museum of Science dam and farther out toward Watertown — indicate a few migrating schoolies were still caught this week, with most averaging 18–22 inches. Local reports from Bostonians fishing the Esplanade docks mentioned a healthy schoolie landed Friday evening, and there’s still the chance for a surprise late-fall striper if you work structure with patience.
Smallmouth and largemouth bass are the main players now, and they’re gearing up for the winter slowdown. Late fall is all about subtlety: craw-patterned Ned rigs, dark-green or pumpkin soft plastics, and slow-rolled spinnerbaits have coaxed bucketmouths and bronzebacks from eddies and submerged boulders, especially during the pre-sunset window. Crappie and yellow perch are feeding actively in the shallower bays by Community Boating and near the BU Bridge — small jigs tipped with chartreuse grubs or live minnows have yielded good results this past week, with perch pushing 9–11 inches and the odd slab crappie pushing a pound.
Carp remain an under-the-radar Charles River specialty, and the best action has been at Magazine Beach and the mudflats below the Western Ave bridge. A handful of dedicated carpers reported fish in the low teens taken on sweetcorn hair rigged, while dough balls and bread are excellent backup baits for afternoon sits.
Best lures for today are small black or purple soft plastics — think 3" Senkos or curly-tail grubs — paired with light fluorocarbon leaders to counter the extra clear water this time of year. If targeting bass, try Texas-rigged creature baits or a Ned rig tight to cover. For panfish and crappie, downsize to 1/16-oz jigheads and don't be afraid to vertical jig near docks. If you're feeling ambitious, a gold-bladed spinner will call up a reaction strike on the windblown banks, especially along the Cambridge side.
For hot spots, the Mass Ave Bridge pilings always hold fish in the fall, especially on the downstream side — cast tight to structure and let your bait drift naturally with the tide. The shallows around the Esplanade docks are another staple zone for panfish, and bass will shadow bait there late afternoon. And don’t overlook the downstream end near the Museum of Science — deeper channel swings congregate perch and the odd late-season bass in these colder snaps.
One quirky local report: a small alligator was found in the Charles just last Thursday — rescued and removed, but sure made for wild storytelling at the boat ramp and reminded everyone to keep your eyes peeled in the cattails, not just for big fish!
That wraps the action for November 16th. Bundle up, mind the wind, and work those presentations slow and low. Thanks for tuning in to today’s Charles River fishing report — don’t forget to subscribe for more local fishing updates.
This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI