Where and when? Maybe I can help.
I usually launch out of Portsmouth which is what I did this weekend. I'm a weekend warrior, work all week. I certainly don't have any problem catching the mackerel! Fill the livewell with 'em pretty much every time. Just seems no matter what I'm doing with them isn't working.
Launch out of Newburyport (Cashmans) and fish the mouth of the Merrimack on the outgoing to dead low. Not sure how it's fishing now with all this rain, but I have more consistent luck there than the Piscataqua.
Also second the merrimack but roccus is the guy to give advice there.
If you want come company I’m local to the bay. If you want to PM me as well I can share some spots that have produced for me in the past.
Jethro I am happy to help. Last year we bailed them from 830pm to 6am every drift. Landed a couple 50's
Haven't seen Joe on here in a while but, without question, he is the Master of the Merrimack.
I obviously should have asked for help long ago! Zwiggles, I will reach out soon. Maybe I'll send a PM to Roccus and see if I can raise him, but to be honest the Merrimac scares the ever loving poop out of me. When I lived on Plum Island my father kept his 40' sailboat in Newburyport and I've been though the mouth enough times to know it's no joke. My boat has a lot of freeboard but it's still just a 21' tinny and that spot can be downright nasty.50's?? Good lord. Eels... haven't tried them yet. Live eels while drifting? Guess I need to find a better bait shop.