We find that the ebb tides produce the best fishing because fish cruise the shores and bays feeding. Drift fishing with live bait, generally mackerel or pollock, work best. It can be extremely productive. Finding the right drift is the key to success. Some of the best drift fishing can be had between the icebreaker downstream to the old fort on the New Hampshire side of the river.
Many fishermen have luck casting from shore.
Dover Point as well as other points of land are always good bets. The best shore fishing is generally at the turn of the tides, the fish seem to move past these points with the tide and can be caught from shore. There are a number of boat launch sites on the river. The Dover Point site is popular with good parking, and also anglers can launch from the Eliot site. These sites are subject to tidal currents that can cause problems.