Maine Striper Fishing starts to heat up this month!!!
(Dr. C with a healthy slot sized Striper)
Ok...We're already well into our first week of June and we're out there working hard putting in some serious time on the water...doing a bunch of guided trips this week and the rest of the time, spent scouting for migrating Stripers. I've been getting tons of calls and emails lately...the question is the same...Are They Here? The answer to that question is yes...They're here!!! Not in huge numbers yet, but still yes... THEY'RE HERE!!! Anglers from southern Maine to the mid coast area have been catching stripers...Finding pockets of warm water & fishing during periods of lower light have been the key for us. In the mid coast area, we've started catching some decent slot sized fish this week. The huge schools of migrating fish still haven't pushed their way into our waters just yet...but with our soaring water temps...that very thing could be happening as I sit here and type this report!!! So I had better hurry up with this report and get back out on the water!!! Early season fly anglers should gear up using 8-10 wt rods coupled with intermediate fly lines...fly selections should include small clousers & deceivers to imitate the juvie herring and sandeels that are flooding into our inshore waters. Fishing around a river herring run, anglers should be prepared to chuck & duck with 8" herring flies on sinking head lines...Light tackle anglers will do well with a 7' medium action rod paired with a spinning or bait casting reel spooled with 10-14# test mono line with a 20-30# mono/flouro shock leader...Buck tail jigs, soft plastics like the slug-go, fin-s fish and swim shads will slay fish...as will swimming plugs and poppers. Remember to crush your barbs to minimize damage to the fish...you might even consider replacing bulky trebles with a single hook.
During the next couple of weeks, we should see a huge influx of migrating Striped Bass...with the full blown migration reaching us by fathers day. We'll also begin to see some Bluefin Tuna ranging up the coast by mid to late June...reports indicate that bluefin have already appeared on Stellwagen Bank & Jeffries Ledge which is a very good sign for us northeast anglers. GOT WASABI!!!
*Breaking News June 6th, 2009: Stripers have been reported as far up the Maine coast as Bangor on the Penobscot!!!
Ground fishing will remain strong locally...bottom bashing trips to the near shore ledges will yield cod, haddock, pollock and other tasty species!!! We use light tackle butterfly jigging gear to hammer these fish...no broomstick rods here!!! GET THE SKILLET READY!!!
Mackeral have reportedly invaded the coast of Maine...coinciding with the arrival of the lightning bugs that have appeared in my backyard over the course of the last few evenings, my Grandfather always told me that when the lightning bugs arrive in June...so have the Mackeral...An old wives tale??? Hmmm...In my lifetime, Gramps has never been wrong!!!...I'll confirm reports asap...So in the meantime load up on diamond jigs and "christmas tree rigs"...grab the kids & get out there and have some ultra light tackle fun...oh yeah...stripers love em' too!!!
Some excellent fresh water bass fishing reports have been provided by friend & fellow guide Capt. Don Kleiner of Maine Outdoors indicate that there is some tremendous sight fishing in crystal clear water to be had locally for Smallmouth Bass...Casting a bug to a bedded up smallie is a thrill that no angler should miss and right now is the time to do it!!!
Reporting from the cape... "Super Fly Salty Anglers Club" member Capt. Nick Santolucito of The Buzzards Bay Angler Nick Santolucito (Boston, MA) wrote
at 6:43pm yesterday
The Stripers in the Bay are plentiful, and hungry. The fish are staying active all day, with the most productivity during the last 2 hrs. of the down tide. Your best bet for taking a keeper during the day time is going to be a deep troll with wire. Get up early, or stay out late and you will find fish willing to take flies and plugs around the rock piles and structures. The Blues are still terrorizing the abundant pogie population. You may hook up to a gorilla down deep or on a chunk, but keep an eye out for the birds and you should find some top water action with the average 5 pound fish. Oddly enough, on 3 occasions this past week I hooked up to healthy sized Black Sea Bass dragging an umbrella during the slack. Anchor up and fish the bottom and you should have no problem hooking up.
Maine's Premier Saltwater Fly & Light Tackle Guide Service
Check us out in the the May/June 2009 issue of Fly Fishing in Salt Waters magazine we're the featured guide service for Maine Saltwater sportfishing (pg. 76) Spring "Hot Spots" section. "Maine is shaking off the cool weather in a big way, which means it's time to enjoy the sun and catch that fish of a lifetime. June is time for huge Stripers and Bluefish on the flats. If that isn't enough, how about throwing a 14wt at busting Bluefin Tuna. Fly Fishing for "football" Bluefins has been getting more and more popular in Maine"
If you're looking to fish with us season...please call us soon for available dates!!! We are taking reservations daily. Don't forget to ask about our evening blitz trip...It's becoming a guest favorite!!!
Capt. George Harris
207-691-0745
www.superfly-charters.com
