NumenOn the Water
Date: June 30 through July 7, 2017
Body of Water: Casco Bay, Maine
Boat: None, shore fishing from our dock/float
With: Generally alone, but sometimes joined by friend or family
Target: Striped Bass
Time: Various, but generally dawn and dusk, with a couple of other favorable mid-day tides
Conditions: Various, but generally glorious weather; too nice. Periods of fog and wind helped fishing success. Water temps generally 62-66 degrees F, but ranged from 58 to 70. Mackerel were conspicuously absent, adult pogies made surprise appearances.
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| In Maine for July 4th, one might as well celebrate with Stars and Stripe(r)s! |
I arrived at The Tackle Shop in Portland, Maine to reports of lots of fish, with some bigger fish mixed in. Mackerel were surprisingly reported as AWOL. I picked up some circle hooks and frozen mackerel for bait; sand worms were not available at this time.
For these reports, please consider a 12-hour Tide Clock, with each High Tide at 12 o'clock, and each Low Tide at 6 o'clock. This will divide each complete cycle into four quadrants, with mid-tides at 3 and 9 o'clock. Let's call Quadrant I the period from High Tide to mid-ebbing tide; Quadrant II from mid-ebbing tide to Low Tide; Quadrant III as predicted Low-Tide to mid-flooding tide; and Quadrant IV from mid-flood to predicted High Tide. From past experience, I know that the best fishing at my spot on the landing is during the lower portions of the tide, i.e., in Quadrants II and III, with the very best action usually occurring about 1.5 hours before or after the predicted Low Tide. Quadrant IV is better than Quadrant I; but a worthwhile fish can happen at any time or tide, especially if bait (usually in the form of mackerel) is available for the fish.
Here is a link to a pretty comprehensive site for Portland, Maine tidal information.
***
Friday, 6/30/17
5 - 7 PM
High Tide at 5:30 PM; predominantly Quadrant I
Water Temperature = 65 degrees F
3 for 3
I wasn't expecting much, and it took a while for the first fish to bite; but they did, and I had a surprisingly productive first session. Mackerel were indeed scared, but I did catch a couple on kast-master spoons. I flubbed both of these on deck, though, and failed the opportunity to use these as prime, live baits. While frozen mackerel chunks were presented under a float or laid on the bottom, I also casted a small, blue-gray Storm GT360 swim bait. (Some small rain bait was present.) This was touched a couple of times, but I didn't hook up on it during this session.
The first fish ate a chunk of mackerel under a float. It made a dash for the pier, and I was lucky to be able to free it from this barnacle-encrusted line wrecker and chase it to the western side, where I was able to fight it in more open water. I was surprised to find that this first fish measured out at only 23 inches, because it had fought with such spirit and vigor.
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| The first striper ate a mackerel chunk under a float and immediately raced around the pier. |
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| The first striper of 2017 measured in at 23 inches. |
There were fish to be caught! The night was already made, but soon the bait-runner reel with a mackerel head laying on the bottom announced another bite. K grabbed the rod and brought in another 23-incher.
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| The next fish plucked a mackerel head off the bottom; here, K enjoys the fight! |
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| K seems happy with her 23-incher. |
Soon thereafter, this same set-up interrupted the silence again, and I caught a bright 25-incher.
We ended the evening early, having gone 3 fish for 3 chances. I was satisfied; I knew there would be plenty of chances to come!
Saturday, 7/1/17
4:15 - 7 AM
High Tide at 5:46 AM; Quadrants IV and I, with all fish coming in Quadrant IV
Water Temperature = 64 degrees F
3 for 3
The action started early, with all three of the morning's fish being caught between 4:30 and 5:15 AM. All three ate mackerel heads presented on the bottom. The stripers measured 25, 26 and 27 inches. The unique highlight of the morning was the surface commotion and exhalations of whales/porpoises nearby. I never quite caught sight of it/them in the darkness and fog, but they were around for just about the whole session.
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| Fog on the morning of July 1 provided an extended bite window. |
Saturday, 7/1/17
10 AM - 12:30 PM
Low Tide at 12:01 PM; Predominantly Quadrants II
Water Temperature = 65 degrees F
5 for 5
The morning remained quite foggy, and the tide was favorable; why not go fishing again? I was joined again by K for a pleasant and productive late-morning session. The first fish (small; less than 20 inches) fell for the GT360 swim bait. Stripers on lures are always a bonus here. The lure provided the additional bonus of revealing many bass through nips, bumps and follows; quite often in groups of 2 to 5 fish. There were fish around, for sure!
The next fish was about 20 inches and ate a mackerel chunk under a float; but then three fish of increasing size came to hand, all on mackerel heads presented weightless on bottom. These measured 24, 26 and 28 inches, respectively. K caught the last, and this proved to be the largest striper caught for the week!
A good tide in low-light conditions can get the bass to bite! And mackerel heads do seem to select for larger fish.
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| We capitalized on the fog during a favorable late-morning tide and caught the biggest stripers of the week. |
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| K's verified 28-incher took Top Honors for the week. |
Saturday, 7/1/17
5:30 - 7 PM
High Tide at 6:23 PM; Predominantly Quadrants IV and I
Water Temperature = 64 degrees F
2 for 2
A tiny bass (15 inches or less) fell for my first sand-worm/float presentation, and the GT360 produced another small (< 20 inches) bass. Presenting other baits was difficult in the building, stiff wind; water spouts were subsequently reported inland. The float was rocking in heavy seas when I decided to call it quits.
The highlight of the session was having my kast-master intercepted by a big mackerel as it flustered to the depths when I responded to a false alarm on another rod. The mackerel pulled my favorite rod/reel combo overboard, just out of my reach. I watched my rod swim away, but then it got entangled with my third rod, which was fortuitously presenting a mackerel chunk on the bottom. I was able to finesse the original combo back with the bait rod. Although I lost the mackerel in question, I recovered my rod and reel of considerable value; and after a good rinsing, both performed flawlessly for the duration of the trip, despite the dunking.
***
Sunday, 7/2/17
4:15 - 7:30 AM
High Tide at 6:46 AM; Predominantly Quadrant IV
Water Temperature = 62 degrees F
0 for 1
I knew the tide was against me, as were the greasy slick conditions. Moreover, the current was flowing left-to-right, and I prefer a right-to-left current at this spot. This preference is based on empirical success, but also on the fact that I can get a much longer drift when the follow is to the left, away from the pier. I had only a single run on a mackerel head at 5:04 AM (about 1.5 hours prior to predicted high tide); that was it! Fortunately, it was an interesting morning with the return of the whale(s)/porpoise(s), a lone seal and a successful osprey hunt right in front of me. Adult pogies also came within casting range, and one actually ate my kast-master. This might have been a first for me, here. I swam the pogie for quite a while without raising a bass; I think it was simply a mismatch of size.
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| Adult pogies invaded the landing during the morning of July 2. I caught this one on a small last-master spoon intended for mackerel. It swam, untouched, as a live bait for me for over an hour. I guess there weren't any truly large stripers around. |
Sunday, 7/2/17
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Low Tide at 1 PM; Quadrant II
Water Temperature = ?? degrees F
1 for 1
I was able to catch the last half of the falling tide with a simple session of casting the GT360 swim bait. I had one hit and landed a small, < 20-inch striper. I saw no follows and had a couple of half-hearted "ticks" on this bait, too. I was glad to catch another one casting, but conditions were probably too bright and clear to expect much mid-day success.
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| Storm GT360 swim baits produced some bonus stripers and many follows over the week. This one really engulfed the bait! |
Sunday, 7/2/17
7:30 PM - 8:30 PM
High Tide at 7:19 PM; Quadrant I
Water Temperature = 58 degrees F
0 for 0
I fit in another short session of casting the swim bait after dinner, but this time I also soaked a mackerel head on the bottom. Conditions remained clear and calm, and I was somewhat shocked to see a drastic decline in water temperature; 58 degrees F. There was literally no sign of fish life during this session. It had been a tough day, but I knew that conditions would rebound, and that the tides would line up in my favor later in the week.
***
Monday, 7/3/17
4:15 AM - 7:15 AM
High Tide at 7:46 AM; Predominantly Quadrant IV
Water Temperature = 64 degrees F
3 for 4
Conditions remained clear, bright and quiet, but at least the water temperature rebounded to an acceptable 64 degrees. The fishing improved, too. Nice fish were landed at 4:40 AM (26 inches) and 4:50 AM (22 inches), both on sand-worms beneath floats. I missed a nice run on a mackerel chunk on the bottom at about 6 AM, and caught a small bass on this set-up at about 7 AM. The school of pogies returned, and I even caught a mackerel. I saw lots of followers on the swim bait, although none ate it. There was significant fish activity this morning.
Later in the morning, I fished for a bit with an interested relative (our timing was bad and conditions were too clear for any expectation of success), and then I took a few casts at the mouth of the Nonesuch River when the family went to Ferry Beach in Scarborough. I am sure that estuary produces fish under the right conditions.
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| I frequently crashed on the floor between fishing sessions. 4 AM seems much earlier than it used to! |
Monday, 7/3/17
5 PM - 8 PM
High Tide at 8:12 PM; Predominantly Quadrant IV
Water Temperature = 61 degrees F
3 for 3
Worms and swim baits were fruitless, but two nice fish (24 and 24.5 inches) plucked mackerel chunks off the bottom at about 6 PM (2 hours before predicted high tide.) But the fish of the night might have been the 20-incher that followed a chunk to my feet as I reeled it in; seeing the follower, I put the reel into free-spool and hand-fed the bass for a cool, satisfying and visual strike.
***
Tuesday, 7/4/17
4:15 AM - 7:15 AM
High Tide at 8:43 AM; Quadrants II and III
Water Temperature = 61 degrees F
6 for 6
Conditions were very calm and clear this Independence Day morning, and there were no signs of pogies or mackerel. However, the chartreuse, 4.5-inch GT360 swim bait produced a fish on the first cast, and three overall. Three other bass ate sand-worms under floats, while cut bait was silent. All but one of the bass were small (< 20 inches); the largest was 22 inches.
During mid-day we visited Reid State Park, where I caught the outlet on a falling tide. The water was cold here (52 degrees?), and while I saw no sign of fish, I did see a boat positioned outside the surf line catch a small bass. Again, it was pleasant to scout some new water, but I didn't fish very hard here, at all.
Tuesday, 7/4/17
6 PM - 8:30 PM
High Tide at 9:01 PM; Quadrants IV
Water Temperature = 66 degrees F
1 for 1
I only had one strike, but it was a fat and bright, 27.9-incher that I though might challenge K's fish from earlier in the week. It ate a mackerel chunk off the bottom at about 8:10 PM; other baits were ignored. I also caught a mackerel, but otherwise this was a slow session. It's still always nice, however, to catch your biggest fish of the trip!
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| This fish ate a mackerel chunk from there bottom and provided a fantastic fight. I really thought I'd taken the lead for Biggest Fish, but she measured in at just 27.9 inches; K's fish retained that status for the trip. |
Wednesday, 7/5/17
4:15 AM - 7:30 AM
High Tide at 9:35 AM; Low Tide at 3:36 AM; Quadrants II and III
Water Temperature = 65 degrees F
3 for 3
The first bass (17 inches) hit the deck at 4:20 AM, so I expected great things! This fish had eaten a sand-worm under a float, as did the next fish at 4:50 AM. The final fish of the morning came at about 5:35 AM, having eaten a small chunk off the bottom. Despite the slow catch, I had many follows and a few pecks on the swim bait, but they just couldn't commit to eaten it! All three fish were small (< 20 inches.)
Wednesday, 7/5/17
4:45 PM - 8 PM
High Tide at 9:47 PM; Low Tide at 3:31 PM; Quadrants III and IV
Water Temperature = 70 degrees F
8 for 9
A strong and persistent southerly wind elevated water temperatures to 70 degrees F. In the choppy conditions, the sand-worm float combination caught fire, accounting for all of the evening's action. (K did get hit on the GT360, but it surprised her so much, she decided to squeal instead of setting the hook.) All of the bass were tiny (14 inches) to small (in this case, < 18 inches.) Six of the fish came in the session's first 45 minutes (within low tide plus two hours.) Two came in a flurry at about 7:30 (about high tide minus two hours.)
This wind changed something; for the rest of the trip, I enjoyed fast action for small fish.
Thursday, 7/6/17
4:15 AM - 6:30 AM
Low Tide at 4:13 AM; Quadrant III
Water Temperature = 64 degrees F
10 for 14
Conditions were clear but with a bit of breeze, and sand-worms under floats provided most of the action, while single fish came on the GT360 (20 inches) and cut mackerel on the bottom (26 inches.) Other than another run on a mackerel chunk, all other bites (11) came on the worms. I suffered three pulled hooks, but landed 8; all were 18-inchers or less. One came right off the bat, before 4:30 AM, and I was 5 for 7 by sunrise at about 5:10 AM. I experienced another flurry of activity between 6 and 6:15 AM. It was a busy morning; I was surprised to experience such action on the heels of the previous evening.
Thursday, 7/6/17
4:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Low Tide at 4:15 PM; Quadrant III
Water Temperature = 66 - 68 degrees F
16 for 18
Cloudy, windy conditions combined with a favorable tide to produce a memorable session. All of the action came on sand-worms beneath floats, and the bites started right away. A steady stream of fish came until about 6:45 PM; then they switched off. Current was going right to left, and I was able to drift the bait through a 30 or 40-yard stretch, although at any given stage of the tide, there was a sweet spot along this stretch. When I was able to quickly repeat a drift, I usually got bitten in the same spot.
And while a dozen of the fish ranged from tiny to small (14 - 20 inches), I also landed a 24, a 25.75, and a 26 inch bass. This made for a fun night, and I was glad to share some worms, bites and bass with a good neighbor friend.
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| Striper No. 50 for the trip ate a sand-worm suspended under a float. This bite really caught fire for the last couple of days of fishing, giving me a realistic shot at reaching The Century Mark. |
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| A few nicer fish were mixed in with the smaller schoolies. |
***
Friday, 7/7/17
4:15 AM - 7:45 AM
Low Tide at 4:56 AM; Predominantly Quadrant III
Water Temperature = 66 degrees F
18 for 19
Conditions were calm and cloudy, with very little current. The first, small (<20 inch) striper came on the GT360, and another small fish ate a chunk of mackerel off the bottom. Everything else ate worms beneath floats, and by this time, I was paying more attention to this presentation. The fish came steadily until about 6 AM, there was strong flurry including a double at about 6:15 AM, and another quick flurry at about 6:45 AM; but amazingly, I couldn't productively use my last worm. One worm-fish measured in at 22 inches, but the remainder were less than or equal to 20 inches.
Friday, 7/7/17
3 PM - 7:30 PM
Low Tide at 4:56 PM; Quadrants II and III, with Quadrant II showing best
Water Temperature = 66 degrees F
12 for 17
This was my last chance for the trip, and I had a primary goal; 18 stripers would get me to the Century Mark for the trip. I'd never expected that, but it was there for me; why not try to get there?
The session started overcast and with drizzle, but then conditions cleared and calmed at the worst possible time. Moreover, the current was weak, and the water generally quiet. Pogies reappeared after a few days' absence, but there were no mackerel about, and even a fresh chunk of pogie could not entice a striper to bite.
They bit well on the sand-worm, though, especially for the first half of the session. I ended when I ran out of bait, having gone 12 for 17, with a 24.5-incher and 11 at 20 inches or less. I didn't get to 100; but I'll be returning next month, and the count can resume.
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| The trip ended with lots of schoolies less than 20-inches long, but occasional mid-20's came in, too. Mostly, I took this picture to document the hat, which was purchased for the Striper Patch it features (as well as the cool, blue digital came pattern that was otherwise lacking in my wardrobe.) |
What do I have to say about this?
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| K can enjoy fish of any size, as any Teletubbies Fan can attest. |
My fishing in Maine is Simple Fishing; I take what I am presented with and do the best I can with the conditions at the time. It's generally a beautiful, quiet setting, often with a surprising amount of natural history to notice and watch. Each day, each tide is different in some way; and it's been a pleasure to piece together the productive fishing here over the course of 15-plus years.
The fish available were not large, but I still focused on my angling execution this trip; I didn't want to leave any chances on the table. My gear was in Tip Top condition, and my knots were flawless. I'm pleased to have not suffered a single failed knot, and I kept all but one fish from breaking me off in the pier/float/anchors/chains and ropes that are all part of my fishing landscape, here.
And, I got to do this with family and friends, with good food and a sprinkling of Holiday and Birthday Celebrations, new fishing partner(s) and a new baby in the extended family! It really was a good week, and I look forward to landing Striper No. 100 of 2017 when I return for a few days in August.
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| All stripers were released to fight again! |
