Up here in Hills Beach Maine a peninsula in southern Maine at the mouth of the Saco River. I’ve been fishing here for the past 25 years, 21 foot cc, kayak, canoe, and wade. Saco Bay with beautiful islands in front and Biddeford Pool/Back Bay in our backyard. Pristine and so lucky to have this. Every year is different. Yes the stripers follow the bait, herring, and then mackeral, sand flies and pogies. Sometimes schools in the back that only my john boat can reach. So fun to watch the guides in their lager boats watch me catching them from deeper waters… Sometimes right out in front. Past days I would get tired catching them, 75 fish wkds not unusual. No more of course. And lately, last year all large fish over 35". Fun yes of course, but not a good indication. Though 2 yrs ago I did catch 8" fish after fish on a late November day in the estuary
Unfortunately this spring is the worst I have witnessed for striped bass in Southern Maine since I have fished them back into the early 90’s. Typically by now we see a blitz here or there. I fish out front and in the back bay. All reports on all sites are miserable. I did find a small school of upper 20" fish for two days but I’m talking 5 or 6 fish. Even last year I found over a thousand in a blitz out front in the mouth of a river. All fish last year were large 35" to over 40" which just doesn’t happen here. A very bad sign. It’s tragic. Years ago I could fish in my canoe until my arm got tired 75 fish a wkd and for a couple of weeks at minimum and again in the fall pick your blitz. No more. Most of the even fly guys don’t believe it’s over fishing by rec guys. I don’t think it’s fly folks but yes part of it is definitely overfishing of breeders. I have heard Canada has a mess of them now and even Atlantic Salmon guides offer stripe bass fishing. That never happened before Ahhhh…
Talking to local fly guys. There are about 5 to 7 fly wade guys who fish various beach front on outfoing and then incoming tide. We ha e a large flat easy 4 square miles. All have said this is the poorest year they have experienced. I find the same. What a shame. Some fish in the rivers that trolling guys are getting I hear. Putting my skiff in tomorrow for a look.
Took the boat out and did see about 50 stripers. Groups of 3 to 8. I threw black and olive/white clousers and a purple crab thing. No interest. Then I saw the laegest striper I’ve ever seen, 60". Saw a disturbance not far from me and threw towards it and this monster swam within 10 feet in front of my boat. It was a wow momwnt. Finally got one follow from a large over 40" fish but didn’t take. At least I saw some fish. Not good all large fish though. Quite a few sturgeon around.
