Saltwater Nation anglers fishing in Maine this week are reporting some good catches both inshore and offshore.

Along the southern part of the coast, from around the Piscataqua north to the Saco River, anglers have still been getting good catches of stripers, particularity in areas like Ferry Beach, Pine Point, Old Orchard and Richmond Island. Anglers have the best luck in the early morning and late evenings on either side of the tide. Bait fishermen have been hooking up with chunked mackerel and clams. Clousers have been producing for those waving fly rods. Wood plugs, Slugo Gos, and Bombers have also been attracting fish.

There have also been some reports of mackerel and blues along the southern part of the state, particularly near river mouths, like the mouth of the Saco.

From Saco River north to Small Point, the water temperatures have been holding in the upper 50s and stripers have been active, as well as a few smaller blues. Clams and squid have been productive, as have been white bucktails, poppers, and smaller plugs.

From Small Point north to Thomaston, the stripers have also been active, with bigger fish hitting live mackerel.

Remember: you must now use an offset circle hook when using bait to fish for blues and/or stripers. The only exception is if you are using a tube lure–either rubber or latex–you do not need to use a circle hook; however, the lure must be at least eight-inches long and have a hook protruding from the end of the lure.

Offshore, bottom fishing has been providing good catches of cod, haddock, pollock, and cusk. The pollock and cod have been averaging between 10 and 15 pounds. Big 10 to 16-ounce jigs with teaser flies and bait tips have been productive for the bottom fish.

There have also been a good number of shark catches reported from offshore. The summer has seen an increase in the numbers of blue sharks being caught, and anglers fishing in water deeper than 400 feet have been finding some big blues. Remember that white sharks and basking sharks are federally protected and may not be kept. All other shark species must be at least 4.5 feet long to be kept.

FISH ON!

 

 

 

 

Blue Shark, Bluefish, Cod, Cusk, fish, Fishing, Haddock, Maine, Pollock, striped bass

By Sid

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