Join me for our saltwater adventures for 2024! Experience our thrill of reeling in the catches on the stunning Maine coast. I will take you along as we discover spots where the fish are plentiful (hopefully) and the memories are priceless (definitely). If you like what you see here, contact me and we can put a trip together. Tight lines!

I’ve always said being a weatherman is the best job to have because you can be wrong 100% of the time and still keep your job! Today was no different.  When I checked the weather report, it said the seas would be minimal and the winds calm.  Let’s just say, that wasn’t the truth we experienced.

I was just getting back from my tour of Ireland and I called up Bob to see if he wanted to pre-fish for stripers because we had the Andy Boyt Memorial Tournament coming up on July 13, 2024 and we hadn’t really experienced much striper fishing this year yet.  I haven’t posted a story about our previous trip because we got shut out and what is there to write about that, right?  It’s Wednesday and Bob usually goes out to breakfast with his neighbor Jerry so I asked Bob to invite Jerry along and we could make a trip.

The plan was to meet at the Pine Point boat launch in Scarborough at 09:00.  Dead low tide was at 09:30 so we through we would fish the incoming tide.  Bob’s cousin Brian told us that he had caught some mackerel off of Higgins Beach by Richmond Island so we throught we would start there, catch some macs, and fish the rocks around Ram Island.

As soon as we got outside the bouys by the Prout’s Neck Yacht Club, things got a little “busy” let’s say.  The seas were rougher then I anticipated and we pounded our way past Old Proprietor Rock while Bob filled Jerry in the sights.  When we got to the area indicated, we slowed down and watched for any school activity to drop our sabiki rigs.  There was nothing on the scope and after a good while we decided to head back to the shelter of the Scarborough River and fish along the sandbar with some frozen mackerel I brought as backup.

The ride back to the river was very wet.  It seemed the waves had gotten bigger than when we previously headed out but maybe we just were heading back into the wind and the waves and spray seemed to be much larger.  Bob and Jerry were getting soaked to the skin while I was somewhat protected by the center console.  I couldn’t hide completely behind the center console because I had to watch for lobster trap bouys that would have fouled the prop.  Not fun.

The mackerel I brought was pretty nasty as it had been frozen and thawed a few times and were actually in my freezer since last year.  In any event, I set up Jerry as he had never fished for stripers before and he cast his line out.  Bob and I did the same and we could feel our baits bouncing on the bottom in the current of the incoming tide.

We explained to Jerry how to fish the circle hooks and the technique of letting the striper take the bait before reeling in the line to set the hook.  Before long, Jerry said he had one and he played it perfectly back to the boat.  I lifted it up with the net and brough her onboard.  The fish was hooked perfectly in the side of the mouth and the hook was quickly disgorged without harm to the fish.  I measured the fish at 22″ which was smaller than the legal slot limit of 28″ to 31″ so we got a nice picture of it and put her back to grow up.

This was Jerry’s first striper and you can see from his face that he loved it.  Even though the ride was rough and wet, Jerry said he would go again.  I was personally gratified because I always want people to have fun and it is also great when a person catches a fish for the first time.

Well, hopefully we’ll have a better story to tell when we head out at the tourney.  I might get an opportunity to fish for stripers again before I head up to camp next week but we’ll see what the weather says.

Congratulations Jerry!  You’re welcomed back any time.

Cheers.