For Reservations Call The Maine Saltwater Fishing Hotline 207-691-0745

For Reservations Call The Maine Saltwater Fishing Hotline 207-691-0745

Maine Saltwater Fishing Reports Blog

Welcome to the Fish Blog & saltwater fishing reports page of TIDE CHASER GUIDE SERVICE & Capt. George Harris. We're looking forward to providing you with the most up to date inshore saltwater fishing reports on the Maine coast as the Maine Striper Fishing season goes forward into 2019!!! You wont find any generic"cut & paste" reports or info here...Just pure fishing!!!

TIDE CHASER provides friendly, professional guided fly & light tackle fishing trips.
We operate our fishing TRIPS in the Mid-Coast region of Maine, from Casco Bay to Penobscot Bay. This area features an astonishing 1000 miles of jagged, pristine coastline. We focus our efforts on the broad reach of the lower Kennebec river estuary & the outer boundaries of Casco Bay...with its countless thousands of acres of untouched saltwater flats, gnarly tides that rip over rocky structure and an intricate maze of backcountry channels, It's a fly & light tackle fishermans nirvana. On any given day we can be found fishing sandy beaches, ocean front ledges, coastal tide marshes or shallow hard bottom flats. Wherever the fish are!!! Whether it's on the fly...pitching plugs or live lining frisky live baits we've got you covered check out our website for all of our trip offerings...and stay tuned for some new trips options for 2019

Welcome to Maine's #1 Striper Fishing Blog with Capt. George Harris Call 207-691-0745

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Tide Chaser Guide Service Midcoast Maine's premier fly & light tackle guide service, fishing for Striped Bass, Mackerel & Bluefish , i~ USCG 100 Ton Master ~ Registered Maine Tidewater Guide ~ For reservations call 207-691-0745 ~

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Maine Striper Fishing With Super Fly Charters & Capt. George Harris: visit with me and my friends on facebook


As another way to stay connected to all my friends out there...I've created a facebook page...please stop by for a visit.

A reminder as we move through February....Reservations have been coming in steadily. If you have an idea when you'd like fish with me or if you would like to know which tides might be the best...please give us a call


Maine Flats Fishing Striper Guide
Capt. George Harris
207-691-0745
www.superfly-charters.com

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Maine Striper Fishing Report With Super Fly Charters & Capt. George Harris: Striped Bass In Shallow Water

(31" Striper caught on a shallow midcoast Maine flat, minus the fancy pastels!!! read more)
You've gotten all the right equipment...The fancy pastel colored, SPF-50, Ex Officio clothing...a quiver of the newest, lightest, super fast action SAGE, G.LOOMIS, SCOTT Branded fly rods complete with the requisite shiny gold anodized, machined aluminum, carbon fiber/cork drag, large arbor "designer" fly reels lined with the latest, greatest, slickest floating and intermediate fly lines (wow..nice descriptive)... The many hours of casting practice have paid off big time...that nasty tailing loop is almost gone and you've gotten your casting to the point that you can effortlessly throw a weighted crab fly 80 feet into a stiff breeze and drop it with pinpoint accuracy into a shot glass...(okay...maybe a garbage can) Your fly boxes are overflowing with painstakingly tied crustacean, worm hatch and baitfish creations that look so real that you're afraid to reach in and grab one for fear it might start gnawing on your thumb...Are we talking about Tarpon, Permit or Bonefishing in an exotic remote tropic location??? Hah...Not even close!!! We're off the coast of Maine and we'd like to welcome you to the world of shallow water Striper fishing!!!

(this nice fat bellied 32" fish was caught in a mere 18" of water)
While our livebaiting & "Butterfly Jigging" trips were very exciting and productive when fishing over deep water ledges...the shallow water Striper fishery presented us with many unique challenges last season. Despite the often difficult fly fishing conditions we faced last year...Overall I would say it was a success with more trophy sized fish being landed than in previous years. The knowledge that I gained from widening the search for fish will hopefully prove to be invaluable for many years to come. We quickly learned what was not working and made the proper adjustments. Our approach to skinny water Striper fishing changed in 2007 and 2008...with far more emphasis placed on sight casting to tailing, waking and laid-up large solitary fish as opposed to chasing the huge blow-ups of schoolie Stripers...Fast sinking lines were replaced by floating and intermediate lines...short 4-6 foot sections of 20# flouro leader were replaced with long tapered leaders more common to steelhead or bonefishing. Big Bulky flies were replaced by smaller sparsely tied shrimp, crab and baitfish offerings. Being able to stalk 15 to 20 lb Fish on the flats...make the cast and lead the fish into explosive visual strikes was fascinating and very exciting. Chasing birds around was mostly an exercise in futility which usually resulted in every nearby fish being spooked into the next county...Many times we'd intentionally ground the "Super Fly" on certain un-named shallow mussel bars(a flooding tide of course) and wait for big cruising Stripers to push onto the flats and into our casting range.
(A healthy Striper released on one of Maine's many sand flats)When the conditions are right Striped Bass make perfect sight casting targets for fly & light tackle anglers. When sight casting to Striped Bass around the numerous Mussel bars and eel grass beds that fringe many of our shallow flats, we frequently encounter Stripers that are "Tailed Up"...yes Stripers do "tail", like an Abaco Bone or Redfish of Florida's famed Indian River Lagoon, Striped Bass often feed by grubbing around on the mud & eel grass flats for crabs, shrimp and worms, leaving their tails wagging like flags in the breeze. A well presented fly presented just up current of the "tailing" Striper...slowy crawled along the bottom will usually yield a strike. "Mud's"(silty clouds in the clear water)are often left by the grubbing stripers and are a dead giveaway that Striped Bass are present and on the feed...most times however, we have challenging task of sighting and casting to "laid up" or slow cruising fish....to the average angler sighting fish on the flats can be a bit daunting, but to a good guide...that Striper might as well be brushed with neon paint. The ideal scenario is to cast up current of your target so that your fly swims down current to the holding fish, hopefully resulting in a strike!!!
Don't forget that as water depth varies, change flies accordingly, sometimes changing flies two or three times on the same flat as the tide drops or rises.

Maine's shallow water habitat is comprised of surf, sand flats, fast water channels, bays, coves, rips and marsh. All easily accessible and fished with a fly rod!!!

Call us if you'd like to join us for a day or two this coming season. We'll be happy help you plan your Maine vacation!!! Depending on which region of the Maine coast you're staying on...we can provide you with info on all the top fishing guides. If fly fishing isn't your thing...no worries we're well equipped for light tackle & live bait fishing too!!!

Maine Flats Fishing Striper Guide
Capt. George Harris
207-691-0745
www.superfly-charters.com

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Maine Striper Fishing with Super Fly Charters & Capt. George Harris: TUNA MANIA IV Tickets still available!!!

One week to go for TUNA MANIA IV...

dont miss the chance to see the awesome BFT presentation By Captains Nat Moody & Derek Spingler of First Light Anglers...Also not to be missed Molly Lutcavage tagging films, and update info on her Tag-A-Tiny-Tuna program. Also coming along from the Large Pelagics Research Center will be her two PhD
candidates Walt Golet, and John Logan speaking on their part of this program.

Again the proceeds from the LIVE AUCTION will go to the -A-Tiny-Tuna Program. Last year $3,500 was raised. ( Does not include some of the Tuna Tagging trips.)

Tuna Mania 4 Auction & Raffle Items

1 day Tuna Charter aboard FIN ADDICTION CHARTERS $900 Donated by Jeff Smith. "Fly Fishing for bluefin Tuna is probably the most exciting fishing we do. It will bring you to your knees with excitement and frustration but once you've hooked up you will never be the same! Spinning tackle is another great way to take these fish and we keep several heavy duty spin outfits on board".- Fin Addiction Charters

Garmin GPSMAP 440s Chartplotter/Sonar $642.85 Donated by Navtronics Inc Tim Greer

Bluefin Tuna Carving $500.00 Donated by Ellen McCaleb

Fishing Pliers with sheath $329 Donated by Van Staal

1 Day Tuna Charter aboard the Karen Lynn $1,000 Donated by Karen Lynn Charters Collin Mackenzie and Jim Ansara. "The Karen Lynn is the newest addition to the Gloucester Massachusetts charter fishing fleet. The custom-built Lowell 43, which was launched in 2007, is a state-of-the-art fishing machine. It is fast and also extremely seaworthy and has the latest and most sophisticated electronics to help us consistently put you on to big fish." - Karen Lynn Charters

Ocean Lures with Polartec Jacket $200 Donated by Ocean Lures Captain Paul Rogato

Fishing Packs $200.00 Donated by William Josephs Inc.

(2) 300yd spools of 100lb hollow core $140.00
(2) 300yd spools of 100lb hollow core $140.00
(2) 300yd spools of 80 lb hollow core $100.00
(1)Trevala F Butterfly Jigging Conventional Rod $175
(1)Trevala F Butterfly Jigging Spinning Rod $220.00
Above Items Donated by Shimano

Gift Certificate Margaritas Restaurant $125.00
Donated by Margaritas Restaurant
Fly Box with Flies $75.00 Donated by Shoals Fly Fishing
Fly Lines Donated by Rio

Price $40.00 pre-pay-reservation is required. Seating Limited.
This is a sell out every year.
Lunch is included in this price

Tuna Mania 4
Jan. 31, 2009
Red Hook Brewery
Check-In 9:45am – 10:00am +

Don Swanson
CCANH VP
1-603-731-2669


Maine Flats Fishing Striper Guide
Capt. George Harris
207-691-0745
www.superfly-charters.com

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Maine Striper Fishing with Super Fly Charters & Capt. George Harris: Guatemala Hot Right Now!!!

For those of you who like me, plan to soon be fishing in central america,(Panama,Costa Rica, Guatemala) the next few months should offer some red hot action. Here is a recent report form Pacific Fins Lodge located in Guatemala Marlin fishing remained strong throughout December and the waters are filled with sailfish and dorado.

Capt. Mike Genoun and his wife Leah visited Guatemala for their first time. Mike is founder and editor of Florida Sportfishing magazine. Fishing aboard Hooked Up, with Capt. Nestor, they started fast with a 350lb blue marlin and 17 sailfish on their first day out! Their second day continued hot with more sailfish and they added 15 dorado between 20 and 35 lbs. Their final day they raised 2 more blues, Mike hooked one and released a nice 250 lb marlin and added more sails and dorado.

Bill O`Keefe and family arrived on December 26th to fish aboard his boat Fishy Business, with Capt. Tito, and in 3 days raised over 100 sails, releasing 60. They also raised several blue marlin and caught boat loads of dorado.

The bite continued to be good as the New Year rolled in. Captain Haron Valdez aboard the Captain Hook, raised 25 sails in the first three days of the year and went 1 for 3 on blue marlin. The group also caught quite a few yellow fin tuna and dorado, making for some great meals!

The fishing in Guatemala is truly second to none. Since the early 90’s our Captains have averaged 15 to 20 sailfish bites per day. This is about 3 times the averages seen Costa Rica for comparison. Every now and then we have a day that is just hard to believe and yesterday was a prime example, with several boats raising over 80 sails and catching over 50. This is the kind of action that makes Guatemala legendary for billfishing.

And if the fishing action is not enough to keep you entertained, how about some whale watching! Just offshore we have been watching numerous humpback and grey whales passing through on their way north. We have spotted several recent births and our clients have been photographing and filming the whales. We are looking forward to some great footage and will be placing photos and video on the website soon.

We are in the prime of our season right now and the weather and fishing action should be outstanding for the next few months, so call us today at 888-700-3467 to book your fishing adventure

Maine Flats Fishing Striper Guide
Capt. George Harris
207-691-0745
www.superfly-charters.com

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Maine Striper fishing on the shallow water flats with Super Fly Charters & Capt. George Harris

(31" Striper caught on a shallow midcoast Maine flat, minus the fancy pastels!!! read more)
You've gotten all the right equipment...The fancy pastel colored, SPF-50, Ex Officio clothing...a quiver of the newest, lightest, super fast action SAGE, G.LOOMIS, SCOTT Branded fly rods complete with the requisite shiny gold anodized, machined aluminum, carbon fiber/cork drag, large arbor "designer" fly reels lined with the latest, greatest, slickest floating and intermediate fly lines (wow..nice descriptive)... The many hours of casting practice have paid off big time...that nasty tailing loop is almost gone and you've gotten your casting to the point that you can effortlessly throw a weighted crab fly 80 feet into a stiff breeze and drop it with pinpoint accuracy into a shot glass...(okay...maybe a garbage can) Your fly boxes are overflowing with painstakingly tied crustacean, worm hatch and baitfish creations that look so real that you're afraid to reach in and grab one for fear it might start gnawing on your thumb...Are we talking about Tarpon, Permit or Bonefishing in an exotic remote tropic location??? Hah...Not even close!!! We're off the coast of Maine and we'd like to welcome you to the world of shallow water Striper fishing!!!

(this nice fat bellied 32" fish was caught in a mere 18" of water)
While our livebaiting & "Butterfly Jigging" trips were very exciting and productive when fishing over deep water ledges...the shallow water Striper fishery presented us with many unique challenges last season. Despite the often difficult fly fishing conditions we faced last year...Overall I would say it was a success with more trophy sized fish being landed than in previous years. The knowledge that I gained from widening the search for fish will hopefully prove to be invaluable for many years to come. We quickly learned what was not working and made the proper adjustments. Our approach to skinny water Striper fishing changed in 2007 and 2008...with far more emphasis placed on sight casting to tailing, waking and laid-up large solitary fish as opposed to chasing the huge blow-ups of schoolie Stripers...Fast sinking lines were replaced by floating and intermediate lines...short 4-6 foot sections of 20# flouro leader were replaced with long tapered leaders more common to steelhead or bonefishing. Big Bulky flies were replaced by smaller sparsely tied shrimp, crab and baitfish offerings. Being able to stalk 15 to 20 lb Fish on the flats...make the cast and lead the fish into explosive visual strikes was fascinating and very exciting. Chasing birds around was mostly an exercise in futility which usually resulted in every nearby fish being spooked into the next county...Many times we'd intentionally ground the "Super Fly" on certain un-named shallow mussel bars(a flooding tide of course) and wait for big cruising Stripers to push onto the flats and into our casting range.
(A healthy Striper released on one of Maine's many sand flats)When the conditions are right Striped Bass make perfect sight casting targets for fly & light tackle anglers. When sight casting to Striped Bass around the numerous Mussel bars and eel grass beds that fringe many of our shallow flats, we frequently encounter Stripers that are "Tailed Up"...yes Stripers do "tail", like an Abaco Bone or Redfish of Florida's famed Indian River Lagoon, Striped Bass often feed by grubbing around on the mud & eel grass flats for crabs, shrimp and worms, leaving their tails wagging like flags in the breeze. A well presented fly presented just up current of the "tailing" Striper...slowy crawled along the bottom will usually yield a strike. "Mud's"(silty clouds in the clear water)are often left by the grubbing stripers and are a dead giveaway that Striped Bass are present and on the feed...most times however, we have challenging task of sighting and casting to "laid up" or slow cruising fish....to the average angler sighting fish on the flats can be a bit daunting, but to a good guide...that Striper might as well be brushed with neon paint. The ideal scenario is to cast up current of your target so that your fly swims down current to the holding fish, hopefully resulting in a strike!!!
Maine's shallow water habitat is comprised of surf, sand flats, fast water channels, bays, coves, rips and marsh. All easily accessible and fished with a fly rod!!!

Call us if you'd like to join us for a day or two this coming season. We'll be happy help you plan your Maine vacation!!! Depending on which region of the Maine coast you're staying on...we can provide you with info on all the top fishing guides. If fly fishing isn't your thing...no worries we're well equipped for light tackle & live bait fishing too!!!

Maine Flats Fishing Striper Guide
Capt. George Harris
207-691-0745
www.superfly-charters.com

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Maine Striper Fishing Blog Report: The Great Striped Bass Over Harvest Debate???


Okay, here's the deal...As a full time Registered Maine guide and charterboat Captain who's sole source of income comes directly from the marine resources of the Great State of Maine, I can easily recognize the fact that a big part of the future success of my business, Super Fly Charters, as well as the success of many other full time Guides/Captains businesses, hinges on sound fisheries conservation management....Specifically regarding Striped Bass. Therefore I feel that it is my responsibility to stay informed and to help inform others on the management issues facing Striped Bass anglers...So from time to time I'll be reporting/ranting on conservation issues & you'll just have to grin and bear it during these boring blog posts!!!

Here is some Recent News from "Stripers Forever"
Stripers Forever members - from time to time we pass along reports on illegal catches that make the news. This report, in particular, illustrates the problems that commercial fishing creates for any accesible species, such as striped bass. Check out this link
These folks were caught twice in a week: first for being over their annual quota and second for a 3-ton, yes that's right nearly 6,000 pound illegal catch! To add real insult to injury, the maximum fine for the second offence is $500 - just a tiny cost of doing business. We think jail would be a more appropriate punishment for these repeat offenders along with forfeiture of license and gear. Furthermore, the official calculation of illegally caught striped bass is zero against the commercial quota . That's right, zero. This ought to give you an inkling of why the real condition of the striped bass population is not reflected by the ASMFC stock assessment science. If you start out with faulty input, you end up with faulty results.
The remedy is to make striped bass a game fish and to end commercial fishing for them everywhere. We have said from the very start of SF, the legal commercial fishery simply facilitiates the illegal one. As long as there is a price on the head of stripers, the temptation to break the law to catch and sell them illegally will overwhelm any enforcement efforts.(many would consider the above info to be flawed data)

Check out Capt. John McMurray's Lateral line Blog Post...Agree or Disagree???...Capt. McMurray raises some very interesting points.

This topic seems to spur many interesting heated debates on the online message boards of which, I try my best to stay out of, however...We at Super Fly Charters remain committed to the pursuit of coastwide gamefish status for Striped Bass...what do you think?

Maine Striper Fishing Guide
Capt. George Harris
207-691-0745
www.superfly-charters.com

Saturday, January 3, 2009

Maine Striper Fishing with Super Fly Charters & Capt. George Harris

(Another 30" Striper caught on the midcoast Maine flats)
We're off the coast of Maine and we'd like to welcome you to the world of shallow water Striper fishing!!!


Call us if you'd like to join us for a day or two this coming season. We'll be happy help you plan your Maine vacation!!! Depending on which region of the Maine coast you're staying on...we can provide you with info on all the top fishing guides. If fly fishing isn't your thing...no worries we're well equipped for light tackle & live bait fishing too!!!

Maine Fly Fishing Striper Guide
Capt. George Harris
207-691-0745
www.superfly-charters.com