Maine Striper Fishing Report 2012

Maine Saltwater Fishing With Super Fly Charters
It's official...After enthusiastically watching some very good reports come in from southern New England and tracking those reports as the Stripers quickly marched northward ...the Striped Bass fishing season has officially begun here in Maine. A boat overhaul including repowering with the latest Yamaha outboard technology will keep my boat off the water till towards the end of the month, however Southern Maine anglers are seeing the beginnings of the migratory push of Striped Bass into Maine's coastal waters. While this is exciting news...I'm not ready to do cartwheels just yet..due to the wildly fluctuating water temps caused by incoming tidal flows, early season is still hit or miss and highly unpredictable as the fish are moving quickly and do not stage in the holding areas for long... It's been my experience that if we focus on areas that have strong herring runs, then the likelihood of finding action is much greater...Over the course of the next 4-5 weeks we will see the Striped Bass migration build in volume and we'll also be able to better pattern the fishes feeding habits and movements. We also often see another big push of fish migrate into our coastal water mid to late summer...where that second charge fish exactly comes from is a little mysterious...most likely migrants from cape cod bay or even possibly from an offshore population of gulf of Maine fish....regardless of where they come from...they are always a welcome addition!! I'm ready....ARE YOU!!!
(photo by Got Stryper Baits)

This past winter I decided that I needed to introduce some new large profile lures to help better target the Jumbo Stripers that hang off the oceanside rocks and in the surfline...these bigger 36" and up oceangoing Bass behave differently than the smaller bass that hang on river structure...those smaller 20-30 inch river fish are greedy and compete for anything that washes past them in the current and will undoubtedly hammer these new baits into oblivion!!! The large ocean stripers are a completely different animal. The Jumbos are more solitary and more finicky as to which artificials they choose to hit...I needed a bait that draws attention to itself, a bait that pushes water creating fish attracting vibrations, a bait that had an irresistable action that would get a big striper to charge it from a laid up posistion...After much research and a rather enlightening conversation with my Temple Fork Outfitters sales rep, whom also reps "Got Stryper Baits" I was led to a small, family run, company based out of Chatham, MA called Got Stryper which manufactures "Pintail" & "Stubby Pintail" baits...The Pintail & Stubby Pintail can be fished in both salt & freshwater. It has caught; Striped Bass, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Black Sea Bass, Pickeral, Pike, Musky, Cod, Haddock, Pollock, Bonito, False Albacore, Halibut, Fluke, Rockfish, Ling, Snook, Tarpon, Redfish, Cobia, Jacks, Grouper, Trevally, Yellowfin, Bluefin, Big Eye, Blue & White Marlin, Wahoo, Mahi Mahi, Roosterfish, Weakfish, Sea Trout, Bluefish, Barracuda, Wolfish, Got Stryper was founded by Cape Cod charter Capt. Alan Hastbacka and they produce an incredibly durable line of soft plastic baits in 7,9 & 11 inch models...The 9" & 11" Pintail models were the ones that interested me the most...large enough to get the full attention of a Giant Striper but still easy enough to cast on light tackle spinning gear. After receiving a few samples I knew they were the homerun I was looking for..So I got in touch with Capt. Alan and placed my order for the season...Looking forward to seeing you all again and also looking forward to putting some new products in your hands!!!

Check out the video that Capt. Alan Hastbacka recently shot while fishing his home waters around Cape Cod, using nothing but his Got Stryper Pintails(Video Courtesy of Got Stryper Baits)

If you haven't yet made plans to fish with us I'd advise you to do so as soon as possible because once the season starts...the best tides dissappear quickly!!

CALL OR TEXT THE MAINE STRIPER FISHING HOTLINE FOR RESERVATIONS & THE MOST UP TO DATE REPORTS ON THE ENTIRE MAINE COAST 207-691-0745
www.superfly-charters.com

Maine Deep Sea Fishing 2012: Breaking News!!!

IN COD WE TRUST!!!

Maine Cod Fishing Regs 2012: In a nutshell, For the 2012 season, both federal and state officials have adopted regulations to lessen the overall recreational catch of Atlantic Cod...For those of us who fish the nearshore waters for these tasty bottom fish, these new regs are not a bad thing, By reducing the minimum size from 24" back to 19" as it was a few years ago we will now be able to much more easily & quickly catch our limit of Cod. To go along with this the bag limit has also been reduced from 10 fish to 9 fish a pretty good trade off especially for the inshore fishermen. We have dozens of inshore humps that produce good numbers of Cod...many of these humps are just outside the areas we fish for Striped Bass making combo trips a breeze...A morning of light tackle sportfishing for stripers and blues and then a short run to one of the nearshore shoals for some bottom fishing for a few tasty fish dinners!!! We use ultra sensitive, lightweight butterfly jigging gear on these trips...no heavy broomstick gear commonly associated with cod/bottom fish!!! Give us a call for reservations!!! 207-691-0745
A little more info from Boating Local.com NOAA has announced that a total of 6,700 metric tons (mt) of GOM cod would be available to commercial and recreational fishermen for the 2012 fishing year, down from 8,000 mt in 2011. A new stock assessment conducted late last year indicated that the cod biomass was much smaller than presumed, and that a cutback in the range of 90% would ultimately be needed. In response, however, NOAA accepted a 22% cutback for the current year, but made it clear that a much more stringent reduction would likely need to be implemented for the 2013 fishing year. The measures agreed upon included a reduction in the daily bag limit from 10 cod to 9, and a reduction in the minimum size from 24” to 19”. The new minimum size is intended to reduce the number of cod discarded by anglers attempting to reach their 9-fish limit, and thus reduce discard mortality.

To give you an idea of the style of bottom fishing we do check out this recap of a trip we did in the past...October 24th, 2010 trip report. After a long, productive and very fun season, the Striped Bass have all but left Maine waters...But hey...that doesn't have to mean that our saltwater fishing season has to end...Case in point was our groundfishing trip yesterday. Chris Oliver & John Coppola met me at the dock at 6:30 am...the air temp was chilly, in the low 30's, but we were dressed for the conditions....After going through my safety check list, We cast off our lines, left the dock and blasted down the St. George river at a brisk 30knot clip...we soon cleared the mouth of the river and left the Georges islands behind us as we headed across Muscongus Bay on flat ass calm seas, bound for some ledges ESE of Monhegan island. After a 40 minute run from the dock we arrived on the numbers and got set to drop our jigs into the depths below us...Chris was armed with a Shimano Stella 10000, Trevala butterfly jigging combo as well as an Avet lever drag reel on a butterfly jigging rod...attached to his leaders were 10 oz. Williamson vortex jig and teaser rig...John was set up with a Shimano Stradic 8000, Trevala butterfly jigging combo...John was using the standard 8-12 oz diamond jig with teaser rig...My rig was a Daiwa Saltiga 30 conventional reel mounted to a nomad travel rod with a diamond jig teaser rig...All the tackle that we used is not the traditional broomstick gear commonly associated with bottom fishing, rather we use very sensitive & lightweight yet extremely powerful graphite rods that are a joy to use for hours on end...the ultrathin braided superlines loaded on our high speed reels allow us to feel the lightest of bites even in depths of several hundred feet!!!...Our first drop was in about 90 feet of water...As soon as our jigs hit bottom they are hammered immediately and all three of our rods are thumping with the weight of nice fat 8-10 pound keeper sized cod...This action would continue for several hours as we methodically worked the structure below...often our jigs would get nailed on the drop so it was important to keep a watchful eye on the line as the jigs rocketed toward the bottom...if the line stopped moving, it was because a cod had slammed the jig on the fall...when this happened, we quickly engage the drag and set the hook on the fish...most of our strikes came on the jig itself but many hits were on the teaser, we even had some doubles where we caught cod on both the jig and teaser. Along with the dozens of cod that we caught we also caught Pollock, Acadian Redfish and a few other rockfish species...At the end of the day everyone went home with some nice filet's and some sore arms to show for it

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

Maine Striper Fishing 2012

Join Capt. George Harris & Super Fly Charters on the lower Kennebec River and Casco Bay for a day of fly & light tackle sportfishing for Striped Bass. Year after year we are consistently one of the most sought after saltwater guide services on the Maine coast ...Fly fishing, light tackle, live baiting we have got you covered, give us a call on the Maine Striper Hotline to get in on the action this season!!! 207-691-0745

Maine Striper Fishing Charters 2012

The calendar days are slowy slipping by and before we know it saltwater fishing season will once again be upon us here on the Maine coast. Over the course of the offseason I have been fortunate enough to be a stay at home dad with my infant son, Cameron, who many of you know, was born back in October. As a new father, it's been a truly amazing experience to watch him learn and grow, Cameron is now just over 5 months old now and is doing a great job keeping his mom & dad on their toes...no doubt he'll soon be learning all about the outdoor sports that we love.

As is always the case, I am constantly looking for ways to improve the way we operate...whether it's improving the equipment we use or varying the types of trips that we offer, it's a constant evolution!!!

One of the new things coming in 2012 is the addition of "Got Stryper" pintail soft plastic baits. An incredible light tackle bait created and marketed by Captain Alan Hastbacka of Cape Cod, MA...We are going to have a selection of 7,9,11 & 13 inch baits in a variety of proven colors. I will rig these baits to be able cover a wide range of habitat...from deep water jigging to finesse presentations for shallow water flats fishing. Whether we rig these baits as Carolina rig, Texas rig or my deadly knocker jig rig, these durable lures are sure to produce big results for us!!! I'll be posting results here on the blog, also on our facebook pages and on the "Got Stryper" FB page...Stay tuned!!!

Not a definite yet but I have been toying with the idea of adding some Okuma spinning reel products for 2012...specifically the rugged aluminum framed Cedros line of reels. The Cedros line of reels is offered in both low & high speed retrieve models and also a "baitrunner" version which is perfect for the style of live bait fishing that we do here on the rocky Maine coast. I have gotten some great feedback about Okuma from some SW Florida guides...Also a good friend who livebait fishes the Kennebec river swears by his Okuma baitrunners...I've always had good luck using a mix of Shimano, Penn & Daiwa reels but lately Okuma has really stepped up their game in producing affordable, high performance spinning & conventional fishing equipment...I cannot continue to ignore that...Maybe you'll see a few Cedros on the boat this season!!! Towards the end of last season I was able to get my hands on some of the TFO Gary Loomis signature series rods...within hours of them arriving my clients were putting them through their paces...Without a doubt, the TFO Gary Loomis series are some of the finest light tackle rods on the market regardless of price...PERIOD!!!

No doubt about it my rod racks will be filled with these awesome sticks this season. Many of the fly anglers who fish with me prefer to bring their own gear but I keep the boat stocked with a nice selection of TFO fly rods for client use, Over the years I've offered alot of different "blingy" fly rods & reels, Sage,G Loomis, Scott, tibor, abel, billy pate etc...all top of the line...

but for straight up price & performance the TFO's rule...The new BVK series is downright amazing, as is the TICR-X, Mini Mag and the the old school Lefty Kreh signature series is a workhorse. All my TFO fly rods are paired with rock solid, machined aluminum, cork disk Terry Hayden reels and the latest technology fly lines by Air-flo!!!

One of the most popular trips offered is without a doubt my live baiting trip... Geared for the angler that just wants to work their way through the food chain, having a blast cathing big numbers of stripers, the live bait trips are just the ticket...Fishing livies for trophy stripers is incredibly exciting and accounts for the biggest stripers we boat each season...We start the trip by blacking out the livewells with mackerel, herring or pogies...Live eels are a proven killer of trophy striped bass as well and also have their place in our arsenal...after we "make bait" it's on to some of the fishiest habitat on the maine coast, It could be a tidal marsh, a gnarly tide rip, a lonely stretch of surf washed beach or mud & sand flats. All of these areas are drained and flooded twice daily by whopping 10-12 ft tides...I operate in an amazingly diverse area of habitat and it's my pleasure to share it with the anglers who fish with me!!

These are just a few of the many things that Super Fly Charters is offering for the 2012 season...

If you haven't booked your trips yet give us a call on the Maine Striper Fishing Hotline 207-691-0745...to plan an exciting tide or two on the water...From fly & light tackle to live baiting...WE HAVE YOU COVERED!!!

Capt. George Harris 207-691-0745

Maine Striper Fishing 2012

Join Super Fly Charters on Maine's legendary Kennebec River system & Eastern Casco Bay..Jeremiah Jewell took advantage of a rainy,foggy day late last June (2011) by putting on a Striped Bass slayfest...Jigging soft plastics through the tide rips is a deadly technique when done properly...a 6 1/2 to 7 foot med action rod with a 4000-6000 sized reel loaded with 30 pound super braid...20-25 pound test mono leader and an assortment of soft plastic lures fished off 1-3 oz jig heads with wide gap hooks will get you in the the slay zone...fish the jig slowly and erratically off the bottom and you will see results like ours EVERY TIME!!! Skipping jigs off bottom through rips is just one of dozens of techniques that we employ during the course our season...Maine offers an incredibly diverse array of prime Striped Bass habitat types and during our season we fish them all...Everything from fly fishing to light tackle, flats to rips, artificial lures to live bait...We have you covered!!!

Maine Striper Fishing 2012 HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Happy New Year From Super Fly Charters!!!...Looking Forward To Spending A Tide or Two With You All in 2012!!

For Reservations Or For More Information Please Call Or Text The Maine Striper Fishing Hotline 207-691-0745

Maine Striper Fishing 2012

Maine Striper Fishing With Super Fly Charters
Preparations have already begun for the 2012 Maine saltwater fishing season...As part of the Yamaha guide program I will be repowering the Super Fly with the newest in Yamahas 4 stroke outboard technology...And as usual we will be outfitted with lots of new gear to help make your trip more successful.
Also, early reservations remain strong as do our gift certificate sales...if you are looking for the perfect gift for your loved ones...this could be it!!!

If you have not made plans yet feel free to call at 207-691-0745 to discuss some of the unique offerings that we have available for the 2012 season...everything from fly fishing to light tackle & live baiting...We can customize the perfect trip!!

Maine Striper Fishing October, 2011

For those who are looking for some late season Maine  Striper action...We are still catching nice fish off the midcoast region beaches and rocky headlands...most fish of the fish we are catching are still in ultra shallow water...right in the surf line (think summer time snook fishing on the gulf coast beaches...just without the 100 degree temps!!!) As has been the case for most of the season sandeels have been the draw for the stripers that are feeding up on the sand...Crab, Mackerel, Herring and Pollock are key forage as well...for those hardcore anglers that are still fishing to south of me....don't make the mistake of hanging up the rods too early....we still have a huge glut of bait with stripers on the feed and they will be headed your way soon!!!

Cameron Edward Harris 10/02/2011

Welcome to the world Cameron Edward Harris!!

Born today 10/02/2011 at Penobscot Bay Medical Center 11:48 am....8 pounds 5 oz

Maine Striper Fishing September 25th, 2011

Another Day....and a whole different set of weather conditions....still very foggy early but it burned off mid morning...The weather made very little difference to the fish...We are dialed in on the fish...and the best part of it is that we have had it all to ourselves...We have not seen another angler for days....Today I had Jeff Richman & his Wife Adanna aboard....traveling from W. Virginia, they decided to try some Striper fishing....Both scored their first ever Striped Bass and as has been the case for most of the second half of the season, all of our fish came from crystal clear, shallow water...many times under a bright sun!!! Most of the areas that we have been fishing have nothing indicating the presence if feeding stripers...no diving birds, no churning surface blitzes, except for a few small key indicators....no signs of life...its all in the details....current flows, water temps and bait....alone, these factors mean very little...however,if you can find the scenario where many of these factors come together, you can hit the jackpot...we are out there everyday and continously put these variables together to crack the code!!! It all boils down to time on the water...put your time in, adapt your techniques and good things WILL happen!! As the old saying goes 10% of anglers catch 90% of the fish!!!

STILL PLENTY OF TIME TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS GREAT FISHERY...WE ARE DIALED IN SO DIAL US UP!!! 207-691-0745

Maine Striper Fishing September 24th, 2012

Fred Hand from Atlanta...
Back aboard for more action...picking it up where we left it off yesterday...Yep, Fred lit up the shallow water stripers....most of our fish coming from 2 feet or less right in the surf line...yesterday Fred's girlfriend Kelly boated a mid 40 inch fish the weighed in around 35 pounds!!!

Good Stuff happening right now on the waters of midcoast Maine

Maine Striper Fishing Report September 23rd, 2011

Fred & Kelly from Atlanta fished with me today....all of our fish came over the sand in less than 3 feet of water....fish to well over 40 inches on light tackle today...find the sandeels....find the fish!!! Fred will be back aboard tomorrow for more action!!!