North of Portland 2022

[Roccus7]

OK, I'm finally in now that I had a couple of nice days with light wind.  As soon as I finalize more spring house commissioning tasks, I'll start to look for some haddock & flounder, along with some cod C&R fishing until our striped friends poke their heads into my area, usually after May 20th...

 

Edited May 2, 2022 by Roccus7

[jimbighead]

Boat goes in tomorrow, totally psyched to get OTW.  Wind has been insane.  
 

hopefully that settles down,  still pretty cold outside the river.  
 

it’s starting to look fishy…

 

jim 

[TGIF Harpswell]

Dunked the new boat on Friday, reports are that it is still floating which is nice.  45 degree water at the mooring... water is clear... got a little ways to go... 

[pogy chaser]

Good to see this thread started!  I am itching to go as well but I think it will be a couple more weeks for me as well before I get started.  Tight lines

[Roccus7]

I should have known better but...

 

It was such a pretty sunset and there wasn't a wisp of wind, but somebody who should know better tried for stripers in 'da hood before May 20th. Well the skunking was predictable.  Not a sound out there with the exception of two Toms trying to prove who was the better gobbler...

 

Even the seal pup that swam by had a "Are you fluking nuts" look on its face...

 

 

 

[Topside2]

On 5/3/2022 at 8:57 AM, TGIF Harpswell said:

Dunked the new boat on Friday, reports are that it is still floating which is nice.  45 degree water at the mooring... water is clear... got a little ways to go... 

New boat?  I think that it's a requirement on this forum that when one mentions a new boat, that it's accompanied by a photo or photos.

 

[TGIF Harpswell]

1 hour ago, Topside2 said:

New boat?  I think that it's a requirement on this forum that when one mentions a new boat, that it's accompanied by a photo or photos.

 

All smiles from the captain and the mutt. 

[Roccus7]

Foggy and drizzly AM, why not try for stripers, even though the calendar doesn't say May 20th??  BECAUSE they ain't here yet Roccus!!!

 

I hit the river very hard this morning from the boat, all the usual spots and had water temps from 56°F in general to 61°F at the fresh water interface.  NOTHING!!!

 

On the "good news" front saw a couple of osprey with alewife breakfasts, and the sounder was full of dense alewife schools out in the harbor.

 

Yes, this sortie is going into the books as an official SKUNK since it wasn't a "think I'll sashay down to the dock and toss a few casts" junket...

[Scott Charlton]

3 hours ago, Roccus7 said:

Foggy and drizzly AM, why not try for stripers, even though the calendar doesn't say May 20th??  BECAUSE they ain't here yet Roccus!!!

 

I hit the river very hard this morning from the boat, all the usual spots and had water temps from 56°F in general to 61°F at the fresh water interface.  NOTHING!!!

 

On the "good news" front saw a couple of osprey with alewife breakfasts, and the sounder was full of dense alewife schools out in the harbor.

 

Yes, this sortie is going into the books as an official SKUNK since it wasn't a "think I'll sashay down to the dock and toss a few casts" junket...

Speaking of alwives...

 

 

[kennebecjones]

Was out looking for squid tonight East of the Kennebec watershed. Found the squid. Also found the stripers. Watched a couple low 20 inch fish slurping up herring fry and chasing squid.

 

Consider this the starting gun!

[7 Rivers]

13 mins ago, kennebecjones said:

Was out looking for squid tonight East of the Kennebec watershed. Found the squid. Also found the stripers. Watched a couple low 20 inch fish slurping up herring fry and chasing squid.

 

Consider this the starting gun!

Holy chit, early for squid, thanks for the report.

[Roccus7]

7 hours ago, kennebecjones said:

Was out looking for squid tonight East of the Kennebec watershed. Found the squid. Also found the stripers. Watched a couple low 20 inch fish slurping up herring fry and chasing squid.

 

Consider this the starting gun!

OK, will be vigilant in taking a few casts off the dock and hanging the squid lights off the boat on the higher tide nights.  

 

I thought I was seeing some squid on the sounder while motoring through the harbor last week and did hang the lights, but nothing showed up that evening, including any baitfish.  Love me some grilled squid in garlic olive oil...

 

Terns have been working over bait the last few days, but by their flight pattern, skimming low in very shallow water, has been indicative of nothing chasing the bait from below.  We're loading the horses into the starting gate now...

[Roccus7]

Well but they were only in the mood to casually swirl or gently mouth any offering presented this AM.

[TwoLightsKid]

On 5/11/2022 at 11:11 AM, TGIF Harpswell said:

All smiles from the captain and the mutt. 

Good choice on the boat!  I’ve had a 23’ Maritime since 2006 and it’s been a great boat for fishing and family use in Casco Bay and offshore in good weather.   From flats in 2’ of water all the way out to Platts for groundfish and sharks and everywhere in between.  

[TGIF Harpswell]

On 5/19/2022 at 1:49 PM, TwoLightsKid said:

Good choice on the boat!  I’ve had a 23’ Maritime since 2006 and it’s been a great boat for fishing and family use in Casco Bay and offshore in good weather.   From flats in 2’ of water all the way out to Platts for groundfish and sharks and everywhere in between.  

Thanks! It’s been great so far. I previously had a 22’ Mako from the mid 90’s and realized just how heavy and hard it was to navigate…. The fuel economy may pay for itself this year as well.