Running 2023 Small Point to Port Clyde, ME VAL Area 4, Fishing Reports

[Roccus7]

After a white knuckle ride to the fishing grounds, a 28"+ Hat Trick plus One morning!!

 

Tidal constraints had me leaving my dock in the foggy dark at 04:15 today, then I had a 3 mile crawl to the fishing grounds which involved a mooring field and multiple lobster buoy slalom courses.  Wish I could have left later with some more light or there was less fog, but chit happens.

 

My biggest fear was being weeded out at my spot, but that wasn't the case.  The fish weren't jumping into the boat, but 2 hours of dedicated casted ended with a total of 6 fish, 2@25", 2@28", 1@29" and 1@32".  All fish returned to spawn another time...

 

Fish were savage in attacking the popper.  Unusual, but fun, to see 28" fish crash the plug, and then fly out of the water and tail walk 5 yds.  Guess they were channeling bluefish today?

 

 

 

[Roccus7]

To butcher Patrick Henry, "Give me sinking topwaters or give me SKUNK!!"

 

Had a great morning today.  Unlike yesterday, there was no need to get off the dock before a decent amount of light, fog, and with no fog the ride to the Happy Hunting grounds was a relaxing one.  To make things even better my first cast was immediately crashed by a 30" striper who, like all the fish caught today, was quickly released.  Bite continued until slack water, and never really built after that, but who cares?  Ended with 15 from 22 - 33" fish including the aforementioned 30, along with a pair of 33" fish.  One of my best days this season, and the second day in a row with at least a Hat Trick of 28+" fish.

 

But I digress.  Part of today's trip was an experiment.  My brother has been touting the wonders of the Yozuri Hydro Pencil, having great success in the surf of RI with this lure.  Yes, I do like to try different lures, but past experience in the waters I fish clearly suggest that the most effective topwater are sinkers, like my sacred Creek Chub Striper Strike.  Since the Yozuri is a floater, I was skeptical, but interested in giving it a fair shot.

 

Water conditions today were glass-like, so calm that one can tell if a fish is even "farting in the general direction" of a surface lure.  After I had caught a few on the CC, and virtually every cast was generating interested in that popper, I decided to try the Yozuri.  After 3 casts with absolutely no interest, I went back to the CC, and BAM, it was fish on!  Sorry Little Bro, your favorite is NFG up here...  

 

The key observation this AM was that almost every hit on the CC was on the drop back as the plug sank below the surface.  Many hits occurred with absolutely no warning, the fish just crashing the plug below the surface.  Later on, when fish got a bit pickier I tried the Yozuri again, and it generated some interest, and even a light hit, but no hookup.  Bottom line is that the CC outfished the Yozuri 15 to Zip A Dee Doo Dah.

 

 

[Roccus7]

Still "plugging away", pun intended.  As of late they've all been "Smith Barney" fish, earning every one. 

 

It's been a very early and quick bite, and although I've been able to defend against a skunking in my daily sorties, I've had to pull the proverbial rabbit out of the hat a few mornings.

 

Not sure for the exact reason of the summer slump, but there's no secret that there are less fish around.  Another confounding factor may be the lack of pogies in the area, although there is a glut of small bait, brits and squid.

[petespeak]

2 hours ago, Roccus7 said:

Still "plugging away", pun intended.  As of late they've all been "Smith Barney" fish, earning every one. 

 

It's been a very early and quick bite, and although I've been able to defend against a skunking in my daily sorties, I've had to pull the proverbial rabbit out of the hat a few mornings.

 

Not sure for the exact reason of the summer slump, but there's no secret that there are less fish around.  Another confounding factor may be the lack of pogies in the area, although there is a glut of small bait, brits and squid.

Have to go deep and offshore...find the big schools of adult sand eels and thats where the fish will be. Unless the new crop of peanut bunker can draw them inshore, but don't count on it. Warmer water temps down south have thrown a monkey wrench into the mix and disrupted normal migration patterns. That and the diminishing population of striped bass has made this spring a bust for dedicated surfcasters: truth be told, you need a boat these days to seriously fish for striped bass, especially in Maine where the best fishing beaches are locked up behind beach-side mansions. The days of standing on the sand with a fish at the end of your line are fading into history.

 

 

Edited August 1 by petespeak

[klaney]

The most worrisome thing is the lack of small fish. The schoolies should be inshore eating anything they can get their mouths around and they're just not here in any good numbers this year. On the flip side, I've been having a stellar year for big fish in skinny water (less than 10')with sand bottom. Those fish aren't there during the day- they show up after dark, cruise right along the beach and leave before sunup. Side scan is a game changer for finding these fish. NH and northern MA have plenty of beaches that you can legally access at night, and the big fish are here now. 

[petespeak]

17 hours ago, klaney said:

The most worrisome thing is the lack of small fish. The schoolies should be inshore eating anything they can get their mouths around and they're just not here in any good numbers this year. On the flip side, I've been having a stellar year for big fish in skinny water (less than 10')with sand bottom. Those fish aren't there during the day- they show up after dark, cruise right along the beach and leave before sunup. Side scan is a game changer for finding these fish. NH and northern MA have plenty of beaches that you can legally access at night, and the big fish are here now. 

The 64,000 dollar question: what bait are the big fish eating on the sand at night? Four possibilities:

1) Mature sand eels: they go offshore daylight hours, return inshore at dusk, push up against the beach and bury themselves on the sand bars. Late at night some come up to the surface and slowly glide about feeding on plankton while trying to be invisible to predators. First trace of light they wake up and head offshore.  Possibly the big fish you mentioned are targeting them at dusk, dawn and the darkest part of the night.

2)Crabs:Off the radar striper snack many mainstream anglers ignore. They are available day and night and sometimes the striper's mini-brain compels the fish in question to consume all dime-sized brown objects with two eyes and spindly legs. Beware cheap, realistic looking lures that would be more useful as a keychain. Fly fishermen have the crab patterns down to a science and they protect their secrets with silence. Just mention crab flies to a fly fishing striper hound and he will clam up and lie through his teeth: "Crabs? Really? They are a thing? To get back at these guys bring a 10' surf rod, casting egg, and your crab pattern flies to the flats and cast out to the fish the fly guys can't reach.  

3)Lobsters-The dirty secret: stripers love soft-shell lobster chicks. Problem: use a lobster tail for bait and go to jail. I'm not giving away my undercover lobster lure: spent over 100$ trying different baits. But did you ever notice how crayfish and lobsters are similar looking? And how crayfish and lobster often congregate where rocks and soft bottom meet? Nuff said about lobster...wait a minute here: Loibsters? Really? They are a thing? No way! 

4)All of the above. During the best years, all of these baits are in abundance inshore...def not the case in our situation. 

***Bonus: Live eels are striper killers. Almost like cheating. An eel will override the the fishes compulsion to target specific baits that are currently on their radar screen. EX: hungry stripers that are locked-in on sand eels will switch gears and hit an eel: they can not help themselves. This rarely happens with other baits. Remember: eel fishing rule: bigger the better, but those who can wiggle their snakes the best will out fish the big guys in the long run. But if you practice practice practice with your big eel and get the wiggle just right the prime fish will fall at your feet. Funny thing: universal laws. 

***Cheat sheet: before rigging your rod, walk out onto the flats or sand bar with a flashlight and scan the bottom for the answer to all your questions. If you find a drop off that catches the incoming on a sandbar and or the outgoing in a tidal creek that drains marshland throw your bait there.

 

 

Edited August 2 by petespeak

[Sea Of Atlas]

No side scan, no eels no problem. This year everyone gets a big fish. Big asterisks next to these year big fish. No small fish, no competition. 
 

Check out any social media and see guys a few years into it strutting their stuff. 

[Roccus7]

The Fast & the Furious:  Guess who's Fast and who's Furious?

 

Had a morning that made me want to raise the white flag and get golf clubs.  As of late, the "best" spots provided a single drift where you'd get a striper or multiple hits, and then you might as well go fish in the Sahara Desert because it's game over.  Got to today's target drift at 05:00, perfect pre-sunrise amount of light.  The 1st drift showed nothing, but I went back up current for drift #2.  The action started with a couple of fish slap at my popper, but no hookups.

 

Then Poseidon really put the screws to me.  With the lure only 10' from the boat a "new slot" sized fish came rocketing out of the water from under my plug, but no hookup.  I reflexively stopped my retrieve, and BAM the hit came, but she only held on the plug long enough for me to try to set the hook.  Then the fish let go of the plug and the load on my rod rocketed the plug right back at me, crashing into my torso!!  At least my PFD acted like an umpire's chest guard.  Too bad the whole scene took me totally by surprised.  When the fish first came flying out of the water had I been ready with the net, I might have been able to catch the fish out of the air!!

 

Still shaking, I noticed that weeds were setting in, but there was a clear spot close to the bank in THE spot.  Tossed the plug in, and POP POP POP BAM!!!!  Of course, no hookup.  In absolute fury, I said to myself "F this chit, I'll go home skunked!!"  started the motor, slammed the throttle down, and headed home.

 

The home front was totally quiet, but I decided to try the one, "Skunk Prevention" spot on the way home.  Got up there, cut the engine and started the drift.  First cast showed nothing, but on the second cast the water erupted around the plug multiple times with no hookup.  After the 4th eruption I screamed out "D##n you to HELL!!" and there was another eruption, but his time the fish grabbed the plug and got hooked.  Took my time with it, extremely confident that I would drop the fish to ensure Pepe LePew would meet me at the dock.  

 

Seems that Poseidon figured I was serious about the golf clubs and allowed me land a 27 striper, keeping my record skunk free since late May.  Of course, that SOB was NOT finished with F-ing with me today.  As I was unhooking the fish, a bunch of its larger friends started breaking around me, but in typical fashion, it was a fast event, ending well before I unhooked and ensured that the 27 had a strong swim away from the boat.  Figured I'd go back on the drift, and while on it, the pod of these larger fish started breaking 50 yds out of casting range, but as soon as I turned the key, the fish disappeared.  Hey, they were on top for 45 seconds which seems to be this year's normal Blitz duration...

 

 

 

Edited August 6 by Roccus7

[Roccus7]

Even Captain Ahab must have got lucky once in a while...

 

Really trying to overcome my striped bass obsession, but when I popped out of bed totally awake at 04:00 today I figured the fish were calling.

Ran down to the spot where I was abused yesterday, but saw a good omen. At this spot if there’s an eagle in the tree overlooking it I usually do well. When I realized there was a trio of them today, I started to shake with excitement.  Turns out got 5 stripers today, 25" to one just under 31” with the tail pinch.

 

The Happy Bizarre Thing today were the hits; they were total "stealth", occurring when the popper sank back below the surface, and people think I'm old fashioned using sinking poppers developed in the early 1950s.  The strikes provided minimal disturbances on the surface of the water.  If conditions weren't glass-like, I probably would have missed a few of them.  AND, and this is a BIG BONUS, every hit resulted in a hookup and a landed fish!!  Don't think I've ever been 5 for 5 before...

 

Slack tide at first light and pouring rain probably means I'll be sitting out tomorrow AM...

[Skunkoff]

Aha!  So the stripers all went north.  

[Roccus7]

24 mins ago, Skunkoff said:

Aha!  So the stripers all went north.  

 

Maybe they were tired of slumming with the Québécois??

[Roccus7]

Ahab did die in the end...

 

Well I was able to string 49 Skunkless striper trips until this AM's skunking. I did have 3 hits, but nothing got hooked...

Oh well, chit happens, and Poseidon threw me a consolation prize with one big azz rainbow!!

 

 

 

Edited August 9 by Roccus7

[7 Rivers]

16 mins ago, Roccus7 said:

Ahab did die in the end...

 

Well I was able to string 49 Skunkless striper trips until this AM's skunking. I did have 3 hits, but nothing got hooked...

Oh well, chit happens, and Poseidon threw me a consolation prize with one big azz rainbow!!

 

Wow, that is some purty. Hard to beat a morning sunrise and  this bonus...

[Roccus7]

A Good, Goldilocks Morning...

Over Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday I endured the horror of a Pepe LePew Hat Trick, 3 consecutive skunkings, something that hasn't happened in probably 10 seasons or more. The most frustrating thing about this trial, was the fact that fish were around and toying with my offerings, but only yielding a single hookup on Thursday, which was dropped after a while. Yesterday Poseidon intervened and allowed me to land a 22" fish at 05:45 before the fishing shut down totally.

So today what's a Bass Idiot like me supposed to do, just say screw it and sleep in, or get my sorry azz on the boat by 04:35 to be down at THE spot by 05:00? Well it wouldn't take 3 guesses for you to get the correct answer, there I was in a pitch black morning crawling out of the harbor through the moored boats and lobster traps to satisfy my obsession.

Once at the spot the SOP of the past few mornings ruled and my first drift yielded nothing, but then it was time for the all-important second drift. I moved the boat to be closer to an area that I thought I had heard a fish breaking. Guess I was correct, as the first cast resulted in my plug getting slapped. OK, time to launch that second cast, which went so far I couldn't see where it was in the pre-light gloom. WOW, there's a fish breaking right in my plug's path! What a minute that swirl was at my popper!" Time to activate the Extreme Joe Cocker Strike Inducing Protocol!!!! I get high with a little help from my BAM!!!!!! FISH ON!!

There was no doubt as to the size of this fish as it took off on a screaming run. I knew I had a good one on and a Battle ROY-ALE had begun. After a couple additional runs, and two frantic dives to the helm to fire up the engine and coax the boat off the lee shore with one arm, while keeping tension on the fish with the other, I netted a very nice, fat fish. My initial reaction was that she was an over, but "with the tail pinch" she measured out at a JUST RIGHT 30". No worries for her, as the home menu for the next few days had no room for striped bass and she was returned to the water. I repositioned the boat and my very next cast was crashed, but without a hookup. That worried me as past history was telling me that my time was running out, and that was correct as the next 20 minutes only resulted with a single swirl around the popper. No worries, I had avoided the skunk with a very nice fish so it was a happy Roccus about to head home before 06:00, or so I thought.

On the way home from this drift was another spot that has cooled as of late, and the predominate mind from yesterday probably meant the small cove I wanted to fish was full of weeds. But still, hope springs eternal, so I went over and yup, the cove was full of weeds, but the easternmost point, which can be productive, was fishable so I figured, Why not? and decided to give it the old 3 cast rule...

Cast one was ignored, but the next cast did spark some interest with a fish swirling around the popper. Well guess I'll have to take a few more and the next cast had a swirl as soon as it hit the water, but nothing after until it was 10' from the boat when the water exploded, and the plug disappeared as a very large, and unhappy striped bass took off on an extreme run away from the boat. The away part didn't last more the 3 seconds as the fish did a 180 and took off directly under the boat on a blistering run of a good 100'. I buried the rod vertically down so the line didn't chafe on the bottom of the hull and then walked the line around the engine still with most of rod under water to avoid getting cutting off on the skeg or prop.

Well that potential disaster was averted, only for me to realize I was heading towards the rocky lee shore engine first so I had to make a beeline to the helm, fire up the engine and kick the boat out, while still keeping tension on the fish. Good thing I had practiced this earlier in the day, and I got the boat a very safe distance from shore and settled down to go mano a mano with this fish. After a protracted battle sprinkled with multiple, long and determined runs, she was alongside and netted, a beautiful 33" TOO BIG. After a quick photo, she was immediately returned to spawn another time.

 

Well now I was hot on a Goldilocks Adventure and it wasn't long before I had a 21" TOO SMALL fish measured and returned to the water. I decided that it was now time to head back to the barn for a well-earned coffee and breakfast...

 

Edited August 13 by Roccus7

[Jim McFeeley]

Got this off the rocks looks like a tautog?