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The Southern Maine Saltwater Fishing Report:
Changing Weather Patterns Make for Challenging Fishing
by Captain Greg Metcalf
Offshore fishing for tuna and sharks has been fantastic however the inshore fishing situation is in transition. There is usually a late season striper blitz along the southern Maine coastline but it hasn’t really materialized this season yet.
Pat Campbell from Arundel, Maine caught this 37-inch striped bass fishing aboard the Striper Swiper on September 27th.
It is definitely too early to hang up you rod and reel as stripers are still on the move. Surf fishermen have a great chance to pick up a jumbo migrating striper on the evening tides during the first two weeks of October. The change in the weather pattern, high winds and big seas has made boat fishing very difficult.
Kennebunkport: Anglers fishing between Cape Porpoise and Parson’s Beach had a great week catching mackerel and striper fishing was very consistent. There are a lot of fish around and they have been relatively cooperative once you can find them. Stripers are being caught along all the beach fronts from Gooch’s to Wells and tight to the rocks and boulders between Saint Ann’s to Cape Porpoise. The Kennebunk River has also been producing excellent catches of striped bass from 18 to 40 inches.
One of the local commercial fishermen told me that he was steaming in from an offshore tuna trip this week and observed an angler fishing off the jetty catching one striper after another. I ran my last trip of the season aboard the Striper Swiper on September 27th and capped off the year with nice outing which included a fat 37-inch striped bass.
Wells, Ogunquit: Brandy from Webhannet River Bait and Tackle told me that fishing over the weekend was on and off. There were a few stripers within Wells Harbor that were between 24 to 28 inches caught by kayak fishermen with tubes and worm rigs. Most of the best action was by surf fishermen. Several fish over 35 inches were caught on Wells, Moody Beaches and off the rocks at Cape Neddick Lighthouse. Mackerel was the favored bait by far. Mackerel are being caught around the harbor and Wells Bell.
York: Captain Phil Breton reported told me has not been having any luck with bluefish but very good luck with stripers. Phil heard that the ground fishing has also been great in Scantum Basin but it is great and anglers took full advantage of the two week cod season the end of September. Striper reports have been upbeat with many people being successful on both small and large bass in York and Portsmouth rivers and along the beaches especially Long Sands.
Capt. Greg Metcalf's Striper Swiper
Goose Rocks Beach and Biddeford Pool: Captain Steve Brettell reported that the fishing on Goose Rocks has slowed over the past week. Fish have moved off the beach and out into the rocks. Cape Porpoise has stayed consistent, trolling worms being most productive but the weather has made boating difficult. Captain Steve has also run his last trip for 2019.
Saco River and Saco Bay: Pete from Saco Bay Tackle reported lots of schoolies are still in the rivers of Saco, Scarborough, Wells and Kennebunk. Sea worms and white buck tail jigs fished on an outgoing tide has been very productive. The evening tide off Higgins Beach has given up some keepers. Offshore has been rough and tough to get out but with a small window of nice weather. Ground fishing is still productive at Tanta’s and Jeffrey’s Ledges.
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Captain Greg Metcalf has been published in Sportfishing, The Salt Water Sportsman, Marlin Magazine,
TheFisherman and New England Game and Fish. He is currently the Northeast field editor for the Fisherman Magazine, and a regular contributor to Tourist & Town. He has produced and hosted two very successful fishing videos; Fishing for Giant Tuna, and Rigging Baits for Bluefin Tuna. He runs Atlantic Captain’s Academy which offers Coast Guard-approved courses to Captain’s License candidates. He also runs a charter fishing business aboard his boat, the Striper Swiper, in Kennebunkport. His charter business targets inshore species like striped and bluefish.
Photos courtesy Captain Greg Metcalf.
From June to October, fishing and sight-seeing is offered by Captain Greg Metcalfalong the Kennebunkport coastline aboard the custom 23-foot Striper Swiper.
Captain Greg has more than 30 years of experience sport-fishing in the Northeast.
Call Captain Greg year-round at 401-617-9265, email [email protected]
or visit www.captaingregmetcalf.com
