Maine Striper Fishing report 7/13/08

John & Bill Coppola with a nice pair of Maine Striped Bass caught 7/13/08


Wow...the Tuna are starting to light up...The striper fishing is starting to light back up....It's fun to be a fishing guide again. After pulling the plug on a tuna trip early this morning due to high winds, we decided to do a little striper fishing before bagging it for the morning...around mid morning we decided to go back out on the river despite the rough/windy conditions...we had a livewell full of bait(herring/mackeral). On the first spot we drop our baits to the ledge below...BAM!!! Double Hook-up on a pair of slot sized fish. Next drop went a little deeper...BAM...BAM...another double...two rods are bent to the grip with nice fish...the heavy current aiding these fish....After a good battle the first fish comes to my hand while the the second fish is still screaming line out. After a quick photo the first fish is released, a 33" Striper. Soon after the second bass rolls up to the boat it's broad tail slapping water as it tries to dive one last time...I'm not having any of that as I thrust my hand into its bucket mouth and lift this fish from the water for another photo. this one tapes out at around 38"...what a beauty...we managed several more nice fish before we were finished. we're starting catch a few nice fish...Stay tuned for more reports.

To book a trip call us today...

Capt. George Harris
207-691-0745
www.superfly-charters.com

Maine Striper fishing report 7/8/08

"Master Angler" Ben Lowe with a couple of fat Stripers caught this Morning off Mid-Coast Maine...a 28" & 31"...not quite the 33" he caught with me last season but pretty close!!!



We experienced some better fishing today, we found some nice sized fish too!!!...Ben Lowe, in his fourth season fishing with me scored some nice fish up to 31"...An Early morning start proved to be very important...our very first cast brought a 31" Striped Bass to boat...Second cast, a 28" Striper, then a pair of fat Slot sized fish followed. While the fishing still remains slow across much of the Maine Coast, we still are managing to find some fish for our clients.

Our Kids fishing trips have been very popular...non stop "Mackeral Mayhem" action has been putting smiles on many young anglers faces, parents too!!!(see sidebar)

Last night's "Evening Blitz" trip with Maine DIF&W regional Biologist Allen Starr was cut a little short as we had to come to the aid of a Lobsterman in mechanical distress...it's not the first time I've had to play Tug Boat Capt...That commercial assistance towing endorsement on my USCG 100 ton master lic comes in handy every once in awhile ....Oh well, We'll get them next time Allen!!!

Also, a few days ago, while roughly 12 miles offshore we ran into a small school(6-8 fish) of Giant Bluefin Tuna. These fish were just cruising the surface, not feeding, just simply basking in the sunshine. while we didn't have the appropriate gear aboard for these big boys, we did manage a couple of casts to them without even a look. Whales were rolling all around us and good numbers of Gannets were searching for bait balls on the surface. It's Just a matter of time before the "football" tuna come screaming up the coast...We'll be there waiting!!!
Reservations comntinue to come in for the 2008 season. Call today to set up a time.

Capt. George Harris
207-691-0745
www.superfly-charters.com

Maine Striped Bass fishing report

A happy Detective Robert Smith from Texas with his first ever Striped Bass, caught 6/22/08 using a black sluggo on ultra light tackle("Evening Blitz Trip")A "fish story" that is sure to grow by the time he gets home to Texas!!!

Early Morning's & late evening trips have been critical in producing fish for us. As we continue to experience some slower than normal fishing, I have switched gears and instead of stubbornly tossing flies & artificials, have begun using live herring & chunking techniques more commonly used during the heat of mid season. The switch has paid off. While we havn't landed any really big stripers this season, we are still catching. Of course we continue to cast our flies and artificials & pick off fish here & there. The good news is that Big schools of striped Bass have invaded southern Maine...It's just a matter of timing of when they'll come blitzing into Muscongus Bay.
I have made a couple "football" Tuna scouting trips around Monhegan Island...Heavy Fog has hampered my search. The next clear day I plan to spend some time offshore scouting for the early arrival of BFT's

In addition to my Striper/Bluefish/Tuna trips I'll be offering light tackle Cod/Groundfish trips to the ledges off Penobscot & Muscungus Bay which have been covered with codfish and other tasty species. Ask for details!!!

Reservations continue to come in for the 2008 season, call today to set up a time.

Capt. George Harris
207-691-0745
www.superfly-charters.com

Maine Striper fishing report

We've had a run of slow fishing over the last few days...most likely due to the unsettled weather patterns that have been moving through the region. Baitfish of many varieties continue to clog our rivers & bays. Thick schools of Juvie herring have arrived giving the Stripers plenty to forage on. Mackeral have made an early appearance and have been blitzing on schools of micro herring....If only these macks grew to the size of their southern cousins, They're still kinda fun with a 5 wt!!!
Reports from other parts of the State indicate that Maine is off to a slow start...which is consistent with what I have been finding.

Also I've been receiving reports of "Football" Tuna crashing on the surface around the south side of Monhegan Island...I'll try to make my first scouting run of the season this friday if I can get some time off from my Striper Charters.

Reservations continue to come in for the 2008 season...I have limited availability left for July & August. call today to set up a time. I still have plenty of evening blitz trips available!!!

Capt. George Harris
207-691-0745
www.superfly-charters.com

Maine Striper fishing report

All that I can say is...WOW!!! I have never seen that baitfish come in as thick as they are right now. The water is completely black with balls of baitfish of many different varieties. Dense schools of rainbait have moved in over the course of the last week, Mackeral have made an early appearance and are blowing up on bait schools every where(kind of fun on a 5 or 6 weight)Alewives are still dropping out of the rivers in Jaw dropping numbers, add some Juvie herring & a worm "hatch" that should go off around the full moon period(right now!!!)and we have the stage set for some epic fishing conditions. Striped Bass have not shown up in force yet but we have fished pretty amazing surface blitzes. Fishing the right tidal flows and during low light hours has been best. I have been on the water every day this month, day & night, and have seen the ups & downs that guides all along the Maine coast have been experiencing. On "my" stretch of the "Striper Coast" the Bass haven't really settled into thier typical summer patterns so time on the water has been critical. Early mornings and late evening trips have produced best.

Our reservations continue to come in daily. Call today to set up a time!!!Capt.

George Harris
207-691-0745
www.superfly-charters.com

Maine Striped Bass Fishing : Guided Trip Report

The Striper Fishing season is now officially under way for Super Fly Charters. With my first two guided Striped Bass fishing trips of the 2008 season in the history books, I'm really looking forward to the busy season ahead & arrival of the hordes of migrating stripers that will soon be invading the coast of Maine.

Over the last few days the two guided trips that we have done have gone extremely well...considering that we are not yet into June. We left the dock in search of warmer water and the larger schools of Baitfish (alewives). It didn't take long, after running a couple of miles upriver we ran into pockets of 59-61 degree water, In a scene resembling something out of "Wild Kingdom"...with baitfish skipping all over the surface and the Eagles, Osprey and hundreds of cormorants feeding heavily in the fast river currents, we began probing around some of the large boulders & ledges that provided excellent ambush points for the Striped Bass. Casting large alewive patterns on sink tip lines it didn't take long before we were into a healthy 25 incher of around six pounds. As we worked our way upstream we picked off fish here and there, using flies and soft plastics on spinning gear, the fish ranging in size from 16-25 inches with a total of 15 fish during our four hour trip. Much better than I had hoped for.

Before our trip, I had explained to my clients that it was still early in the Striper fishing season and I wasn't too sure how things would go, They mentioned that it didn't really matter to them... they were in town for a weekend wedding party and were just looking to do some fishing....any fishing!!!Catching a few would just be the icing on the cake. I guess it worked out okay as we caught over 25 stripers in two mornings of fishing. Not too bad early season action!!!

Reservations continue to come in for the 2008 season. Call today to set up a time before prime dates fill.

Ask about our "football" Bluefin Tuna trips & "Evening Blitz" trips

Capt. George Harris
207-691-0745
www.superfly-charters.com

Maine Striper fishing during the June "Worm Hatch" Don't Miss It!!!

Posted: 5/3/2008


Dixon's "devil worm"

Clam Worm aka Sand Worm(Nereis Virens)
As I sit here at my fly tying bench thinking about the many fly patterns i'll need to have on hand for the 2008 Maine Striper fishing season, one pattern comes to mind, the lowly Clam Worm aka Sand worm(nereis virens). During the new & full moons of June worms by the thousand leave the safety of their mud flat burrows to spawn in open water. "Worm hatches" can offer some of the most exciting fishing of the year...also when Striped Bass are keyed in on the worms, it can be very frustrating as well, the Stripers ignore almost everything else. The secret to success is "matching the hatch" so to speak, knowing just what the Stripers are feeding on, it's not always obvious. Thats where I your faithful & diligent guide come in. I'm on the water day & night(plenty of strong coffee & Red Bull keeps me going) during the Maine striper fishing season, patterning the movements of the Stripers and also what they've been feeding on.

For worm hatch fishing, we typically use 8wt. rods with a floating or intermediate line and very long tapered leaders(10-14 ft) more common to Bonefish or Steelhead fisheries.
Fly selections should include some small dark colored wooly bugger type flies, dark red, brown, olive with a tinge of chartreuse all work well. Bunny strip flies work well. Check out noted Montauk guide; Paul Dixon's "Devil Worm"...it's a killer.
We offer up our own local "secret" pattern that has proven itself over the years. Come Try it out!!!

The June "Worm Hatch" offers some of the most epic sight fishing of the year as Striped Bass lazily gorge themselves during spectacular "Worm Hatches" a careful cast & a well presented fly will yield a tight line almost every time!!!

Reservations continue to come in for the 2008 Maine Striper season

Call us today to set up a time before prime dates fill...Let's go fishing!!!

Capt. George Harris
207-691-0745
www.superfly-charters.com
Call us today to set up

Guided Maine Striper fishing trips, herring runs + big flies = BIG FISH!!!

Posted: 5/1/08

Alewive & Blueback Herring coutesy Maine Dept. of Marine resources










With the start of the Maine Striper Fishing season almost upon us it's time to start thinking about targeting the huge herring runs that occur along the entire coast of Maine. Some of the largest Striped Bass of the year are caught during June as Alewive & Blueback Herring migrate back to their natal rivers and upsteam lakes to spawn.
We concentrate on the prolific herring runs of Muscongus Bay & the St. George, Medomak and Damariscotta rivers as these offer some of the largest alewive runs in state waters. Large 8-12 inch herring flies fished with 9-10 wt rods & 300-450 grain sinking head lines. A Short 4-6 foot flouro leader is all you need...keep it simple!!! I highly reccomend using a loop knot such as the "Duncan Loop" to attach your fly, this will give your fly much more movement allowing you to present your offering with appeal of fluttering injured baitfish.
for the light tackle anglers target the same Herring runs using large soft plastics such as slug-go and fin-s fish, either fished weightless or with varying sized jig heads. Live lining herring will produce when all else fails!!!
Call now to set up a time before prime dates fill.

Reservations continue to come in for the 2008 Maine Striper fishing season & Interest remains high for our nearshore fly & light tackle "football" Bluefin Tuna trips!!!

Capt. George Harris
Super Fly Charters
207-691-0745 cell/boat
www.superfly-charters.com