June 26

The boy and I decided to fish for Stripers today after my clients canceled and the US soccer team lost to Germany.  We caught lot's of fish, at first using jigs and then casting plastics.  It's the first time I can recall that the boy was able to cast for and catch a fish.  He is growing up. He caught two that way.

I have not fished the river in over a week but I had been getting good reports.  We caught fish both on the bottom and the top.  In the next few days the early morning out going tide should be good.  

Last weekend I fished the beach.  It was slow city.  Bait was everywhere and sitting comfortable by the shore and rocks.  You should see bait like that take evasive action every now and again but nothin was happening.  So we went just offshore and caught several cod and many other bottom species.  Chuck brought this keeper home.

The Mackerel have not been great.  Hopefully that situation improves.  The boy and I will make an effort on Saturday after my  morning trip to catch  Macs.    We shall see then.

June 16

         What a difference a week can make!  The fishing conditions in Boothbay Harbor have changed radically.  Last week the only signs of life were jellyfish of all colors and sizes.  Now, the jellys are still around but not nearly as omni present.  Instead, baby herring, known locally as Brit dot the water everywhere.  When the wind is down one easily spot these tiny baits dimpling the water, making it look like rain.  These tiny fish are also apparent on the finder mostly near the surface.
         Area fisherman breathed a huge of sigh of relief this week when the Mackerel showed up following the juvenile herring. My son and I caught all the Macs we needed to bait out lobster traps in 30 minutes on Saturday.   The Macs ranged in size from Tinker to Horse Mackerel.
         I have not used Macs yet on the Stripers. Special no bait no keeper regulations are still in place until July 1 in the Kennebec and Sheepscot Rivers.  Soon I will take a trip out around the special restricted zone to fish on the beach, giving bait a try.
         However, using artificials the bite has also improved in the Kennebec River. Below is a picture of  a father and sons team with their triple hook up.  

These fish were caught on the surface with a Spook lure and also subsurface with soft baits.   All lures during the special restriction season must have only one treble hook.  Remember that when fishing the surface, the best times are in low light and with low wind.  As a result, early morning and the evening are the best times.   

June 10

             The saltwater fishing, in the Kennebec/Boothbay Regions, has not changed much since my last report.  There are Striped Bass in the River in places with warmer water.  Most of the fish are smaller with just a few larger fish mixed in.  Several days ago we hooked up using soft plastics and a spook rig.  As you may know, the Kennebec is under special restrictions until July 1.  These special restrictions include no bait, one treble hook per lure, and no fish is allowed to be kept.
              Water temperatures are still very chilly.  In the morning, before the sun had a chance to do its thang, I recorded water temps in the upper 40s over the weekend.  I guess I should not be surprised.  Boothbay Harbor actually froze over this winter.  
              As a result, at the time of writing this, there are still no Mackeral in Boothbay Harbor.  I am sure they will come but their late arrival is driving some of us nuts. I want them to arrive so I can fill my freezer and bait my lobster traps.  
             My last day of school is next Monday so after that the fishing will take over my life.  I love my school job but I am looking forward to the different challenges presented by guiding.

June 1, 2014

          Boothbay Harbor is filled with jellyfish and little else.  Water Temps are still below 50 degrees in many places.  The Sheepscot had water temps of 45.  As a result, we are still waiting for Mackerel to arrive.  Ev and I fished several reliable Mac spots in good conditions and found nothing.
         However, in just a short time upriver near Bath, the Boy(Evan) caught our first Stripers of the year.

 Spread out, on several Mud flats, we found some Stripers enjoying some 57 degree water.  Ev caught his fish on plastic gummies he is learning to cast. We did not catch fish on every cast  but it was good enough.
           Overall it feels to me like the fishing is just a bit behind where it was last year.  I predict that coming next weekend I will be singing a different tune.