07/21/08

The hot humid weather has slowed the inshore fishing from Portsmouth to the Kennebec.Anglers fishing in the Saco river have had good luck trolling the infamous Saco Bay surgical tube(wine red/black,or pink) tipped wth a sea worm.The key to catching fish with these rigs is to troll as slow as you can go and fish with the current.The bigger bass have moved out of the river into the bay feeding on pogies and tinker mackerel.Capt. Cal Robinson of Saco Bay Guide Service said the fishing is very slow,I caught plenty of bait but struggled all morning to catch one 37" linesider wth. a live pogie Robinson said.Shore anglers are also having a tough time producing fish,try early morning or evening tides for better results,stripers tend to lay low during the day when it's hot and humid.there's a few blues around but not enough to break up the large schools of mackerel and pogies.The groundfishing has been red hot out on Jeffrey's ledge,angler Scotty Mac said he loaded the boat wth keeper haddock,a limit of cod,2 wolf fish,and a 32" slammer pollock.Clams are the bait of choice rigged on a cod fly as long as the dogfish don't bother you.The bigger codfish have been hitting the jigs,try the larger Shimano butterfly,and Lucanus jigs rigged wth. a teaser fly ahead of it.Also Seawolf,s cod bombs and cod killa's have had there share of big fish the past couple of weeks.Bluefin tuna are starting to show on some of our offshore ledges,fishing fanatic Bow Adam's of Portsmouth Harpooned a giant on southern Jeffrey's a few days ago and also missed an opportunity on a few other fish.Some of our New Jersey friends were docked up in BoothBay Harbor getting ready for a troll bite.Stellwagon Bank has had many school and medium tuna taken on the troll,try using squid rigs,daisy chains,and green machines to entice these fish to bite.The new BIG KAHUNA rig is now available,this 15 hard body squid rig has more flash,pop,and action then any other rig on the market.It comes in many tuna catching colors such as pink,blue,and purple.We haven't had many reports on sharks yet but the water is warming and we have plenty of bait offshore,they should be here anytime.....Stay tuned for our next report which should be jammed packed with offshore excitement.

                       Tight Lines

                           

07/20/08

from Dennis Carpenter ; Big fish Charters:

7/16 AM.  Water Temp 60 - Several slot stripers and one 29lb on live mackaral,
incoming tide against rocks between Kittery and York.


7/17 - Jeffrey's fingers.  Beautiful day, 5 foot swell.  Drifted from 200ft to
360ft with 14oz Cod Jigs behind teaser bucktail flies (green, purple and
red/white - green outdid others 2 to 1).  Several keeper Cod and 8 keeper
Haddock with a few small (but keeper) Pollock in the mix.  Lots of whales, dogs
up top, no sign of Tuna.
7/18 - Water Temp 59 degrees. Jigged up loads of macks for livewell at 2KR then
headed for the shore for some Stripers.  Caught a few slot fish on incoming tide
(still a significant swell from Bertha).  Fished the back side of Isle of Shoals
for Stripers with no luck.  Tried some bottom fishing about 2 miles east of
Isles with little success - few small Cod.


No sign of Blues, still loads of bait in Piscataqua 

 

07/15/08

Striper action is slow right now. Fish early morning or late evening for best results using mackerel, clams, worms. Anglers reporting some good action along many of the local beaches. Trolling with the surgical tube and sandworms is seeing good results. Bluefish are being spotted and caught by boat as well as on shore. A 20" blue was caught last evening in Old Orchard Beach using mackerel. There are still reports of large quantities of mackerel still around in the bay area. Great success using Sabiki rigs in the Camp Ellis areas near the jetty. Lots of Poagies now being spotted around the area as well. Great groundfish activity on Jeffrey's Ledge using 16 oz lead cod jigs with a teaser fly rigged ahead of it. Haddock is plentiful on Jeffrey's using clams, squid, and shrimp on a teaser. Football tuna spotted around Tantes and Jeffrey's. Angler reported this morning that two football tunas caught near Richmond Island yesterday afternoon. Large numbers of tuna spotted off the coast of NH and Mass heading north. Won't be long now. Time to stock up on bunker oil and all your chum accessories so your ready to go.

 

Water Temperature (WTMP):

65.3 °F

07/07/08 (from Steve Morse)

hey whats up guys, well i fished platts on saturday, we did exeptionally well we landed good numbers haddock and cod,  we also caught 1 wolf fish and a couple of slammer pollock one was about 37 inches. we used butterfly jigs and slovorkens, red flies tipped with shrimp seemed to be the key we fished from 190ft-220ft a great day overall.  no tuna spotted

 

Water Temperature (WTMP):

60.4 °F

 07/05/08

  Well the action has picked up a bit on Stripers.  Creek Chub and GAg's poppers are doing well first at first light. Right out at Basket island. Sanbar at Hills Beach.  R.M Smith Plugs are back in the store and other wood plugs are having some luck in Biddeford Pool.  Ron Mckee has been using A couple of gag's and redneck swimmers at Fortunes Rocks to get a couple of keepers.  since his surgery, Ron has not been going out to the last rock.  (Maybe second to last). 

Capt Cal Robinson was seen fishing the tube and worm and catching a few slot fish down deep with spinners and weighted keel sinkers.  Customer Stephen Pelletier caught two 40 plus fishing by the islands in Saco Bay using Live tinker Macs.  Two fisherman were on the beach braving the fireworks last night by Danton Towers catching a few keepers using chunk  herring and Macs, and two M-80's.  Merrimack is still loaded with hogs.  Blue Beast still using the olive and blue crystal minnow.

 Rodney Morin said the bait seems thicker in the water today than it has been all week.  Tuna Reports still at Stellwagon and a few sightings on Jeffereys southern and Northern ends.  Craig is still in his room rigging up our new Kahuna rigs with a green machine or Squid NAtion Stingers.  Andy Jones said they are looking great in the sun, but it was too rough to keep trolling, jigging up some shorts, but no confirmed catches on the Kahuna rig yet.  Couple of shorts caught on Stellwagan.  Ground fishing reports have been steady out on Jeffereys from Scotty Mac 35 Haddock, 15 cod and 15 dog fish .  Mike McCullock reported lots of Haddock caught at tantas, but short cod. The Fortin's on the boat Osprey loaded up their boat with haddock last week as well.  Shimano's 12 oz Butterfly jig with srhimp or a small  clam neck as well.

Good Luck

Peter Mourmouras 

	Air Temperature (ATMP):	58.6 °F
	Water Temperature (WTMP):	57.7 °F

06/16/08

Fishing Report

                 Southern Maine has been blessed with  bait like we haven't seen since I was young,silversides,mackerel pogies,river herring,and sandeels have invaded our bays and rivers.This large band of baitfish has affected our inshore,and offshore fishery from Casco Bay to Cape Cod.Local anglers fishing on Tanta's and Jeffery's ledge are reporting numerous whales and porpoise feeding on herring,tinker mack's,and sandeels.Tanta's is producing keeper cod,cusk,and redfish.Dad and Butch fished on the southern and northern edge of Tanta's on 6/13 wth many legal cod and a few cusk in the mix(NO DOGS). Try using a 16oz. silver jig rigged with a teaser fly ahead of it tipped with a strip of clam,or squid.Southern Jeffery's has had some excellent fishing the last few weeks,Peter Mourmouras and Chris Cantara aboard the MAD DOG caught numerous cod,haddock and wolf~fish using the new Shimano butterfly and Lucanus jig.Striper fishing in Saco Bay has been good with many anglers catching fish wth. tube and worm,drifting a chunk of mackerel or herring in the surf or casting small poppers and surface swimmers at the mouth of the Saco.Capt. Cal Robinson of Saco Bay Guide Service reported large schools of mackerel in the bay wth some bluefish showing up.Make sure you have some steel leaders,(lip Grippers) and pliers to take care of these toothy critters.Capt. Vince Miniutti reported bigger stripers off the beaches and islands around Saco bay,also Capt. Paul Bois said if you can't catch a bass in the Saco now better take up golfing because you can walk across them there so thick......Schoolie tuna action out on Stellwagen bank and south of P Town...get your squid rigs and daisy chains ready to catch some of these unbelievable fish.....Good Luck&Tight Lines.  

 

06/03/08

 

Water Temperature (WTMP):

54.7 °F

New Moon

 

We Just received a large order of R M Smith plugs early Monday Morning!  Good news is we are almost sold out of them in one day.  Bad news is we almost sold out of them the first day.  Hopefully we will have more of Ryan's Plugs in the shop.  Do not be afraid to come in and see the other wood plugs from a few local builders: Al Gag's , lonely Angler, Tatoo, Mucci Glitter Plugs, Red Neck, Ocean, and many more...First 40 inch striper was caught below the Factory Island Dam by Phil Hussey of Biddeford while he was on Ripp'n Lipps. So Far chunk bait is working and schoolies are coming in chasing bait throughout the area.  Steve Martin had caught small keepers on white buck tail jigs and small crippled herring .  Good ol reliable tube and worm are working great trolling with the current throughout the Saco river.  Lots and Lots of fisherman can be seen off of the Ferry Road in Saco at Sandy Bottom.  i could not see what eveyone uses but chances are you would see clams and worms on the end of their line. Up on the  Scarborough Marsh Pogies are spotted quite early this season.  Lots of warm weather is starting to come in and that is bringing in quite a bit of fish. Earlier on during the week it seemed that there was so much bait the bass had quite a bit of feed and not too much competition.  This week seemed to change things with water temp, and  warmer weather and bigger bass moving in.  Off shore the Macks were at Tantas, slow starts for a lot of cod fisherman , but deep water was the place to get some large cod.  new cod and haddock teasers with purple and red buck tail seem to be working best.   Some anglers from SOL took a trip offshore and tried the new Lucanus jig on some cod and haddock.  Still waiting on their trip.  Nick  Masi  went out with John Bergeron to get some cod and haddock and did quite well with just jigs, and cod bombs...no bait.  Clams are still working well for Scott Mcintyre at Jeffereys.  I guess it is safe to say the bite is on and I am not afraid to say that quite a few customers are still going out, charter guys are still getting call and reservations.   Fuel is a major factor, but if fisherman are finding fish they will still go out the next day.  We are just getting a little more selective on the locations to fish and going back to domestic beer to save money. 

Good Luck to all this season,  and thank you again for all of your support.

 

Peter Mourmouras

 

05/25/08  

We still are close to the 50 degree mark making it difficult to find stripe bass on the beaches...the best chance is to go to the warmer water inlets in Scarborough, goosefair brook, up the Saco, and Mousam.  Bait is still running and that is what the bass are chasing.  Dave Cook and Steve Martin were in the Saco catching fish on Friday, but Saturday morning was quiet.  Steve Martin called me later in the afternoon and saw some boats catching stripers on tube and worm from Marblehead to Cocktail cove.  Kevin Grondin and I spent the afternoon on my new aluminum 14' "Passing Wind" at the dam catching 20"+ shad on shad darts with a ultra lite rod/reel.  Great Time!!!  Good news is bait is everywhere, whales out on Tantas, Jeffereys,

Water Temperature (WTMP):

49.5 °F

 

 

05/21/08

We just got some great news from Scott Macintyre that he was out on Jeffereys where he also caught a lot of keeper haddock  using the new jitter fly glow eye. Scott also had a halibut with a cod killer and clams. LOTS OF WHALES!   Shad Darts are working great at the Dam in Saco and Kevin Grondin found one keeper striper and a few 16 -18" with sea worms in the Scarborough Marsh.  Outgoing Tide at Camp Ellis also with clams, sea worms,Yo-zuri  Pin Minnow, white/yellow bucktail jig, and rubber shad!!!!!

Good Luck

05/20/08

From Capt Ben Gardiner:I ran a charter offshore on Sunday the 18th.  We fished NE Jefferies in
anywhere from 180-350 FOW.  The bite was slow I thought, but the haddock
we landed were all fat and healthy.  There were a lot of short cod around
too, but we managed a couple keepers.  Flies worked best. Pink and
red/white  I regret to inform you that we also caught 5 dog fish.  Never
seen them this early so it's not a good sign.  The whales and bait were
everywhere but the fish seemed a little tight lipped.  I have 3 trips this
week so I'll keep you posted.

Hope to see you aboard,

Capt. Ben Gardner

 

05/10/2008

Spring is here and things are happening in Southern Maine.  Customers have been reporting good action on Sebago Lake trolling for salmon with smelt rigs. Anglers are also having good luck fishing brooks near the shop.  Try Deep and Cascade Brooks for brook trout action.  Use small Mepps and Panther Martin spinners to catch some of the bigger brookies.  Saltwater anglers were excited to know that there are stripers being caught locally in the Saco and Mousam Rivers, as well as the Scarborough Marsh area.  Try using small rubber shads, bucktail jigs, and sandworms drifting on the bottom for best results.  All of which you can find in stock at the shop.  Local angler Shawn Day called Thursday to report shad and herring action down by the Saco Yatch Club.  Offshore fishing is also heating up with anglers catching thier limit of cod and many haddock off of Jeffrey's Ledge.  Use 16/20 ounce lead jigs rigged with a teaser fly to increase your hook up ratio.  If you are unsuccessful catching haddock with jigs, switch to clams, squid, or shrimp.  Haddock love bait and easier to catch this way.  Don't forget to have a shark rod out for Porbeagle Sharks that are attracted to your boat while offshore in the early season.  Set rod with a 10 foot wire leader attached to a 9/0 Mustad (7731AD) hook baited with mackerel and send it 20 or so feet off the bottom.  Leave your reel in free spool and have your clicker on.  It's the right time to get your gear out and ready to go.  Before you know it the mackerel will be running in the bay, commercial anglers will be harpooning tuna, and surf anglers slinging eels for stripers.  We're all looking forward to a successful, and safe season.....  Tight lines and stop by the shop for some coffee and chat.

05/07/08

 bought stuff for haddock and cod from you today.  Went to (5/7/08) West Cod Ledge #4 red bouey.  Caught a bunch of Scalpin.  Winds were low and perfect for our 18' boat outing.  Can't wait to crush the Tuna in this boat.

05/07/08

recent report from Mike

Our three man party arrived at the north edge of Jeffries ledge at appx. 9 am. to light rain, 2-3 ft. seas and light winds blowing s to sw. We started out in 200 ft. of water with minimal success. after a moving a couple of times over 2 hrs. we spotted a couple of party boats and aligned ourselves with them in about 170 ft. of water. over the next three hours we caught pollack, keeper cod, keeper haddock and redfish. At the end of the day we had several cod and a haddock in the fishwell. We used Saco bay jigs w/ red and purple top flies and 16 oz bottom jigs with green or orange, the crippled herring also yielded positive results. My advice BRING YOUR RAIN GEAR!! MY gear was a life savor. and be patient, We were in a 22 ft. Grady White, and at times had to work a bit to keep the lines clear.


WE are planning another run on saturday weather permitting.


Just a little info for your website.


I'll stay in touch,


Mike boyd

 

April 28th 2008

We have had a great run of dry weather that has given us a chance to do some fresh water fishing in York County.  This week the rain will mud up the waters a bit but bette now than June.  We have had many calls from excited fisherman looking for stripers.  I just heard of a few hold over stripers waking up in Scarborough, but  I can tell you that the Portland water buoy read 49 degrees last Friday (surface temp) and the birds were working the water  in the Nonesuch river early this morning.  Shad will start to show up first in 50 degree water in the Mousam and Saco.  Usually a good sign for bait to show is when Mother nature opens up the apple blossoms that is a good sign that the Macks start to show up in Saco Bay. 

 Off Shore Cod trips have shown some great size keeper cod.  Dan Kelly caught a 41 pound cod on the Bunny Clark last week.  And John Turgeon put in his boat and tested his lines over the weekend and landed some haddock and small cod.  Lots of wind made it difficult to keep the lines straight, but they said they felt great getting out there. stop in to check out the new cod teaser flies we are making in the store....Lots of new items in the store if you have not been in for a while you will see a whole wall full of new products made for SBT and wood plugs.

 The store was full of Turkeys on Youth day tagging over 17 adult birds over 18 pounds!! and we also saw over 11 birds tagged in the store this morning.

  

 

 

April 6th 2008

Just a quick note to thank everyone who attended this years seminar in Biddeford.  It was a pleasure seeing everyone there hopefully you had a great time and getting some new and old information. I first wanted to thank all of our speakers: Striper Maine-iac Ron Mckee, Capt. Rob Odlin and Capt. John Shusta, Al Gag, Captain Keith Hall, Capt. Mike Jankovic, Apex Predator Program, UNH Tuna Tagging Program, and I want to Apologize to Gowan Marine for not having enough time for speaking about rigging up you boat, trolling, and live well baiting techniques....I also want to thank everyone who worked hard to get you as much information and product to that show all in one day.  It felt like we were setting up for a concert and moving out for another show at the end of the night.  Just a long day, but a fun one. Thanks again to Craig, Richard, Mike Bergeron, Butch Boisvert, Steve Gale (your Bud Bus Driver), Cowboy Ken Pouliot, SOL Member Steve Martin, and the guys helped clean up...i think I still owe you a couple of Beers. Also Thanks to my 8 year old son Max for video taping the speakers at the seminar.  If you missed any topics, I will have dvd's available for you in the store that you can bring home to watch and learn, for a small donation for Max's College fund.

 

 Let's move on to some fishing reports.....

Capt. Tim Towers on the Bunny Clark had to cancel his first two trips because of high gale force winds.  April 3rd, Capt Ian Kenistan and Tim ran their first trip out for the start of the 2008 season. 

"The fishing was good to very good for catching but only fair for landing legal fish. Most fish landed were cod including about a hundred or more sub-legal cod. Landings also included twenty-three haddock (thirteen were sub-legal and had to be returned), two legal pollock (unusual for this time of year) and two cusk. Most of the day was spent drifting but we did make a couple of anchor stops. Jigs, flies and bait all worked about the same with some gear working better on some spots than others. Jigs seemed to work better in the morning. "  (Capt. Tim Towers) www.bunnyclark.com Today will be their first marathon trip...Good Luck.

Fresh water is going to be a challenge  York and Cumberland areas that are opened up and flowing have been visited by a few customers with some small catches.  Check the areas that have been stocked last fall for browns like the Mousam River, Ogunquit River, and below Skelton dam.  There have been some spring stocking, but it has been in areas where the flow and waters have opened up.  Check out   www.mefishwildlife.com for stocking updates. 

 

  02/23/2008

Well we're only a few weeks away from our exciting all-day seminar.  Pete and Craig are extremely busy with final preparations.  Thousands of post-cards are being labeled and stamped as we speak.  All 2008 product arriving on a daily basis.  Craig has been building dozens of our Saco Bay Tackle squid rigs.  We are still working on the schedule of events during this 11-9 all day extravaganza.  Some of the scheduled speakers are as follows:  Capt. Cal Robinson (Saco Bay Guide Services 207-283-0712) with great tips on how to rig your boat, Ron Mckee with extremely valuable info for striper fishing, Capt. Keith Hall (Maine Coast Guide Services 207-632-1061), Daryl Delancey from Redneck Lures, Capt. Mike Jancovic updating us in regards to new shark fishing techniques.  There will also be information covering the Maine shark tagging program.  We're extremely busy with reel repairs and service. So don't get caught with your boat ready to roll, but no rods/reels ready to accompany it with.  Call for reservations so we have enough food and beverage.  It won't be long now!!!!!!!!!!!!   

 

 

02/03/2008

Just for a quick update.  Our hours have changed due to the increase in ice fishing sales.  We want to make sure we are here for your needs and requirements.  We are available on Mondays, by appointment.  Open Tuesday thru Friday 10-6, Saturday 8-6, and Sunday 8-3.  We offer a large variety of ice fishing tackle.  From sleds, sled covers, hitches, augers ( power and manual ), bait buckets, tackle boxes, fishing rods, traps, and much more.  Shiners are still plentiful in our outside eel tank, available to you folks 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at $5 per dozen.  Happy ice fishing!!!!!!  

 

PS:   ALL DAY SEMINAR MARCH 29TH AT THE NORTH DAM MILL.  CALL STORE FOR RESERVATIONS AND MORE INFO.

 

01/17/2008

Hoping all your Holidays were wonderful.  Another year gone by, and it's now just getting through the next couple months of winter.  Ice fishing is going strong with this cold weather.  We have a large inventory of ice fishing gear and still have bait outside available 24/7.  We are officially open Thurs-Sun, however find ourselves in and out Mon - Wed.  So feel free to stop on in and join us for  a cup of coffee.  Spring orders are beginning to filter in and remeber if we don't have it in stock,  we can order it for you.  REMEBER OUR SEMINAR IS SCHEDULED FOR 3/29.  Call for reservations.

 

12/07/2007

Ice fishing tackle is now part of our inventory.  Hand powered augers, gas powered augers, traps, hooks, ice grabbers, ect...  If we don't have what you are looking for in stock,  we'll order it for you.  Once the ice is ready,  we'll once again supply you with shiners set up in our eel tank, 7 days  a week, 24 hours a day.  So come on by and take a look around.  Discounted items throughout the store,  and we have GIFT CARDS  available in all denominations.

 

12/06/2007

First storm of the season has not stopped our customers from coming in and picking up some sale items for the holidays.  Do not forget to bring in your gear for routine service or line..Now is the time instead of the middle of the season when reels can take up to 2 weeks! 

Smelt Fishing is coming up. you can look on our link for tide charts in the area.  Below is a list of  rental spots:

You will find these towns on Map 6 of the Maine Atlas and Gazetteer.

Prudy's Smelt Camps
334 Cedar Grove
Dresden
207-737-8826
207-737-4553
Cell 207-458-9474

James Eddy Smelt Camp
Dresden Mills
207-737-2596

Cork Cove Camps
Dresden
207-737-8856.

Little Fish
Bowdoinham
207-666-5945

Riverbend
Bowdoinham
207-666-5945

Leighton
Bowdoinham
207-666-5551

Smith's
Richmond
207-737-4739

Sonny's
Richmond
207-737-8115

Hyde
Brunswick
(no number available)

Jim Worthing Smelt Camps
Rt. 9 Randolph
207-582-3199

Bark
Patten
207-582-4257

Jim'sQuality Bait
207-725-4090

 

10/19/2007    Guys are still calling for a fishing  report and we still have lots to report.  Kyle Gagne and Dave Dube landed a nice 300lb Bluefin Wednesday.  Lots of Bait busting out of the waters from Saco Bay to Wells.  John Bergeron and Kevin Hall took in a 62 in bluefin on live bait close to shore Thursday.  in this foggy day, Andy Donovan  landed a fat 41 inch striper near Wood Island also on live bait.  Dave Johnson and I went out Thursday on flat seas and caught a few cod and small pollock.  sea temp was 55 degrees and flat as could be.  Great time to be in Maine.  We tagged a couple of nice bucks in the store.  After doing  that I am heading out of the river passing a few duck hunters,  seeing some fly fisherman and other fisherman trolling and having a little luck in the river, then i see bait and reports of tuna still jumping...A great way to end a summer season..hopefully we can still salvage another couple of weeks.

Peter 

 

10/09/2007  report from Dave Johnson

:Check out the cod and haddock we picked up on TANTA's of all places yesterday (monday).......fishing was hot all morning, with lots of sublegal cod in surface temp of 64 degrees. We brought home 4 nice keeper cod, some nice keeper haddock, a big hake, and several nice cusk for chowdah.......

10/05/2007

Don't put away your boat and rods yet.  This weather has kept pods of bait fish in the Mousam and Saco River and spike mackeral in the bay.  Butch Boisvert was out Tuesday duck hunting in the Saco River and came across bluefish chasing peanut bunker.  Steve Martin had some luck chunking herring inside of Wood island, and using artificial Port jude and other cast masters.  Bluefish in the Mousam as well.  so keep on tossing the plugs and get us some late season pics.

Frank Williams and his son Marc, and Ron Porter are still Shark fishing and brought in a 188 pound Mako and landed some big blueshark 9-12 foot males still on Tantas last weekend.  Tim Swenson also had some luck with some makos in the same general area.  Football tuna are still out there and close to shore. reports off of Goose rocks and Richmond are keeping fisherman busy. 

Good Luck.

Peter

 

 

09/20/07

The Beaches May be empty in September, but it has been a busy in the water with a lot of action.  Tuna and stripers have been exploding out of the water in Saco Bay and up in Casco Bay.  Reports from Jack Salvasta,  John Bergeron, Guy Bouthot, Bob Laflamme, Leon foster, have hooked on to a few from Wood Island and giants from Tantas to the other ledges close by.Capt. Paul Brady wrestled wth a beauty out on Tanta's Tues,the fish weighed in at 100lbs.If your casting at these breaking fish use shiny metal lures weighing about 4oz.Try the Crippled Herring,Point Jude,Hydro Metals,Butterfly Jigs,and Deadly Dicks for best results.Many anglers reporting hot action trolling squid rigs and daisy chains,Killa Tomato/Widow Maker/Rainbow/and Green Gas Foil are the colors of choice right now.Troll around 31/2 to 6 knots and hang on tight.......Captain Dave Johnson reported hot action on Northern Jeffrey's Tues morning,he slammed the cod and haddock using clams and shrimp.He was busy filleting his 8 keeper cod,and 18 haddock,surface water temp was 62 degrees and the magic depth was 170/190ft.Get there early as things died off by 11:00am.Striper fishing is as hot as it gets with little pressure from local anglers,try fishing Old Orchard Beach,Camp Ellis,Biddeford Pool,and Higgins Beach wth clams/cut mackerel/and sandworms.Watch for bird activity and have some small topwater lures ready to cast when you see a blitz close to shore,Gag's Popper,Lonley Angler,and Gibb's needlefish are sure bets.

 

 

 

Happy Labor Day.  There are going to be some spectactular days coming up.  winds are easing up, water is clear, and the fishing is going to be great this month.I can feel it!!!

 Striper fishing should be at its best early morning or evening tides.  Try OOB< FERRY Beach, Bidd Pool Bathhouse, Higgins Beach, and Goosefair Brook.  Try chunking  Macks or pogies, clams, and Herring. We have some new colors of Surg. tubes, glow, pink, Tinkie Winkie, or olive colors..don't forget to uses a worm on the end of your Tube.  Blue fish are running 6-12 in the rivers, and islands of Saco Bay, Richmond Island.Keep an eye for the birds, use bright color poppers,and deep diving lures for best results.

GroundFish: Tantas has been producing some keeper cod on red teasers and crippled herring.  Jefferey's Ledge has been  decent too with some large pollock using chunks of clams, shrimp.

Tuna Tuna and Tuna have been seen but not caught when they are jumping.  Most of the fisherman have been trolling and had landed tuna when there are no signs at all.  If you see any jumpers, stay in the area and keep trolling after they appear to be gone.  Dark rigs on overcast days and the bright rainbow pride and green in the sun.

Thanks again for supporting our little store.  We are not perfect by any means, but we have tried hard to answer everyone and take care of our customers.  Thanks for a great season! Eeven though it is not over,   for most people it is just starting.

 

08/28/07

Gentlemen...

There were a total of 8 blue sharks, and one mako shark weighed in this year at the Downeast Maine Shark Tournament.

First place was team "Reel Deep", and the captain of the team is Phil Breton, from Wells. They weighed in a 291 lb blue shark on the first day (fork length 8' 8.5") and a 359 lb blue shark on the second day (fork length 9'4"), resulting in a total of 650 points (blue sharks count 1 point per lb), making them the winner of this years Downeast Maine Shark Tournament.

Second place was Jean Baulu's team (Prime 8) with a 268 lb mako shark, fork length 7'8", worth 402 total points (non blue sharks were worth 1.5 pts per lb).

Third place was Brad McDonald, with a 397 lb blue shark (thus, 397 points total). However, the big news of course is that Brad's shark is a potential new Maine state rod and reel record for blue shark (previous record was 391 lbs).

Fourth place was Team Isurus weighing in a 383 lb blue shark (fork length 9', 1.5") on day 1 for 383 points.

Fifth place was Team Bonnie Lynne,  weighing in a 346 lb blue shark (fork length 9', 3") on day 1, worth 346 points.

Sixth place was Team Seagar,  weighing in a 342 lb blue shark (fork length 8', 11") on day 2, worth 342 points.

Seventh place was Team K+C,  weighing in a 336 lb blue shark (fork length 9', 0") on day 1, worth 336 points.

Eighth place was Team St. Patrick,  weighing in a 332 lb blue shark (fork length 9', 3") on day 1, worth 332 points.

In the youth division, Scott Peacock from Team Ruth-Less won the catch and release division, landing and releasing 3 blue sharks unassisted.

 

 

8/22/07  Fly fishing update from Jon Hall at Higgins Beach , Jon caught his first 40 inch on a 9wt fly rod on 20 lb test.  Using a black snake rig...Chart/white also working on the lower end of the outgoing tide.  Hopefully jim Herlihy has not given up hope yet. 

Stripe Bass are still hitting hard on tube and worm in the Saco.  chunking is still working around the islands of Saco Bay.  Gab Grabber and Ron Mckee's Have been a big hit in Biddeford Pool and Off Kennebunk Beach for Nate Wescott.  He also managed to get a couple of bluefish off the Kennebunkport Jetty with a Gibb's Popper and a Lonely Angler Popper.  Redneck lure that has been successful off the Rocks in By Richmond Island is the Bunker Colored Needle fish.

Big bbiat catching Big Fish off the rocks in York and Ogunquit.  Incoming late night tides.

 

report from Matt Charland 08/23/07: I Work at the Navy Yard here in Kittery and today at dead low tide thousands of pogeys sufaceing in approximately 0-10 feet of water. Area must have been 60 yrds square. Just thought id write to inform if interested.

 

08/14/07

(Some Reports to Dave Johnson on Shark Fishing in the area)

 

I fished today.  One tuna, then, one small blueshark, after that 100 dog
fish.  I just keep chumming and wait till I spot a shark.  Three days ago we
released a dogfish and a blueshark ate it.

We lucked out today  and hooked one decent female blueshark, after many many
dogs.

Guys, the dogs are everywhere, its nothing new.  I've heard guys surprised
they get them in deep water, it's always been that way, I catch them
gillnetting by the tens of thousands all the time.  We fish 400 to 600 feet
all the time, and we get dogged up hard. 

They will eventually subsise, they may even leave after a tide change or
wind change.  They can be clear 2 or 3 miles away too.

The real question is what are they eating?  I haven't jigged a herring all
summer and I'm out more than most.  Are the dogs eating all the herring? 

Also, don't kill them just for killings sake.  It will never put a dent in
them.  Kill them if you are going to eat them or sell them.  They are a
valuable fishery in Mass.  They fetch 25 cents a pound down  in New Bedford
and the Cape.  At the Portland Fish Pier its been 15 cents but that might go
up.  We need a fishery to help reduce the numbers not just a slaughter.

By the way they taste good breaded and fried, just gut and skin them right
away.

Rob Odlin
F/V Maine Lady III
www.mainefishin.com

HI DAVE,

  I ALSO HAVE FISHED 4 TIMES THIS YEAR...THE FIRST 3 WE WERE DONE IN BY HUNDREDS OF DOGS...BUT SATURDAY 8/11 WE FISHED 12 HOURS. THE FIRST 2 SPOTS ONE WEST OF JEFFRIES..AND THE OTHER EAST OF TANTIS ...FIRST BAIT IN THE WATER BOTH SPOTS TO SEE IF THE DOG'S WERE HERE 14 MILKES APART...THEY WERE...NO CHUM, OIL OR ANYTHING IN THE WATER..3 MINUTES BOTH SPOTS DOG'S...

 

SO I STARTED TROLLING FOR SHARKS WITH WHOLE RIGGED BLUEFISH...AND OTHER ASSORTED THINGS I HAD MADE..3 HOURS NO LUCK...THEN WE FIGURED WE WOULD TRY ONE MORE TIME FOR A DRIFT...6 HOURS NO DOG'S...ONE SMALL BLUE SHARK AND HAD ANOTHER LARGE FIN IN THE SLICK SHORTLY AFTER TAGGING THE LITTLE GUT...WHAT EVER IT WAS ???WE SAW OR CAUGHT NOTHING THE REST OF THE DRIFT...

 

SO I THINK WE CAN FISH THEM...WITH CHUM...GIVEN THE RIGHT SPOT...

  THANKS  RICK

 

 

Boyzzzz....

Just a reminder the Captain's dinner is only two weeks away for the
Downeast Maine Shark Tournament. Many of you have already registered,
and we currently have 7 new teams in the event who were not in last year
(and last year we had 39 boats). So we are pushing a 50 boat tournament
now......

Couple things to be aware of, if you do not already know (it has been up
on the website for months):

1. We are using a point system this year (1 point for bluesharks over
8.5 foot forklength that are weighed in, and 1.5 points for thresher,
mako, or porbeagle weighed in). There will only be a SINGLE OVERALL
WINNER of the tournament this year......however totals the most points
over the two days of the tournament.

2. We are also running a 'lottery' this year (it's legal!). So in
addition to the regular prizes and cash for the winner, there will also
be a $100 and $200 pool that registered boats can enter into if they
choose (you can get into one, both, or neither!). The tournament takes
no money from this...100% is returned to whoever wins each pool. Bring
cash to the captain's dinner if you want to participate, as there will
be someone there collecting it and registering you in these pools if you
decide to get in. It is possible to win both the tournament, AND one or
both of the pools.

3. We have a 'Youth Division' this year, to allow fishermen to get their
sons and daughters involved in the sport of big game fishing. Any
individual who is 17 years of age or younger (NOTE: IT SAYS 15 YEARS OR
YOUNGER ON THE WEBSITE, BUT WE HAVE CHANGED IT TO 17 OR UNDER) and is
fishing on a boat that is
registered in the tournament is eligible to fish in this division. We
will award $250.00 in cash (as well as other prizes) and a nice plaque
to two individuals in this division: The youth who weighs in the
heaviest eligible shark overall in this division (blue shark minimum
length of 8.5 feet applies in the youth division), as well as to the
youth who catches and releases the most sharks overall during the
tournament. The number of sharks caught and released will be based on an
honor system, and has to be confirmed by the Captain of the registered
vessel on which the youth is fishing.

A shark weighed in by a boat to count towards the youth division will
also count towards that team's point total for the tournament...in other
words, if Team Spankbottom comes in with a 375 lb blue shark on friday,
and it was landed by a 16 year old on the team - who is also registered
in the youth division - then it counts towards him/her winning the youth
division, and the total points accrued for that shark will also go to
that team towards winning the tournament overall.

There is no additional cost to participate in this division. However,
YOU MUST REGISTER THE YOUTH AT THE CAPTAIN'S DINNER in order to fish in
this division.

Thanks!

dave j

August 10

Stripers around University of New England, schoolies taking on small gags poppers.  Some fish coming on the beach near Parsons Beach.  Rumor of some school tuna chasing bait on the beach near Little River Rock.  Two anglers spooled in 15 minutes while trying to find striped bass.  Nice stripers hanging off the rock piles, Biddeford Pool, the Graveyard, and Fortunes.  They're hitting chunk mackerel and artificials, with a few being landed on flies.  Mouth of the Dunstan producing good fishing, near the bottom of the tide on the sandbar, working the whitewater.  Lead heads, poppers, and bait drifting out in the current is working best.  School Bluefin Tuna in the Saco Bay area seen near Stratton and Bluff Islands, inside of Tantas, as well.  Trolling is working and our squid rigs have been successful.  Don't forget about the Downeast Shark Tournament in two weeks...

Tight Lines,

Peter 

July 31st.  Stripers are back in still chasing pogies in the rivers.  Big news are the tournaments .  Val Borg Landed the winning Tuna in the Bailey Island last Weekend.  Fisherman have been keeping Craig busy building squid rigs 24/7.  Black,green,purple, pink,and rainbow.  hot colors!!  We went out last Thursday to try out the rigs.  Birds are a must to get the action going on the 9 and 13 inch squid.  We saw quite a few shoties south of Tantas, and inside by Peaks and the flagpole. Sturdivant island Captain's dinner is Weds night with a lot of anticipation of the double grand prize and full boat entry.  it should be an exciting weekend.  Dogfish have kepted a lot of Captains site fishing and not putting bait in the water.  We are working on a dogfish repellant in the store...turns out, they hate squid rigs!!!!!!  Shark fishing has been spotty, just getting your bait deep is a challenge.  try just chumming, then toss out bait when you see them.  Good Luck this weekend,

Peter

Mike Mullen report...blue shark 7 foot this morning out at Tantas if you guys want to head out for shark.....deep water

July 23

Quiet week last week.  Bait is still in the Rivers, but fisherman have been working hard to land slot fish.  Chevy in Camp Ellis took a photo of a 42 inch striper off the jetty Friday.  Clams were the weapon of choice.  Kevin Grondin had luck with Herring in Pine Point, and a 34 inch Striper on live eels last night.  Jim Herlihy has been having a hard time on flies in Pine point and was about to take up golf, but he has a change in plan and is going to try fishing the pool and Hills Beach side with a black fish hair clouser,with some red, lefty's deceiver, olive and white, incoming tide.  Steve Martin has been working hard in Saco Bay and following birds for the bluefish.  "slow this week".  The Saco River and the bay has seen more success with chunking bait, but the Biddeford Pool area,  still using artificials at  evening high tide along the rocks.  Not large but a few good hits off the rocks.  Dog Fish are still on Tantas and eating our cod on the way up Sunday.  We landed a few keeper cod with crippled herring and Nor. Jigs, without bait.  Another halibut was caught on a red teaser with clam at Jeffery's.  Captain Ben Gardiner reported his trip over the weekend "one of 2 coolers that were stuffed with haddock , cod, cusk, pollock, and even a nice size Hake.  Only 6 dogfish too, so that is a great sign!!  Easily over 20 keeper haddock on the day....and they were deep" 

Tuna fisherman have been trolling with success. but it is still hit or miss.  Green, rainbow, black , colors of choice.  Craig has not seen daylight for 2 weeks repairing and creating new rigs.  If you need some call ahead or check out the selection in the store.  Consider the z wing to get thos rigs deeper for the giants that are settling in. 

Sharks are also at Trinidad, a bunch were caught there recently.  Blue sharks are there, but dogfish are still around.  Keep checking your bait!

Preping for the upcoming shark outings.  Make sure your line is fresh and reels ready. 

Downeast Shark Tournament

August 24-25

Captain's Meeting August 23 at Saco Bay Tackle

Sign up now and stock up on supplies early!

Good Luck this week,

Peter

July 14th

Some Crazy thunderstorms have kept a few people off the water and in the store with some interesting stories and pictures.  Last night Scott Macintyre dropped off a 32 pound halibut on one of Sea Wolfe's pink cod bomb.  Every time scott comes in he tries something dfferent.  "Never Hurts to drop something new out there!" So far we have Still been seeing birds playing the waters by Goose fair Brook, the islands and the inlets of Pine Point and Saco.  Some Large Stripers are being caught in Biddeford Pool By the Bath House and By the rocks near the Coast Guard Station...Ron Mckee as ready to chew his arm off being in a sling for Most of the summer.  he has been watching fish jumping and fisherman catching while he is watching through his spy glasses.  After he explained to the police that he was watching fish and not the sun bathers, he reported that the bait was close to shore and mostly the early morning high tide had the striped bass hitting lures and his slug-go's by the sand bars.  Blue fish are still in the river as well as the pogies. 

Off shore President Bush will be trying his luck on some of Craig's squid rigs..Craig said these are the way to go.  Bill Green will be on Phil Grondin's boat landing a Tuna with one of Craig's rigs.  It will be On Monday the 16th 6 pm.  haddock still on northern Tantas, some small Cod.  Bunny Clark is still showing off some large cod, by working the ledges hard.  Lots of herring on Tantas, but still lots of Dog fish.  Keep trolling.  John Tarbox got his first experience on a giant.  "It kept coming up to the bait, busting water but stayed away."  John later checked and found his stinger to have had some seaweed on it.  Keep checking your rigs.  So it may be a pain trolling for stripers, bluefish and tuna, but it is rewarding.

Have a great week.  Tight Lines to all

Peter. 

July 8th

Great job to Ben and Dana Sevigny of Biddeford for the offshore rescue of a fisherman!  After spotting a flare, they proceeded to the spot only to find the fisherman in the water.  No boat in sight or sign of any damage. A great ending of what could have been a terrible loss. 

So far so good.  the last few days of hot weather was just what we needed to get the bait and big fish moving.  the cold front that came in slowed things down a bit, but it has picked up all up and down the coast.  Blue fish are still chasing bait up the river and can be caught all the way up to the dam.  orange gab's grabber poppers have been the hot bluefish lure and Yozuri orange/black hydro series are still the favorites.

Worms and clams still the favorite at Pine Point. The beach is doing well with the clams, herring and Macks.  Tube and worm with the current and rocky structure at Biddeford pull with the wood Plugs.  Water temp has been warming up to 64 degrees in Saco Bay.

Scott Mac has been having good luck on Tantas with clams and catching haddock.  Keeper cod have been at Jeffereys.

July 1st.

i hope everyone is enjoying this great weather!  This has to be the best june on record for all outdoor activities.  Fishing is acting up and there is still bait coming up the rivers...Pogies!!  Ben Gardiner  caught some beauties in the Kennebec, but there are some bad reports up that way that it has been quite slow for the most part.  Up By Harpswell, there is tons of bait all the way to the Penobscot, Buxport, Brewer.  There are plenty of Fish in Camden and Rockland, but try to avoid the sailboats.  Back Here the beaches are doing well at Bidd. Pool, Hills Beach, Higgins, Goose Fair Brook.  Fly Fishing Has been picking up in the area.  New flies to try are the tube flies from Wiebe's totally tubular flies.

Maine State Pier Hussey Sound, Portland Buoy, Lots of Macks....Blues are still around.  

Finally Keep trying the Rivers...tube and WORM!!!!!!

Tight Lines

Peter

6/22/07

Blufish are here! , But the reports are stripers are also still in the river.  A thirty nine 1/2 incher was caught out by the 17 marker by the jett of the saco on tube and worm...and there are pogies up and down the river.  bluefish though have made it difficult to get fresh mackeral, but they are still out by the whistle and ledges.  If you are fishing the jetty or Pine Point, stick with the clams and worms.  Chunk bait and clams have been doing well near the islands and beaches.   Rob Martin was Offshore last week groundfishing, and a probeagle chased the cod up to the boat....John Tarbox also reported the same while fishing bait off the ledges. 

Good Fishing.......

6/18/2007

Another great weekend from reports from our customers...fresh water Panther pond were seeing bass with the rapala cd 7 gold.  Yozuri pin minnows were catching small mouths in Durham off route 136.

Blue fish are starting to show up.  Chris Ryan caught a couple near Wood Island. capt Keith Hall and Capt. Ben Gardiner caught  some in Casco Bay.   Just a little bit more fun added to this summers catch(stock up on the steel leaders and Yo Zuri Orange and Black Hy dro Mags..we may have a couple in Stock!!!!!

In the Saco John Bourgourlt gives this report:

Hi Saco Bay Tackle

Just thought I'd share an EPIC evening of fishing on the Saco last night.

We had 25 acres of stripers on the surface between UNE and Windmill Pt (the big open part of the river before Camp Ellis) at times I was seeing a 4-5 acre blitz.  This lasted from  4-8PM catching a fishing every 2-3 casts 15-31".  This was the best fishing I've ever experienced in the 5 years I've been fishing the Saco.  What made last night great was the range in size, not just shoolie but slot and 30"+ fish were everywhere.   These fish were only interest in Top water lures and preferred Gag's 3  1/2  schoolie popper, I was using the "blue head" but I don't think color would have mattered. 

Only 4-5 boats got in on the action and those without topwater lures struggled, some tried skipping lures on the surface with success.

Have a good summer.

Joe

6/10/07

Great weekend for fishing in Southern Maine.  New fisherman converted over from fresh water to salt water have experienced a 30 inch striper at the dam fighting on a 10 pound test line casting Port Jude Lure.  He came back set himself up with a nice baitrunner and st. Croix Rod!

Mackerel are out there...Lots of them, then to follow are the big Stripers.  You should have plenty of luck up and down the coast.  Off shore has been loaded with Bait, but the ledges are still having signs of fish but not too much size to them yet.  We went out Friday and Had the best luck with the Wolf fish.  Cod were small but we had a half a dozen of Haddock.  Lots of Cusk.....We do have knife sharpeners for your knife after you are done.

Pete Presby reports 8 am.. Mackerel and Adult pogies in 20 feet of water  outside of goosefair brook.  Watch for birds.   As fast as it came it went just as fast.  play the outgoing tide.

Paul sends his notes

05/31/07

Hope eveyone had a safe weekend.  Some troops stopped in the store over the weekend to get some bait.  I was overwhelmed by the attention and grateful people that were thanking them and giving them words of encouragement.  Next time you see a soldier, give him/her a big handshake and a thank you.   Back to fishing.  Last week the Sevigny boys and Rod McDonald returned some keeper cod out on Jeffrey's.  quite a few reports of bait on the ledges.  My kids were catching the big horse mackerel outside of Wood Island until they got their rigs tangled up, then the fight started, then the hooks went flying,  so I thought it would be best to haul up and leave the rest for someone else to catch.  Stripers are still up and down the Saco, with little size to them.  We still have the reel for the first 40 inch in the store.  trolling the tube and worm, bubblegum, orange, and red tubes.  clams are catching some on the surf, but the inlets are still your best bet while the bait is still running.

Paul Doucette left this info for us last week:  5/23/07 Fished Parsons Beach. Maine. High tide out 1 hour. Caught 1 Striper 19.5 inches 7:30pm Caught 1 Striper 16 inches 8:10pm weather cloudy. Spotted one seal in the river for about 2 hours
GoMOOS Buoy B01 - Western Maine Shelf
Current Conditions:
Last update: 05/23 8:00 PM EDT
Wind speed: 10.0 knots
Wind direction: NE
Wind gust: 11.5 knots
Wave height: 2.2 ft
Period: 10.7 sec
Air temp: 49° F (9.5° C)
Visibility: 1.6 nm (1.8 miles, 3.0 km)
Atmospheric pressure: 1028.49 mb
Water temp: 51° F (10.4° C)

5/26/07 Fished Rocky Ogunquit south of the beach about 2 hours into high tide going out with low tide being about 2:20.  Fished from about 9:30 am till 1:00pmAction was good catching 8 fish between 15 and 18 inches and my first keeper of the year 25".
GoMOOS Buoy B01 - Western Maine Shelf

Current Conditions:
Last update: 05/26 4:00 PM EDT
Wind speed: 4.7 knots
Wind direction: NW
Wind gust: 5.5 knots
Wave height: 1.4 ft
Period: 8.0 sec
Air temp: 68° F (19.8° C)
Visibility: 1.6 nm (1.8 miles, 3.0 km)
Atmospheric pressure: 1013.36 mb
Water temp: 57° F (14.0° C)


Thanks Again,

Peter

05/12/07

Well, the stripers are here!!!! Shad are here!! Cod and Haddock are Here!  Mostly small schoolies, but they are here.  Reports of stripers and shad in the Mousam.  Chartruce flies, and white  bucktail jigs, cast masters.  Small peacock tail fly with a little red tip.  Saco River and Marsh are seeing small schoolies and catching on worms and small white rubber baits.  Yo-zuri crystal minnows and small lonely angler poppers will have great luck in the Scarbrough Marsh.  Shad are hitting 1/4 & 3/8 red white and yellow shad darts. This great week of warm weather have moved the baitfish in and fish to follow.  A handful of fisherman went off shore for cod..clams, squid and shrimp were the popular choices.  Salmon are still hot at Sebago, as well as lake aurburn.  Remember size does matter.  So when the big fish show up, switch to big baits.  Big fat and lazy, is no way to live, unless you are a striper. So make those large Redneck needle fish  big Al Gag or Gibb's lures a treat for the monsters. 

Good Luck

Peter

 04/26/2007

We currently have bait in the store/ clams,macks,herring and sand worms in next week, just like the stripers.

Holdovers in the saco are still tough and early due to our high water run off.  Once the temp in the water picks up and the spring runoff goes down it should start to pick up and pick up fast. York and kittery reported a couple of catches, but still quiet be patient.  Sea run Browns are plentiful in the mousam with Yo zuri pin minnows, panther martin, and mepps. 

If you can get off shore, Scantam and Northern Jeffereys have had great success with market size cod and keeper haddock.  Bait of choice are the shrimp and clams.  Tim Towers has been a great source of information and has been booking trips.  www.bunnyclark.com .  Also check out the Ugly Ann.  Jean Young is also another great source and head boat to spend the day on. 

Captain Ben Gardiner has been providing us with some great pics of salmon from Sebago Lake. Also try Lake Aurburn   Trolling smelts, Streamers..miss Sharon, grey Ghost, Senator Muskie,  

Good Luck, and keep us posted if you have any news.

Thanks

Peter

Freezer ship to help fishermen target mackerel, herring fisheries

By David Sharp, As12/17/2006 The following came from Tim Towers/bunny clark.  For those of you concerned about the herring fleets and the future of Maine's Fisheries.  This delicate balance has an effect on everyone, and snowballs into a point of no return.   

Freezer ship to help fishermen target mackerel, herring fisheries

sociated Press Writer | December 4, 2006

PORTLAND, Maine --A long-time fisherman who owns five trawlers is bringing to the city a 380-foot freezer ship that will allow fishermen to target New England's healthy herring and mackerel stocks.

American Freedom is due to arrive later this week in Portland Harbor after more than $24 million in upgrades at shipyards in Norway and Poland, according to Jim Odlin, president of American Pelagic Seafood, which owns the boat. The freezer ship will allow smaller fishing boats to pursue offshore fisheries currently targeted by larger vessels, he said. Odlin said his "mother ship" will provide an opportunity for struggling operators of trawlers that target cod and haddock to supplement their incomes by catching and offloading high-volume fish that are plentiful. "That may be enough to get them over the top so they'll continue to have a viable business," Odlin said Monday.

American Freedom, which left Europe two weeks ago, will utilize fish caught by about 20 vessels, Odlin said. Two or three of Odlin's five trawlers will help support the operation, and the rest of the fish will come from independent vessels that aren't equipped to catch and refrigerate large quantities of fish, he said. It'll be the first mother ship operation in four or five years in New England waters, and the first U.S.-flagged operation, he said. In the past, Russian factory ships have partnered with local trawlers but those operations ended as onshore processing operations grew, said Lori Steele, fishery analyst with the New England Fishery Management Council. The herring stocks, in particular, have been at record levels in recent years after recovering from a collapse in the 1960s, she said. Odlin said both fisheries are healthy with only 35 to 40 percent of the annual quotas for offshore herring and mackerel being caught.

The problem is that currently only large boats -- from 100 to 150 feet long -- are capable of landing large quantities of herring and keeping them refrigerated at sea to maintain quality until they return to port, he said. Fishing boats between 70 and 100 feet long that previously couldn't target the fish can do so if they offload at sea, he said. All of the five trawlers operated by Odlin's Atlantic Trawlers are in the 85- to 100-foot range.

Although its home port will be Portland, American Freedom may also offload fish in Boston, New Bedford and possibly ports in the Chesapeake. The herring and mackerel, which will be frozen whole, will be shipped to fast-growing markets of Africa and Eastern Europe, Odlin said. The freezer ship will have a capacity of 400 tons of fish a day caught at Georges Bank and the region south of Cape Cod, Steele said. Fishermen can target fish in parts of the Gulf of Maine, but those fish cannot be offloaded at sea, she said.

Tim's Note: Makes you wonder where Lori Steele gets her information and/or how far behind National Marine Fisheries Service is from getting stock assessment updates. Here we are in the throes of a herring crash and someone from the Service is promoting the take of herring on a large scale. What are they thinking? And we're paying these people with our hard earned (in most cases) taxes.

On a more positive note, and this flies in the face of a more effective herring harvest, the Fishery Management Council voted today to adopt the closing of Area 1 to the take of herring by mid water trawlers from June through (I believe) September. Area 1 includes the whole Maine coast out to Jefferys Ledge and a little beyond and extends up to Canada. Seiners are allowed in but trawlers are out. Trawlers shouldn't ever be allowed to take herring, let alone for just a couple of months. Still, this is a start.

10/25/06

Hunting Season Starts Saturday.  We have the ammo and other supplies for the hunting and trapping season.

Still some schoolies hanging around the river and beach.  Also some sightings in the casco bay area on Tuna jumping after mackeral.

Fly fishing for salters in the Mousam and Ogunquit River is picking up.  Try scud and shrimp patterns, (olive,Brown,Pink). Spin fisherman try yozuri pins minnow and panther Martin spinners. 

10/11/06

comments: Craig, not sure if you heard that on sunday,
Dave Cook,John Cook Steve Reese and myself hooked up to a thresher that jumped out of the water 2x.  We had him to the boat but did not take him.  She was about 5 and a half foot.  ALso John cook caught his first blue shark.  There was alot of activity in the water.  We saw another shark in the slick and think it was a small mako.  But not sure with that one

10/06/2006

Garon Mailman and Mike Keegan landed a moster mako in some deep water last saturday at 430 lbs with a big belly full of bait.  John tarbox also hooked up the same weekend to a mako, and thresher.  Still some time to get out there this weekend.  Suppose to be some good weather.  Platts and Jefferey's are getting cod and haddock back.  Stripers are still on the beach going after clams and mack, herring,  try leaving the herring on the hook whole.

Good Lures to use: Yozuri crystal Minnows, Bombers long A Montauk Mikes Big mouth poppers.  Flies  Lefties deceivers(olive/white, mackerel pattern  Black 1/0 clousers.   York and Kittery are seeing pogies, bluefish, and stripers last weekend.  Macks are still in Saco Bay, so there still should be some stripers on the islands. Troll deep divers, Rapala's, yozuri surface Cruisers. Orang needle lures. Lonely angler, salty's, or Al Gags

Good Luck

Peter

09/25/06

What a great Month!!! and a great place to live!  Hunt in the morning, tag your deer here, fish in the afternoon, get your bait here.  Well, I want to thank everyone for supporting Saco Bay Tackle this year and making it a successful fishing year. (even though we had to work a little to get the big one) There is still action on the beaches and mackeral are out in the bay.  Customers came in with stories of using live macks around the islands and cathing some 25-35 pound stripers.  Whole mackeral and herring are effective, cast out and slow retrieve the bait.  Eels are having success at dawn and dusk ont the beach.  Sharks are still waiting for you on Shark Grounds, Trinidad, and deep water on Tantas.  Tuna have some company with dog fish swimming all around them.  If you can get your bait pass the dogs, fisherman are having luck on the peaks and Tantas.  We still have a few good weeks.  Don't waste it watching football, get out there!!!! 

New Maine record. Angler Steve York with the 1st place 628 lb thresher shark caught aboard Captain Bob Soucy's boat the Holiday I with crew Mike Soucy