Hope you all are well and are getting excited for another Striper season in the Northeast. Thank you to all who have booked trips and sent in deposits, I'm looking forward to fishing with you. Today I heard reports of anglers catching striped bass in the 15-32 inch range in Boston Harbor so the good news is fish are starting to make it around the Cape. The bait reports here in Maine are looking good with ospreys and seals moving in to feed on the alewives and herring working the way into Maine rivers. Stripers will follow soon!!!!
Last year I started fishing in Maine on May 18 with good success despite the muddy water from 27 days of rain June and July. In the end 2009 proved to fish better than 2008 and we may see an even better season this year. Water temps in Rhode Island are 7 degrees up from a year ago and the amount of fish that have made it to CT and RI sounds promising as in the past they often stopped in New Jersey. Fish size will continue to be on the bigger side the next few years as we wait for the low recruitment of juvenal fish in 2005-06 to be replaced. There are some signs of improvement, with a better spawn the last few years, but for a year or two we will be chasing bigger, smarter fish and I'm enjoying that challenge.
Many of you have asked about carp fishing in Maine, and have booked trips in the next few weeks. The carp came up on the grass flats for a few days then some cold nights put them back down, but by the beginning of May we will be in good shape, so anyone looking for the challenge of the tidal ravine carp let me know ASAP. Also for early season, the sand flats south of Portland have been producing the last few years. These are shorter window trips due to the tide swamping us out, but we usually get a good 4-5 hrs of fun.
It amazes me how cool of a fishery Casco Bay is when you hit the right tides, and I really can't think of prettier place to chase striped bass on the flats and I look forward to seeing you soon.
Capt Eric Wallace
207-671-4330
www.coastalflyangler.com
