A hand full of boats fishing Casco Bay in the Yarmouth area had a little early season success this past weekend, weather wise if you are traveling to the region in the next week be hopefull that the patterns changes soon, just unstable crap!! Water temp, things are in good shape lots of small bait around and reports of some nicer fish being caught in the Saco Bay area and we will continue to see more and more fish daily spreading out in the area.Tide wise the afternoon highs have been fishing better for us the past few days, we have few milder night coming up with a south wind and might be worth a go for a early am session but try to beat the forecasted 15- 25 mph wind now through Tuesday night.Water temps in the Royal- Portland Falmouth shoreline are around 52-54 once you get out past Cousin Island it drops to the 48 degree range.
Give any of the small rivers a shot at incoming high tides and on the turn around, tight to the grass banks smaller flies with active materials not only have produced stripers in the 16-26 range but also a few Shad in the 19-20 inch range. Nothing gang busters yet and you will have to work to stay on the groups of fish that are around but why not get your casting arm in-shape and as we all know this time year the fishing changes daily and you can only hit it right if you are out on the water.
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Looking ahead I have a pretty cool guest coming up, we fished a few days last year together
and he is coming back next week to fish the tidal Carp, Stripers and we have also put together a float with a few freshwater guides, Lefty Kreh many of you or most of you have heard of this guy and what a ton of fun this 85 year old weapon of a caster is to fish with. My ears go wide open when he is on my skiff I learn a ton and have a ton of fun, hoping the weather turns around and we can get him a few shot at tailing carp or at least a taste of Casco Bay striper fishing, I have not oared much in the past ten years but in my past life as a western river trout and steelhead guide between Colorado and Oregon it made up for about 200 days a year, so will see if it's like riding a bike or not.
Other Maine Saltwater Fishing News
Mandatory saltwater registry stays afloat
An effort to repeal the state's mandatory saltwater fishing registry was defeated Monday, May 23, in the Maine House.
The House voted 73-69 to kill LD 308, which sought to replace the mandatory saltwater registry with a voluntary registry in which people could register online for free. The current registry was approved last year by the Maine Legislature. The federal government was directing states to create the registry, saying it wanted the information to determine the number of people who are fishing and the impact on the resources.
State law requires annual registration, which is $1 if done online through the Maine Department of Marine Resources or $2 if done at the resident's municipal government office. People fishing for striped bass also pay an annual fee under the law approved last year.
Residents will pay $5; nonresidents will pay $15. Maine residents 70 years old or older may pay a one-time $10 fee. There will be no charge for people younger than 16 years old, disabled residents and people who are passengers on a licensed commercial vessel carrying people who are recreational fishing. All saltwater fishermen may also fish without registering if they fish on Memorial Day weekend, the Fourth of July and Labor Day weekend. People violating the law will be fined $100.
LD 308 would have replaced that system with a voluntary one in which people could register online with the state Marine Resources and Inland Fisheries and Wildlife departments at no cost. The bill would prohibit a fee to be charged.
Anna Blodgett, D-Augusta, and Maeghan Maloney, D-Augusta, voted to kill the bill. Karen Foster, R-Augusta, voted to keep the bill alive.
The state Senate has not voted on the bill. The Legislature's Marine Resources Committee had recommended defeat of the repeal legislation.
