AUTHOR
NOTES
Targeting Striped Bass and Mackerel Along the Southern Maine Coast
Old Orchard Beach - York, ME
As June begins, the waters off Old Orchard Beach and Portland are rapidly coming alive. The annual spring migration is in full swing, bringing our primary target species back to the Southern Maine coast. With water temperatures steadily rising, the inshore bite is becoming highly consistent.
Here is what we are seeing on the water this week:
Striped Bass: The Stripers have officially arrived. We are finding large numbers of school-sized fish pushing into the Saco River mouth and local estuaries, feeding heavily on sand eels and river herring. Larger migratory bass are also starting to establish themselves along the rocky shorelines and beachfronts. Fly anglers are having great success with Clouser Minnows and Deceivers, while light tackle setups are producing well with soft plastics and topwater plugs during low-light conditions.
Atlantic Mackerel: Mackerel schools are highly concentrated just a short run off the coast. These provide excellent, fast-paced action for our 2-hour family trips. More importantly, they are the premier live bait right now. Filling the livewell with Mackerel and live-lining them near coastal structure is currently the most effective method for targeting larger, holdover Striped Bass.
Bluefish: We are keeping a close eye out for the first major push of Bluefish. A few isolated catches have been reported south of us, and we expect their numbers to increase significantly in our local waters as the month progresses.
Bottom Fishing: For those interested in dropping lines a bit deeper, we are seeing steady activity for local groundfish, including Pollock and Flounder, particularly around submerged structure and ledges.
Captain's Tip for June: Tide positioning is critical right now. The falling tide near the mouths of local rivers has been the most productive window for Striped Bass, as baitfish are naturally flushed out of the estuaries. If you are casting artificials or flies, match the profile of the local sand eels and vary your retrieve until you dial in what the fish want that day.
The summer season is shaping up beautifully in Maine. Ensure your gear is ready for the salt, and always plan your trips around the moving tides for the best results.
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