striper fishing (and eating)
The striped bass, or more commonly referred to as striper, is the most sought-after inshore gamefish in the Northeast. If you have never caught a striper, it will be easy to understand why it is so popular once you hook into and land your first one. Once hooked a striper can generate a lot of power with their large muscular broom like tail causing the unforgettable sound of the drag screaming as line is pulled off your reel. They are great fighting fish. You will further understand why so many people become obsessed once you land the fish. It is a very impressive looking fish with a large head, broad body and its defining seven horizontal black lines running from head to tail. The scales give the striper a silver look on the sides and a white underbelly. When the sunlight hits the scales you will see sheens of greens, blues and purples. If you decide to keep a striper for the table, you will not be disappointed. It’s a white meat fish that can be cooked or raw prepared in a wide variety of recipes. The striper is an amazing fish and worth your effort to take a crack at catching this summer.
Getting started to pursue striper is rather easy and does not require a ton of gear. All the gear can come later when you fall in love with the pursuit. The first step to take is to research and understand the rules and regulations of striped bass in Maine. Next you will need to get the basics for a striper fishing adventure. When you walk into a big box store this can appear overwhelming and confusing with the endless aisles of lures, hooks, lines, rods and reels. Do yourself a favor and head over to a local tackle shop where you will be able to talk with someone with local knowledge and they will be stocked with the specific legal gear and bait needed for targeting local species of fish. A few of my favorite shops around the Portland area are The Tackle Shop, Johnson’s Sporting Goods and Saco Bay Tackle. When starting out keep the gear to the essentials to stay organized and mobile so that you can focus on what the fish are doing. To get started in Maine you will need a medium sized saltwater rod and reel combo such as the Penn Fierce, braided line rated for 30-50lbs and some leader material 20-30lb. As for what you attach to the end of the leader depends on what style of fishing you intend to do. The two main styles of targeting stripers are with bait or with artificial lures. To get started with bait fishing you will need circle hooks and bait. Depending on your style of fishing you will also need lead weights, bobbers, and some swivels. For artificial fishing you only need a few essential lures such as a bucktail jig, some small soft plastic lures, sp minnows are great and a top water popper. Ask the tackle shop employee what is working for people. Tackle shops want to steer you in the right direction so you will come back and get more gear as you develop in your striper fishing pursuit, so ask questions.
Now that you have the tackle you need to start your search for stripers, the question is when and where do you find them? The best time of year for striper fishing is typically late May/early June through October. If you are starting your research early in the season a good striper report as to when they will arrive in Maine is On The Water’s Striper Migration Map. Once they arrive don’t forget about those tackle shop guys. They will also give you some pointers as to where and what tide/time has been good. However, they are not going to tell you exactly where to go. This is where you must start doing your research. Grab a chart and get out on the water. If fishing from shore you’re in luck! Maine has plenty of public beaches and jetties that you can fish from.
Once you have found your location you should start experimenting with different techniques. If fishing with bait try and figure out if the bait should be free floating under a float or sunk to the bottom with a weight. As for artificials change color, size, shape, depth, and speed of your retrieve. You will need to experiment and be persistent in figuring out how to catch these fish. When starting out it is not likely you will catch fish right off the bat or with regular consistency. As a teen I can remember going days without even a tug on the line.
A great way to get a jumpstart on technique of striper fishing is by booking a striper fishing charter. Spending a morning with a professional guide will give you a ton of insight on how to rig your rod and other techniques for catching striped bass. You can obviously book a trip with Portland Guide Service but if we are not available or you are looking for a charter in a different location you will be able to find one through the Maine Association of Charterboat Captains.
Everything has aligned! You cracked the code and now have a striper pulling line off your reel. You enjoy the battle and quickly land a striper. What now? Are you going to keep it or release it? If you plan on keeping it for the table measure it and make sure it is of legal size. If it is legal size then bleed the fish by cutting its gills and get it into a bucket of cold water. Before you head home get it on ice to cool the fish and prevent spoilage. If you are not keeping it please handle the fish with great care. According to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission “roughly 90% of total striped bass catch is released alive of which 9% are estimated to die as result of fishing interaction… In 2021 Of that total, recreational anglers released alive an estimated 28.6 million fish, of which 2.6 million are assumed to have died.” Recreational fishing has a large impact on the striper population. We need to do the best we can to drive that assumed 9% down. The Maine DMR has a short video on striped bass catch and release tips that is worth viewing. The better we are with handling each striper we plan to release the more likely this fishery will be a resource we will be able to utilize for years to come.
If you have decided to keep a striper for dinner I am sure you will enjoy it. But only harvest what you will use and enjoy. This fish is special in the fact that it is versatile and can be prepared in a plethora of presentations from grilled to simple fresh Crudo. My favorite, as it is with most white fish, is ceviche. No matter how you decide to prepare the striper you should do your best not to waste any part of this fish. One The Water has a good article on How To Clean a Striped Bass Without Waste.
If you do decide to pursue the striped bass I hope you are successful in your goal. Stripers are a special fish to Maine both environmentally and economically. No matter how you decide to chase these fish it will always provide an adventure. It can be a very rewarding, productive, fun outdoor activity, but it can also be a humbling failure. The level of leisure or seriousness is all up to you, but I do ask that you respect the fish you catch and the body of water it came from. We would love to hear your striper stories and recommendations. Comments welcome! Happy fishing!!!
