Publication: Coastal Journal (August 27th, 2007)
Author: Robert Fernald

Are you a serious saltwater fisherman? If you are, you’re certainly looking forward to this falls striper fishing and you already know the stripers are beginning to gather in anticipation for their fall migration south.

Those who have never experienced the fall striper action, are really missing out. The fishing during September offers some of the hottest action anglers can experience all season. Not only will you catch plenty of schoolies, but you are also likely to hook into a big striper. The fish are plump and fat from gorging all summer and have put on inches since spring. The added size makes for great fun on light tackle.

As the days shorten, stripers congregate into large schools and feed with increasing intensity in preparation for the coming journey. These behavior patterns afford anglers some great fishing opportunity. And with the tourists departed and the kid’s back in school, their’s time for us locals to pursue such quality activities.

With weather cooling and as fall rains sweeten the stale summer waters, alewives begin dropping out of the lakes and ponds, heading towards the ocean. This abundance of bait coincides with the stripers fall migration and they take full advantage of a readily available food supply.

In the tidal rivers, anglers can expect to find schools of stripers working the alewives as these balls of baitfish drop out of the rivers. Stripers are often lurking just under the bait and slash at the panicked minnows in a feeding frenzy. The bait typically moves fast on the tide and the stripers follow in hot pursuit. Dropping a lure into this chaos can produce some fast action.

This September, the 17 Rivers Striper Tournament provides a great excuse for serious anglers to get out on the water and experience this fall sports fishery. The tournament takes place in the coastal waters of mid-coast Maine, which offers fishermen the setting for great adventure. The fishing there is wonderful and the scenery, including the early fall foliage, can be spectacular. It’s fun exploring the tidal estuaries of the Kennebec, Back, Sasano, Sheepscot, Damariscotta or the Marsh rivers in pursuit of that illusive monster striper, the potential derby winner.

Tournament organizers anticipate hundreds of serious fishermen will participate in this catch & release tournament all vying for the adult division grand prize of $2,500. A junior division also exists and prizes of tackle and gear will be awarded to youth ages 16 and younger.

For those anglers registering as adults, a special promotional discount allows children to participate in the tournament for FREE. This special discount is designed to encourage family participation in the tournament and engage youth in a positive, healthy outdoor activity like fishing.

Across America, the Department of U.S. Fish & Wildlife estimates “nearly 50 million adults and children participate in fishing activities”. Taking a youth fishing is a great opportunity to teach a children about boating, nature and conservation. Maine’s Inland Fisheries & Wildlife program, Hooked on fishing - Not on drugs, recognizes “these types of experiences often create favorable memories which will last a life time“.

For today’s youth, physical activity appears more sedentary. Watching TV, playing hand held electronic games or surfing the net are common. Research conducted by the Center for Disease Control indicates “nearly 1 in 10 children living in Maine have not participated in a vigorous or moderately physical activity in the last 7 days“. Our children’s health suffers due to such inactivity. Research by Stanford University further illustrates the resulting problem, “13% of children ages 6-11, and 14% of children ages 12 -19 are over weight“. Fishing is a recreational activity that represents a healthy form of exercise and exposing youth to such activities at an early age, promotes a life time of interest.

This September, serious anglers are wanted to join in the fun of the 17 Rivers Striper Tournament. The tournament is the reason to go outdoors and enjoy the great fall weather with friends and family, while attempting to catch that monster striper. Who knows, maybe you’ll be lucky enough to achieve the highest tournament score and win the grand prize. But even if you don’t win the tournament, you’ll enjoy some great experiences from participating in these activities.