A few years ago we were in Boston on a business trip and as a team building activity a bunch of the boys went striper fishing. The 32 foot lobster boat picked us up in Boston Harbor and we steamed over an hour to get to the outer islands.

The Captain jockeyed the boat into a very specific position, which to me looked like the middle of the ocean. I was skeptical, knowing what I thought I knew… “Way out here, in the middle of the bay”? But, I kept my mouth shut and went along for the ride.

The tide was starting to drop and their was clearly good water movement. The crew started cutting herring and pitching chunks over the side. The chunks drifted away off the stern and sunk from site. We were handed rods with 40 lb mono, trebble hooks and a large piece of herring. We were told to “let the herring drift from the stern and allow the line to free spool until a fish picks up the bait. Give the fish a chance to swallow it, then set the hook”. The Captain and crew stated this with absolute certainty, and we wanted to believe.

The first of our baits went over the side, slowly they drifted from view and the line spooled off the reels; 30 seconds, 45 seconds… tug, tug… fish on! For a couple hours we caught 32′ - 39″ striper one after another. By the end of the morning, we were some happy sports!

So here’s what was happening. The Captain was familiar with these waters, and on a going tide, he knew the flow across this particular submerged shoal created the perfect conditions for stripers to take up a feeding position. He also knew their were some big fish working these waters. What he did was position the boat up-current from the shoal so the chunked herring would drift down current and across the shoal. The stripers worked up-current, moving from deeper water onto the shoal to feed. All the angler needed to do was put their bait in with the chum and a fish would pick it up.

Two points to make… 1.) Professional guides acquire a knowledge base that can really help their sports get on fish. 2.) Different techniques, althought new and different from what is local tradition or the local standard can be highly effective. So keep your mind open to new and different approaches to fishing as it might provide insight that results in success.

The morning of August 30th, Doug Rafferty, News Anchor for WGME News 13 went out on Casco Bay to do a little striper fishing with Eric Wallace of Coastal Fly Angler. While on the water we enjoyed a beautiful sunrise, did some fly fishing and shot a news piece on the tournament. The news piece is slated to air September 4th on Doug’s Discovery. 

Here’s a little video clip depicting our excursion.

Goosebay Guide Services is run by Thom Watson, a Registered Master Maine Guide. Thom operates from the municipal docks located on the waterfront in Bath, Maine. This location provides easy access to those wanting to experience fishing on the Kennebec River.

Thom is an avid hunter and fisherman and has been a Maine State Legislator and the House Chairman of the Inland fisheries & Wildlife Committee. If you get him talking he might have a story to tell.

Thom offers 1/2 day and full-day fishing and tour services from a 17 ft boat capable of comfortably carrying 3 anglers. He will provide beverages, bait and tackle for your trip.

Whether you are an experienced fisherman or a novice, Thom has the local knowledge to make your fishing experience memorable. The lower Kennebec offers views of destroyers being built at Bath Iron Works, light houses, coastal architecture, seals, bald eagles… “the sites on the lower Kennebec River will leave a lasting impression”. And the fishings great too!

Coastal Fly Angler is run by Captain Eric Wallace and based out of South Freeport. Eric splits his fishing seasons between stripers and blue fish in Maine and permit, tarpon and bonefish in Florida. In both instances, he applies a Florida keys flats strategy, stalking the fish using a push pole.

It’s apparent when you visit the Coastal Fly Angler website that Captain Eric is really into fly fishing and photography. Check out the great photo slideshows he has for 2005 & 2006. These shots tell a story about how he approaches fishing, his clientele and what you can expect from your excursions with him.

If you enjoy sight fishing, working the flats and casting to shoreline structure, the waters of Casco Bay are a destination for just such an adventure. Captain Eric will help you explore these bays and position you where the fishing actions best!

North Creek Guides Service is owned and operated by Captain John Nowinski, a Registered Master Maine Guide and USCG Licensed Captain who resides in North Yarmouth, Maine.

Captain John has extensive experience fishing the waters of Casco Bay and an intimate knowledge of the Kennebec River. He fishes out of a 20 foot Lund Alaskan and practices differing strategies to help his clients catch big fish. One strategy he finds very effective is trolling tube-n-worm rigs. This technique gets the bait down to suspended fish and can be very effective when the suns high in the sky and the surface action has died down.

Captain John invites you to join him this fall for some great fishing action. It’s common for his sports to land 20 -40 fish during an outing and September is the month for striper fishing in Maine. “Fall is when the big fish get caught, and the action gets hot”!  So book your stiper fishing excursions early with Captain John Nowinski, as tournament days are limited and prime dates fill up fast.

North Creek Guides Service is a proud sponsor of the 17 Rivers Striper Tournament!

Obsession Sportsfishing Charters is run by Captain Dave Pecci, a native of Bath, who was born and raised right there. He has fished the Kennebec River almost his entire life and has an intimate knowledge of the river system and the coastal waters in this area.

Captain Dave operates out of the Kennebec Tavern Marina in Bath Maine, just upstream from the Rt. 1 bridge. He is a Registered Maine Guide and USCG Licensed Captain. Dave is also involved with numerous organizations. He is the current President of the Maine Association of Charterboat Captains, an Orvis Endorsed Guide and a member of the Yamaha National Fishing Team.

OSC specializes in light tackle spinning gear and fly fishing charters. They run two boats, dependent on the weather and the number of clients in a party. Obsession is a 22′ Cuddy Cabin with a 150 HP Yamaha. This boat can handle up to four clients and is set up with some interesting electronics. Obsession II, an 18′ Hewes Redfish with a 115 HP Yamaha is set up as a flats boat which can handle up to two clients.

Give Captain Dave a call to schedule your guided tournament trip. He’s an amicable person who really knows how to get his sports onto nice fish.

Marsh River Charters is owned and operated by Captain Hank DeRuiter, a Registered Maine Master Guide and USCG Licensed Captain. Hank has been guiding fishermen in the coastal waters of mid-coast Maine for 17 + years and has an intimate knowledge of the Kennebec, Sheepscot, New Meadows and Damariscotta Rivers.

Marsh River Charters uses a 24 ft. Grady White Offshore powered by a 2006, 250 HP Yamaha four stroke. This set up is quiet and safe! The boat is equipped with live-wells, Raymarine and Lowrance electronics and GPS color plotters. This gear comes in handy when trying to locate fish and find your way on those foggy mornings.

Captain Hank can accommodate up to six anglers, but only recommends a maximum of four when fishing.

Captain Hank also provides the gear and uses Loomis and St. Crois rods with Shimano and Penn spinning reels. These outfits are selected by Captain Hank for the fish he targets. His tactics include drifting the tidal rips for striper and blue fish using live mackerel, which he catches for the trips. If mackerel can’t be found, he will troll tube-rigs or drift live eels. If fish are showing on the surface, he’ll encourage the use of  soft rubber jigs or top-water poppers. All these tactics work well and produce results.

Captain Hank, operates from the dock at the Kennebec Tavern Marina located in Bath, Maine, the “Official Host City” of the 17 Rivers Striper Tournament.

Marsh River Charters offers 1/2 day trips of up to 6 hrs for $300.00 and full day trips of up to 8 hours for $400.00.

Book your tournament trips early!