How to Fish Striper Cliff Island Style!

By -

How to Fish Striper Cliff Island Style!

How to catch striper, sea bass. Cliff Island Maine Tate Macvane.
Fishing for stripers in Cliff Island Maine with Tate Macvane 

Striped bass, also known as striper here in Maine, are common along the northeast coast. Stripers are a favorite for recreational fishing, and I know from experience they are also delicious! 



Reeling in a striper video


During my family’s summers on Cliff Island, Maine one of my favorite activities is fishing for striper with friends. These are some of the most helpful tips I have learned to catch stripers from my fishermen friends here in Maine.

Fishing for stripers. How to catch stripers. Koen Van wert
Koen Van Wert fishing for Stripers.

The largest striper I have seen was caught by my friend Koen, and was 42 inches long. So before you go striper fishing you must be prepared… 


Supplies you will need: 

  1. Bait or lures — I have caught stripers on bait and lures before. But stripers definitely prefer fresh bait. We usually use mackerel pieces as bait, because they are common on Cliff Island, but herring, squid, chad, and clams work too. If we’re not fishing with bait I choose a rapala lure with mackerel-like blue and silver colors, or a white bucktail lure. Stripers are more likely to hit a lure that moves through the water like a fish.

  2. A fishing rod and line — having a good quality, strong fishing pole, or handline like we sometimes use, A reel, and braided line is key to landing a keeper-size striper. Don’t skimp here…

  3. I would also recommend investing in a tackle box to store your fishing gear.

  4. A gaff hook will help you land a monster.

  5. A measuring tape will let you confirm your striper meets the size regulation. 


Maine fishing regulation for stripers: 


OPEN SEASON, all year long!

Catch limit, every person may take and process 1 fish per day.

SIZE LIMIT, The fish must be equal to or greater than 28 inches and less than 35 inches total length.

Size regulation for stripers striped bass in Maine. How big does a striper need to be to keep
Measuring a striper. 


Where to fish for stripers: 

I have been striper fishing on a boat, off the Cliff Island pier, and the steep bluffs on the east side of Cliff Island. The experienced fishermen always look for a ledgy area of bottom, or a spot with a steep drop off into deeper water. These are stripers' favorite spots to hangout. 


How to reel in a striper: 

When my friends and I feel the line go tight we follow these strategies to land the fish smoothly. First I always yank on the rod to set the hook so the fish won’t get off. Then, if it’s a fighter, I let it use up its energy by tugging against the drag. Once the fish is getting worn out I begin reeling it in slowly and steady.


Once you’ve landed your fish you can release it, or if it is keeping size we like to take it home and cook it up.

Location: Cliff Island, Portland, ME 04019, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

We meet again in Hueco Tanks

By -
Image
We Meet Again at Hueco Tanks                            by            Kai Stanton Holloway  I'm back," I whispered to the boulders staring down at me. Hueco Tanks has overhangs, face, and slab climbs--everything you would expect in bouldering heaven and, in my opinion, the best v2 ever.     As soon as we pulled into our campsite my brother and I couldn’t wait to get to the mountain and we both had one route in our mind. My dad, brother and I hiked up North Mountain treading on the same trail as three years before. Everything was how I remembered it. I walked past all the routes I had climbed when I was eleven. Could I still climb them now that I was fourteen?     I walked past a pile of crash pads and there in front of me was Nobody Gets Out Alive in my opinion the best v2 of all time. We’re here, my dad told us. I unclipped my climbing shoes from my backpack and looked at the overhanging climb. Its chalked face looked back at me as if daring me to try and climb her.     I sto
Read more

Two Eye Catching MultiPitch Climbs in Potrero Chico Mexico

By -
Image
  Two Eye Catching MultiPitch Climbs in Potrero Chico                                     By Kai Holloway  I looked down at the Potrero Chico Valley, and across at the stunning limestone cliffs that make up the climbing paradise of Mexico. We were at the summit of Super Nova, a classic eight pitch 5.11, water fall like rock feature. I couldn’t believe we had actually made it to the Yosemite of Mexico. This January my family of five began our climbing adventure starting in Maine, and traveling south towards the Shawangunks, and Potrero Chico. Throughout our trip south in our skoolie (converted school bus that we call BaseCamp) I had been dreaming of climbing and hiking in Potrero Chico because of its unique concentration of world class multi and single pitch sport routes. It was everything I hoped for, and a few pitches more! These are my two favorite climbs in Potrero Chico. Super Nova: My favorite route we did during our time in Potrero Chico was Super Nova, an amazing eight pitch 5.1
Read more

Winning my first 5k race, a race day to remember. Challenging course.

By -
Image
  Winning the Elizabethtown Mother's Day 5K By Kai Holloway Sprinting for the finish line. (Photo taken by my grandmother Lovey) It was three o'clock, and my grandfather, whom we call Pop Pop, had signed up our whole family for the Mother's Day 5K race. My two little brothers, Zev (8) and Cove (12), my mom, dad, and I (15) were all going to be running. It was 2:55 p.m. We all had our bibs and race shirts on. We were gathered around a big oak tree, stretching, and my grandmother, whom we call Lovey, took a pre-race photo. Pre race family photo Soon afterward, all the runners were called over to the starting line to start the race at 3:00 p.m. The race director talked for a little while, and then said over his loudspeaker, "Now, let's take a moment of silence... for all the mothers out there." It was an interesting way to start a race. I stood there about two rows in from the start line, my heart poundin
Read more