I can't believe how bad the fishing is in Southern Maine. Last year was the first year I kept a log, but I would wager that last year I caught one-third of the fish I'd caught the year before. I just checked and I'm now behind last year. I spent 13 hours between Friday and Saturday with fresh bait and all I have to report is one 31" fat striper which gave me virtually no battle. I had a bunch of little "pecks" as opposed to hits, but after one pull of the rod even these little ones didn't come back. I remember in past years that a fish would keep coming back until it was finally hooked. You'd reel in your line and your bait would look like it was run over by a truck. Not this year. If you don't get it on the first try, forget it. Even after these hits, the bait looks untouched. The guys using worms, eels and clams aren't doing any better than I am with mackerel. The boat charters are all claiming that the fish are two miles offshore. We need a major storm out of the east to push them in.

Are you filetting the baits? Try circle hooks as well. Unfortunately you don't do the hookset like your used to but it may help....


John

I'm chunking and using circle hooks.