Got 2 this morning 44" and 40" in southern maine. 3 other schoolies about 19-24" each. The two big ones were on poppers and the others were on shads. All south of portland.

The maine wildlife patrol is all over the place this spring as well. The guy came down to my spot, private road and beach/rocks, and measured my first big one, jsut over 40", I threw it back anyways. he also checkd my box and drink cooler for anything else suspicious. As I was leaving and goin to the store I saw his truck at the breakwater in K'port doing the same thing. I wondered if they have had trouble with people taking illegal fish.

congrats hulkyj!

its a long wait for the northerners!

Great job! Just got off "the skunk" today with two schoolies up here north of Portland. Water has been very cold and the fishing slooowwwwww. until today!!!

yeah ive got 5 total this year around yarmouth freeport area, only 2 keepers so far.

Went out last night in the Royal. Still skunked. Saw 4 other boats. They all looked skunked to me too. There's bait in the river, I just couldn't snag any for live lining. If the T-storms stay away this afternoon will try again.

Glad to hear that there is someone checking up on things up there. In MA I never see those guys checking anybody. Congrats on your good catches.:)

Glad to hear things are coming alive in Maine. I fish for stripers in southern Maine about 3 weeks of the year. 2 in mid summer and a few days in the fall. I fly fish, plug and chunk. I'll do whatever it takes. I fish from shore 90% of the time but have a great time from my buddy's boat in the Piscataquaw (sp?) and along the rocky coast. i keep 1 or 2 keepers a year and release the rest.
When it comes to Maine I also like the Maine Diner, Blintlifs, Flos hotdogs, Eldridge Bros Fly shop, ice cream at the cape Ned#^&#^&#^&#^& lighthouse, the scoop deck, this awesome Mexican joint near Eliot, the icehouse,and babes on the beach (including my wife) (Most of all, my wife). I look forward to it ALL YEAR and am never disapointed. Thanks for the good news.

Went out on the royal from shore Monday and they were on the surface but I couldn't hook up! I need help with my topwater technique as I could even get a follow and they were feeding within 20-30 feet of my offering! grrrrr.
anybody know where I can get some eels? all the eel guys are fishing for elvers so the Bait Shop on India St in Portland has no eels yet.

I am new to this area so anyone that wants a coffee for some advice please PM as I believe that I am finding the right spots but wrong technique. I seriously want to get away from bait but if I need to......

Nomad, sometimes when the bass are feeding like that they are so keyed in on what they are eating that it is hard to get them to hit something else. Very frustrating. Try a small teaser ahead of a plug next time.

Nomad, unless you're seeing something I haven't, that's bait on the surface not stripers. Bait/herring, I think, are picking up in the river. Last night was better than previous night. I haven't seen anyone catch a striper in the river yet. Not to say NOBODY has, but not when I've been out there.

Going to be in Maine this weekend and will have some tackle with me, I might give it a try.

Hey Offshore, what I was seeing/hearing (it was last light thrugh till dark) was definately stripers eating herring. as it got darker they got much more aggressive with several fish consistantly feeding with the the sound of beaver tails!!! I was from shore on the flats near the bridge that goes to my "relatives place". think a minute and you will understand where I mean.

Mitch, sounds like you need to get some of that herring.

I agree with the teaser, sometimes a sinking popper, reel slow so it just swims, will work.
There are times when a fly rod is the only thing that works.

Go get 'em!:fishin:

Thanks all, I wil try each suggestion.....taking my fly rod out tomorrow night for the first time.

fish kport and kennebunk alot.would love to hook up

Hardbait, check PM