Saco River Shore Casting For Stripers

[SteelyJoe]

Each summer my family and I camp near Kennebunkport ME for a few day days. Its near the Saco River in Biddeford which presents a fun opportunity to try for stripped bass. This is a family trip, not a fishing trip as has been made clear, but no one seems to care what I do between the hours of dark thirty and 8am.

I was fishing with a 4000 series penn reel rigged with 20lb braid tied to a 30lb floro leader, the rod is 6'6" medium/fast action and the lure was a Daiwa SP Minnow/Bone color. With proper form, this set up provided roughly a 50 yd cast.

Friday at sunset the family wanted to walk the beach to look for shells. I quickly rigged a rod and took it along just in case. On my third cast, the hastily tied uniknot failed and I had to swim to retrieve the lure. Chafed and humbled, i took my time retying a new leader at camp.

Saturday morning I was on the river by 530am and stripers were doing their thing hammering bait at the surface. In the river it seems there are 2-3 seconds of fury where you have an opportunity to get a lure into this action. Don't be fooled by the constant jumping of 3-5' sturgeon. Saturday there were two striper pods within casting distance, both produced one being 36" and one a schoolie. The 36" was my first fish on the virgin rod and the drag was NOT tight enough when the fight started! The fish made a screaming run under the Mistress and I was lucky to get it out.

Sunday morning I was on the river by 430am, first pod of action produced a 27" striper. The second pod happened in range but opposite of where i just cast so i rushed to retrieve and recast resulting in the lure smashing the water 5' in front of me. Operator error. The third pod produced a 30" striper.

Not a single fish happened by chance while casting as all were caught during active feeding frenzies. All fish were released and healthy, only one of four fish would have been legal to keep from the 28-31" slot.

[Reelax]

That’s livin it. Sneeking in the pull while the family sleeps.

Way to go Joe!

[Gecha (Gerry)]

That's a great way to spend vacation time.
Stripers are fierce fighters, and not easy to catch.
Glad you got a few bent rods and shared it with us.

[striper192001]

Love........throwing to a blitz !