Inshore fishing has proved steady over the past week, with an increase in numbers of striped bass and a decrease in average size. There are loads of smaller schoolies in the 15- to-20 inch range aggressively feeding both inside and outside the Saco River.

Most fish are located within site of the Camp Ellis Pier, inside Wood Island and Monument Island, and out along Ferry Beach, Bayview Beach and over to Kinney Shores. Small (Yo-Zuri Pinfish) minnow imitations, Deadly Dicks (Lures), and other thin and flashy sand eel imitations all have produced this week. One fisherman shared he has simply been fishing sea worms on the bottom and catching two-to-three dozen daily on sandy bottomed areas adjacent to the Saco River Narrows. Sometimes the simplest plan works best.

Offshore report is as positive as I have written in a number of years. Cod are truly on the rebound. Remember that no fish can be retained until August 1, and starting on the first the number is one per person that can be kept. I am a passionate catch and release advocate, but cod is my favorite fish to eat. I am hopeful for a quick rebound on these tasty deep-water denizens.

I have been pleased to see the results of recent rules changes. The last two seasons we were averaging perhaps 5-to-10 keeper cod per trip. This past week, my boat, with three anglers, released approximately 150 legal sized cod. We fished cod jigs (Sea Wolfe brand) in the 12-to-16 ounce size with a blue cod fly teaser. Many were doubles and the largest fish was just over 30 inches.

Pollock were plentiful, and we were surprised to find very few dogfish and zero cusk? Not sure what is going on with cusk numbers. We caught over 50 healthy slammer sized pollock with one that measured 38 inches and a number that were nearly the same size.

Finally, we boated a number of smaller legal-sized haddock. After switching from a jig/teaser combo, I found my shrimp were being ignored. A quick switch to Gulp! Shrimp proved the ticket. Numerous doubles showed a strong interest in this artificial/ natural offering. The Gulp! were a leftover from a Bahamas trip in April.

Get out and fish!

Captain Marco Lamothe
Keeper Charters

This is a report from Teazer Charters Captain Pete Morse from July 8:

Inshore, this has been one of the best years for Stripers that I can remember. They seem to be everywhere in all slot sizes. Surf fishing has been unreal.

Chunk mackerel, worms and clams cast out and letting it set has been reliable for patient fisherman. Plugs and Deadly Dick (Lures) working in the early morning.

Keep trying to catch mackerel as well. They seem to be smaller in sizes but perfect size for Striper fishing. Frozen chum works with a chum net. Hang it out there and jig 15-20 feet below your boat for some success.

Offshore, we have been catching lots of groundfish on Platts Ledge and Jefferies, but the last week we have been doing just as well on any of the 200-foot humps just offshore inside of 12 miles.

Many pollock on jigs and market-sized haddock on cut clams. Just like the ol’ days where the fish use to be. I am very pleased with the comeback of the fishery. Tuna has been slow last week and do not seem to be where they are traditionally. Bait seems to be hard to find, however, find your bait – and that would be a good place to sit for a while or troll around the ledges. I will say that our most recent tuna trips we have had multiple hookups with very large porbeagle sharks. Plenty of the toothy critters out there. So, a shark trip after a week of this hot sun would not be a bad idea. Hope this info helps you out.

Captain Pete Morse
Teazer Charters