Fishing?

If you were thinking that you might like to fish while you are on Long Island, here are some things to consider:

Local Resources/ Reports:
Saco Bay Tackle Company Fishing Reports 

The Tackle Shop (India Street, Downtown Portland)
       -Fishing Report Blog

What do you want to fish for?
Striped Bass and Mackerel will be relatively close to shore. The Mackerel will be easy to catch and the Bass are harder to find, but there is a good chance to land a keeper.

a 22" Striper that Ben caught this summer. It was Delicious

Cooking up 3 delicious mackerel with nothing more than butter, salt and pepper

Know the regulations:

You need to register for fishing in the ocean if you don't already have a Maine freshwater fishing license.  out of state is $1 in state is $2 Click Here to register online. you can print out a copy of your registration.

Either click here for striped bass regulations, or just know that there are two slot limits: The smaller slot for legal length striped bass is between 20" and 26", and the larger slot limit is 40" and over. Only 1 fish can be kept /day /person

For Mackerel there is no size or quantity limit. We enjoy eating this fish but it is oily and only regarded highly by some. Fisherman frequently use mackerel as bait (either chunked or live lined)

What to use for Bait/Lures

Striped bass:  Soft paddle-tail shad, slug-go's, Yo-zuri stick baits, and big casting spoons are greatlure options.
                   For Bait: you can purchase mackerel, herring, sand worms, or blood worms. Clams can                     work as well
Mackerel: Diamond Jigs and mackerel trees used in conjunction work great for shore casting. a single diamond jig can work well too.

A fisherman pulling in four mackerel on a single "tree"

What to bring for gear: I would recommend bringing a spin-casting rod and reel that is about medium to heavy action. Even if you are planning on just fishing for mackerel, there is a chance that you could hook on to something bigger.  15 lb test is a good all around test for Casco Bay sport fish, but you could go as low as 8-10lb.

Where to fish: Mackerel are caught with pretty good regularity at the ferry terminal on long Island. Also, Jodi and I have had good luck fishing off of the rocks next to the beaches on the island.

This is the type of place to look for on the island. It will more than likely be holding fish

The striped bass will be hanging out along the rocks and the sand, and there are a few great areas to explore on the western side of the island.