A Primer for First-timers
One Saturday afternoon last winter, Chris and I take refuge in a local tavern from another bitterly cold day. So I’m bitching about being bored, yacky yacky, yak, and I’m not sure how much influence the PBRs might have had, but he comes up with this insane notion that I write about fishing down on our waterfront.
I get thinking — not a bad idea, really. The $1.75 Sunday rag runs an article about fishing, but it’s not applicable to this situation. Oh, it’s great for a fan of Lake Mussagookonkeg, but we’re looking at Portland. Read that paper if you need a sleep aid. I swear it should be sold by prescription, not subscription.
Now, while the basic thing will be fishing, we’re also going to be talking about things impacting fishing. You know, like are we gonna need IDs to access the new Maine State Pier? Will we be able to trudge through the hotel lobby with buckets of bait and fresh mackerel? That kind of stuff. (After all, I’m a member in good standing, last time I checked, of the Bollard pier development team. [see “The Bollard Boardwalk,” Fall 2007].)
It might have occurred to you by now — what’s this we thing? Well, like all your great generals, CEOs and editors, they get a team. My team consists of Jim, with about 35 years experience; Sully, with 40 years; and Captain Nick, with about 60 years saltwater fishing experience. (Let me add that Capt. Nick has forgotten more than most people know about the denizens of the ocean.) And me, with 50, makes it 185 years of fishing and lying about it.
Let me also add that we love communication. We thrive on input. But for the love of Pete, please, no Mary Tyler Moore–types crying boo hoo for poor little fishies. I once caught the same fish twice in 10 minutes, still bleeding from the last time I got ’em! And with the same bait! (No fish story.) Any regular will tell you much the same thing, sometimes thrice nailing the same non-keeper.
But do communicate. And I’d like to extend an invitation to all. Most every nice day of this season you’ll catch me or my posse between the state pier and the old railroad trestle under the treatment plant (great place for stripers). You’re more than welcome. Oh, and most importantly — it’s illegal to drink in public, but surreptitious beer (Pabst only!) will be the order of the day.
Without further delay, a primer for first-timers.
Who can fish
Everybody. Christ, the Maine State Pier is handicap accessible! Fishing down the pier is traditional, relaxing, cerebral and just plain fun. It’s one of the very few bastions of free recreation we’ve got left.
Obvious to use caution where young folks are at. Need some assistance? If me or one of my team aren’t there, other folks are helpful. Be nice. Most of us love helping kids out. Them lines tangle so easy!
Oh, and for the love of Pete, don’t get smashed and fall off. Believe me, I know.
When to fish
By years of experience, I say the third week of June, lately into October. It’s water temp. They migrate like birds. We’re looking for a water temp of low 60s.
Premium time is three hours ’fore a high tide. Always bear in mind, though, you could get luck anytime.
Oddly enough, I don’t even care if I get one or not. ’Cept if I’m hungry. I go for the sheer pleasure.
Where to fish
Far and away the most popular place is good ol’ Maine State Pier — sometimes crowded, sometimes not. The best spot, on the end, is usually taken by 6 a.m. It’s a real crapshoot, but there’s other places, as well.
The Fish Pier has a little spot, and sometimes you can get lucky and snake out to some of the private piers. Thanks to a lawsuit, a crazy population and changing times, that’s another crapshoot. Be nice!
If you just want stripers, you can go anywhere adjacent to the Eastern Prom walking path you like. Careful of them rocks! Very slippery. Rumor has it the biggest striper ever caught (52 inches) was off Fisherman’s Point, where the rocks jut out the most.
However, for sport fishermen on the waterfront, areas are decreasing at a rapid rate and I hope people would take interest, or I think eventually we’ll lose Maine State Pier and more.
That’s the primary reason. The secondary is hunger. I’m not going into cooking ’til later, but stripers are great eating. In the olden days, we’d barbeque right besides the old trestle (and might again!).
And third, you can meet people and it’s dynamite to bring dates.
How to fish
This is the biggie. I’ll only say how I do it, ’cause there are as many ideas how to fish as there are fish.
OK, I’ll assume you’ve no gear. Go to Wal-Mart and buy a striper pole and a smaller mack pole. Ask the guy to help you but get the cheapest you can get. ’Bout 50 bucks should do it.
Then stop at The Tackle Shop on India Street and get your bait. Some like worms or jigs, or chunks of other macks (fucking cannibals). And talk to the guys in the shop. They’re approachable, knowledged, and very helpful. (It’s $4.50 for a dozen worms, $3.25 for a bag of macks, depending on their mood.)
OK, you’re at the pier or wherever. Bait up. If I use bait, I like to set it so’s you can barely see it. If you want to jig, I can’t explain it here, but look for me and I’ll gladly teach you.
For macks, I use a small chunk of fish. For stripers, I use either one small or half a large mack. But they also like herring smelts, and love an eel.
By the way, don’t forget a five-gallon bucket and a strong piece of rope for your catch.
Be careful of striper size. I can’t remember the rule right now, but they’re stringent. And enforced. They got it so The Man can drive right up on you anyplace now. Be careful with your beverage!
With apologies to women’s lib and all, guys do be prepared to bait up for the girls. And take the fish off, maybe. And clean it. And stripers have to be scaled. They are a bass, and boy can they bite!
The biggest how, though, is to have a great time. Sometimes I don’t even care if I catch a minnow. I’m too busy having a good time. You will too.
