By "Tackle Box" Billy Kelley

Get to the Points

Does any of you still read the Portland Press Herald? I’ll really go out on a limb here and guess you didn’t see the article on July 11th (a Saturday, I think) referring to the city’s plans for the Maine State Pier.

Well let me clue you in. The exact wording escapes me, but the overall message is they want to take out the end of the pier.

[Editor’s note: the article reported plans to cut out a “protected basin” at the end of the pier for public berthing space, which would significantly reduce fishable square footage; and yes, the 11th was a Saturday.]

Yeah. Great. Only two legal places to sit on a wharf and spend a nice afternoon with a fishing pole and they want one of ’em. C’mon guys, gimmie a fucking break!

I don’t really know how much revenue is involved, but is it worth it? There’s a picture to go with the story, by the way. It’s like 20 of us crammed on the end of the pier. There’d be many more of us fishing had we the room, believe me.

I don’t really know the background of these city planners, but I’d venture to say, and I’m willing to put money on the bet, that they don’t go fishing down the pier. They wouldn’t be acting so irrationally if they did.

Don’t they realize the history and heritage of that pier? How many dads have taught their kids to fish there over the ages? I think somebody should give these guys a reality check. We all don’t own SUVs and have the ability to just jump in the vehicle for a trip to the ocean someplace. Many people are limited by economy, or a hundred other things. They haven’t got a lot of options.

I invite all these planners for a day spent on the waterfront. And I’ll dare you to catch sight of a youngster catching his or her first fish and manage not to smile at the sheer joy of the moment.

What I was going to write about before I saw the article was some other spots to hit in this area. Now it’s become almost imperative. So I’ll nail three spots you can access, that I think are the best available.

Oh, but first let me say you can fish beside the fish auction joint on the Fish Pier. There’s plenty of room for, oh, say, 12 people. (Facetious? Yes. Funny? No.)

OK, first, the Pine Point area in Scarborough. I say area — there’s plenty of spots to choose from. No mackerel, but you get some nice squiggly worms and I’ll bet dollars to donuts you’ll get a keeper striper. And plus, you travel up the channel and you can basically just pick a spot, throw in your line and haul one in!

The best part out there is once you’re way out in the middle you can almost smoke and drink PBRs to your heart’s content, as you can see John Law coming from a mile away! Great, huh? Please notice I said almost, though. That’s ’cause they got game wardens out there that take pride in their camouflage and stalking abilities. They love it and they’re really good. Do not commit any wildlife or fishing violations or you’ll be spotted so fast your head’ll spin. Just stay in limits of common sense.

Coming up the coast is another spot I like known as Spring Point. They got a thingy you can walk out on and catch many fish. It’s in good ol’ South Portland by the old SMCC school, and a pretty nice place. Almost guaranteed fish. Very rocky and slippery, though, so do be careful!

As far as illegal recreational activities, be very cautious. Not many folks probably remember, but SoPo was once picked (in ’68, I think) as the nicest town in the U.S.A., and they do aim to keep it that way.

The last spot we’ll visit is another point, Martin’s Point. Well, Mackworth Island I’ll include also; it’s in the area. And sometimes you have to go to Mackworth ’cause Martin’s Point might be too crowded.

Martin’s Point’s pretty good for either macks or stripes. And, believe it or not, sturgeon. Yeah, I said that: sturgeon. Like the first in about 200 fuckin’ years. What’s that about? Damn thing was about five feet long and 50-60 pounds.

Upon research in what’s left of the library I learned they’re not only carriers of caviar, but also real gourmet food themselves. But — and a big but – they’re very illegal to keep. Don’t keep one. Christ, the feds will be after you.

As for Mackworth, I call it the Jewel of Casco Bay. It’s beautiful. I’ve had the pleasure lately of hanging with my pal Tyler in these different fishing spots and not only has he been kicking my ass in the amount of fish we get, but helping me appreciate the plain beauty of our coast. Yeah, a six-year-old lad can really do that.

If the fishing gets boring, well, we just jump in the drink and enjoy Mackworth to the ultimate. And it is nice. Real pretty beach. Kind of secluded almost, maybe pristine.

Fishing’s for all of us, not just for a couple of people who need to park their boats in a convenient spot on our Maine State Pier. Did you hear that, Portland planners? Plan better for all of us.