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Date: October 9, 2022 Body of Water: Casco Bay - Falmouth, Maine Moon Phase: Full Harvest Moon Boat: amybaby22 With: Alone Target: Striped Bass Time: 8 AM - 1:15 PM Conditions: High tide at 11:15 AM; mixed sun and clouds, building westerly winds becoming strong and gusty; 35 - 55 degrees. Water temperature 54 - 55 degrees (+/-). One day on Casco Bay left for my season, and a simple goal; land seven stripers! It was sub-freezing overnight, and so I started an hour later than expected to let the edge burn off. I was pleased to see that the water temperature had barely budged, and I went directly to Hussey Sound to make bait. Similar to the previous day, it took a little hunting and pecking before I found a tight school, but when I did, I made short order for a couple dozen baits. I proceeded to the rugged stretch of Peak's Island shoreline just east of Wharf Cove. Maneuvering close to the rocks and moving with the flooding current, it took only a couple of minutes for the first bass of the day to announce itself with a violent surface take. I started my bass-fishing day well with a solid 30-incher! I circled back and immediately caught a small one. Another, bigger bass was excitedly chasing the dislodged mackerel up the line while I landed the small fish. As it turned out, there were several other fish in this pocket, because by 9:30 AM, after just a half hour of targeting stripers, I'd landed five, including another pair of 28-inch "keepers" and one just shy of that mark. Most were very close to the rocks, although I apparently hand-fed one of the keepers in slightly deeper water as I re-positioned the boat for another approach to the rocks. At that point, the day returned to reality, but it was a good version of such. As I poked towards and then through Wharf Cove, another fish revealed itself. After a prolonged chase, it finally ate; and I fought this nice fish most of the way to the boat before the hook suddenly pulled. My stretch of perfection was broken, but at least I knew there will still some fish to be caught! I circled back and my extra-large mackerel was confidently taken in almost the same spot; a mid-20s fish came to hand, leaving me one shy of 200. After another lull and right around slack high, I saw a fish chase my mack from the surface to a rock face and violently strike. I hooked up and carefully fought this strong 26-incher to hand; the day's mission had been pleasantly accomplished! But there was still bait and time, and so I continued down the Peaks Island shoreline. I picked up another fish from Josiah's Cove. At about Noon, I took advantage of the increasing tidal current and relocated to Crow Island. The north side exposed a couple of fish, but the real eaters were on the east side. At 24 and 25 inches, they weren't necessarily the big fish I was hoping for, but in the middle of a bright day, any action is welcome. I made one last try for the day and the for season at Clapboard's wind-blown western point and reef complex. My mackerel sure was anxious, but never eaten, here. I had to content myself with final images of an bald eagle souring overhead and over Clapboard I stand, and the herd of young seal pups acting in unison at the tiny exposed beach on this ledge. It was windy, I was tired, and it had been another really fine day - I headed in to close my Casco Bay boating season for 2022. Pondering the questions of core essence and finding meaning in unexpected ways
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