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Date: June 25, 2023 Body of Water: Casco Bay - out of Falmouth, Maine Boat: amybaby22 With: Alone Target: Striped Bass Time: 8:30 AM - 1 PM Moon Phase: Waxing crescent Tide: Low at 10:50 AM Conditions: A little fog but then clear and bright with light, southerly winds; 70 - 80 degrees. Water temperatures 63 - 66 degrees (+/-). Summer seems to have arrived with the first warm, muggy nights. Because of the morning's fog, I was in no rush and gassed the boat before pushing off at 8:30 AM. I went directly to the deeper water off Clapboard's east end, and found some mackerel almost immediately. I had nine in the livewell before 9 AM. Because fog still lingered further out, I chose to start at Clapboard's east end. Pretty quickly I scored two stripers (26 and 24 inches, respectively) on the live macks. These fish were found in a reliable spot about 15 feet deep just off the edge of the island's rocky shoreline. Each fish ate confidently with no-doubt takes. A third bait got harassed along Clapboard's northeast shoreline. Without another bite, I ran across to my favorite Sturdivant Island stretch. Bass No. 3 came in at 27 inches; I believe that this was my 100th Striper Landed of 2023. Shortly thereafter, my hook pulled from potential bass No. 4, which seemed like a strong, heavy fish. Both of these fish ate in about 12 feet of water as the ebb tide entered its final hour. With a few good baits remaining in the livewell and calm seas in all directions, I decided to run to a new-to-me spot. The north/east end of Chebeague Island has a nice boulder field extending from its tip. I wanted to check it out, and I arrived just before predicted low tide. Another boat raced in from another direction and spot-locked right against shore; that left the entire submerged point for me to explore. While I noted that boat presenting macks under floats right along shore, I drifted and slow-trolled ten-to-twenty feet of water. I marked fish consistently, and even though I saw the other boat land a few quick fish, I was quite confident that I would have my chances, too. I missed my first chance in 18 feet of water, but quickly flipped another bait behind the boat. This was immediately eaten off the surface, and I was tight to a good fish! I backed down to get around a lobster pot (successfully), and we proceeded to wear each other out. Eventually I got the net under her, and she taped out over 36 inches. With her girth, I'll nominate her as my largest fish of the last couple or even few years. I hung in this area for another half hour or so before expanding my radius along the northern shoreline of the point. I picked up another nice fish (31 inches) in about 14 feet of water, here. I was now 5-for-8 on my macks as I deployed my last and largest bait. Unfortunately, this one got plucked from the surface by a gull, and so I decided to go try something else. I explored the channel between Cousins and Littlejohn Islands. I worked my way into less than two feet of water while casting a quickly retrieved, small swim-bait. I saw and contacted nothing. It was still early, but I chose to end the session. I was hot and hungry with a full week ahead. I decided to relax for the rest of the weekend. What do I have to say about this? New water and big fish; I'm happy with that! I think this water also offers a good opportunity for tube-and-worm, too, based on the bottom-oriented fish I saw on my graph. Once again, a big fish has revealed itself at slack tide. The mackerel are reasonably dependable and I am finding bass on all my rocky island shorelines. I was overheated by 8:15 AM; summer seems to have settled in. Pondering the questions of core essence and finding meaning in unexpected ways
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