Maine Way Outfitters Took Us on an Unforgettable Maine Striper Trip

There are some Maine experiences you put on your mental bucket list and somehow never actually get around to doing. For me, going on a full-day striped bass charter was one of them.

That finally changed this weekend.

After getting an absolutely ridiculous 2.5 hours of sleep Saturday night, my wife Keri and I piled into the car with our friends Meg and Joey and headed for Pine Point in Scarborough. Waiting for us was Captain James “Jim” Geaumont aboard the Miss Bug with Maine Way Outfitters.

Captain James 'Jim' Geaumont

And within a few hours, I was wondering why in the world I had waited this long.

We started the day by heading out near the islands in search of live mackerel. Before you can go looking for the big stripers, you need something to tempt them with, so the first mission was filling the livewell with bait and even that was fun.

Once we had enough mackerel onboard, though, the real hunt began. This is where watching an experienced Maine guide work became almost as entertaining as catching the fish.

Matt James Fish

Jim is a registered Maine Guide and knows an unbelievable amount about Maine's coastal waterways, the fish that live in them and, apparently, how to locate striped bass in what looks to the rest of us like an endless ocean.

There were several times when Jim would look toward the horizon, point to a seemingly random patch of water and essentially say, “They’re right there.”

We'd look. Nothing. Just ocean.

But we'd head over, drop our bait and sure enough  there were fish there.

Watching somebody with that level of experience read the water, the landmarks, the tides and the behavior of the fish was incredibly impressive. And the fishing itself did not disappoint.

Keri James Fish

Every one of us caught a striped bass measuring more than 40 inches. Over the course of the day we also caught mackerel, pollock and cod, while seeing all kinds of other marine life along the Maine coast.

It was one of those days where you suddenly remember just how incredible this state can be.

Joey's Fish

I've lived in Maine my entire life and have spent plenty of time around lakes, boats and fishing, but this was something completely different. Being offshore, chasing big striped bass along the coast with somebody who genuinely knows the water was easily one of the coolest Maine experiences I've ever had.

If you've ever thought about booking a striper charter but keep talking yourself out of spending the money, I'm probably the wrong person to ask now. Because my answer is going to be: just do it.

Meg's Fish

Our day with Captain Jim and Maine Way Outfitters was worth every penny.

The only real problem? I've been back on land for barely any time at all, and I already want to go again. Like tomorrow.