Stripers on My Fish Hook Make Me Happy

...sung to the tune of "Sunshine" (on my shoulders, makes me happy) by the late John Denver.
It's the end of the summer. Kids are returning to school...and stripers are running upstream from the ocean to spawn.

In Maine, there are two excellent rivers for striper fishing. The Kennebec River and the St. Georges River. I've only had the fortune of fishing up the St. Georges once and due to mechanical issues, the trip was cut short. This summer, I'm on vacation in Friendship (as we speak) and I'm hoping to get a last minute charter. My aunt and uncle have a 22 ft Grady White with a 175 Yamaha OB. Fishing equipped with a live well. The boat is being pulled mid-week, so I'm not certain I'll get to fish in it.

Stripers are plentiful in August and September in Maine. Most have run the coast and are returning to the river beds. The fall is truly the best time to striper fish in Maine. Perhaps I'll return later in the fall to charter a boat up the Kennebec or St. Georges...in search of the holy tail.

Autumn

'Tis the season to be fally. OK, enough with corny early morning puns.

In my opinion, Fall is the best time of the year to fish. Stripers are running up river to spawn but more importantly, it is the crisp crackle in the air that makes the experience envigorating.

When I lived in South Salem, NY, I spent a lot of time fishing Oscaleta Lake. The fall was by far the best time to fish. The light was different. You could see the reflection of the trees on the water and as the water got colder, the fish swam deeper. It is truly my favorite time to fish.

Since I'm partial to beautiful foliage and fishing, there is nothing more refreshing for the soul than a day on the water with leaves abounding in different beautiful colors. Fish are frisky and you just might need a fleece or a sweatshirt.

I grew quite partial to the solo kayak with the fishing rod holder on it (and no, that is not me in the picture holding the huge striped bass). I was able to get out and kayak and when I reached a good spot, I could grab my pole and cast away. I don't know who comes up with these ideas - it's like the cup holder in your car or the Griffin iTrip (which enables you to harness radio waves to trasmit songs off of your iPod). I should have eaten more shrooms in high school.

Chilean Sea Bass with Garlic Caper Aioli over Spaghetti Squash

This week's entry comes a day early as I have plans to venture to the opening of the new LLBean store in South Windsor, CT tomorrow with my sister and her wonderful children. This week's entry is also geared towards the culinary presentation of fish (rather than how to catch it)...can you tell I'm trying to illustrate my malleability?

One of my favorite fish dishes is something I actually came up with on my own. Entitled "Chilean Sea Bass with Garlic Caper Aioli over Spaghetti Squash," it combines ingredients that I enjoy with a fish that is scrumptious. It is also healthy (lo-carb) and in my opinion, is perfect for date night, friends over night or even cooking for family.

Here's how:

1 nice filet of Chilean sea bass
1 med-sized spaghetti squash

For the aioli:

3 tblsp capers (more if you like them)
3 cloves garlic
(Marinate the two above overnight if you really like garlic)
juice of two lemons
salt and pepper

In a blender, combine capers, garlic, lemon juice, and s&p with olive oil until liquid and smooth but not thick. In general, at least 3/4 cup of olive oil.

Bake the fish (450/20mins). It is done when firm, overdone when dry, raw when mushy/jellolike). Boil or microwave the squash.

Note: For more information on cooking fish, see How to Select, Buy, and Cook Quality Fish.

The general rule: 10 minutes for each inch of measured thickness. Since sea bass is a relatively thick fish (most cuts are), 20 minutes/450 should do for a piece that is 2" thick. IMHO, there is nothing worse than overcooked fish.

Warm up the aioli a bit in the micro - 45 seconds or so. Be sure to cover it with a paper towel.

Open the spaghetti squash and scrape some off into in a nice wide bowl with a nice piece of fish on top. Stir the aioli and drizzle it on top of the fish and squash.

Serve with a crisp, cold pinot grigio (i.e., ecco domani).

This dish is easy to make and if you fly to Chile, catch it yourself, fly back and serve it to your friends, well, you da bomb. (Swanson's Fish Market in Monroe, CT sells a nice sea bass for those who are realistic and grounded).

Summer Stripers

Stripers love the summer! Eels in the grass, river deltas teeming with baitfish...stripers love to chase bait, particularly live.

Here are some of the more popular, tasty live baits (for Stripers in Maine, at least):

• Mackerel: Early to rise and you're guaranteed to have a full live well. You just have to get out and get them before the seals do!






• Eels: Live sand eels make the best bait - but don't set the hook too early. Try the one one-thousand to three and then jerk after feeling the strike. Stripers like to swallow their prey head first - so you must wait to set the hook while they flip it around!






• Shad: These guys provide some of the best live baits for catching trophy stripers. Be sure to separate them with a collander container in the live well or other bait fish (like mackerel) will tear them up...or even eat them!

Both mackerel and shad are oily fish - stripers love tasty bait!

Before your expedition, look at the fishing reports. See what's biting. Stripers are tricky...so here are some tips, courtesy of New England Sportsman:

Striper Tips

* Fish the out going tide, at night if possible.
* Don't fish on weekends, too much boat traffic.
* If the wind is blowing, might as well stay at home.
* Head up river on the incoming tide.
* Head down river on the outgoing tide.
* Get the bait down to where the fish are holding.
* Sharpen your hooks and bend the barbs down.
* No poppers till after July fourth.
* Match the lure to the size of the bait fish, small lures can catch big fish.
* Fish fast water like tidal rips near structure.
* Fish slow water adjacent to fast like eddies, pools and behind breaks.
* Fish structure, big fish are lazy and will shield themselves from the current.
* Troll with the current, use torpedo sinkers with spoons and surge tubes.
* Go often and experiment.
* When these suggestions fail, try the complete opposite!

Stripers are a blast to catch! Every state has their own regulations and restrictions. For example, in Maine, stripers must be between 20" and 26" in length or greater than 40". These regulations exist with regard to spawning and population concerns.

If your catch is within angling regulations (e.g., it is a "keeper"), try gutting the fish, butterflying it, stuffing it with crabmeat stuffing, baking, and serving it to your friends with a big salad and a chilled bottle of pinot gris (or even a nice ale). Yum.

Your friends will be impressed to dine on wild caught striped bass - the sale of which is illegal (except in MA in NY).

Fishing Ponds and Lakes

Fishing ponds and lakes can be a different experience than any other type of fishing. You might find a spot under a tree or cast from a bank. If you're lucky, you can rent a boat and fish for the day (at a larger lake such as Lake George in NY) or you can bring your own boat (with a trolling motor).

With their usual educational flair, the CT Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) offers a guide for fishing ponds and lakes in the state of Connecticut. Remember that wherever you fish, you must have a license (resident or non-resident) to do so.

When fishing in ponds and lakes, remember that the water is more stagnant than in a river or the ocean. Many ponds and lakes are fed by springs underneath. Others are fed by small brooks or rivers. The point is that you need to create the action to catch the fish. Here are some general tips:

• Shiny crankbaits - these are the ones that you have to work!


• Rubber worms (rigged ) - you can buy these pre-made (with hooks and eyelet). Cabelas manufactures rubber worms (like the example available through the above link) that are weedless (weed resistent) - they have a v-prong that connects to the hook to prevent entanglement in things like lilies or weeds. Bass love rubber worms!


• Live Bait - fish are attracted to things that move. Crawfish. Sawbellies. Nightcrawlers, shiners. Again, it is all about action. Live bait is a fail safe method for catching fish. For example, if you're using fish to catch fish (such as sawbellies), you will need a bait bucket with an aerator to keep them alive and perky.

You can always refer to the guidance that is out there for finding fish (bass, in particular) in unfamiliar waters!

Overall, enjoy the opportunity to spend some time fishing in ponds a lakes. The fish are fun and lakes are calm and serene. Have a blast!

<< * * >> Bullfrogs << * * >>

Bullfrogs have lots of things in common with fishing.

• Bait


• Sounds you might hear


• Sunscreen

This morning, I was running. I heard the sounds of perhaps the most gigantic, enormous bullfrog ever. I envisioned him to be a foot wide with a deep, long ribbit. Wow. This guy was a big one! As I passed by on my way home, there he was again... ribbit!

So, my article today is about...Bullfrog...the sunscreen.

Do yourself a favor when fishing. Spray yourself with a good sunblock right before leaving. By the time you get out there and cast a line, you are not going to want to spritz yourself with sunblock. Bullfrog brand has paved the way for some excellent products. Waterproof, hypoallergenic, and available in unscented, you will be doing yourself a tremendous favor by investing in this sunscreen.

Your skin needs to stay young so that you can embark on many, many fishing excursions!

Tying the Knot

Today's edition is not about marriage...or mergers and acquisitions...it is about using the right knot at the right time when you are fishing.
Depending on your situation (fresh water or sea), you will have ample opportunity to revamp your line, adding new tackle or lures. You might get snagged and the line breaks. You might be blue fishing with a plastic leader instead of metal. Chomp, those sharp teeth steel the bait, hook, and half of the leader.

Here are some general rules for tying knots that might save you time (and line):

• Knotting line to a swivel: My recommendation here is the clinch knot. Be sure to use a little saliva when tightening the knot so that it is tight, tight, tight.


• Tying the line to a leader: The Uni-Knot is the failsafe method. I have witnessed the use of the wrong knot - which can lead to mayhem and lost fish. Be sure to learn this basic knot - if you don't already!


• Tying line directly to the lure: I use a Rapala knot to tie the line directly to the lure. Click here for an animated demo. This is another type of knot that should be readily applied when needed.

The following sites have additional samples of fishing knots:
The Jump Net
Grog's Fishing Knots

So, before you "tie the knot," educate yourself on the use of different knots. It will reduce the chances that your fishing experience will come untied.