fluke and flounder in maine... - The Hull Truth

neuroguy · 01-07-2005, 07:51 PM

Anybody do any fishing for these flatfish in Maine? I fish a lot out of the saco river for bass, bluefish, and go offshore for sharks, tuna, groundfish. But I have read where fluke / flounder fishing used to be good in Maine, but I don't know anyone who wets a hook for these guys up here. My father in law fishes them hard in Montauk, and everytime he comes up he wants me to take him fluke or flounder fishing, but I don't know if they even exist in any catchable amounts up here anymore.

Obviously not looking for anyone's 'honey hole', but was wondering if anyone might acknowledge that they do catch these fish up in nearshore Maine waters, and maybe supply info on depth and bottom structure where you get them at. Thanks for any info!

Gingersdad · 01-09-2005, 05:20 PM

Neuroguy,
Just trying to bump this up for you. I don't fish in Maine, although when I was in college I was known to go to lake Auburn and throw in a line. I fish out of Marblehead/Salem, MA and that is too far North for fluke. The line seems to be around Boston/Saugus. We do catch winter flounder though before the water warms up in the spring.

Gingersdad · 01-10-2005, 07:53 PM

Here is a link to the Maine Department of Marine Resources site identifying common fish caught in Maine. No fluke, but winter flounder are listed. http://www.state.me.us/dmr/recreatio...your_catch.htm
It's an interesting site.

neuroguy · 01-14-2005, 03:11 PM

Thanks....I'll check that out!

maineguides · 01-16-2005, 08:53 PM

neuro.

I hear they stack up under marstons dock!

Harpoon · 01-20-2005, 04:00 PM

got a 50+ lb Halibut off Maine last summer ....

maineguides · 01-21-2005, 07:47 AM

Harpoon

were you fishing for it or was it by-catch. I'm starting to here more and more about Halibut being caught off our coast. I know they have been here but
i'm wondering if the stocks are starting to increase. I'd like to see the day when we can actually target them.

Gingersdad · 01-21-2005, 08:31 AM

Maineguides,

That site that I linked to includes Halibut and refers to the fish listed as "This section is meant to guide the angler through thirty-six of Maine's most commonly encountered saltwater species." That seems to indicate that they must be making a comeback.

tombro · 01-21-2005, 09:51 AM

I remember being on Campobello Island, circa 1970. The natives were fishing handlines off the docks and had stringers of big snowshoe flounder. I remember being very impressed with the size of them, but at the age of 15, most things impressed me more.

Codfisher · 01-21-2005, 11:26 AM

I asked the owner of a bait shop in Wells about flounders and he said a few years back (10?) the inshore draggers decimated the fishery. They are starting to come back but its going to take time.

maineguides · 01-21-2005, 09:46 PM

Codfisher

Long time no talk. ihavent been on the site for about 6 months. How'd you make out down south where i saw you fishing that time. I only made the trip one more time with clients and caught one 37" striped bass at that spot. I will be making the trip more often this upcoming season.

Codfisher · 02-03-2005, 08:00 AM

Hi Maineguides

Got back once with my little boat and caught a few with one just under 40. I mated for the guy I charter a couple times (his regular guy was ill) and we hit the blues there pretty hard in August for his customers. On some of his other trips in July he nailed bass to 45" there..

Did you if ever find charlie? We will have to get together this spring and stick some cod.

Good hearing from you