What are the best lures or bait for striped bass off the Maine coast?

Question

Fishing mostly in Casco Bay from a boat.

Answer 1

As said before, try trolling with a tube. But my best experience for late summer stripers is drifting in open water with a large atom bomber/ schoolbus bomber type lure......something that you can keep topwater but can make a lot of noise with. If all else fails tie on a good old fashioned Kastmaster, you can troll it or just cast it on out their. If you're not much a drifter in the rough sea you could always anchor up and try out at your best cast too... And if nothing's striking yet, id do what has to be done, bait up a hook with a big slab of mackerel or pogie and either drop it down or give it a little flick out there....Good Luck

Answer 2

Mackerel or herring. Right now the mackerel are along the Maine coast to Nova Scotia. In November they will be moving south in huge schools. Nevertheless right now, mackerel are along the Maine coast and that's what the bluefish and striped bass are feeding on. If you want to troll, use parachute lures.

Answer 3

Live Eels are good in deeper water, you may have to bang them on the deck to stun them otherwise they wrap around your line and cause you problems. Sand worms are good all the time. You can also use Clams. If you use clams you should tie them on the hook as to they tend to fall off easy.
I fish the NJ for stripers and I have used all of these and they have all worked well. Good luck! Tight lines to ya!

Answer 4

If you are trolling, use an umbrella rig or a large tube and worm rig.