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Caught a 39inch Striped Bass Night Fishing in
Striped Bass Fishing in Wells, ME
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The Striped Bass is a prized catch for anglers in Wells, Maine, especially during night fishing trips in summer months. These powerful fish can reach impressive sizes, with specimens between 20-55 inches and weights from 10-81 pounds. - These fish feature distinctive horizontal stripes that run along their silver sides. - Stripers are known for their powerful fights, making them a thrilling catch for anglers.
Guided Fishing Trip by Guide Jeff Trudeau in August
Meet your Guide Jeff Trudeau
- Discover Wells, Maine: Ultimate Fishing Guide
Summary
Our exclusive night fishing charter in Wells, Maine offers a thrilling opportunity to target trophy Striped Bass after dark. Wednesday July proved perfect timing as the cloud cover enhanced the nighttime bite. Captain Jeff Trudeau specializes in these 6-hour adventures, using a mix of surf casting, trolling, and bait fishing techniques to maximize your chances of landing monster stripers. We provide all the tackle and local expertise needed for success on Maine's productive inshore waters. Whether you're an experienced angler or new to night fishing, this private charter accommodates up to 3 guests with personalized attention throughout your trip. The evening waters around Wells Harbor offer some of the best Striped Bass action on the Maine coast.
Fishing Charter with Jeff Trudeau – Rates & Booking
Captain Jeff Trudeau of Reel Nice Surprise on Wednesday July offers this exclusive 6-hour night fishing adventure for $1,100. This private charter accommodates up to 3 anglers and includes all the necessary equipment for targeting trophy Striped Bass. Setting out from Wells Harbor at 6:30 PM, you'll experience the thrill of night fishing during prime Striper hours. With over a decade of local experience, Captain Jeff knows exactly where to find these prized fish after dark. The extended half-day format gives you ample time to work different spots and techniques as conditions change throughout the evening.
Highlights of Extended Half Day Night Striped Bass Fishing Trip in Maine
Night fishing offers unique advantages for targeting monster Striped Bass that are more active after sunset. Our recent trip produced a spectacular 44-inch Striper alongside a solid 41-inch White Bass as cloud cover rolled in. Captain Jeff employs a versatile approach, mixing surf casting, trolling, and bait fishing to adapt to changing conditions and maximize your chances.
The 6-hour format allows us to follow the bite as it develops through the evening. Unlike daytime trips, night fishing provides cooler temperatures and often more aggressive feeding behavior from larger fish. The peaceful experience of being on Maine waters under the stars adds an unforgettable dimension to your fishing adventure. All tackle is provided, so you can focus entirely on the excitement of the catch.
Local Species Insights: Striped Bass
The waters around Wells Harbor offer excellent habitat for Striped Bass, particularly during summer months when these fish migrate along the Maine coast. These powerful gamefish are drawn to structure, current edges, and bait concentrations that form around the harbor entrance and nearby beaches. During night hours, Stripers often move into shallower water to feed, making them more accessible to anglers.
Captain Jeff's specialized night fishing techniques take advantage of the Stripers' nocturnal hunting patterns. Using a combination of live bait, artificial lures, and specific trolling presentations, we target areas where these predators ambush prey after dark. July and August are peak months for night fishing success, when water temperatures are ideal and bait is abundant in the Wells area. The thrill of battling a 30+ inch Striper in the darkness is an experience every angler should have.
Plan Your Fishing Charter Day
For your night fishing adventure, dress in layers as temperatures can drop after sunset on Maine waters. Our boat is equipped with comfortable seating, quality electronics, and specialized lighting for safe nighttime operation. We recommend bringing a light jacket, camera, and any personal snacks or non-alcoholic beverages you might want. Our 6:30 PM departure time allows us to position ourselves perfectly for the evening bite, and we'll return to the harbor around 12:30 AM after a full session of fishing action.
Fishing in Maine: Striped Bass
The Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis), belonging to the Moronidae family and Perciformes order, is one of the most sought-after gamefish along the Atlantic coast. These distinctive fish with their characteristic horizontal black stripes running along silvery sides have become legendary among anglers visiting Wells, Maine during summer months like July.
Striped Bass Overview
Striped Bass, often called "stripers" or "rockfish" by local anglers, are powerful predatory fish that migrate seasonally along the Atlantic coast. Their combination of fighting ability, impressive size, and excellent table fare makes them highly valued by recreational fishermen throughout their range.
Striped Bass Habitat and Distribution
These adaptable fish occupy various habitats from freshwater rivers to inshore coastal waters. Around Wells, Maine, they typically inhabit nearshore ocean waters, estuaries, and harbor entrances during summer months. They prefer structures like jetties, rocky shorelines, and areas with strong current flows where baitfish concentrate.
Striped Bass Size and Weight
Typical Striped Bass range from 20 to 55 inches in length, with weights between 10 and 81 pounds for mature specimens. Trophy-class fish over 40 inches are not uncommon in Maine waters during peak season, with night fishing often producing the largest specimens.
Striped Bass Diet and Behavior
Stripers are voracious predators feeding primarily on smaller fish like herring, menhaden, mackerel, and eels. They're known for aggressive feeding behavior, especially during low light conditions at night. Their hunting strategy often involves ambushing prey near structure or trapping baitfish against shorelines.
Striped Bass Spawning Season
Striped Bass spawn in freshwater systems during spring months (April-June), with most fish in Maine waters having migrated from spawning grounds in the Chesapeake Bay or Hudson River. By July in Wells, most stripers have fully recovered from spawning and are actively feeding in coastal waters.
Striped Bass Fishing Techniques
For night fishing in Wells, live eels, chunked mackerel, and large swimming plugs are particularly effective. During evening hours, focus on harbor entrances, beach fronts, and rocky structure where stripers hunt under cover of darkness. In July, anglers around Wells find particular success during outgoing tides when stripers position themselves to ambush baitfish being swept out of estuaries.
Striped Bass Is It Good to Eat?
Striped Bass offers excellent table fare with firm, white flesh that has a mild, sweet flavor. It's versatile for cooking methods including grilling, baking, and broiling. Nutritionally, it's high in protein and omega-3 fatty acids while being relatively low in mercury compared to other large predatory fish.
Striped Bass Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the best bait for Striped Bass?
A: Live eels are considered the premium bait for trophy Striped Bass, particularly at night in Wells. Other effective baits include fresh chunked mackerel, live herring, and large soft plastic swimbaits that imitate local forage.
Q: Where can I find Striped Bass near Wells?
A: Striped Bass concentrate around Wells Harbor entrance, nearby beaches with structure, and rocky areas with good current flow. During night hours in summer, they often move into surprisingly shallow water to feed.
Q: Is Striped Bass good to eat?
A: Yes, Striped Bass is considered excellent eating with firm white meat and a mild flavor. Many anglers consider fish in the 24-32 inch range to be ideal for the table, while larger specimens are often released.
Q: When is the best time to catch Striped Bass?
A: In Wells, the prime season runs from June through September, with July and August typically offering the most consistent action. Night fishing during new moon periods with moving tides often produces the largest catches.
Q: What size rods and reels should I use for Striped Bass?
A: Medium-heavy spinning or conventional setups with 20-40lb test lines are ideal for Wells area Striper fishing. Rods in the 7-9 foot range offer good casting distance and fighting power.
Q: Are Striped Bass endangered?
A: While not endangered, Striped Bass populations are carefully managed with size and bag limits that change periodically. Always check current Maine fishing regulations before your trip.
