Stripers - Saco River, ME

On the last day of our vacation, Gary set up a striper fishing trip with Cal Robinson of Saco Bay Stripers. Cal took us out on the ocean to check his lobster traps.



Cal explained how to tell the males from the females, and which ones he releases:



He took us by the Wood Island Lighthouse in Biddiford Pool. It has an illustrious past and is claimed to be haunted.



A couple of years ago, some people were out fishing, and a bad storm blew in. Their boat ended up on the island and has not been retrieved yet. It's the white speck on the right side of the photo.



We headed back up the Saco River, and Mags caught the first fish! This photo captures the pure joy of fishing.



Below, Cal was unhooking the saltwater striped bass.



Maggie was intensely focused as she fished...and quiet, which is not like her.



And...it pays off!



Like father, like daughter...



I was sure I'd snagged bottom when I caught this monster (29.5" and 14-15 lb). It was all I could do to hold him up for the photos.



We saw this beautiful sailboat, called "Texas", so I had to take a picture. I think we were all getting a little homesick for our beloved state.



Gary caught this monster. He told Cal not to measure it because he didn't want his fish to be bigger than mine. How sweet is that?!!



Cal fileted the fish for us. His trick was to bleed them out 30 minutes before he filets them. I don't know what he did, but they tasted great!



Even the seagulls thought so...