Comin' or goin'? When I used to fish for stripers on mid coast Maine, the conventional wisdom was that the best time to go was "half tide comin'". Now that I'm in southern Maine...

tuboshu Loc: Kennebunk, Maine

When I used to fish for stripers on mid coast Maine, the conventional wisdom was that the best time to go was "half tide comin'". Now that I'm in southern Maine, everyone seems to prefer the outgoing tide. Is this just a regional preference, or do fish actually act differently in different areas? What has been your experience?

Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.

tuboshu wrote:

When I used to fish for stripers on mid coast Maine, the conventional wisdom was that the best time to go was "half tide comin'". Now that I'm in southern Maine, everyone seems to prefer the outgoing tide. Is this just a regional preference, or do fish actually act differently in different areas? What has been your experience?

Hi Tub. Here in Connecticut, I've found Striper fishing to be better on the incoming tide, if you're out on the reefs in the Sound. If you're fishing the shore, near a harbor or river mouth, then the outgoing is usually better. They'll wait outside the mouth waiting for the bait to wash out with the current. I've never fished in Maine, but would presume the conditions would be similar. Good Luck, Tight Lines, and don't forget the pictures.

bucky buckner Loc: murrells inlet SC

tuboshu wrote:

When I used to fish for stripers on mid coast Maine, the conventional wisdom was that the best time to go was "half tide comin'". Now that I'm in southern Maine, everyone seems to prefer the outgoing tide. Is this just a regional preference, or do fish actually act differently in different areas? What has been your experience?

Good morning Tuboshu, I do not fish for stripers here, but most of the fish I do catch, are 2 hours on the falling and 2 hours on the rising, with a slow bite on the dead tide, which I believe to be the case in most tidal waters. Believe it or not, this is the case for offshore fishing also, GOOD LUCK

Jim Kay Loc: Franklin, Virginia

tuboshu wrote:

When I used to fish for stripers on mid coast Maine, the conventional wisdom was that the best time to go was "half tide comin'". Now that I'm in southern Maine, everyone seems to prefer the outgoing tide. Is this just a regional preference, or do fish actually act differently in different areas? What has been your experience?

I pay little attention to the actual tide but rather fish with the knowledge that they will feed on any moving tide and you have to figure out where they are on each tide.

Gmchief Loc: New Hampshire coast

My buddy in Kittery, Maine believes adamantly in the 2 hours either side of high tide, to the point he won’t go fishing any other time. Even better is dawn or dusk high tide. As for me, I find that I can’t catch them no matter what the tide State. Thanks Papa for describing most of my trips perfectly.

RuffplayOR57 Loc: Klamath Falls, OR

tuboshu wrote:

When I used to fish for stripers on mid coast Maine, the conventional wisdom was that the best time to go was "half tide comin'". Now that I'm in southern Maine, everyone seems to prefer the outgoing tide. Is this just a regional preference, or do fish actually act differently in different areas? What has been your experience?

I talked to one of our Coast Bioligist’s last summer asking him the same question. He told be it was best on the last half of Outgoing Tide and that Slack.

USAF Major Loc: Sea Bright, NJ

I had over to the sedges about an hour before the tide starts out. I think they are gathering to feed on the baitfish being forced out by the dropping tide.