They eventually move all the way to Canada - depending on the water temperature in a given year. Anglers are just beginning to discover them in Maine's Down East rivers. The water is just beginning to warm up enough so stripers AR moving out of the rivers and along southern Maine beaches. As the water warms, they'll move out toward the islands. The next two weeks should be prime time to fish for the big stripers, which often lurk around beaches, rock piles or islands.
Juveniles spend two to three years in the estuary or river before migrating to the ocean.
Tips on Tackle and Technique W hether an angler prefers live bait, flies or lures , the best way to attract a striped bass is with something that looks like a bait fish darting along. Ask at a local tackle shop to find out what the stripers prefer in a particular area. On the Kennebec, for example the stripers feed on mackerel, herring, alewives and even crabs or immature lobster. No until the big ones arrive should an angler switch to the larger artificial lures or the bigger live bair, such as mackerel or live eels, or larger artificials. Fly fishermen should choose an 8 to 10-weight rod.