I’m going ocean fishing in Maine and was wondering what species of fish I should target… and how to catch them?

For my time and money I would likely target the Striped Bass if I was going to fish in Maine. Striped Bass are excellent sporting fish that also are good table fare. They can range from five to over fifty pounds and are generally in local water for the entire year. If you are patient and learn the behavior of this fish you should be able to consistently catch them. For tackle I prefer a medium action setup. I use a spinning reel spooled with at least two hundred yards or more of twelve to fifteen pound test line. My rod is a high quality graphite model with enough backbone to set a hook and fight this tough competitor. When live bait angling for this species you should select a bait with size appropriate to what you are trying to catch. If quantity of fish outweighs other concerns you should use a smaller bait in the four to six inch size range. For true trophy you can use bait as large as a foot long. Mackerel, herring and other small fish are all excellent baits. This is a fast moving fish that will travel at great distances to strike a lure. For that reason large spoon and plugs can be used. They should be trolled or retrieved at a fast rate of speed. Striped Bass are available in many different settings. You can catch them in bays, rivers off the main bodies of water and by surf fishing on the beach.