The Maine Thing

I’ll be the first to admit that it was rather embarrassing telling someone that prior to August 2025, I had never even seen a striped bass. And I had never been to Maine before. Well, that box is checked, and in a big way. It all started with an invite from Joshua Schwartz, owner and head chef of Travel Creel Hospitality, who creates ‘pop up’ fly fishing lodges all over the world.

I’d be joining fishing buddy Scott Sadil, fishing editor for Gray’s Sporting Journal, also. How could I say no? Our goal was to fish with great local guides in Portland, Maine and eat a cornucopia of Maine’s finest seafood and other classic New England foods and beverages. Plus, we’d spend a couple days in Boston Harbor chasing blitzing stripers and watching the Red Sox. 

Our daily routine started with a great breakfast, at around 5:30am. Then the guides would pick up anglers and head to one of several boat ramps. It was important to get out early, as the morning striper blitz was a sight to behold. It is a cat and mouse game as the guides position the boats near the frenzy. But the baitfish move and the stripers chase them. One minute they are exploding 40 feet off the starboard side, then in 30 seconds the blow-ups are 50 feet off the port side. It’s teamwork and fast action.

The grab is solid, a heavy tug that bends your 8-weight to the cork. We’re talking several good runs followed by a long demonstration of will and stamina. Stripers are tough. It’s always fun to catch a fish that is good looking and a powerful fighter. After the blitz session, we cast towards rocks and points with sinking lines and match the hatch streamer patterns. Some of the interior lagoons had light colored sand bottoms, with cruising stripers working the tides.

The fun does not end at the boat ramp. After an hour or two to shower and clean and organize tackle, the food starts to appear. Take a deep breath and just try to pace yourself! Travel Creel is a unique lodge/outfitter/foodie endeavor. The crew will set up shop when they identify a great fishery with great local guides, sometimes for only a few weeks. Tarpon, stripers, roosterfish, South American trout, and more are all in their portfolio.

The guests collect around the bar and appetizers for entertaining chit chat and storytelling. Then, we are seated for the main event. Lobster, all you can eat, local beef, clams, lamb, local blueberry pie, it goes on and on. Of course, there are wonderful wines available, plus local beers and cocktails. In my next life, I won’t wait until I am 70 to visit Maine and fish for an American legend, the impressive striped bass. It is wicked.