A Striper Fishing Expert Takes You Around Portsmouth

Let Me Introduce Myself

I am Captain Sean Tracey, an expert bass angler (specializing in stripers), fishing guide, owner, and operator of Fish Taco charter service based in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. I have over 35 years of fishing experience, 21 years of which as a local professional guide, and I have been fishing the beautiful and bountiful waters of New Hampshire’s renowned port city since 1991. I especially enjoy chasing and catching striped bass, so suffice it to say that I am one of the best-striped bass charters you can find in the area. The main reason I do what I do is to bring the fun of fishing for stripers to others. My guide service teaches those who come along striper fishing with me a broad range of techniques that will effectively land you a couple of catches without sacrificing the fun we can have!

Fishing has always been a great love of mine. One of the first fishing memories I look fondly back on was when I was on a trip to Cape Cod. Striped bass Cape Cod trips are very popular, but I impressively caught exactly 52 snapper bluefish off a jetty in just a few hours! I used a Red Devil lure that enticed a ton of fish to bite onto my hook. I even got featured in the local newspaper for that fantastic feat! When I recall doing that, it makes me hyped up to create a similar experience for those who book our guided fishing tours with me and my fishing charter.

My Top Fishing Spots

Expect a fun angling adventure around the rich waters of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and Maine when you decide to book with Fish Taco. My fishing charter focuses on providing thrilling striped bass fishing excursions. I take clients cruising along the Piscataqua River, the Great Bay Estuary, and the coasts of New Hampshire and Maine's scenic inshore waters. I also take people fishing in the Merrimack River, which flows southward into Massachusetts until it empties into the Gulf of Maine. Every avid angler familiar with the area knows that the Piscataqua River is where you’ll find an abundance of striped bass and bluefish. The Great Bay Estuary allows us to enjoy the breathtaking and panoramic views of the native nature and wildlife in eastern New Hampshire.

Personally, one of my favorite spots to catch fish is found just outside my home state. Spruce Creek, situated in Kittery in Maine, is where I go to experience some of the best sight fishing. It is a quiet and calm tidal lake and creek protected from the wind, making it the perfect sight-fishing site. It also has the benefit of having an area that shares its water with the Atlantic Ocean, so I get to target a variety of fish species. Another reason why I love Spruce Creek is that it is where I won a striped bass fly fishing tournament, where I caught the most fish (over 40 schoolies) on the fly on just one tide. 

Fish I Like to Target and How I Catch Them

I am one of many striped bass fishing charters in New Hampshire. The state and the Portsmouth area are known for their excellent striped bass and bluefish fisheries because they are the two most popular fish species targeted in the region. Fish Taco will take you around the city’s local waters to land striped bass, Atlantic mackerel, and Spanish mackerel, found in abundance in May and June. You can also find a great deal of Atlantic pollock, brown trout, rainbow trout, mackerel scad, channel catfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, long-spined bullhead, and canary rockfish in the Piscataqua River. 

I am an expert fly fisherman that likes using light tackle and live bait. I usually catch my targets on a fly using live mackerel, various artificial lures, or swim baits. With Fish Taco, we’ll mainly cruise around river flats and inshore areas. We will head to the flats and shallow water in the back channels and estuaries when we go sight fishing for stripers. It is an exciting way to catch striped bass, especially if you expect exciting top-water action. 

Fun Fishing Trips with Fish Taco

All avid and keen striper anglers should consider coming to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and see why it’s one of the best places to target those lively fish. If you book with Fish Taco and me, I will guarantee you will leave the trip feeling fulfilled and gratified by all the fun we’d have. I also welcome anglers at any level and kids. I want to share why striper fishing is one of the most enjoyable angling experiences. 

Fish Taco guided trips come with a private boat experience on a top-of-the-line 21' Jones Brothers Cape Fisherman Lite Tackle Edition vessel which holds up to three guests. The boat has a GPS, a fish finder, a VHF radio, an ice box, and a bait tank. Fish Taco meets guests at the New Hampshire Liquor and Wine Outlet. I often take guests sight fishing in the flats and very shallow water in estuaries and back channels. We will provide you with all the necessary gear and equipment, including flies, fly lines, fly boxes, lures, live bait, rods, reels, and medical supplies. Guests are welcome to bring their own gear if they prefer. The main methods we’ll use to catch our targets will be baitcasting, light tackle fishing, fly fishing, and drift fishing in saltwater. Make sure you have a New Hampshire fishing license before you plan a trip with us or anywhere in the state. Remember to bring other necessities such as weather-appropriate clothing, sun protection, snacks, and drinks.

Check out our website to learn more about me and Fish Taco’s striped bass fishing trips. You’ll experience something fresh and new from your usual Alabama or Texas bass fishing trips. I look forward to hearing from you when you’re in the Portsmouth area!