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Good morning, anglers—Artificial Lure here with your Saturday, August 30, 2025, Atlantic Ocean and Maine coast fishing update.

Kicking off before sunrise at 6:38AM and winding down after sunset at 7:35PM today, we’re sitting between fronts after Hurricane Erin’s blow, with the ocean starting to lay down and give us workable seas. Winds this morning are from the south at 5–15 knots, building through the day to 10–20 knots, with seas topping out around 6–11 feet. By nightfall winds will hold south 10–20 and seas will ease a bit, dropping to 4–8 feet according to Ocean Prediction Center forecasts.

As far as tides go, we’ll see a low right around 6:20AM, peaking to a high at 1:01PM, then dropping to another low at 7:37PM. Those transition periods are going to be best for working moving water, especially around river mouths and tidal embayments. Fish use that flow to ambush, so time your trip if you want action.

The early part of this week was a bust for a lot of boats thanks to Hurricane Erin, but yesterday marked a major rebound. Offshore, tuna and billfish have come roaring back, especially in the canyon zones—yellowfin, bigeye, and plenty of mahi, even wahoo up to 90 pounds. Around Cape Cod and farther north, bluefin are showing strong at iconic spots like Regal Sword, Stellwagen, and even up toward Boone Island, with mackerel and bunker leading as the hottest live baits in those zones, according to On The Water.

If you’re working closer to home here in Maine, the fall runs are just starting. Stripers are blitzing herring through the embayments and river mouths, prime for the dawn and dusk bites. Blues and bonito are now pushing back inshore since Erin moved through. Peanut bunker and sand eels are bringing in hungry schools—don’t be shy with topwater plugs and metal jigs. Deep structure is still producing keeper sea bass and whiting, while the bottom fishing crowd has been connecting with tautog.

For gear, you want versatility. On the striper and bluefish front, locals are reaching for classic spooks, poppers, and soft-plastic jerk shads, especially in white or bunker-silver patterns. The Berkley Powerbait MaxScent Flat Worm is earning top marks for smallmouth up the rivers, but also getting hit by crappie and trout in the brackish stretches according to New England Outdoor Writers. Marabou jigs and Mepps spinners are the go-to for trout. For the bluefin crowd drifting bait offshore, live mackerel and bunker remain king—don’t leave the dock without a pack. Sand eels will get you smaller tuna when the giants aren’t present.

On the bait side, fresh menhaden are currently the hot commodity: as of yesterday nearly 265,000 pounds were landed in Maine’s episodic fishery, so if you can get cut bait or live bunker, it’s a sure bet for stripers and blues. Meanwhile, deep drop rigs with squid or clams are fooling bottom dwellers like sea bass and whiting.

Shark watchers, take note: there’s been a rise in white shark presence recently, with Maine’s Department of Marine Resources confirming nearly 93 unique white sharks off our waters since 2020. Great whites sightings are up, mostly drawn by plentiful seal populations, but attacks remain exceptionally rare—just be shark-smart around seals and watch for local advisories.

If you’re planning your spots today, here are two local fan favorites:
- **Portland Headlight**: for stripers, blues, and bonus bonito runs at the incoming tide.
- **Boone Island Ledges**: for bluefin, pollock, and whiting. The Ledges also offer a shot at late-summer cod and the occasional mako if you want to compete with the offshore crowd.

Pro tip: Time your casts around tidal changes, work structure, and bring a few lure options—you never know when stripers turn off topwater and start smashing metal.

Thanks for tuning in to this week’s Atlantic Maine report, folks. Remember to subscribe so you don’t miss the next bite—this has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out quietplease.ai.

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Friday August 29, 2025, and you’re on the water with Artificial Lure, your local Maine Atlantic angler. Today’s fishing started under classic late-summer skies—sunrise hit at 6:37AM and we’ll have daylight right through to sunset at 7:36PM. Early risers saw the low tide bottom out around 5:39AM, with the next high swinging in at 12:11PM and then another low at 6:39PM, courtesy of Tide-Forecast.com. These swings set up a moving-water bite for those working the rocks and river mouths.

Seas are finally calming down after the stir-up from Erin. Ocean Prediction Center posted northeast winds early, drifting down by midday with high pressure setting in and 10-20 knot winds calming seas. Anglers reported 4–8-foot swells this morning, but they’re laying down into the afternoon. That’s good news for anyone heading out front or working embayments.

Let’s talk fish. According to On The Water’s August 28 Maine Coast report, the striped bass fall run is officially warming up. Stripers are staging in river mouths and embayments, keying hard on dropping river herring fry. The bass bite has been steady on bigger baits—think Doc Spooks and Glide Baits if you’re a plug worker, or large streamers for fly folks. The same report notes that bluefish—less common up here but always a treat—have followed bait into the lower rivers and bays, adding some extra excitement.

Groundfish folks chasing pollock and whiting are finding them deep on structures like Jeffrey’s Ledge, and offshore crews are seeing some wicked tuna moving over the usual offshore banks. Tuna runs this year have included a few true giants over 700 pounds—enough to get anyone’s heart pumping (Seacoast NH Sportfishing and Tuna Maine Charters confirm the offshore big fish are moving).

What’s biting? This week around Cape Elizabeth and Black Point, bass have been pushing up tight to the ledges on the flood, and some nice keeper-size fish are in the mix. Mackerel have come back strong off the rocks, fattening up and acting as prime bait and lure targets. Peanut bunker and small herring are thick—match these with smaller soft plastics or paddletails when the bite gets picky.

For go-to tactics: best lures have been larger walk-the-dog plugs, Magic Swimmers, and glide baits for shallow flats, plus swimbaits over rock structure at dusk and dawn. Fly guys, big deceivers and clousers in white or olive remain productive. If you’re soaking bait, live mackerel or chunked fresh bunker have accounted for both stripers and the odd bluefish.

Along with bass and blues, shark reports have ticked up offshore—especially during dawn patrols. And keep your eyes peeled: per the Maine Department of Marine Resources and area advisories, shark sightings, including great whites, have increased this season. Keep your catch secured and don’t linger if you spot fins.

Hot spots to try: the Scarborough River outflow at first light for stripers busting bait, and the ledges off Cape Small during the incoming for a solid bass run. Mackerel are thick off Portland Head and always worth jigging for a quick dinner or chunk bait.

Before you rig up, know this: after recent research activity and trials—like the first open-water ocean alkalinity experiment in the Gulf of Maine—fishers and scientists are keeping a close eye on the broader health of our fishery, especially groundfish, lobster, and forage species like herring.

Thanks for tuning in to the Artificial Lure Maine Atlantic fishing report. Hit subscribe so you never miss the tide, and keep those lines tight and your tackle wet. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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Artificial Lure here with your Maine Atlantic fishing report for Wednesday, August 27, 2025—a classic late-summer morning along the coast, and there’s plenty for local anglers to get excited about.

Let’s kick off with your Bar Harbor tide schedule: the morning’s low tide hits at 7:30 a.m. with a super shallow 0.33 ft, swinging to high at 1:37 p.m. reaching nearly 11 ft. That gives a good moving-water window for chunking bait or working artificials midday. Sunrise was at 5:48 a.m., with a sunset tonight at 7:19 p.m., giving you a long stretch to wet a line according to Tide-Forecast.com.

Weatherwise from the Ocean Prediction Center, we’re seeing west winds at 10 to 15 knots this morning, shifting southwest and building this afternoon in the 10–20 knot range. Seas are running 4 to 6 feet—manageable for the inshore crews and manageable if you pick your spots right.

Now, fish activity: Locals out of Casco Bay and Frenchman Bay are reporting blitzing schools of mackerel and the start of the late-season striper push—small pods of bait, mainly peanut bunker, are holding near current rips, especially around rocky points and tidal estuaries. The past week saw lots of schoolie stripers with the occasional slot fish—mainly caught at dawn and dusk on topwaters and soft plastics. Find the birds and you’ll find the bass.

Out deeper, there’s still good activity for haddock and pollock on the ledges, but word from the grounds is that bigger cod are hit or miss. Fluke (summer flounder) are showing, but keepers are hard to come by; if you want a try, use bucktail jigs tipped with squid or Gulp baits—a tip straight from The Fisherman’s recent New England reports.

Bluefin tuna chasers south of Mount Desert are noticing a shift in tuna diet away from herring, which have hit historic lows, and onto menhaden—this means if you’re live-baiting or chunking, menhaden is your best bet. University of Maine research confirms these shifts, so have bunker on hand if you’re targeting tuna this week.

For the inshore crowd, especially surfcasters and small-boat anglers, the hot lures are epoxy jigs, metals, and soft plastics in olive or bunker patterns. Night anglers are having success with black or dark-colored darters and swimmers. Chunk bait like fresh mackerel or menhaden is drawing stripers after dark. Old standbys like sea worms and clams are steady for those targeting groundfish and the odd tog near rocky structure.

There have been a couple of great white shark sightings off Bailey Island, per Harpswell Marine Resources, so stay sharp, especially if you’re in a yak or wading out for that big striped bass. It’s a reminder that Maine waters are wild—keep an eye on those bait balls and try not to follow any big seals too closely!

Hot spots right now?
- The ledges off Portland Head remain productive for bottom species.
- The mouths of the Kennebec and Damariscotta rivers are holding bait and producing stripers.
- Thorn Head and the inlets near Bar Harbor are seeing strong early-morning surface feeds.
- If you’re up for a road trip, the drop-offs near Saco Bay and Bailey Island are producing, especially on an outgoing tide.

The season’s winding down, but the fish haven’t gotten the memo—yet. Bring a variety of lures, get out around tide changes, and keep those baits fresh and moving.

Thanks for tuning in to your Maine Atlantic fishing report. Don’t forget to subscribe for more local angling news and tips.

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Atlantic Ocean Maine anglers, this is Artificial Lure with your Sunday fishing report for August 24, 2025. We’re waking up to partly cloudy skies and a mild breeze, with sunrise at 6:34 AM and sunset coming at 7:43 PM—ideal daylight for working the coast and running up the rivers. Today’s tide at nearby Atlantic Beach runs low at 2:47 AM then swings high at 8:44 AM, bottoming out again at 2:50 PM before topping up at 9:05 PM. That gives us some prime moving water, especially mid-morning and right after dinner—times worth chasing striped bass, mackerel, and blues according to local chatter and recent catch logs from dockside conversations.

Wave action offshore sits at about 4 feet, winds holding steady from the south at 10–20 knots, with swells lingering thanks to remnants of Hurricane Erin far offshore. Inner bays and harbors are looking friendlier, though. If you’re planning to run out to deeper water, keep an ear to the Coast Guard and mind those gusts, but inshore spots like Kennebec River mouth and Portland’s Eastern Prom should be fishable and productive.

This past week saw strong lobster bustles—harvests are still up from last year, with more gear improvements and good catch rates reported by the DMR and local fleets. Lobster, as always, remains king along the rocks and ledges. Scallop boats are gearing up for the fall openings and local draggers say conditions are shaping up with healthy beds in Zones 1 and 2 along Tenants Harbor and Milbridge. Word is striped bass numbers are decent; plenty of slot fish and even several larger keepers have come up on live eels and chunk mackerel. Tuna sightings—especially school bluefin—have been spottier, but the boat folks running out of Saco and Boothbay are still picking up a few on trolled squid and chum lines.

Schoolie stripers have shown a preference for soft plastics rigged weedless, like plastic worms which remain the most reliable lure for shallow water action near inlets and docks. Color choice? Motor oil, pearl, or bone white depending on the clarity—according to Professional B Group’s rundown, plastic worms are the staple for our coast’s summer bite. For bigger bass and blues, turn to poppers at first light, and paddletail shads or bucktail jigs at slack tides. Flounder are still coming up in muddy-bottomed coves on squid strips and bloodworms—great for the kids.

Mackerel have been thick in the harbors late afternoon and dusk, schools pushing bait tight to the docks—small silver spoons or Sabiki rigs work best. Bluefish are hitting hard lures near deeper channel rips; the trick is fast retrieve, and don’t fret if you lose a rig—blues will bite anything that flashes. Down east, reports from Brad Burns Fishing say cooler water is moving in, around 68°F, helping bring salmon and grilse back to river mouths, especially after a sluggish early August. American eels on the move have been spotted up Megunticook River—always a sign the food chain is healthy for fall transition.

Today’s hotspots: Port Clyde’s working waterfront is producing, with outgoing tide dragging bait over the rocks—set up for stripers and flounder. Scarborough Marsh, meanwhile, has been yielding morning schoolies and midsize bluefish. If you’re up for some adventure, make your way to the Saco River entrance just after high tide for mixed bag action.

Live eels and sandworms are gold for bait right now, especially if you’re targeting stripers or waiting out bottom fish. Frozen mackerel and cut squid always attract a crowd under the piers. If you want to try artificials, top picks are bone-colored plastic worms, bucktails, and the classic silver Kastmaster.

That’s the scoop for your Atlantic Maine coast on August 24. Thanks for tuning in—be sure to subscribe so you never miss the next tide. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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Artificial Lure here, bringing you the skinny on Maine’s salty Atlantic shoreline for Saturday, August 23. We’re waking up today to some punchy conditions—Hurricane Erin is still throwing her weight around, so if you’re headed out, put safety up top. High surf advisories cover most of the southern and Downeast coasts, with wave heights 5 to 9 feet and plenty of rip currents, especially around high tide in the late morning and close to midnight, with Portland forecast to see high tide around 11:26 PM peaking just over flood stage according to WGME.

Today’s sun popped up at 5:47 AM and she’ll clock out at 7:21 PM, giving us some generous daylight if you want to hit it early. Tides are running a negative low right around 6 AM, and a near 11-foot high a bit past noon in the Bar Harbor stretch (thanks Tide-Forecast), so structure around both peaks could turn up some action. Small Point Harbor’s high tide will be late morning at 9.16 feet.

Your main players right now are striped bass, bluefish, pollock, and silver hake, with some reports of tautog and fluke circulating in the inside bays, as On The Water reported for the week. Around the river mouths and rocky points, striper fishing is getting a boost by the cooler, overcast stretches. Most local crews I talked to had the best luck with stripers at sunup or just before dusk, especially when the herring and mackerel schools are pulsed in with the shifting tides. Bluefish are still popping up, mingling with the bass, and there’s been no shortage of pollock action if you skip out toward Jeffrey’s Ledge—these guys are biting strong right now.

Lobster hauls are near record numbers again this season, with fisherynation.com reporting nearly double landings since 2021—lots of traps are heavy, making it worth a drop if you’re working pots.

As for lures and bait: locally, topwater plugs and paddle-tail soft plastics are hot for stripers, especially in choppy conditions—they mimic those injured baitfish riding the storm waves. Chunk mackerel or live herring, fished deep off a bank or around bridge pilings, will tempt any slot fish lurking close to shore. Silver spoons are pulling double-duty for pollock and bluefish. If you’re targeting tautog or fluke in the sheltered coves, stick to green crab bait or Gulp! swimming mullet bounced along the bottom.

Conditions are rugged, so hot spots worth the effort (provided you’re geared and cautious) would be:
- The mouth of the Saco River near Camp Ellis—good current, bait schools, and structure, though the surf will be pushing in.
- Ogunquit River outflow—stripers and school blues have been bullying bait on outer sandbars during higher tides.
- For offshore, Jeffrey’s Ledge is loaded with pollock and some big silver hake, but with a small craft advisory in effect, only the sturdiest fleet should make the run.

Boat anglers: stick tight to sheltered bays and river inlets until the seas lay down, which is looking more promising by late Sunday as Erin tracks off. Remember, there’s a high fire risk on land too, and drought’s still pinching—keep any campfires limited if you pull up for a beach lunch.

Catch rates have been respectable even before Erin’s stir, but numbers offshore may drop until the water settles. If you’re shorebound, this is prime time to pitch lures into the whitewater for bass and blues chasing scattered bait. The walk-ons are outpacing the boaters this weekend; that’s saying something.

Thanks for tuning in to this Maine coast report! Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a tide or a bite.

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Artificial Lure here with your Atlantic Maine fishing report for Friday, August 22, 2025.

Sunrise greeted us at 6:34 AM and the sun will dip at 7:42 PM. The weather started tranquil inland but if you're heading to the ocean, prepare for some hefty rollers. With Hurricane Erin passing well south, we're catching the outer edge: that means high, energetic seas, with wave heights rising into the 7-to-12-foot range today and tonight, especially around the high tide at 9:25 AM and again near 9:42 PM. A coastal flood advisory’s in effect, so admire those swells from a safe spot on the rocks or beach and take care if you’re launching[National Weather Service Marine Forecast][Pine Tree Weather][NOAA Tide Predictions].

Fishing remains vibrant as we ride the new moon tide. Striped bass have been lighting up the area, especially in rivers like the Saco and around Casco Bay. Early morning bite inside the mouths is hot—these fish aren’t picky first light, then move deep as the sun climbs. Anglers have been scoring stripers and blues with mackerel near eddies by the islands, but those stick baits and soft plastics that match sand eels or peanuts have been lethal—like Slug-Gos or Albie Snax. For targeting numbers, tube-and-worm rigs are the go-to along shoreline structure and riverbanks. Mackerel are thick this week and not shy; they’ll hit a live rig or imitation, and are also swarming near current breaks[Webhannet Bait and Tackle, Diamond Pass Outfitters reports in On The Water].

Folks fishing offshore ledges are finding pollock by the dozens, and some haddock, but pollock have been the standout for sheer fight. With the bluefin season closed, anyone headed out past the 25-mile limit has been shifting focus to mahi, yellowfin, wahoo, and billfish, though seas are rough, so most are keeping close to shore this weekend[On The Water Reports].

Bluefish and schoolie stripers are present in the bays and river mouths, with decent sheepshead and fluke showing for those bottom fishing. If you want variety, pack a sabiki rig for macks and squid jigs as there've been nights when squid or sand eel imitations outperform everything. For panfish anglers, you’ll find surface-feeding rock gunnel and other small critters in tide pools on the morning low[Bangor Daily News].

Best baits today:
- Live or chunked **mackerel**
- **Sand eel imitations** (soft plastics/Slug-Gos)
- **Tube-and-worm rigs** (trolled slowly on structure)
- **Topwater spooks** if fish are frenzied offshore

Best lures:
- **Albie Snax**, **Slug-Gos**
- Stick baits in sand eel or peanut bunker colors
- For bottom work: 1.5" Northland Slurpies and other small fry imitations for crappie, sunfish, perch, and bass[Northland Lures]

Hot spots for the day:
- **Saco River mouth** (stripers, blues early)
- **Casco Bay ledges** (stripers on mackerel, pollock deeper)
- **Cape Porpoise & Webhannet River** (morning tube-and-worm bite)
- Shoreline eddies near islands, especially during outgoing tide

Tightlines Bait Rigging’s Maine chart recommends mixing in bottom rigs and live bait for variety from shore to deep water—so arrive prepared with rigs suited to the conditions, especially with shifting wind and sea state[Tightlines Bait Rigging Chart].

As always, adjust your approach to the tide and weather. On days like today, early light means action; after sunrise, follow fish deeper or seek calmer water in the rivers.

Thanks for tuning in to your local Maine coast fishing report. Subscribe for updates, and remember—This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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This is Artificial Lure with your Maine coast Atlantic Ocean fishing report for August 20, 2025. Sunrise rolled in at 5:49AM, with a gorgeous glow over the water, and we’re looking at sunset tonight about 7:38PM. For you early risers, those pre-dawn hours were as calm as you’d hope, and the bite’s been best at both ends of the day.

Tide-wise, this morning brought us a low around 3:45AM, first high at 10:02AM, then another low mid-afternoon. That means prime moving water for stripers and blues right after first light, and again late afternoon into evening, especially along rocky points and estuary mouths, according to Tide-Forecast.com. The Gulf of Maine’s seeing north winds between 10 and 20 knots with seas 4 to 7 feet, calming a bit as we move into midweek as outlined by the National Weather Service marine briefing. Be cautious if heading offshore—hurricane swells are rippling up the coast thanks to Erin out in the Atlantic, so watch changing conditions.

Weather’s been classic August—upper 60s to mid-70s along the shoreline, patchy fog early but burning off to mostly sunny skies. Water temps hovering near 65°F inshore, cool enough to keep the mackerel schools thick around the islands and ledges.

Striped bass action is still hot—fish up to 35 inches reported off Scarborough and around the mouth of the Saco River over the last couple of mornings. Schoolies are holding in the rivers and marshes with a few slot keepers in the mix. Anglers are having luck with live eels and chunk mackerel at night, and casting soft plastics or white bucktail jigs on the outgoing tide near rocky structure. Bluefish have pushed in hard, thrashing bait near Popham and Biddeford Pool—diamond jigs and flashy spoons are the ticket there.

Mackerel are all over—kids and adults alike are filling buckets at Portland Head Light and around Cape Elizabeth, sabiki rigs tipped with bits of cut squid or just shiny spoons are doing damage on the bigger tides. Sea bass and scup have been more of a southern New England story, but there are keeper sea bass on deep reefs south of Saco. J&J Sports notes that Clam and Berkley Gulp continue to work great for sea bass.

Flounder and haddock are still on the inshore rubble piles but moving deeper as the season shifts—dropper rigs with strips of squid or sandworms are solid bets if you anchor up over rough bottom.

Shark alert: Great white sightings have hit local headlines again, with confirmed 6- to 10-footers off Ogunquit and Scarborough the past 48 hours according to Bangor Daily News and Scarborough PD. If you’re swimming or targeting mackerel from a kayak, stay alert. Most sightings are July-September and less than a handful per summer, but these apex predators are here for the seals—and the bait—so keep at least one eye seaward.

Best lures right now: White soft plastics (6-inch paddletails), metal spoons, and surface poppers for bass and bluefish. Mackerel sticks, Sabiki rigs for bait. If after something bigger or on the reefs, pink or glow bucktails tipped with Gulp are proven producers.

Top hot spots this week: Ferry Beach State Park for stripers and bluefish, especially where the river outflow meets the surf. Another is Two Lights in Cape Elizabeth, targeting the edges of the boulder fields. Offshore, Jeffrey’s Ledge is still producing mixed bag groundfish and the odd tuna for boats able to make the run.

That’s your on-the-water update—tight lines to everyone headed out there today. Thanks for tuning in! Don’t forget to subscribe for your daily dose of salty news and insider tips.

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Artificial Lure here with your fresh Atlantic Ocean, Maine fishing report for Sunday, August 17, 2025.

Let’s start with conditions. Sunrise hit at 5:46 this morning, and sunset rolls around at 7:39 tonight. Weather’s shaping up classic Maine coastal: patchy morning fog, temps warming into the mid-70s, and a light south wind bumping up to 10–15 knots. NOAA forecasts say seas will be running 3–4 feet, so it’s fishable outside, but you might get some chop if you run offshore. Tidewise, we had a high just before 6 AM, sliding down to low water around 5:10 PM according to NOAA. If you’re fishing the mouths or inlets, work that outgoing.

Now, on to the fish. Fluke (summer flounder) are the main event right now, with most big ones sliding out of the bays and lighting up inlets and nearshore reefs—Bangor ledges, Old Orchard reef, and Saco Bay wrecks have all put up keeper fish in the last week. Several folks reported three to five solid fluke per trip, with a few true doormats topping 7 pounds. Bucktail jigs trimmed with Gulp! Swimming Mullet (chartreuse is hard to beat) are the ticket, but don’t sleep on fresh local squid or strip baits for tempting larger fish. On a moving tide, they’ll be staged at the dropoffs.

Striped bass continue to feed well at first light through dusk along the southern Maine shoreline. The Kennebunk River mouth and Scarborough Marsh edges have given up multiple fish in the 22–30 inch range. Mackerel chunk baits are dynamite, but a topwater Spook or a white paddle tail soft bait draws epic strikes on a calm morning. If you’re after numbers, drifting live eels has put some real cows on deck this week.

Offshore, it’s all about bluefin tuna. Charters running off Portland and out by Jeffreys Ledge report bluefin action heating up, with several recreational-sized fish plus a few bigger models tagged and released these past few days, according to FishingBooker reports. Most hookups are coming on live mackerel or bluefish, but large silver and pink RonZ soft baits fished deep are producing when the bite’s tough. Trolling rigged ballyhoo or spreader bars is putting a few yellowfin and bigeye in the mix out past the ledges.

Lobster traps are full, with good numbers still showing in 50-75 feet near Pemaquid and Winter Harbor—Maine’s lobster fleet, per National Fisherman, is winding down race season and turning attention back to hauling.

For those on the jetty or surf, fresh-cut squid or clams are drawing mixed-bag action, with a few legal black sea bass and the odd tautog (blackfish) as bycatch. Flounder fillets and sea worms will pick up scup and schoolies close in.

Hurricane Erin is sending some long-period swell up the coast, so surf may be bumpy by midweek—if you’re wading, mind your footing and always check conditions.

For hotspots, put your time in at Higgins Beach at sunrise for stripers or the rocky ledges off Prouts Neck for larger blues. Offshore hunters should aim for the west edge of Jeffreys Ledge for tuna, especially around the new moon tide change.

Thanks for tuning in to your 2025 Maine ocean fishing report. Don’t forget to subscribe for more tips and local news. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease dot ai.

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Good morning anglers, this is Artificial Lure coming at you with your Saturday, August 16 Maine coast and Atlantic fishing report.

Up early and the first hint of sunlight hit the pines at 6:28 AM, with sunset falling at 7:53 PM. Today’s weather is shaping up classic Maine summer—clear skies and light winds out of the southwest, and temperatures peaking near 75 degrees by afternoon, making it a sweet one for a run offshore or a walk along your favorite beach.

Checking the tide chart for today, low tide rolled through at 7:09 AM, the next high is due around 1:53 PM, climbing to 4.54 feet. Plan to catch the incoming for your best bite, and watch the slack spots around the changes for some laid-up feeding fish. Early mornings at low are great for plugged rocky outcroppings and sandbar edges—stripers and blues love this setup.

The big news for offshore fanatics: as of August 12, bluefin season is officially closed to rec harvest for the rest of the year—but don’t hang up your heavy rods just yet. Catch-and-release action is still good, especially from the Isles of Shoals to Boone Island, though the schoolie pogies have scattered lately. However, giants—90- to 100-inch class—are still lurking on Jeffrey’s Ledge. If you’re itching for action, switch gears to mahi, yellowfin, and a hot run on bigeye tuna a bit south from the edge. Mahi are thick, yellowfin and bigeye coming closer, and billfish are making their late summer debut according to On The Water’s Northeast Offshore report.

Groundfishing continues strong. Anglers inshore are connecting with a healthy mix: stripers feeding hard on sand eels out east, bluefish raiding bunker balls, and whispers of bonito blitzing silversides along the eastern Sound. Salisbury Beach is lighting up for trolling plugs, bringing mixed striper and bluefish action right in the curl. Old salts are still yanking fluke, black sea bass, and the odd tautog from rocky ledges and reefs.

On bait: fresh chunk pogy, whole squid, and sandworms are gold standards for stripers and blues. For lures, white paddletails, topwater spooks at dawn, and X-Rap deep divers when the sun’s high are delivering. Offshore, RonZ jigs and chrome spoon rigs continue to boat giants on the Sword. Those heading for mahi or tuna offshore—bright-colored trolling skirts, small ballyhoo, and squid chains have been scoring. Don’t forget fluke bucktails or Gulp on bottom rigs for the reef-bound crowd.

Scallop talk is a touch somber; recent surveys from the Maine Department of Marine Resources and others are showing another drop in overall biomass, meaning quotas could shrink as fall approaches. Still, local diggers and divers have managed a few bags off Georges Bank, but don’t expect a banner haul.

Hot spots right now:
• Jeffrey’s Ledge: for late-summer groundfish, giants, and a possible mix of haddock or pollock if you drift deep.
• Salisbury Beach: for steady striper and bluefish on plugs in early morning and dusk.
• Boone Island shoals: for hard-pulling stripers and the random offshore species when the tide swings in.

A rare sighting: just days ago, a fisherman’s drone documented a 10-foot great white cruising off a Maine beach. That’s a reminder to keep your wits about you if you’re swimming after a hot August bite.

That’s the pulse of Maine’s Atlantic for Saturday, August 16. Thanks for tuning in—be sure to subscribe for more local intel, tips, and your daily dose of salty wisdom.

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Good morning, anglers, it’s Artificial Lure here with your Maine coast Atlantic fishing report for Friday, August 15th, 2025. The conditions this week have been electric across southern and midcoast waters, with a dose of late-summer excitement as cool nights and warm days bring some of the best saltwater action you’ll find all season.

First up, let’s talk weather: Early fog is burning off most mornings, giving way to partly cloudy skies and highs in the upper 70s. Seas are calm, with just enough breeze to keep things comfortable throughout the day. Tides today, according to NOAA, are running out in the morning with a low just past 9:15 AM and flooding back until a 3:30 PM high—classic timing for a productive incoming search near river mouths and rocky points.

Sunrise was at 5:43 AM, plenty of light already streaming over the water by first cast, and sunset will drop out at 7:46 PM. If you’re hunting the early bite or planning a dusk mission, those transition periods are prime for surface action.

Let’s run down the hot fishery news. According to On The Water, the striped bass bite remains strong up and down the coast, with plenty of 24- to 32-inch fish blitzing on sand eels and peanut bunker. Salisbury Beach just over the border has been excellent for trolling plugs. In Maine proper, rocky outcrops fished with white paddletails or bucktail jigs have been pulling good stripers, especially early and late. A few lucky anglers have even connected with bigger keeper-size bass around dusk this week.

Bluefish made a rowdy showing recently, working bait pods hard—plenty of sharp-toothed action for those tossing metals or topwater poppers. Bonito are mixing in with schoolie bass from Kittery to Portland—epoxy jigs and small spoons mimic the silversides and peanut bunker they're blitzing on.

Groundfishing offshore is steady, too. Instagram reports and local charters confirm haddock are holding in that 220–240-foot range, especially off Jeffreys and down east. Thumbnails of fresh clam or strips of squid are the ticket for haddock, and plenty of shorts are in the mix so measure carefully.

A word of caution: USA News Today reports that a 10–12-foot great white shark has been seen several times this week near Richmond Island, Scarborough Beach, and Pine Point. If you’re fishing the surf or working near the mouth of the Saco, keep an eye out, stay aware, and admire these apex predators from a respectful distance.

Lure and bait advice for today: Striped bass are hitting best on white soft plastics, paddle tails, and swimming plugs like SP Minnows and classic pencil poppers. Metals and epoxy jigs are go-tos if you run into bluefish or bonito blitzes. For bottom dwellers like haddock, thumbnail pieces of clam or fresh squid are working well. Surfcasters should try chunked mackerel or sandworms around dusk.

Hot spots this week include the walls, jetties, and surf along Pine Point Beach and the rocky ledges at Biddeford Pool. For boat anglers, the rips off Richmond Island and Cape Elizabeth continue to give up quality stripers and blues on topwater first light. Offshore, try the deeper humps off Jeffreys Ledge for haddock action.

As always, if you’re targeting tuna, be aware the bluefin recreational season is closed as of August 12th, per NOAA—so it’s all burn-and-release for now. Yellowfin and mahi are still out there for those making the longer run.

That wraps it up for your Atlantic Maine fishing update. Thanks for tuning in—make sure to subscribe for the latest local reports, tips, and hot baits. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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Good morning anglers, this is Artificial Lure with your Wednesday, August 13th, 2025, fishing report for coastal Maine and the big blue Atlantic just beyond. You couldn't ask for a better August morning—temps around the mid-60s, subtle 13% cloud cover, and a gentle 10 mph breeze make for calm seas and clear skies. Humidity is hovering at 71%, keeping things cool, and the water’s running a crisp 63°F—pretty much ideal for both fish and fishers. The sun came up at 5:41 and won’t slip below the horizon until 7:53 tonight, so there’s plenty of light to work with.

Tide action today is strong with big swings. If you’re casting at Union River, the first high tide crested at 2:07 am, followed by a skinny low at 8:19 am. The afternoon brings another big high at 2:33 pm and another retreat at 8:46 pm. That tidal coefficient is up near 90, which means active currents, and that pulls the baitfish—and the big eaters—closer to shore. If you’re out on the beaches of Kennebunkport or Higgins, you’ll find similar timing: highs around midday and strong, dramatic run-outs in the morning and evening.

The bite’s shaping up well as we’re coming off a full moon, pushing fish to feed during both tide peaks and the crepuscular hours. Striped bass are the headliners right now, running heavy from Kittery right on up past Portland. Locals and tourists alike have been reporting good numbers of keepers in the 28–36” range, with the best action at mouth rivers and rocky points—think the Saco River mouth and Biddeford Pool. Surfcasters working Clouser Minnows and soft plastics in white or chartreuse, or chunk mackerel and fresh Atlantic herring, are seeing the most hits.

Bluefish are in too, and they’re aggressive—find them blitzing bait balls off Prouts Neck and the edge of Scarborough Marsh at mid-tide. Diamond jigs and silver spoons will get you bit, but don’t forget a wire leader, or you’ll be donating a lot of hardware! According to the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, recent catches have been up and down with the big tides, but action flared up with the spike in menhaden schools.

Flounder are responding to the cooler water with increased activity on sandy bottoms east of Wells and out toward Small Point Harbor—drift bait rigs tipped with strips of squid or sandworms are the ticket. And over the rocky ledges from Cape Elizabeth north, pollock and mackerel remain steady for those drifting small Sabiki rigs or casting metals and teasers.

A hot topic on the docks right now: the closure of the “trophy” bluefin tuna category for the Gulf of Maine. The National Marine Fisheries Service dropped the curtain after a strong early-season showing, so you’ll have to target schoolies if bluefin is your game. Remember, stick to the rules and check federal limits before heading out.

Heads up for those chasing stripers and blues—the best bite windows will be that early-morning slack heading into the rising tide, and again in the late afternoon as the current turns. Lure-wise, white bucktail jigs, classic Rapala X-Raps, and Storm shads are fooling the most fish, especially near structure or in the surf wash. For bait, fresh-cut mackerel and live eels remain top dog.

For hotspots, my picks today are:
- The Saco River mouth—reliable for big stripers, best near high tide with topwater plugs.
- Small Point Harbor—steady flounder and schoolie action on the outgoing tide.

Shark sightings have increased off Cape Elizabeth, but fishermen aren’t shying away, according to the Portland Press Herald. Great whites are mostly passing through, so use caution but don’t let it spoil your day—just keep your eye on the water.

Thanks for tuning in to your Maine coastal roundup. Don’t forget to subscribe for the freshest local info. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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Artificial Lure here with your Maine Atlantic fishing report for Sunday, August 10th, 2025. It’s early August and we’re waking up to a crisp seaside sunrise at 5:29 AM, with sunset to close out the day around 7:46 PM along the coast from York Harbor north to Bar Harbor. The weather this morning is seasonably pleasant, with scattered clouds and light southwesterly breezes—the kind of summer conditions that have boat ramps busy and piers lively.

On the water, the tides are running strong today. In York Harbor, expect low tide at 5:20 AM, high around 11:23, another low by 5:17 PM, and topping off with a late-night high at 11:25 PM. These big swings (tidal coefficients spiking over 88 according to Tides4Fishing) mean fast currents and lots of movement in those rips and ledges—prime time for groundfish action.

Off Bar Harbor, you’re seeing much the same: early low at 5:26 AM, then a big push to 10.45 feet at midday, so consider timing your bottom drops right after the first turn for the best bite window. By late afternoon, expect slowing current and those fish settling deeper.

Fishing activity has been stellar this week, especially for the bottom-dwellers. According to Bunny Clark’s latest report, the catches offshore have been excellent, with most landings legal haddock—by far the top fish lately. Anglers have also put strong numbers of cusk, pollock, white hake, and a few redfish over the rails. There’s an uptick in trophy-sized fish too: a 27-pound cusk led off the day for one lucky angler, while several white hake upwards of 34 pounds have come aboard, their best season numbers yet. Despite the dogfish stories, their presence has been spotty—some drifts loaded, others near barren, so don’t let ‘em put you off.

Flukes, jigs, and rigs are all working right now, but if you want a pro tip: the bite on haddock was hottest while anchored, with basic clam bait catching well. However, don’t overlook artificial lures—especially tungsten jigs. Woo! Tungsten’s lineup (including Ned Heads and barrel weights) have been shining in the brush and rocky humps, especially for anglers targeting pollock and cusk. Drop-shotting with their weights has been a standout method, and those drag-stopping qualities help avoid those notorious snags around Maine’s ledges.

Stripers and bluefish are working the coastal rivers and estuaries as the ocean stays warm and bait schools pile near river mouths. Early risers tossing soft plastics—think paddle tails in bunker or mackerel patterns—are seeing aggressive bites at dawn. Sandworms and fresh-cut mackerel are old stand-bys and continue to deliver, especially on outgoing tide edges. For topwater, walk-the-dog lures and big pencil poppers draw explosive hits when fished around rocky islands or bridge abutments.

A word to offshore big game fans: NOAA has announced the recreational Atlantic bluefin tuna fishery closes at 11:30 PM on August 12th—just two days away. So after this, it’s catch-and-release only for all bluefin sizes in Maine through year-end. Consider switching up to yellowfin or keep chasing that giant bite for sport—just be sure to check NOAA’s catch-and-release guidelines.

One unusual sight this season—Arctic lion’s mane jellyfish have been showing up thick, especially in coves and bays from Port Clyde to Eastport. Locals are swapping stories of tangled mooring lines and clogged intakes, so keep an eye when running engines or hauling traps.

Looking for hot spots? Two always deliver:
- The ledges off Saco Bay (from Biddeford Pool out toward Tongs Island) are stuffed with summer haddock and pollock right now, especially on the slack before the flood tide.
- Around Schoodic Point near Winter Harbor, rocky shelves are giving up trophy cusk and white hake to savvy jig anglers on marathon trips. Shore-bound? Try the Marginal Way in Ogunquit at sunrise for stripers and schoolie bluefish.

That’s the scoop for Sunday, August 10th—right from the heart of Maine’s legendary saltwater fishery. Thanks for tuning in! Be sure to subscribe and never miss your next bite info. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease dot ai.

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Good morning from the Maine coast—this is Artificial Lure, your local line-wetter, bringing you the August 9th Atlantic report for all you folk ready to chase tight lines around our beautiful waters.

Sunrise painted the sky at 5:28 a.m., with low morning temps, clean air, and a promise of another bluebird day. Offshore wind’s gentle, the sea’s lying down easy—surface calm, barely a white cap, just a taste of crisp salt in the breeze. Expect the mercury to climb to the low-70s if you’re east of Portland, with more sun than clouds all day. You’ll get every bit of daylight too, with sunset slipping just after 7:47 p.m.

Tides are classic for mid-coast Maine. According to Tide-Forecast.com, low tide at Bar Harbor crested early at 4:45 a.m., high swings in at 10:53 a.m. near 10 feet, and the afternoon low’s at 4:50 p.m.—so plan those beach and jetty sessions for the incoming after breakfast or right as that evening push gets cooking.

Let’s talk fish: Stripers are still the talk from Portland up to Eastport. “On The Water” has folks finding bass prowling beaches at night—try soft plastics or eels, and if you’re casting around ledges at dawn, topwater plugs are producing explosive hits. Harbour mouths and estuaries have pods of schoolies, but there’s been some toothy 30-pounders caught from the surf between Scarborough and Kennebunk.

Bluefish are slashing through bait balls from Biddeford Pool to Popham Beach—a chunk of mackerel or a metal spoon will do. Out on the shoals, groundfish are into their summer groove. The Bunny Clark Deep Sea Fishing report from Ogunquit says most days lately are “excellent”—haddock by the dozens, plus steady pollock, cusk, and the odd monkfish, with dogfish patchy but manageable if you move around. They’re anchoring for haddock with clam or squid strips, but jigs are landing the biggest pollock.

Fluke are sprawling the sandy drop-offs, especially west of Saco. Sea bass and the occasional triggerfish are mixing into the bottom grab bag, especially if you’re near deeper reefs.

As for offshore, there’s a wrinkle this week: the bluefin tuna Angling Category closes August 12, per NOAA, so it’s catch-and-release or tag-and-release only, no keeps till the new year. Still, a handful of giants showed up on Jeffries Ledge, with whiting or mackerel the hot live baits. Mahi are popping in the warmer eddies. If you’re running out deep, bring both bait rods and spreader bars with small feathers to tempt some roaming tuna or mahis.

Hot spots today:
- **Pine Point & Scarborough Marsh**: Pre-dawn to sun-up for topwater stripers; switching to soft plastics when the sun climbs.
- **Jeffries Ledge**: For those heading offshore, even with the closure, big bluefin are still blitzing bait balls—great area to practice catch and release and maybe spot some mahi in the rips.
- **Old Orchard Beach Pier**: Good for family-friendly fluke and sea bass, and a chance at some fightin’ blues chasing bait right up to the pilings.

Best lures and bait: Soft plastics and eels for stripers at night, pencil poppers or spooks at first light. For groundfish, try jigs tipped with squid or clams. Offshore, live whiting or mackerel is the clear winner on tuna, but heavy metal jigs will pull pollock and can surprise with big bites.

That’s your pulse on the Maine Atlantic for August 9th. Thanks for tuning in—tight lines, sharp hooks, and smooth waters. Don’t forget to subscribe for your daily tide and bite updates. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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This is Artificial Lure coming to you with your Friday, August 8th, 2025, fishing report for the Maine coast and the Atlantic just offshore. Let’s dive in—rod in hand, boots on the rocks.

We're rolling into a near-perfect stretch of summer fishing weather. The sunrise is at 5:30AM and sunset comes at 7:44PM, giving you ample daylight for a double tide session in Bar Harbor and York Harbor. Tides are running big this week: expect a low at about 6:06AM with a nearly negative reading, and high right around midday, cresting to over 10 feet. That means moving water, strong currents, and plenty of fish moving in and out of the coves and off the beaches according to tide-forecast.com.

Ocean conditions are holding calm, with coastal winds staying modest thanks to a high-pressure ridge over New England, says the forecast from Ocean Weather.gov. No rough stuff, just a pleasant chop—prime conditions for small crafts and folks looking to run out to the reefs or among the islands.

Striped bass remain the headline grabbers. The night shift and pre-dawn hours are delivering solid action, with local anglers reporting stripers prowling sandy beaches and rocky outcrops, especially around the Kennebunk River mouth and the backside of Wells Beach. Early risers are connecting with stripers just after sunrise, hitting topwater plugs and soft plastics—think the classic white Zoom Fluke, or a bone-colored Spook at first light, as reported by On The Water.

Live bait lovers are quietly slipping eels or mackerel under the docks and scoring keepers, with some fish pushing over 32 inches. If you like soaking fresh bait, sandeels and herring chunks have both been strong. Lobster-molt time means stripers are keying on molted crustaceans and chasing baitballs—so a bucktail tipped with pork rind or a bold Gulp! swimming mullet will draw their attention.

Bluefish are pushing into the bays and outer ledges too, flashier lures like Kastmasters and metal spoons can pull vicious strikes, especially mid-tide while schools are churning bait within casting range.

Groundfishers heading offshore out to Jeffreys Ledge and the deeper shoals are hauling up a classic mixed bag: pollock, cusk, and dogfish have all been bending rods, with the occasional keeper haddock still in the mix. Big jigs and hefty teasers in chartreuse or white have gotten mentioned in the shops, usually tipped with squid strips or Gulp! curly tails.

The warm bottom is making fluke and sea bass more active. Good reports coming from the reefs south of Portland and the sand patches around Saco Bay: fluke are taking bucktails and squid strips, sometimes with a teaser above for double hookups, while sea bass are hammering on leadhead jigs along the wrecks.

In the lobster world, hauls are slightly slower compared to peak June, as noted in the Maine Department of Marine Resources updates. Traps still coming up chunky, though, especially along the deeper runs off Cape Elizabeth. Keepers are fattened with the warm, clean water.

For those interested in exotics, the late-summer push has started bringing in bonito and occasional Spanish mackerel in the eastern Sound—small metals moving fast or a flashy olive and silver minnow spoon are the tickets there.

Your hot spots for the day:
- Try the jetties at Pine Point for stripers and blues at dawn and dusk.
- Head offshore to Tanta’s Ledge if you have the boat and the nerve—groundfish and pollock action is strong on moving tides.
- Inside Portland Harbor, bridge abutments are holding stripers tight at night and dawn.

That’s your bite update for today—thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe for more local insight. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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Artificial Lure here with your August 6th, 2025, fishing report for Maine’s slice of the Atlantic! It’s been a lively day on the water, so let’s break it down local style with the essential updates, hot tips, and a couple hotspots you won’t want to miss.

Today’s sunrise was right around 5:24 am, and the sun set at 7:52 pm—plenty of daylight for those early risers and evening casters. The weather stuck to classic late summer form: upper 70s along the coast, light southwest wind most of the afternoon, a touch humid but stable enough for a calm chop on the protected bays, and only a gentle swell outside the islands according to NOAA’s coastal marine forecast.

The tides were favorable for mixed action today. Bar Harbor saw a morning high at 9:26 am and an afternoon low around 3:20 pm. Over toward York, the high hit closer to 9:56 am with a similar afternoon retreat. Incoming around dawn made the bait move, especially with cooler water temps helping keep bigger fish cruising close to shore.

Let’s talk catches and activity—striped bass are still the ticket across the southern and midcoast, with more slot fish reported in the Kennebec and Saco than last week. Several groups along the Portland Headlight and Scarborough Marsh have been pulling schoolies up to 35 inches, with the occasional keeper. The dawn bite on mackerel chunks or live eels was steady; soft plastic jerkbaits like the Z-Man Scented Jerk ShadZ fished on a weighted hook around rocky points worked if you wanted to avoid bait mess. Chatter on the docks says the topwater popper bite turned on at sunrise, especially near outflows on an outgoing tide.

Out in deeper water, groundfishing boats off Monhegan and Jeffrey’s Ledge found a mixed bag. Haddock and cusk made a showing, but you had to pick through dogfish. A few cod came up, but the new management plan is keeping most of that fishery on the conservative side—very low allowable catch limits, so almost everything went back. That said, pollock to eight pounds have kept the action decent for jigging fans.

Mackerel are still thick in the harbors—kids and adults alike have filled buckets around Belfast and along the wharves in Boothbay. The usual sabiki rigs with a sliver of cut herring or an unbaited flashy jig are all you need here.

Scallop season is closed at the moment, as local fishers wait for the new quotas to come down from D.C., and reports are mixed on when the next window opens.

For lures and bait, go natural. Stripers are keying on sand eel imitations—soft plastics with subtle action or shallow diving stickbaits like the Yo-Zuri Mag Darter are top choices. For bottom fish, salted clams and cut mackerel are reliable. Offshore, if you’re after bluefish, think wire leader and anything loud and shiny—metal spoons or big surface plugs.

Today’s top hotspots: the rocky shoreline from Fort Popham up to Seguin Island delivered for stripers on the morning high tide, and the drop-offs near Richmond Island produced both big bass and blues for those trolling wire with deep-swimming plugs. Offshore, Jeffrey’s Ledge remains the go-to for groundfish, but be ready for a workout picking through dogfish.

That’s the rundown from the dock and the deck, folks. Keep an eye on the tides—tomorrow shapes up with an early morning low and midday high, so plan those sessions accordingly. Thanks for tuning in, and make sure to subscribe for all your Maine saltwater action.

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Artificial Lure here with your July 7th, 2025 fishing report for coastal Maine and the Atlantic. Sunrise was at 4:56am, sunset at 8:18pm. Bar Harbor tides brought low water at 3:05am and 3:08pm, and highs at 9:14am and 9:20pm—tonight’s high tide is a solid 10.57 feet. That late tide should light up the bite just as the sun goes down, so keep lines wet into the evening if you can.

It’s been classic early July weather: cool, with a high of 58°F in Perkins Cove and similar along the coast. The water’s crisp, and there’s still a bit of a chill on the morning breeze, so layer up if you’re heading out for that sunrise action. Winds have been moderate, mostly comfortable, and the seas are behaving—just enough chop to stir things up but nothing to keep the small boats at the dock.

Fishing action has been lively this week. Out of Perkins Cove, the Bunny Clark reports “very good” fishing and “good to very good catching,” with haddock stealing the show. Just shy of boat limits were landed, with plenty released—expect 15-inchers (the legal limit), and a fair share pushing bigger. Cusk have been thick at anchor, and a respectable number of redfish and a handful of pollock spiced up the mix. Halibut made a rare appearance, so keep your heavy gear ready for that lucky hookup. There’s even been a couple of decent wolfish and cod—though, as always, mind the regulations on cod if you’re headed deep.

Best success today came drifting over rougher bottom THEN switching to anchoring up. Drifting was better in the early hours, but once the sun hit, anchoring and letting the bite develop paid off. Cusk hit first, followed by a steady roll of haddock as the session wore on.

Bait is still outperforming lures most days. Fresh clams and cut herring are top producers for haddock and cusk. If you’re itching to toss artificials, heavier jigs like Norwegian cod jigs tipped with a bit of squid or Gulp! scented baits can draw strikes, especially during the tidal swing. Pollock and redfish respond best to smaller metal jigs bounced close to structure. For those targeting stripers around river mouths and rocky points—Kittery and Ogunquit are particularly hot right now—soft plastic paddle tails in bunker or mackerel patterns are triggering keepers. Early and late low-light hours are best for topwater plugs.

Hot spots this week:

- Jeffreys Ledge: Reliable for haddock, cusk, and big pollock—just outside the heavy recreational traffic and a consistent bet for mixed groundfish if you’re running offshore.
- Perkins Cove reefs: Especially on anchor for cusk and haddock as the tide turns.
- Mouth of the Piscataqua River near Kittery: Keeper stripers are staging on outgoing tides, especially at dawn and dusk.
- Saco Bay: Good reports of mixed groundfish near the ledges.

For gear, go with stout rods and 12-16oz sinkers to handle the current and get bait down fast. If it’s blowing, use heavier jigs to stay in the strike zone.

Thanks for tuning in to the Atlantic Ocean, Maine fishing report. Don’t forget to subscribe for more local knowledge, and may your next cast bring the fish of your dreams. This has been a Quiet Please production; for more, check out quietplease.ai.

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Artificial Lure here, bringing you the Atlantic Ocean, Maine fishing report for Sunday, July 6, 2025.

Let’s start with the conditions. Out on the water, we had some classic Maine summer variability. According to the National Weather Service for coastal Maine, southwest winds picked up through the day—10 to 15 knots, gusting up to 25 knots, with seas running 3 to 5 feet. Some choppy water out there, especially by afternoon, so smaller craft should mind those advisories. Fog and scattered showers are expected as a front hangs around the Gulf of Maine into the week, so be prepared for visibility changes[National Weather Service].

Air temps along the coast were unseasonably cool. Portland hit a high of just 55°F, while Perkins Cove in Ogunquit barely climbed above 58°F. Breezy and damp—classic “one more layer” weather for July in Maine[Bunny Clark Fishing].

Tide-wise, the early morning high hit around 8:18 AM, topping out at about 6.85 feet, with the evening high rolling in just after 8:30 PM. Lows centered around 2:13 AM and 2:13 PM, running about 1.3 feet. That puts the best moving water for inshore action midday and right before sunset—prime time to wet a line[NOAA Tides & Currents].

Let’s talk fishing. The boats out of Ogunquit and down the southern Maine coast reported a steady pick today, with stops ranging from decent to excellent. The best action came while on anchor during the slower periods between tide swings, with cusk biting right off, followed by the haddock filtering in once the ground settled. By far, haddock was the dominant catch—most boats shy of hitting the bag limit only because the crews were choosy. Alongside the haddock, eighty-eight cusk, two cunners, a handful of redfish, six pollock, and even a hard-fighting halibut were landed. Sub-legal cod and a couple of wolffish were released. Overall, catching was very good, but hands took a beating on the drifts; most folks were happy to stick to anchoring for comfort and consistency[Bunny Clark Fishing].

Bait was king today—fresh clams and cut herring outfished jigs and artificials. When the drift slowed, switching to rigs tipped with mackerel or squid got those wary haddock to bite. For those keen on artificials, a simple hi-lo rig with pink or chartreuse teasers above a 6-ounce diamond jig picked up pollock, and the occasional cusk, especially during the faster current periods.

A quick note for offshore enthusiasts: regulations are now in effect closing the Atlantic bluefin tuna harpoon fishery for the year, so best leave the big gear at home if targeting that species[Federal Register].

Want to know where to fish? Two hot spots are producing:

- Jeffreys Ledge: The eastern edge in 180-220 feet is loaded with haddock and cusk. Anchor up, get some bait down, and expect a steady pull.
- Old Scantum: The southern humps are holding large schools of haddock, plus the occasional halibut or hefty pollock for those fishing deeper drifts.

If you’re closer to shore, the rocky drop-offs from Cape Porpoise to Cape Elizabeth are holding pollock and redfish, especially near structure during ebbing tide.

The day started with sunrise at 5:07 AM and will close out with sunset at 8:28 PM. Plenty of light for an early cast or a dusk bite—just keep a steady hand in the stiff evening breeze.

Thanks for tuning in to today’s report! Don’t forget to subscribe for tomorrow’s update. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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Good morning anglers, this is Artificial Lure with your Sunday, June 22nd Atlantic Ocean, Maine fishing report.

Today’s sunrise came early at 5:03 AM, with sunset coming in late at 8:26 PM—plenty of daylight to wet a line out there. Tides are on the move, with a low just past at 2:26 AM, a solid high tide rolling in at 8:45 AM, another low at 2:35 PM, and a 10.5-foot high just after 9:00 PM. That means you’ll want to hit the water at first light or get ready for an evening bite, especially around those tidal swings, which typically get the fish on the feed. According to Surfline and tide-forecast.com, these swings should really get bait moving along the beach fronts and up the rivers.

Weather’s shaping up for a mild day, with light winds expected and a little cloud cover—not a bad recipe for stripers and groundfish, especially if you can dodge any pop-up fog patches coming in off the water.

Recent reports from On the Water and Spreaker tell us offshore groundfishing has been hot, with haddock both larger and more plentiful than we usually see this late in June. Boats fishing the deeper water beyond 150 feet on Jeffrey’s Ledge and Platt’s Ledge are reporting big hauls and steady action. If you’re headed out deep, be sure to bring plenty of bait—clam and squid strips are top choices—but jigs and teasers in pink and chartreuse are also putting fish in the boat.

Closer to shore, mackerel have moved in and are thick around the islands, which has fired up the striper bite on the beaches and rocky shorelines. Folks have landed some real cows lately, with bass over 45 inches reported off Ogunquit and Wells Beach. Your best bets? Night anglers are doing well with live eels, while during the day, live or chunk mackerel is king. For artificial fans, Cotton Cordell Pencils and Yo-Zuri Mag Poppers are getting explosive topwater bites, while white 10-inch Hogy soft plastics and Zinger Flukes are producing along the river drop-offs, especially where herring are trickling back downstream. Keep working those rivers with live herring if you can get it—it’s a surefire ticket to a big striper.

For a couple of hot spots, check out Platt’s Ledge and Jeffrey’s Ledge if you’re heading offshore for haddock or other groundfish. Closer in, Wells Beach, Ogunquit Beach, and the mouth of the York River are worth your time for stripers; the York is also giving up some nice flounder for those working bait close to the bottom.

That’s your Maine coast Atlantic report for June 22nd. Thanks for tuning in—don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss what’s biting and where. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease dot ai.

Artificial Lure here on this fine Saturday, June 21, 2025, bringing you the latest Atlantic Ocean fishing report straight from the Maine coast.

We kicked off today with sunrise at 4:48 AM in Bar Harbor and 4:59 AM in Portland, with sunset set for around 8:20–8:26 PM. The tidal swings are strong: Bar Harbor saw a high tide at 7:17 AM and another at 7:41 PM, with lows at 1:09 AM and 1:24 PM. Portland’s tides mirror that rhythm closely, with a 7:38 AM high, 1:42 PM low, and a solid evening push at 8:03 PM. All told, classic June water movement—just what you want for active fish[6][8].

The weather’s been a true blessing after last week’s cool snap. Expect partly cloudy skies, a gentle southerly breeze, and air temps in the mid-60s to low 70s. The water’s warming fast, which has the fish firing, especially as we edge toward peak summer[5][7].

Let’s talk bite. Striped bass are lighting up the coast. Schools of 24- to 30-inch stripers have pushed out to sand beaches and river mouths as the herring thin out. Early mornings and late evenings are hot, especially during moving water around the tides. Pine Point, Camp Ellis, and Parsons Beach have all produced well—sandworms and Whip-it Eels are top picks for schoolies, while chunk mackerel is tricking the bigger linesiders. Drakes Island continues to yield strong numbers of keeper bass, with several in the 30-inch class landed just this week according to Saco Bay Tackle Company[1][5][7].

Offshore, groundfishing is outstanding for this point in June. Haddock are running strong—great size and big numbers reported from boats working beyond 150 feet. Standard jigs tipped with clams or Gulp! baits are the ticket. Haddock limits are common, and you’ll see plenty of redfish and the odd cusk in the mix[2].

Looking to mix it up? Inshore mackerel are thick right now, thanks to recent east winds. Sabiki rigs and small shiny metals are filling coolers at local piers and breakwaters[1].

As for bait, nothing beats live mackerel if you’re targeting trophy stripers, but don’t overlook the old standbys: fresh clams, chunked pogies, and sandworms all draw big hits. For lures, stick with soft plastics on jigheads, especially olive or chartreuse, and don’t leave home without a topwater bottle plug for the dusk blitz.

If you want a couple hot spots—hit Pine Point at dawn for stripers, or jump on a head boat out of Portland for haddock. For the kayak crew, Parsons Beach and the mouth of the Saco are both seeing steady action.

That’s the wrap for today, folks. Thanks for tuning in and remember to subscribe so you never miss a bite. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

Artificial Lure here with your Saturday, June 21st, 2025 Atlantic Ocean, Maine fishing report.

Today, sunrise hit at 5:03 AM and we’ll have daylight until sunset at 8:25 PM. Tides around York Harbor are prime for fishing, with a morning high tide at 7:40 AM, low at 1:52 PM, and another high coming in strong at 8:04 PM. That early evening flood tide is always a favorite for stripers patrolling the beaches and inlets, especially when you’ve got a light southerly breeze and mild June temperatures to set the mood. Water temps have climbed nicely—just right for kicking fish activity into high gear. Skies are partly cloudy with balmy conditions expected through dusk, ideal for both inshore and offshore action.

Striped bass are the headliners right now. From Saco Bay down to Ogunquit and Wells Beach, we’re seeing some real big bass—fish over 45 inches have been landed just this week, with plenty of keeper-sized stripers in the 24-30 inch range cruising the troughs and sandbars. Inshore beaches and rocky shorelines are producing, especially around dawn, dusk, and at night. Eels by night and live mackerel by day are the top baits, but don’t sleep on topwater action: Cotton Cordell Pencils and Yo-Zuri Mag Poppers are triggering explosive strikes in the low light hours. When the sun’s up, white 10-inch Hogys, Zinger Flukes, and Albie Snax XL soft plastics have all been hot, especially around river drop-offs where herring are still trickling out.

If you’re hunting groundfish, the offshore ledges are on fire—Jeffrey’s Ledge and Platt’s Ledge continue to churn out excellent numbers of haddock, with a few quality pollock mixing in. That offshore bite is unusual for late June but cold water temps offshore are keeping it rolling.

Mackerel have become more accessible, schooling thick by the inshore islands. Flounder fans will find good numbers in the York River, and for those looking for multi-species action, try chunking mackerel off the Camp Ellis jetties or throwing sandworms around Pine Point and the Saco Bay marshes.

For best results today, plan your sessions around the moving tides—hit the beaches and jetties at sunrise and just before sunset, then slide upriver during slack water or low tide transitions. With all the options right now, you can’t go far wrong.

Hot spots to circle on your chart: Wells Beach for big bass on the night tide, Parsons Beach for steady slot stripers, and Jeffrey’s Ledge for offshore groundfish.

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Artificial Lure here, bringing you the latest from Maine’s salty Atlantic edge for Friday, June 20th, 2025. We’re waking up to prime conditions for anglers along the coast—sunrise hit us at 4:59 AM, and sunset’s out there waiting at 8:25 PM, so there’s a long window for the bite to get hot. Tidal swings in Portland have the morning high at 6:34 AM, dropping to low at 12:44 PM, with another high rolling in at 7:05 PM. These healthy tides are setting up classic Maine structure and moving bait—just what you want for active early-summer fishing.

Striped bass are the headline, with schools moving from the rivers and estuaries to the open ocean, thanks to the inshore bait rotation shifting—herring dropping off and mackerel taking over. On The Water reports striper action up and down the coast, and there have been verified catches of trophy-sized fish over 40 inches right here in Maine waters. The rips off Scarborough and the ledges around Cape Elizabeth are both holding quality fish, especially around those key tide changes. Mackerel-imitating lures like silver/blue DB Smelts have been drawing violent strikes, and fly anglers are doing damage with red and grey Ghost streamers. If you’re soaking bait, live or fresh-cut mackerel is king, but chunked pogie and surf clams are also effective, especially tight to shore structure and at dusk[1][5].

Offshore, groundfishing is downright excellent. Haddock in the 5-10 pound range are still steady over the rails on party boats running out of Portland and Saco—the bite is described as “reminiscent of better years” by reports from On The Water. Bring squid strips or clams for bait, and don’t overlook a white artificial grub on a high-low rig for bonus cusk and pollock[4].

Bluefish action has picked up with cocktail-sized fish (2-5 pounds) chasing bait balls from the river mouths all the way out to the ocean front. Metal spoons and poppers are the ticket—cast into surface commotion for your best chance of a hook-up. And don’t ignore the chunk bite for bluefish after the sun gets higher.

A couple of hot spots: the rocky points around Two Lights State Park are producing big stripers and blues on a moving tide, and the mouth of the Saco River is another reliable producer, especially close to slack water. Offshore, the lumps off Cape Porpoise are loaded with haddock and the occasional big cod, so that’s your groundfish destination.

Weather-wise, we’re enjoying cool, clear mornings with a light breeze switching southeast by midday, and afternoon highs in the upper 60s—absolutely perfect to keep fish and anglers active and comfortable[6].

That’s the report for today, Friday June 20th. Thanks for tuning in—remember to subscribe so you never miss the daily bite report. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease dot ai.

Atlantic anglers, Artificial Lure here with your Wednesday, June 18th, 2025 fishing report for the Atlantic Ocean waters in and around Maine.

Sunrise hit at 4:59 this morning and we’ll have daylight until 8:25 tonight, so there’s plenty of time to get your lines wet. Tides peaked at a nice 9.6 feet at 4:36am, bottoming out at just 0.2 feet mid-morning around 10:56am, and swinging back up to another solid 9.5 feet by 5:16pm. Evening fishermen can expect another low just before midnight, so the bite should fire up on those tide changes according to Portland’s tide chart for today.

Weather-wise, it’s another typical coastal Maine day: cool in the morning, warming up with a sea breeze by noon. Pack some rain gear just in case, as a patchy fog bank could roll in off the water by dusk. Water temps are still running cool offshore—barely into the low 50s—but inshore spots have warmed enough for some good action.

Striped bass fishing is red-hot right now. Surfland Bait and Tackle and Saco Bay Tackle Company both say the oceanfront bite is outpacing river action now that most of the herring have cleared out. The Camp Ellis and Pine Point jetties are lighting up with stripers, especially at first and last light. Anglers are pulling in hefty 24- to 30-inch fish around Parsons Beach and Drakes Island. Chunking fresh mackerel has been the best trick for the bigger bass, while sandworms and Whip-it-Eels are the top choices for numbers. If you like tossing lures, soft plastics like the Albie Snax XL, glide baits, and jointed swimmers are all putting fish on deck, and don’t sleep on topwater plugs near dusk for some explosive strikes.

Offshore, those cold water temps are keeping haddock stacked on the ledges. The Bunny Clark out of Ogunquit has had excellent results drifting and anchoring, with most legal landings made up of haddock, plus good cusk numbers, some pollock around five pounds, and scattered redfish. Cod are showing in small numbers but must be released. Remember, halibut is now closed until next year for recreational anglers, as per Maine’s regulations.

As far as bait goes, you can’t go wrong with chunk mackerel, sandworms, or even a soft plastic rigged on a jighead for stripers. Offshore, clams and squid strips are the usual producers for haddock and cusk.

For hot spots, check out the Camp Ellis Jetty, especially on the outgoing tide, and Parsons Beach for prime surf casting. Offshore, Saco Bay and the ledges south of Portland are producing steady groundfish action.

That's your June 18th Maine coast fishing update from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in—don’t forget to subscribe for your daily fix of local angling news. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease dot ai.

Artificial Lure here with your Maine Atlantic coast fishing report for Monday, June 16, 2025.

We kicked off the day with sunrise at 4:47 AM and we’ll fish right through until sunset at 8:19 PM. Tides are prime for action, with the first high tide rolling in early at 1:49 AM and peaking again at 2:29 PM. Lows are at 8:19 AM and 8:28 PM, so plan your river sessions around those moving waters, especially outgoing and incoming near river mouths—always the ticket for active fish this time of year, according to Bar Harbor tide charts and local knowledge.

Weather’s warming up after last week’s chill, and that’s pushing fish into feeding mode. Expect skies partly cloudy, light southerly breeze—a classic favorable June day on the Maine coast. Water temps are on the rise, which helps both the inshore and offshore bite.

Striped bass action is wide open across the southern Maine coast right now. Saco Bay Tackle Company reports the oceanfront has taken off as herring runs dwindle, with bass moving out to the sand beaches and jetties. Pine Point and Camp Ellis are on fire for early risers, with schoolies and keepers taking sandworms and Whip-it-Eels. Over at Parsons Beach and Drakes Island, a fresh wave of 24- to 30-inch stripers has shown up, and chunk mackerel is fooling the bigger fish—several reports of 30-inch class bass landed near Drakes just this weekend.

Early mornings around the Saco Bay islands are still producing mackerel, best targeted at first light with size 10-12 Sabiki Rigs, especially those dressed in gold flash or UV accents. If you’re after that live bait bite, mackerel are working wonders for both bass and groundfish this week. Out deeper, the offshore crowd is into a red-hot haddock bite, with several fish topping five pounds and some true slabs over ten pounds reported earlier this month.

In the rivers—namely the Saco, Kennebunk, and nearby tidal creeks—bass are still shadowing herring, but are also taking well to tube-and-worm rigs, mackerel strips, and white soft plastic stick baits. On the marsh edges, grass shrimp are coming into play as a food source, and a well-drifted clam or paddle tail will pick off fish along grass banks and sod edges, especially on the turn of the tide.

For lures, you can’t go wrong with Whip-it-Eels, Albie Snax XL, topwater plugs for dusk or dawn action, and jointed swimmers or glide baits as mackerel push inshore. Sandworms and chunk mackerel are top natural baits right now.

Hot spots to hit this week: Pine Point Jetty for the sunrise bass blitz, Drakes Island for keeper stripers on chunk mack, and the Saco River mouth for surface feeds around tide changes. Offshore, target haddock near Jeffreys Ledge and bring the heavy braid!

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Artificial Lure here with your Sunday, June 15th, 2025, fishing report for Maine’s Atlantic coast.

Today’s tides around York Harbor see a high at 2:14 AM, a low at 8:11 AM, followed by another high at 2:18 PM and a low at 8:12 PM. Bar Harbor’s tides are similar, with highs at 1:49 AM and 1:47 PM, and lows at 7:38 AM and 7:43 PM. Sunrise this morning was at 5:02 AM, and you’ll be chasing the bite until sunset at 8:23 PM.

Weather’s been stable, with cool air holding on, but that’s not stopping the fishing action. According to Kittery Trading Post, the recent influx of warm weather is finally jump-starting the bite along the coast. Salmon and trout reports have been lighting up the freshwater scene, but today’s focus is the salt.

Striped bass are the main story right now. Brandy at Webhannet Bait and Tackle is spotting bass hammering herring in the Saco River—schools of stripers are holding in rivers that still have herring runs. If you like a little surf action, schoolie feeds are firing near the Cliff House, especially at dawn and dusk. Saco Bay Tackle reports that bone-colored SP Minnows and white soft plastic stick baits are taking fish, with the tried-and-true tube-and-worm still putting stripers on the deck. For live bait fans, mackerel are more available and work wonders, either live-lined or chunked. Sabiki rigs in size 10-12 with gold flash are turning up plenty of macks for both bait and fun.

Captain Lou Tirado of Diamond Pass Outfitters says the Casco Bay area is improving as fish push further down to river mouths and into the shallow marshes. Fish the outgoing tide in the rivers for active bass, and work grass banks on the incoming tide where some stripers are picking off grass shrimp. As more mackerel flood in on the ocean side, expect bigger stripers lurking just off the ledges and islands.

Offshore, the groundfish scene is still hot. On The Water magazine reports that haddock in the 5-10 pound range are coming over the rails, reminiscent of better days gone by. Redfish and pollock are mixed in, and with steady ground swells, bigger boats are cashing in.

A couple of hot spots for today:
- The mouth of the Saco River is a must for early morning stripers. Work the edges during the outgoing tide and have a selection of minnow plugs, paddletails, and live or chunk mackerel.
- Casco Bay marshes and the Scarborough River are firing, especially as the tide moves in. Cast along the banks and sod edges with small topwaters or shrimp patterns for best results.

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Artificial Lure here, your salty friend on the Maine coast. Today’s June 14th, and man, are we blessed—sunrise lit up the coast at 4:58 AM, and we’ll see the sun set at 8:24 PM in Portland. That’s a sweet stretch of daylight for casting, trolling, or watching for bugs and baitfish moving in the golden light. According to Portland’s tide charts, low tide hit around 7:56 AM, and we’re looking at high tide again just after 2:00 PM. That means the water’s giving anglers plenty of movement and bait to work with—perfect timing to fish those rips and river mouths during the tide changes.

The weather’s classic June: cool mornings, mild afternoons, and not a big storm in sight. Bugs are thick, the water’s lively, and the fish are hungry. Most anglers casting from the beach or fishing inshore are seeing a surge in striper activity—bass in the 30- to 40-inch range are showing up all along the midcoast, from the Saco to Casco Bay and beyond. The big rivers, especially Saco, are still churning with bass pouncing on herring schools—outgoing tide at the river mouths is your best bet for those bruisers. Over in Kennebunk, clams and paddletails are drawing big bites along the banks. If you’re looking for mackerel, they’re around early morning just off the islands of Saco Bay, and folks are slamming them on Sabiki rigs, size 10-12 with gold flash or UV hues.

Those deep-sea trips—like the Bunny Clark out of Ogunquit—are putting up solid numbers on haddock, with plenty of legal keepers, good catches of cusk, and the odd redfish and pollock. Drifting and anchoring are both paying off, especially with the recent marathon trips showing steady pickings and a few great stops.

Best lures right now? Bone SP Minnows and white soft plastic stickbaits are nailing stripers left and right. For bigger, more aggressive bass chasing mackerel, silver/blue DB Smelt-style plugs are hard to beat. Live mackerel—on the drift or chunked off the beach—are top bait. For fly anglers, red-and-gray Ghost streamer patterns have been crushing it.

Hot spots this morning: Try the outgoing tide at the mouth of the Saco River for schoolies and bigger bass chasing herring. Casco Bay’s river mouths and grass banks are producing well on the incoming tide—check those sod banks for bass snapping at grass shrimp. And for mackerel, target the near shore islands just off Saco Bay at first light.

Thanks for tuning in to this week’s bite, folks. Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a cast. Tight lines and calm seas.

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Good morning anglers, this is Artificial Lure bringing you today’s Atlantic Ocean, Maine fishing report for Saturday, June 14, 2025.

We’re kicking things off with near-perfect late-spring conditions along the Maine coast. Sunrise this morning was at 4:58am, and the sun will set tonight at 8:24pm, giving you a full day to get out there. Tides in Portland are high at 1:27am and 2:12pm, and lows are at 7:56am and 7:57pm—so you’ve got great water movement through the heart of the day, perfect for targeting those active fish according to Portland Maine tide data.

Weather’s cooperating too, with cool, crisp mornings mellowing into mild afternoons, just as the crew at On The Water put it this week. That’s got fish on the move and biting strong, especially as herring runs are fading and mackerel are just starting to push in.

Let’s talk action. Stripers are front and center right now—big schools of 24 to 30-inchers have shown up around Parsons Beach and Drakes Island, with some folks pulling low-30-inch class fish, especially chunking mackerel at Drakes. Camp Ellis and Pine Point jetties are also producing, with sandworms as a go-to bait. Soft plastics like Albie Snax XL, Whip-it Eels, and glide baits are getting hammered, particularly in Casco and Saco Bays. Early risers drifting for mackerel near the Saco Bay islands are finding enough for bait, even if they’re a little elusive.

If you’re a fan of surface action, the Mousam River’s upper reaches are hot on topwater at sundown. Paddletails are catching their fair share, and this bite is only picking up. Meanwhile, Captain Lou Tirado over at Diamond Pass Outfitters tells us the sand flats and marshes are still holding good bass, but with mackerel moving in, look for a shifting bite toward the oceanfront beaches soon.

Offshore, the water’s still chilly, barely breaking the 50-degree mark, but that’s keeping haddock stacked up on the ledges—Bonny Clark’s deep sea charters have reported some of the biggest pollock of the season showing up unexpectedly. Dogfish haven’t swarmed in yet, so bottom fishing remains productive.

As for best baits and lures:
- Sandworms and chunked mackerel are primo for stripers.
- Soft plastics—especially those imitating herring—are a must-have.
- Topwater plugs at dawn and dusk are grabbing attention.
- For haddock and pollock, clams, squid, and jigs are still top producers.

Hot spots this weekend: Camp Ellis jetties for shore-bound anglers, Parsons Beach and the salt pond for inshore stripers, and the ledges out of Saco Bay for offshore bottom fishing.

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Atlantic anglers, this is Artificial Lure with your Saturday, June 14th, 2025, report for the Maine coast and the Atlantic just offshore. If you’re reading before dawn, you’re right on time—sunrise hit at 5:02 a.m., with another long Maine day stretching all the way to sunset at 8:23 p.m. Today’s tides for York Harbor: high at 1:33 a.m., low at 8:11 a.m., high again at 2:18 p.m., and finishing with low at 8:12 p.m. The water’s been cool, with offshore temps struggling to break 50°F, but that’s been perfect for holding haddock on the ledges and keeping the dogfish at bay, making it prime for bottom fishing.

Striped bass action has kicked into high gear this week. According to Saco Bay Tackle Company, the oceanfront bite is outpacing the rivers now that herring runs are drying up. Pine Point and Camp Ellis jetties are fishing hot, especially with sandworms or Whip-it-Eels. Parsons Beach and Drakes Island just saw a wave of 24-30 inch stripers push in, and chunk mackerel has been the ticket for fish in the low 30-inch class near Drakes. Early birds are still picking off mackerel around the Saco Bay islands, though you’ll want to be on the water at first light for best results.

For baits and lures, sandworms are a safe bet at the jetties, and chunking mackerel at the beaches is pulling in the larger bass. Whip-it-Eels and soft plastics like the Albie Snax XL have been downright deadly lately, with topwater plugs—especially near dusk—bringing explosive strikes in the river mouths and marshes. Glide baits and jointed swimmers are also putting fish on the deck, especially as mackerel filter into Saco, Casco, and nearby bays.

If you’re interested in groundfish, haddock fishing has stayed solid thanks to those chilly offshore temps. The ledges off southern Maine are loaded, and dogfish numbers are mercifully light. Off the beaches, look for stripers out front as the bait transition from herring to mackerel continues. The salt pond by Parsons, Saco Bay sand flats, and the Camp Ellis jetties are producing consistently.

Hotspots to try today:
- Camp Ellis jetties for stripers on sandworms or soft plastics.
- Parsons Beach surf and the nearby salt pond, especially near sundown, for bigger bass on chunked mackerel and topwater.
- Offshore haddock on the ledges—bring clam or squid for bait and drop down deep.

A heads-up: the halibut fishery in state waters is closed as of today, so keep those halibut trips on standby until next May. The bluefin tuna trophy zone in the Gulf of Maine is also closed for now.

Thank you for tuning in to the Atlantic Maine fishing report. Don’t forget to subscribe for daily updates. This has been a Quiet Please Production. For more, check out quietplease.ai.

Sunrise here on the Maine Atlantic coast hit right around 5:02am—early, but not too early for the diehards—and sunset’s rolling in just after 8:23pm tonight, with a long day of good light ahead of us. Tides for June 14th in York Harbor show a high at 1:33am and 2:18pm, low at 8:11am and 8:12pm. That morning low and late-afternoon high are your best windows if you’re looking to fish the flats or work the river mouths, which is where the real action’s at right now.

The weather’s shaping up nice for us—not a blustery day, not too hot, not too cold. Perfect for getting out there and not getting blown off the water. Over the last week, according to local guides and Webhannet Bait and Tackle, stripers have been busting up on river herring, especially in the Saco River and around the mouths of the bigger estuaries. Mackerel have moved in closer to shore and are making excellent forage for both bass and those looking to fill the livewell for bait. Anglers are reporting some schoolie surface feeds near the Cliff House area—always a sight to see at dawn.

Had your heart set on some groundfishing? Offshore’s been lights out. Big haddock—many pushing 5 pounds or more, with a few monsters just over 10—are being pulled up by the boatload. If you’re jigging or baiting up with clams or shrimp, you’re in good company. Clams have been working wonders in the Kennebunk River, while paddletails and tube-and-worm rigs are the go-to for the bass crowd.

As for lures, you can’t go wrong with a Bone SP Minnow or a white soft plastic stickbait. For those targeting mackerel, size 10-12 Sabiki Rigs with gold flash or UV are bringing in the most macks, especially at first light.

Hot spots? The river mouths in the Saco area are red hot, especially on an outgoing tide. Try the flats and grass banks around Casco Bay when the water’s pushing in—that’s where the big bass are ambushing grass shrimp and baitfish. And don’t forget about the offshore ledges—your odds for haddock and pollock have never been better this year.

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Good morning from the rocky Maine coast! This is Artificial Lure with your June 14th, 2025 Atlantic Ocean Maine fishing report.

Sunrise this morning was bright and early at 5:02 a.m., with sunset to follow at 8:23 p.m. Conditions are classic for early summer—cool mornings, warming into comfortable afternoons. York Harbor’s tides today favor the active angler: high tide at 1:33 a.m. (9.4 ft), low at 8:11 a.m. (0.2 ft), second high at 2:18 p.m. (8.0 ft), and evening low at 8:12 p.m. (1.4 ft), according to the York Harbor tide chart.

Striper action is heating up across the southern Maine coast. The herring runs have wrapped, shifting baitfish activity to mackerel, and with that, striped bass are on the move. Saco Bay Tackle Company reports strong fishing along the oceanfront, especially at Pine Point and Camp Ellis jetties. Sandworms are the hot bait for those fishing from shore, while Whip-it-Eels are tearing it up for lure anglers.

Webhannet Bait and Tackle says Parsons Beach and Drakes Island are seeing a good push of stripers in the low 30-inch range. One dedicated angler at Drakes has been landing multiple fish chunking mackerel—a tried-and-true striper tactic this time of year. The salt pond at Parson’s is loaded, and the Mousam River’s upstream glow with topwater action near sundown.

Captain Lou Tirado and the Diamond Pass Outfitters crew report that soft plastics like the Albie Snax XL and topwater plugs are scoring bass not only in the rivers but also out on the sand flats and marshes. Glide baits and jointed swimmers are putting up numbers too, and with mackerel filling in across Saco, Casco, and adjacent bays, expect bass to push out front along the beaches in coming days.

Offshore, water temps are still on the chilly side—hovering just above 50 degrees—but that’s kept haddock fishing hot on the ledges. Anglers out of the Bunny Clark are still seeing big pollock show up in decent numbers too, an exciting bonus for anyone working the bottom.

Best lures right now? For stripers, bring a mix: Whip-it-Eels, Albie Snax XL, topwater plugs, glide baits, and jointed swimmers. For bait, nothing beats live or chunked mackerel, but sandworms are very effective from jetties and the surf.

If you’re hunting white perch on a nearby lake around dusk, a small piece of nightcrawler under a float is almost a sure bet, according to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

A couple of hot spots to try: Camp Ellis jetties for shore-based stripers, Parsons Beach and its salt pond for mixed sizes and steady action, and Saco Bay islands if you’re up before dawn for mackerel.

Thanks for tuning in to your daily Maine coast fishing rundown. Be sure to subscribe for more reports, tips, and local secrets. This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out quietplease.ai.

This is Artificial Lure with your June 14, 2025, Atlantic Ocean Maine fishing report.

Maine’s coastal waters are waking up strong this June, despite some lingering cool offshore temps that have kept things fresh and lively. The morning started cool but is turning into a perfect day for both surf and boat anglers, with clear skies and a steady southwest breeze building in. Sunrise this morning was at 4:58am and sunset’s at 8:24pm, giving you a big window to get lines in the water. Tides out of Portland show a high at 1:27am with another at 2:12pm, and lows hitting at 7:56am and 7:57pm—so plan to work those shifting currents, especially around the early morning or late afternoon low tides, which have been especially productive for stripers and bait activity according to the Portland Maine tide chart.

The striper bite has been the main event all week. Saco Bay Tackle Company said the oceanfront is producing better now that the herring runs are slowing up. Pine Point and the Camp Ellis jetties are hot spots, with sandworms the top bait choice, and Whip-it-Eels taking the cake for artificial lures. Webhannet Bait and Tackle reports a solid push of 24”-30” stripers at Parsons Beach and Drakes Island, especially around the salt pond, with chunked mackerel leading to catches in the low 30-inch range. As sundown approaches, the Mousam River’s upstream sections are seeing a hot topwater bite and big fish also falling for paddletails.

If you’re heading out with artificial lures, Captain Lou Tirado of Diamond Pass Outfitters swears by the Albie Snax XL this week, though topwater plugs, glide baits, and jointed swimmers are also putting fish in the boat. The bass are still keyed on herring, but mackerel are showing up in Saco, Casco Bay, and the islands, ushering in a new wave of activity along the beaches and sand flats. Those mackerel drifts through the Piscataqua River are getting smashed by hungry stripers. Early risers have a shot at mackerel around the Saco Bay islands, but they’re patchy—try a sabiki rig and keep moving if you don’t find a school right away.

Offshore, haddock fishing remains strong atop the ledges thanks to those cooler-than-normal water temps, with pollock numbers also picking up this week. Bunny Clark Deep Sea Fishing has seen some of the season’s largest pollock just pop up, so if bottom fishing is your game, things are heating up.

A couple of must-visit spots for the weekend:
- The Camp Ellis jetties for stripers with sandworms or mackerel chunks.
- Parsons Beach at dusk for a topwater striper blitz—cast right into the salt pond mouth.

Remember, halibut season is now closed as of today, so make sure you’re up to speed on current regs and focus on stripers, haddock, or those inshore smallmouth and panfish if you want a change of pace.

Thanks for tuning in to the latest from the Maine coast—make sure to subscribe for daily updates and don’t miss a tide. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

Artificial Lure here with your Friday, June 13th, 2025 Atlantic Maine fishing report. Sunrise hit at 4:58 a.m., and sunset’s coming at 8:23 p.m., so there’s plenty of light to fill your cooler before the day is done. High tide at Portland rolled in at 12:48 a.m. at just shy of 10 feet, low hits at 7:00 a.m., and the afternoon high is 12:40 p.m. If you’re looking for best action, work that outgoing tide into the morning and swing back for the afternoon push.

No big storms on the horizon—just the comfortable June pattern, with cool mornings giving way to mild afternoons. That means bug hatches are thick and the fish are on the feed. Water temps are perfect for a surge in striper activity, and the early summer bite is firing on all cylinders.

The headlines? Striper fishing is hot right up and down the midcoast, with fish in the 30- to 40-inch range showing in all the big rivers and out along the beaches. Saco River is seeing bass pounding herring schools, and outgoing tide by the mouth is prime time. Saco Bay has been giving up plenty of schoolies and some bigger cows, especially near the islands just off the beaches. Over in Kennebunk, clams and paddletails are working wonders along the riverbanks and marsh mouths.

For lures, bone SP Minnows and white soft plastic stickbaits are landing a lot of fish. DB Smelt-style plugs in silver-blue are killers, especially for those bigger, more aggressive bass following mackerel. If you want live bait, mackerel are now thick close to shore, and they’re top choice—drifting a live mack or chunking one off a beach will work well all day. Sabiki rigs in size 10-12 with a gold flash are your best bet for loading up on the macks. Fly anglers are seeing great results with red-and-gray Ghost streamer patterns.

Groundfishing is another bright spot. Haddock are hitting hard offshore—reports of fish in the 5 to 10-pound range, plus some quality redfish and cusk out on the deeper ledges.

If you want freshwater, lakes like Megunticook, Swan Lake, and Great Moose Lake are all fishing well for smallmouth bass this month. White perch action is peaking in the evenings—just toss a piece of nightcrawler under a float before sunset.

For hotspots, don’t skip:
- Saco River mouth (early outgoing tide for stripers)
- Casco Bay grass banks on the incoming for schoolie surface feeds
- Islands off Saco Bay for mackerel and big bass

Thanks for tuning in to your Maine coast fishing report from Artificial Lure. Don’t forget to subscribe for your daily local update. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease dot ai.

Artificial Lure here, reporting for June 13th from the rocky shores and salty bays of Maine’s Atlantic coast.

Sunrise came early at 4:47 AM and there's plenty of daylight to fish until sunset at 8:18 PM. High tide rolled through Bar Harbor around 1:08 AM with another at 1:47 PM, and lows in between at 7:38 AM and 7:43 PM, so plan your outings around those moving waters — stripers especially love the outgoing tide. We’re firmly into the classic Maine June pattern: cool, dry mornings warming to breezy afternoons, keeping fish active and bug hatches thick. No big storms in the forecast, just prime conditions for a full day on the water.

Striper action is downright hot. Fish in the 40-inch range have pushed into Maine waters, with schoolie and slot-size bass blitzing herring and mackerel from the Saco River up through Casco Bay. Early morning and late evening are producing strong bites. Mackerel are thick around Saco Bay’s islands at first light — best results coming on size 10-12 Sabiki rigs with gold flash or UV hues. Along sandy beaches and marsh mouths, bone-colored SP Minnows, white soft plastic stickbaits, and DB Smelts in silver/blue are top producers. Fly anglers should throw the red/grey Ghost streamer for consistent action.

For bait, you can’t beat live or chunk mackerel right now. Tube-and-worm rigs are also working well, especially around outgoing tides near river mouths like the Kennebunk and Saco. If you’re after bottom dwellers, the offshore groundfishing scene is shining this season. Legal haddock are dominating catches with fish topping 5 pounds, and some double-digit slabs early in the week. Bunny Clark Deep Sea Fishing reported steady picking with a stellar finish on their last stop — haddock, cusk, a halibut, redfish, and some chunky pollock all made an appearance. Clams and paddletails are bringing in results inshore, especially for white perch and stripers prowling the edges of grass banks and sod marshes.

Looking for hot spots? Saco Bay’s inshore islands and the mouth of the Saco River are hard to beat at sunrise for both stripers and mackerel. Casco Bay’s marshes and river mouths are also lighting up as the tide pushes in, with herring runs keeping bass interested. Offshore, any of the deeper humps east of Monhegan are holding haddock and cusk.

Quick tip: if you’re not getting hits, move until you find bait or marks — the fish are on the move daily with shifting tides and bait schools.

That’s your Maine Atlantic fishing report for today. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe for tomorrow’s update. This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out quietplease.ai.

Good morning folks, Artificial Lure here with your June 11th fishing report for Maine’s Atlantic coast. We’re waking up today to classic early summer conditions—cool mornings, calm seas, and the smell of opportunity on the salt air.

High tide rolled in at Bar Harbor at 5:22 AM, cresting just over ten feet, with a low expected around 11:45 AM. Tonight, sunset hits at 8:20 PM, giving us a long evening push for that golden-hour bite. Sunrise was at 4:51 AM, so those who were up early likely found action before the breeze picked up. According to the crew at Spreaker, another push of high water arrives mid-afternoon, around 4:05 PM, which means your outgoing and incoming windows are both primed for topwater action.

Weather is cooperating nicely—expect cool to mild temps, partly cloudy skies, and a light onshore breeze. No big storms in the forecast, just the typical June pattern that keeps fish active and bug hatches thick.

Striper action is hot along the midcoast! Reports from On The Water indicate big bass chasing mackerel and bunker, particularly around the mouths of the Kennebec and near the rocky shoreline off Portland. Bluefish are also making runs, smashing metals in the rips and blitzing on surface schools of mackerel. Some stripers are coming in north of 40 inches, and even the typical slot fish are plentiful. Live eels, soft plastics like Slug-Gos, and diamond jigs have all been putting fish in the boat, while the classic chunked mackerel on a circle hook remains a can’t-miss for the bigger girls.

For bottom enthusiasts, the haddock bite offshore has been excellent, with some true slabs caught on the reefs. There’s also a run of sea bass and scup heating up on the deeper structure, and fluke are getting active in sandy bays, especially on the incoming. The reports from On The Water show that jigs tipped with Gulp! or squid strips are out-fishing traditional baits for these flatties.

If you’re after something on the lighter side, white perch and panfish in the tidal rivers, like the Presumpscot and the Saco, are absolutely on fire this month. Maine IFW recommends nightcrawlers under a float or a chunk of worm on a jig—these are dynamite, especially as the sun settles and the bugs start to swarm.

Hot spots? You can’t go wrong with the ledges off Two Lights in Cape Elizabeth or drifting in the Kennebec River just south of Bath for a mixed-bag morning. For shore anglers, the jetties at Pine Point in Scarborough are a perennial favorite, especially now with stripers and blues on the move.

That’s the scoop for today—tight lines to everyone heading out after work, and don’t forget to check your tides before launching. Thanks for tuning in to your Maine coastal fishing report—this is Artificial Lure reminding you to subscribe for the latest bite updates.

This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out quietplease.ai.

Artificial Lure here, coming to you from the rocky shores and tidal inlets of coastal Maine with your Atlantic Ocean fishing report for Wednesday, June 11th, 2025.

The morning kicked off crisp and cool—classic early June in Maine. Sunrise lit up at 5:02am and we’re looking at a long fishing day, with sunset not until 8:22pm. Today’s tide chart from York Harbor sets us up with a low tide at 6:18am, a solid high at 12:23pm, then the next low rolling in at 6:12pm. That generous midday flood should really put the stripers and blues on the chew, especially around current breaks and rock piles, with water temps hovering in the upper 50s to low 60s—prime for all our favorite targets.

Weather’s on your side: partly cloudy, calm seas, and a gentle southwest breeze, keeping things comfortable whether you’re working the surf or drifting ledges offshore.

Striped bass action is nothing short of stellar right now. According to On The Water’s latest migration update, stripers in the 40-inch class have pushed as far north as Maine, with fish popping up in harbors, river mouths, and out along the beaches. Surface blitzes have been reported off York and Ogunquit—especially during those change-of-tide windows. Mackerel schools have moved in close, and the big linesiders are right behind them.

Bluefish are mixing in too—expect cocktails up to gator-size, especially where you find those macks. Metals like Kastmasters and diamond jigs are crushing both species, while classic soft plastics and SP minnows are putting plenty of stripers in the surf bags. If you’re live-lining, nothing beats a fresh mackerel or a big, lively menhaden chunk. Clams are still pulling their share, especially in turbid water.

Offshore, folks targeting groundfish continue to boat impressive haddock and pollock. While not as sexy as the surface feeds, bottom dunkers working jigs tipped with squid are filling coolers on most of the closer reefs. Deep drop rigs are picking up hefty sea bass and the occasional cod, particularly around Jeffrey’s Ledge and down toward Saco Bay.

For those seeking variety or a shot at something special, June’s also prime time in the estuaries and tidal rivers. White perch are feeding heavy in the evenings—set up with a simple nightcrawler under a float, and you’ll be in business, especially as sunset approaches, as recommended by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

Hot spots today:
- The mouth of the Saco River: Stripers are hunting herring and mackerel on incoming tides, with big bluefish popping up in the rips.
- Wells Harbor and the surrounding jetties: Consistent striper bites, plus mackerel schools for easy live bait.
- York Harbor and Long Sands Beach: Excellent surfcasting at dawn and dusk, especially around the high tide mark.

Thanks for tuning in to today’s Atlantic report. Don’t forget to subscribe to stay current with the bite, and tight lines out there! This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

Artificial Lure here with your daily fishing report for Wednesday, June 11th, 2025, checking in from the coast of Maine along the mighty Atlantic.

First things first—let’s talk about the tides. According to Tide-Forecast for York Harbor, we’re looking at an early morning low right around 6:18 AM at just 0.35 feet, and then a strong afternoon high tide at about 4:05 PM climbing to 10.4 feet. That means your prime fishing window is shaping up for late afternoon into early evening, with moving water putting fish right on the feed. Sunrise rolled in bright and early at 5:05 AM, and you can fish all the way through sunset at 8:26 PM, so there’s loads of daylight to wet a line.

Weather's classic Maine June—cool in the mornings, warming to the upper 50s by afternoon, and just a touch of breeze. Conditions are comfortable, and as the On The Water Angler’s Guide notes, rising water temps are kicking fish activity into high gear.

Now, let’s get to what folks are catching. According to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, this is the heart of the action for smallmouth bass in the inlets and salt ponds, but out in the salt, stripers are the talk of the town. The latest from On The Water reports that striped bass are slamming surface baits off the beaches, especially with mackerel moving in closer to shore. Bluefish—ranging from “cocktail” size up to true gators—are chowing down on metal spoons and can be found right alongside the stripers.

Offshore on the party boats, the Bunny Clark Deep Sea Fishing reports that haddock have been coming over the rails in impressive numbers, with a steady pick of cusk, plus the occasional halibut and redfish. Bait has been outperforming artificial lures for bottom fish—think fresh clams, cut mackerel, and squid strips.

Best baits and lures for today:
- For stripers and blues: Topwater plugs, SP Minnows, and metal jigs are the locals’ go-to, but don’t sleep on live or fresh-cut mackerel.
- For bottom fish like haddock and cusk: Drop a simple bait rig with clam or cut mackerel right down to the bottom and hang on tight.
- June is a great month for panfish action, especially at dusk. A chunk of nightcrawler under a float is almost guaranteed to hook a white perch if you’re looking for a little variety.

Hot spots? Try the beaches and inlets around Cape Elizabeth and Pine Point for stripers on a moving tide, and offshore ledges near Jeffrey’s Ledge and Old Orchard for that haddock and cusk bite. If you want easy access, Biddeford Pool and the Saco River mouth are producing as well.

That’s the scene for today! Thank you for tuning in—don’t forget to subscribe for daily updates. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

Hey folks, this is Artificial Lure with your Atlantic Ocean, Maine fishing report for Wednesday, June 11th, 2025.

We’re rolling into prime June conditions, and the bite is reflecting it. Sunrise this morning was at 4:59am and you can fish right up to sunset at 8:22pm, giving you a nice, long window on the water. Tides out of Casco Bay today show a low at 6:04am, high at 12:17pm, and another low at 5:58pm—look for increased fish activity as the tide builds toward midday, which is always a hot window for stripers and groundfish according to the Portland Maine tide charts.

Cool morning air gave way to a mild and comfortable day, with light winds and just a touch of fog in the early hours—classic Maine June weather. Water temps are ideal right now, which has most species actively feeding, especially on the reefs, ledges, and inshore rips.

Striped bass continue their strong migration up the coast. On The Water reports bigger bass pushing into bays and harbors, shifting from herring to menhaden and mackerel schools. Surface feeding frenzies have been spotted right off the beaches, and anglers are landing slot and over-slot fish consistently, sometimes topping 30 pounds. The best action has been on live mackerel, chunk bait, and topwater plugs at daybreak or dusk. Gator bluefish have joined the striper schools, hammering spoons and metal lures tossed into the blitzes.

Groundfishing offshore has been stellar. The Bunny Clark Deep Sea Fishing crew noted yesterday’s catches were “good to very good,” with haddock dominating the coolers, and solid numbers of cusk, redfish, a halibut, and a nice pollock mixed in. They moved between drifting and anchoring—best bite came anchored up on the wrecks and humps. Baited clams and squid strips are your winning ticket, but seasoned jiggers are pulling up slabs with heavy diamond jigs and teasers.

If you’re looking for variety, mackerel have moved in close—perfect for both bait and dinner—while offshore, those after halibut should note today and tomorrow are the final chances to target them this season in Maine state waters, per the Department of Marine Resources. Make sure you’re registered and bring your tagging kit.

Hot spots? Head to the mouths of the Saco and Kennebec rivers at first light for striper action, or work the inshore humps off Cape Elizabeth for haddock and cusk. The York Harbor and Ogunquit beaches are alive with schoolies and blues right now.

Best lures today are topwater spooks and pencil poppers for stripers, especially on a flooding tide, and metal jigs or teasers for deep-water groundfish. For bait, nothing beats fresh mackerel or seaworms for bass, and clams for bottom species.

Thanks for tuning in to the Atlantic Ocean, Maine fishing report—remember to subscribe for daily updates. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease dot ai.

Good morning, anglers—Artificial Lure here with your daily Atlantic Ocean, Maine, fishing report for Wednesday, June 11, 2025.

We’re waking up to classic early June weather along the coast—cool, calm mornings, a light breeze off the water, and a touch of cloud cover keeping things comfortable as the day unfolds. Sunrise hit at 4:59 AM and sunset will close out the day at 8:22 PM, giving us a nice, long window to get on the fish. Today’s tides out of Portland show a low at 6:04 AM and a high rolling in at 12:17 PM, with another low at 5:58 PM—midday and evening runs should be hot, especially as fish feed with the turn of the tide, according to the Portland Maine Tide Chart.

Striped bass fishing is peaking now—On The Water reports that big bass have pushed into Maine’s bays and harbors, shifting their focus from the herring runs to mackerel and bunker. Surface feeds are popping off the beaches, so keep a close eye out for birds and breaking water. Recent days have seen shore and boat anglers landing slots and a few trophy-sized fish into the 30-pound range. Bluefish have also shown up in decent numbers; aggressive schools are slamming metal jigs and swimmers, especially on the outgoing tide.

For bait, fresh chunk mackerel and live eels are seeing the most action for bigger stripers, while bluefish can’t resist flashy metals like Kastmasters or Deadly Dicks. Tossing topwater plugs has been productive early and late in the day, especially during dusk when the wind lays down.

Offshore, groundfishing continues strong—boats are reporting larger-than-average haddock and limits of sea bass out on the reefs. If you’re targeting these, squid strips and Gulp baits on hi-lo rigs are the go-to presentations. Mackerel have moved in closer to shore, so sabiki rigs off the piers and breakwaters should fill a bucket with prime bait or supper in short order.

Suggested hot spots today: Head to the Saco River mouth for stripers on a flood tide—this area’s loaded with bait and draws in big predators. Portland Head Light offers access for both surfcasters and small craft, and recent catches have included slot stripers and bluefish, especially as the evening tide comes in. For those drifting deeper, Casco Bay’s offshore reefs are consistent for haddock and black sea bass.

Inland, smallmouth bass fishing is turning on in the lakes and ponds across midcoast and central Maine—the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife says June is as good as it gets for numbers and size. Waters like Megunticook Lake and the Belgrades are both worth a stop.

Thanks for tuning in today! Don’t forget to subscribe for your daily dose of local fishing intel and stay safe out there on the water. This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out quietplease.ai.

Mornin' folks, Artificial Lure here with your Saturday fishing report for June 7th, 2025.

The stripers are really heatin' up along the Maine coast! River herring are still the main attraction, with bass pounding them in the Saco River. If you're heading out today, tide's running low at 3:18 this morning at just over a foot, high tide hits at 9:26am reaching about 8'2", then we'll see another low at 3:22pm and high again tonight at 9:37pm climbing to 9'3". Sunrise was at 4:59am and we'll have daylight until 8:20pm tonight.

The fishing pattern's in a bit of flux as those river herring start moving downstream toward river mouths, getting ready to exit the watersheds. If you've been hitting the Saco Dam area and finding it's slowed down, shift your focus downstream or check nearby marshes where stripers might be feeding on grass shrimp.

Good news is the mackerel have moved in closer to shore, making for excellent bait for both stripers and groundfish. Speaking of groundfish, offshore action continues to be absolutely stellar, with many haddock in the 5+ pound range being caught, and at least one topping 10 pounds earlier this week.

For lures, bone-colored SP Minnows have been working well in the rivers, along with white soft plastic stick baits. If you're after mackerel, size 10-12 Sabiki rigs with gold flash or UV colors are your best bet, especially early morning.

Hot spots today? The rivers during outgoing tide are your best bet - Saco River's been particularly productive. Work the grass banks on the incoming tide. For bass fishing beyond the rivers, check out the shallow bays and marshes around Casco Bay where fish are starting to push into. Some schoolies have been surface feeding off the beaches, so keep your eyes peeled for that action too.

For you smallmouth enthusiasts, June's prime time on our inland waters. Belgrade Lakes, Megunticook Lake, and Swan Lake are all producing nice numbers right now.

Remember, the water temperatures are just right this time of year and most fish are very active – it's why June fishing in Maine is hard to beat. If the bugs are biting, so are the fish!

Thanks for tuning in to today's report. If you're heading out, tight lines and stay safe on the water. Don't forget to subscribe for daily updates on the best fishing in Maine. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

# Maine Atlantic Coast Fishing Report - June 6, 2025

Mornin' folks, Artificial Lure here with your Friday fishing report for the Maine Atlantic coast. It's just past sunrise at 4:51 AM, with sunset coming at 8:10 PM, giving us plenty of daylight to work with today.

## Tide & Weather

High tide hit Bar Harbor around 3:20 AM measuring about 11.5 feet, with low tide coming in at 9:50 AM. We'll see another high tide at 4:05 PM reaching about 10.4 feet. The early June character of Maine's coast is showing itself with cool mornings and comfortable afternoons - a perfect setup for fishing.

## Striper Action

The big news is stripers! They've been moving up the coast steadily, with fish in the 40-inch range now showing up in Maine waters. The mackerel have moved in closer to shore, creating excellent striper fishing opportunities. These schoolies are hitting hard on mackerel-imitating lures, with DB Smelts in silver/blue being particularly effective. If you're fly fishing, the red/grey Ghost streamer has been producing consistently.

## Other Species

Beyond stripers, smallmouth bass fishing is absolutely prime right now in midcoast Maine. The Belgrade Lakes, Megunticook Lake in Camden, and Swan Lake in Swanville are all producing memorable days on the water. For you groundfish enthusiasts, conditions are ideal with the recent rainfall boosting water levels nicely.

White perch are super-active, especially during the evening hours. If you've got kids or beginners with you, now's the perfect time - just cast a small piece of nightcrawler and let it sit on bottom or under a float during the last hours of daylight.

## Hot Spots

For today, I'd recommend hitting the coastal areas around Kittery for mixed bag action. The recent cool weather slowed things down a bit for the fair-weather anglers, but those willing to tough it out have been rewarded handsomely.

Another hot spot worth checking is the Sebago Lake area, where some impressive salmon have been landed recently, including an 8-pounder last week. Most of these fish have been feeding heavily on smelt, which is a great sign for the fishery.

Remember what we always say 'round here: "If the bugs are biting, so are the fish." And with June being prime insect hatching time, the fish are feeding aggressively.

Thanks for tuning in to this week's report. If you're heading out today, remember your sunscreen and bug spray - and maybe a light jacket for those cool morning hours. Be sure to subscribe for weekly updates on the best fishing Maine has to offer. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

Hey everyone, this is Artificial Lure with your June 4th, 2025, Atlantic Ocean Maine Fishing Report.

The Maine coast is showing off its classic early June character—cool mornings and a promising uptick in both inshore and offshore fishing action. We’ve had a mix of sunshine and scattered showers this week, with onshore winds keeping things brisk. Today’s air temps are topping out in the mid-60s, and sea temps are nudging up near the high 40s to low 50s. Sunrise was at 4:56 AM and sunset’s coming at 8:18 PM, giving you a full stretch of daylight to work with.

Tidal movement is prime for early and late action. According to Surfline’s Long Sands Beach tide report, we’re seeing an early morning high tide just before 7 AM and another just after 7 PM—perfect for those dawn patrols and dusk missions.

On the ground, striper activity is picking up steam along the beaches and estuaries. On The Water reports a surge of striped bass moving in, focusing around the marshes and river mouths close to the herring runs. Folks are catching schoolies and some slot fish, especially around the Saco River mouth and the flats off Scarborough Marsh. Best baits right now are live eels, mackerel, and chunked herring. Top artificials include white paddle tails, seven-inch soft plastics, and classic swimming plugs—especially around structure or moving water. Plenty of local anglers are reporting the night bite is strong, especially on the outgoing tide.

Groundfishing offshore is still in high gear, with Bunny Clark Deep Sea Fishing noting excellent haddock catches, along with cusk, a few halibut, redfish, and the occasional pollock. The best offshore action continues to be around Jeffrey’s Ledge and Platt’s Bank. Drifting with jigs tipped with clams or Gulp! baits has been the ticket, and anchoring over hard bottom is producing the heaviest bags. For those chasing groundfish, keep an eye out for cusk and the chance at a wolfish or two.

Flounder are getting active closer to shore as ocean temps climb. The bite’s especially good around sand and mud bottom—look toward Wells Harbor and off Cape Elizabeth. Best baits are sandworms and clams on small, hi-lo rigs.

If you’re a smallmouth or largemouth bass angler looking to sneak inland, Maine IFW mentions the Belgrade Lakes and Megunticook Lake are both fishing very well right now with jerkbaits, soft plastics, and topwaters working especially well in the evenings.

Hot spots for today? Try the Saco River mouth at high tide for stripers, especially on the east side near the sandbars, and if you’re heading offshore, hit the western edge of Jeffrey’s Ledge. Don’t overlook the early outgoing tide for both areas; that moving water really fires up the bite.

That’s your Atlantic Ocean Maine fishing fix for today. Thanks for tuning in and don’t forget to subscribe for your daily dose of local fishing action. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

Good morning, anglers! Artificial Lure here with your June 1st fishing report from the Atlantic Ocean waters off Maine. The day is shaping up with plenty of promise for both saltwater and inshore fishing.

**Weather & Tide Outlook**
Today in coastal Maine, expect typical early summer weather with mild temperatures and partly cloudy skies—ideal for fishing. Sunrise was at 5:02 AM, and sunset will be around 8:24 PM, giving us plenty of daylight hours to get on the water. Tide-wise, it’s a falling tide early in the day with a low tide around mid-morning near 1:07 PM at York Harbor, followed by a strong high tide in the evening around 10:21 PM reaching nearly 9 feet. These tide changes will concentrate baitfish near tidal flows, which is great news for targeting predators.

**Fish Activity & Species Report**
Striped bass are active right now, especially near herring runs in estuaries like the Scarborough Marsh, Kennebunk River, and York River. The presence of river herring is drawing hungry bass, with anglers reporting solid catches of slot-sized stripers. Bluefish and mackerel are also making appearances in these same areas. Offshore, haddock remain a prime catch on ledges like Tantas Ledge and Jeffrey’s Ledge, with good numbers of legal-sized fish being caught. Cusk, redfish, and pollock are also showing well, making for diverse groundfish opportunities.

Inshore bays and river mouths are prime spots, with local guides confirming that paddle tail soft plastics in natural and pearl colors around 5¼ inches are working well on stripers. For bait, fresh-cut bunker or menhaden remains the top choice, but mackerel and eel strips are catching bites as well. Haddock anglers should go with jigs tipped with clam or squid for best results.

**Best Hot Spots Today**
- The Scarborough Marsh area continues to be a hot zone for striped bass chasing herring, especially during tidal changes.
- Casco Bay is loaded with keeper-sized stripers and has shown steady catches of haddock on deeper ledges nearby.
- For groundfish enthusiasts, Jeffrey’s Ledge and Tantas Ledge offshore offer excellent haddock and pollock action, with opportunities for halibut if you’re licensed and follow Maine’s tagging rules.

**Local Tips and Lures**
For stripers, try spoons, plugs, and lead-headed jigs; when the tide is running, cast toward current seams where baitfish gather. Smallmouth bass anglers inland should target nearby lakes like Sebago Lake to complement your saltwater trip, using spinners or crankbaits early in the morning or late evening. If you’re bottom fishing for haddock or cusk, drifting with fresh clam baits or anchoring with jigs near rocky bottoms will likely yield the best results.

So whether you’re chasing the summer streakers or targeting delicious haddock, today holds great promise in the Maine Atlantic waters. Stay safe, keep your gear ready, and don’t forget to check local regulations and tags, especially for species like halibut.

Thanks for tuning in to today’s fishing report from Artificial Lure. Be sure to subscribe for your regular dose of fishing intelligence. Tight lines and calm seas! This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai.

Artificial Lure here with your Atlantic Ocean, Maine fishing report for Saturday, May 31, 2025.

We’re headed into the first weekend of June, and the bite is on fire along the Maine coast. According to Saco Bay Tackle Company and recent reports, the striper migration is in full swing, with slot stripers being taken consistently from Scarborough Marsh down through York, Mousam, and the Kennebunk River. Early mornings have seen a flurry of activity, especially near the dams on herring runs—these spots are absolutely loaded with forage and hungry predators. Charter captains are also reporting big mackerel out by the islands, using them as live bait for some chunky bass in the rivers.

For lure fans, 5 1/4” Gravity Tackle paddle tails in yellow, pearl, and natural have been the ticket for slot-sized stripers, especially around Scarborough Marsh and the river mouths. Slug-Gos in alewife patterns are putting fish in the boat by the Saco River Dam, while fly anglers are having success with classic Clouser minnows. If you’re targeting groundfish, Tantas Ledge and Platt’s Bank are both seeing solid numbers of haddock moving closer to shore as the water warms up. Fresh clams or jig lures are the way to go for haddock right now.

The outgoing tide is your best friend—particularly for stripers and shad in the Saco, York, and Mousam Rivers, as well as Higgins Beach and Spurwink River. The shad run is peaking in the Saco, and anglers drifting darts and streamers are finding plenty of action. As for mackerel, the fish are big this week; some catches are measuring up to 18 inches right off the beaches and just beyond the islands.

Weatherwise, it’s a mixed bag—May’s been cool and wet, but things are finally trending warmer. Sunrise today is just before 5:00 AM and sunset settles in a little after 8:15 PM, giving you a full day to work the water. Water temps are creeping above 50°F, which means flounder action could pick up if we get a stretch of sunny, calm days.

If you’re looking for a couple of hot spots, don’t miss the Scarborough Marsh for stripers at dawn, and check Tantas Ledge if you’re after haddock. Don’t forget the Saco River for a combo of shad and bass, especially around the dam. And for shore-bound anglers, Higgins Beach is primed for an early morning run at first light.

That’s your boots-on-the-dock, rod-in-hand report for today. Thanks for tuning in to the Atlantic Ocean, Maine fishing update with Artificial Lure. Be sure to subscribe for your daily dose of local intel.

This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

Good morning, anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Atlantic Ocean, Maine fishing report for this beautiful Friday, May 30, 2025.

## Today's Conditions

The sun rose about twenty minutes ago at 5:04 AM and won't set until 8:20 PM, giving us plenty of daylight to work with. We're looking at moderate northwest winds around 15 knots shifting westerly later this morning. High tide hits around noon with a low coming in the evening. Visibility is excellent with temperatures expected to reach the mid-50s along the coast.

## Striper Update

Striped bass are now in full swing, folks! They've been pushing up from Massachusetts over the past two weeks and are swarming our rivers. The Saco, York, Mousam, and Kennebunk Rivers are all producing slot stripers. With mackerel now showing up out front, expect the next wave to push closer to beaches and islands.

Zach over at Saco Bay Tackle Company tells me that areas near dams with herring runs are absolutely on fire right now. He's been slaying them in the Scarborough Marsh using 5¼" Gravity Tackle paddle tails in yellow, pearl, and natural colors. If you're working the Webhannet River, the tube-and-worm rig continues to be deadly effective.

## Groundfish Report

The groundfishing remains stellar with haddock action staying hot. Tantas Ledge is seeing more haddock moving in as waters warm, but Jeffrey's Ledge and Platt's Bank are still your most reliable spots for consistent action. With dogfish numbers still low, bait fishing is working particularly well.

Recent trips out of Ogunquit have been reporting excellent haddock landings along with good numbers of cusk, a few redfish, and even the occasional halibut. Most captains are alternating between drifting and anchoring, with anchor stops producing the best results.

## Hot Spots Worth Checking

1. Scarborough Marsh area has been consistently producing slot stripers on soft plastics
2. Reid State Park, where the Kennebec pours into the Atlantic, continues to yield quality fish
3. Jeffrey's Ledge for those looking to fill coolers with haddock

## Tackle Tips

For stripers, it's hard to beat those Gravity Tackle paddle tails right now, but charter captains are also doing well with live mackerel when they can find them. For the groundfish, fresh clams and sea worms are outperforming jigs in most cases, though it never hurts to have both in your arsenal.

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Fishing Report for the Atlantic Ocean, Maine
May 28, 2025

Good morning anglers, this is Artificial Lure with your local fishing update for the Maine coast and the surrounding Atlantic waters.

Today is starting off cool with onshore winds and some clouds in the forecast, but the bite’s still been strong for those willing to get out there. Sunrise hit at 5:05 am this morning and we’re looking at sunset around 8:09 pm, giving us a generous window to hit the water.

The tide is running on a classic early summer pattern. This morning brought a higher tide, slacking off later toward the afternoon. If you can time your fishing around the changing tide, you’ll have the best shot—especially right after the high slack when feeding really seems to pick up.

On the striper front, it’s been an excellent week. Slot-size striped bass are dominating the scene, with plenty being caught around the mouth of the Saco River and the beaches near Scarborough Marsh. Herring runs are strong in Great Bay and Little Bay, and stripers have been chasing them hard, so those are great spots to check out. Folks drifting live eels or casting soft plastics in white or bunker colors are reporting consistent action. If you’re using bait, fresh mackerel strips or live herring are both producing well[3].

Groundfishing has also been solid. Haddock are showing up in good numbers offshore, and the best action has come from anchoring up on deeper humps and ledges. Anglers on the headboats are reporting legal limits of haddock pretty regularly, with some bonus cusk, redfish, and even an occasional halibut making an appearance. Jigs tipped with clams or Gulp! baits are working well, and a basic diamond jig is always a staple out here. The last few days saw some big numbers, including over seventy cusk, a halibut, and a handful of pollock around five pounds landed on a single trip[2].

If you’re a fan of inshore action, mackerel are beginning to show as well. Small Sabiki rigs or bright metal jigs around piers and rocky points are your best bet for a mess of macks, which also make great bait for everything from stripers to sharks.

Hot spots right now include the mouth of the Saco River for stripers, Jeffrey’s Ledge for groundfish action, and the Portland Head area for a mixed bag of bass and mackerel. Don’t overlook the York and Ogunquit stretches, either, especially around the river mouths.

Lure tips for today: Go with soft plastics, especially white and chartreuse shades for stripers. For groundfish, stick with metal jigs and baited rigs. And as always, stay flexible and pay attention to the birds—they’ll lead you right to the bait and the bite.

That’s your local saltwater rundown for May 28. Tight lines out there, and don’t forget to share your catch reports.

Hey there, folks! Artificial Lure here with your Monday morning fishing report for Maine's Atlantic waters on this fine May 26th, 2025.

The striped bass migration is in full swing along our coastline! Those post-spawn stripers have been steadily moving up from the Chesapeake and New Jersey, with plenty of slot-size fish now dominating our waters[1][2]. The 30-inch class stripers that were reported in Boston Harbor earlier this month have pushed further north, with schoolies stretching well into southern Maine waters[2]. If you're hoping to hook into these beauties, your best bet is to head to Great Bay where the herring runs are attracting hungry bass[1].

Some exciting news for you mackerel enthusiasts – they've started to show up in the mix, which is just a taste of what's coming our way in the next few weeks[1]. There's also been encouraging reports of groundfish moving closer to shore[1].

For you halibut hunters, remember today's the deadline to submit your weekly catch reports to the DMR, even if you didn't land anything or chose not to fish this past week[3]. Those reports are crucial for tracking our fishery.

Weather-wise, we've seen water temperatures rise into the upper 50s recently, which has made the bass much more active and aggressive feeders. This warming trend has really turned on the bite compared to the sluggish action we saw in the mid-40 degree waters earlier this spring[5].

For baits and lures, blood worms and sand worms have been outperforming everything else, though many anglers are having success drifting live eels and herring as well[5]. If you're a chunk bait fan, fresh herring chunks have been working well when anchored in 10 to 20 feet of water[5].

Hot spots to check out today include Little Bay where stripers have been actively feeding[1], and the river channels where massive schools of bass have been using the thermoclines to help their migration northward[5]. These schools contain a mix of all size classes, from schoolies to slot fish and even some trophy-size bass up to 49 inches[5].

With the tide cycles and that morning sunrise we just had, early birds will likely have the best luck today. The fish have been most active during the morning hours when the water's still cool.

So grab your gear and get out there! This Memorial Day is shaping up to be a perfect day to wet a line along our beautiful Maine coast. Tight lines, everyone!

This is Artificial Lure reporting in from the Atlantic coast of Maine with your fishing report for Sunday, May 25, 2025.

Sunrise this morning was around 5:10 am, and sunset will be about 8:10 pm, giving anglers a long day to work the water. High tide in the Portland area came just after midnight and again around 12:45 pm, with falling tides through the morning and a rising tide after lunch. The water temperatures have been slowly creeping up, inviting our favorite migratory species into the mix.

Striped bass action is heating up all along the southern Maine coast. There’s a good push of fresh stripers moving into rivers like the Saco, Webhannet, Kennebunk, and Mousam. Schoolies are common, but a few slot fish are already being reported, especially in the Saco and Webhannet where river herring are running thick. Early risers throwing white or natural-hued soft plastics like AlbieSnax and 6-inch Slug-Gos have been rewarded, particularly around Scarborough Marsh, Higgins Beach, and the “Graveyard.” Bloodworms have been a solid bet from shore, and tube-and-worm rigs are taking fish in the rivers.

Groundfishing offshore is as good as it gets for late May. Haddock numbers are excellent from Outer Schoodic down to the Cove, and some large fish are mixed in with steady numbers. Jeffrey’s Ledge and Platt’s Bank are hot right now for haddock and redfish. Bait is working best—think fresh clams or squid strips—since dogfish aren’t thick yet. If you’re trying for something bigger, mackerel are moving onto the offshore ledges, which could attract early bluefin tuna in the coming weeks.

The York River and Ogunquit Beach are giving up good catches of sea-run brown trout, while winter flounder are still an option for those fishing sandier stretches like Ogunquit. For fly anglers, Clouser minnows in white or olive remain the ticket for early season bass.

Today’s hot spots to check out: Hit the Saco River mouth on the dropping tide for stripers pushing bait. Offshore, Platt’s Bank is a solid choice for a box of haddock and redfish—just bring enough bait. For shore folks, try Higgins Beach at first light or the Kennebunk River on the incoming tide.

Best lures today are white soft plastics and tube-and-worm rigs for stripers, and traditional bait rigs for haddock and redfish. For bait, bloodworms and cut herring are drawing the most strikes inshore, with squid strips offshore.

That’s the scoop from the local docks. Tight lines and see you on the water.

Hey there, folks! Artificial Lure here with your Maine fishing report for this fine Saturday morning, May 24th, 2025.

The stripers have finally started making their way across the Massachusetts border and are trickling into our southern Maine waters. Not a full run yet, but enough to get excited about. If you're looking to hook into some bass, now's the time to start paying attention.

Offshore, the groundfishing remains excellent around Jeffrey's Ledge and Platt's Bank. Recent reports show a steady pick of haddock, with some boats landing impressive numbers. One charter last week reported a haul including seventy-one cusk, a halibut, six redfish, and even a 5-pound pollock. That's a cooler-filler day right there!

Speaking of halibut, remember the season opened on May 18th and runs through June 13th. But keep in mind there's no fishing for halibut on Wednesdays or Thursdays in Maine territorial waters, and you need to tag them immediately. Don't forget your Saltwater Recreational Fishing Registry if you're heading out.

In freshwater, the smallmouth action has been heating up with the fish moving into the shallows. They've been hitting jerk baits and swim baits aggressively. Over at Sebago and Ossipee, salmon fishing remains strong, while Winnipesaukee has been producing both salmon and lakers.

For you largemouth enthusiasts, the season's officially kicking off with the warmer temperatures. Big lures are working well in the lakes across the state.

Hot spots this weekend? I'd recommend trying the rivers throughout Great Bay where river herring have been surging. For groundfish, Southern Jeffrey's Ledge has been consistently productive. If you're sticking to freshwater, the Merrimack and Nashua Rivers have been giving up some nice pike, bass, and panfish.

Bait-wise, fresh mackerel or herring chunks are working great for groundfish. For stripers, try fresh chunks or live mackerel if you can get them. Artificials like white or chartreuse bucktails with soft plastic trailers are starting to produce as well.

With Memorial Day right around the corner, the 2025 fishing season is really hitting its stride. Today's weather looks favorable with moderate winds, making it a good day to get out on the water.

Remember to check your tide charts before heading out. High tide's coming in mid-morning with a decent exchange that should get the fish moving.

That's all for now, folks. This is Artificial Lure saying tight lines and good fishing to you all. See you on the water!

ATLANTIC OCEAN MAINE FISHING REPORT
Friday, May 23, 2025

Good morning, anglers! Artificial Lure here with your local fishing report for the Atlantic waters of Maine. We're hitting that sweet spot in the season, folks, and I've got some wicked good news for ya.

Stripers are now in full swing along our coastline! What started as a trickle a week ago has turned into a proper run. The Saco, York, Webhannet, Mousam, and Kennebunk Rivers are all producing keeper-sized bass. These migratory fish have pushed all the way up to Casco Bay, and they're absolutely hammering the river herring. If you want to get in on this action, white is the color of choice when water's murky - AlbieSnax and 6-inch Slug-Gos are getting it done. For clearer water, switch to more natural hues. Fly anglers, don't forget your Clousers, and the tube-and-worm rig has been deadly in the Webhannet.

Groundfishing continues to be spectacular! The haddock bite from Outer Scantum to the Cove has been excellent, with good numbers and impressive size. Jeffrey's Ledge and Platts Bank remain top spots for consistent haddock action. With dogfish numbers still low, bait fishing is particularly effective right now. Remember those emergency fishing regulations that went into effect May 1st - make sure you're up on the latest possession limits, especially for Georges Bank cod which has some restrictions.

For you folks looking for something different, sea-run brown trout are hitting in the Kennebunk, Mousam, and Ogunquit Rivers. Ogunquit Beach has also been giving up some nice winter flounder for those willing to put in the time.

Hot spots for today: I'd hit Scarborough Marsh on the incoming tide or check out the "Graveyard" area where stripers have been crushing bait. For offshore action, Platts is the local favorite right now, with consistent keeper haddock coming over the rails.

Mackerel are starting to show on the offshore ledges, which means we might see some early bluefin tuna action in the coming weeks. Keep your heavy gear ready!

For those heading out today, tides are running strong with a midday high. Sunrise was at 5:12 AM and sunset will be at 8:17 PM, giving us plenty of daylight to work with. Weather looks decent with moderate winds from the southwest - just enough chop to keep the fish comfortable.

Remember, with every tide, the striper numbers are swelling exponentially, so get out there while the gettin's good! This weekend should be prime time, especially if you're working the herring runs.

That's the word from the water today, folks. This is Artificial Lure signing off - tight lines and we'll see ya on the water!

Artificial Lure here with your daily Atlantic Ocean, Maine fishing report for Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Sunrise this morning was at 5:08 AM with sunset coming at 8:11 PM, giving you a long day to chase what’s biting up and down the coast.

Weatherwise, we’re looking at a classic Maine spring day—a cool start in the mid-40s but warming up into the 60s under mostly sunny skies and a light onshore breeze, perfect for both shore and boat anglers. Tides today show a high around 9:30 AM and another low just after 3:30 PM, so plan to work those changing currents for your best action.

Striped bass are making their push into Maine right now, with steady reports of schoolies and even a few slot-plus fish showing up in the Saco and Webhannet Rivers. They’re following the spring herring and shad runs, so tossing bigger baits like soft plastics, swim shads, or a tube-and-worm rig is your best bet. Early risers are getting the action, especially around first light. For those wading or tossing from shore, white or bunker-pattern lures are producing well, and if you’ve got live herring, that’s the ticket for a shot at a big one. The Saco River mouth and around Biddeford Pool have been especially productive for stripers this week[2].

Groundfishing for haddock, cod, and redfish offshore is staying hot. Jeffrey’s Ledge and Platt’s Bank are the go-to spots for solid haddock hauls, with anglers filling coolers using clams, squid, and cut mackerel. With relatively few pesky dogfish around right now, bait fishing is easy and productive. Cod and cusk are being hit on the rockier parts of these ledges. Closer in, some reports of haddock are coming from Tantas as well for those not wanting to make the longer run[2][1].

River herring and alewives are still surging up the rivers, so don’t ignore the estuaries—stripers and the odd schoolie bluefish will be hot on their tails. Mackerel haven’t arrived en masse, but keep your Sabiki rigs ready as they’ll be inshore any day now[1].

For hot spots today, focus on:
Saco River mouth—striped bass on the move, especially at first light
Jeffrey’s Ledge—reliable haddock bite and occasional cod
Biddeford Pool—mix of schoolie stripers and a few keepers chasing herring

Best lures right now are white paddle tails, bucktail jigs, and nine-inch tube baits in bloodworm red or bubblegum. For bait, fresh clams, mackerel strips, and live herring are top choices. Remember, fish slow and steady—the cool waters mean the fish are a bit sluggish until things warm up later in the day[2][1].

That’s your report for today from Artificial Lure. Tight lines and see you on the water!

Good morning, anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Atlantic Ocean, Maine fishing report for Monday, May 19, 2025.

The warming trend continues today with temperatures expected to reach the mid-60s along the coast. We've got light easterly winds at 5-10 knots creating gentle swells, perfect for getting out on the water. Sunrise was at 5:08 AM and sunset will be at 8:12 PM, giving you plenty of daylight hours to wet your lines.

Tides are running strong today with high tide at 9:45 AM and low tide at 3:30 PM. That incoming morning tide should create excellent conditions for striped bass fishing, which has really picked up over the past week. These seven-striped beauties have moved in right on schedule following the mackerel and river herring runs we've been seeing since early May.

Speaking of striper action, the mouth of the Kennebec River and Casco Bay have been particularly hot spots. Anglers are reporting consistent catches using swimming plugs, soft plastics, and good old-fashioned chunk mackerel. If you're heading out today, don't forget those white or chartreuse soft baits – they've been absolutely killing it in the morning hours.

Groundfishing remains excellent with haddock being the star of the show. Jeffrey's Ledge, particularly around Central Cove and The Prong, continues to produce limits for many boats. Soft-bottom areas are yielding more haddock while the rockier spots are giving up decent numbers of cod, cusk and redfish. Clams and squid strips on circle hooks have been the ticket.

For you freshwater folks, the salmon bite on Sebago and Ossipee lakes continues to be strong, especially during early mornings. Smallmouth bass are still shallow and aggressive – try those jerk baits and swim baits that mimic the local baitfish.

Water levels in the rivers remain slightly higher than normal for mid-May, so use caution if you're wading. The Aroostook River and Meduxnekeag River have been producing well for trout anglers using slower presentations in the backwater areas.

For today's hot spots, I'd recommend hitting the Sheepscot River mouth for stripers – several locals reported 30+ inch fish there yesterday. For groundfish, head about 12 miles southeast of Portland to the humps – the charter captains have been limiting out on haddock there consistently.

Remember folks, with the new emergency measures in effect since May 1st, there's no possession of Georges Bank cod for both commercial common pool and recreational vessels.

That's all for today's report. Tight lines and see you on the water!