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.

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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.