As of October 8, 2024, the fishing scene along the Maine coast is buzzing with activity, despite the recent Nor'Easter that stirred up the waters. Here’s what you need to know for a successful day out.
### Tidal and Weather Report
Today, the sunrise is at 6:43 AM, and sunset will be at 5:47 PM. Tides are moderate, with high tide at 8:32 AM and low tide at 2:45 PM. The weather is expected to be partly cloudy with a gentle northeast wind, which should help calm the swells from the recent storm.
### Fish Activity
Striped bass and bluefish are the stars of the show right now. Bluefish are abundant and aggressive, with many anglers reporting catches off the coast of Maine, particularly around Higgin’s Beach and down to Wells. These bluefish are averaging between 6-9 pounds and are feeding voraciously on mackerel.
Striped bass are also active, especially in the backwaters and rivers with herring runs. They are chasing schools of mullet and can be found under dock and pier lights in marinas like Great Bay Marina. The action has been hot in areas like the Piscataqua River and Little Harbor, especially on outgoing tides.
### Catches
Yesterday saw a mix of species being caught. Bluefish were plentiful, with many anglers trolling X-Raps or Rapalas off Portsmouth, Seabrook, and Salisbury. Striped bass were caught using mackerel as bait, either live-lining or trolling along beaches and ledges. Pollock and haddock were also landed in good numbers, particularly around Jeffrey’s Ledge.
### Best Lures and Bait
For bluefish, trolling plugs like X-Raps or Rapala Magnums is highly effective. For striped bass, using mackerel as bait, either live or chunked, has been producing excellent results. Soft plastics and topwater plugs are also working well, especially in the backwaters and rivers.
### Hot Spots
- **Higgin’s Beach**: This area has been hot for bluefish and striped bass, with big schools of bass busting bait just off the shore.
- **Piscataqua River**: The lower river spots, especially around Great Bay Marina, are great for catching striped bass under dock and pier lights.
- **Jeffrey’s Ledge**: This offshore spot is producing pollock, haddock, and other groundfish, but be prepared to move around to find the larger fish.
With the right gear and knowledge of these hot spots, you should have a productive and exciting day fishing off the Maine coast.
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.