Atlantic Ocean, Maine Fishing Report Today

Artificial Lure here with your November 19th, 2025, fishing report for the waters of the Atlantic and the harbors and islands along the coast of Maine.

The sun cracked the horizon at 6:34 this morning, casting a frosty pink shade over the bay, and will set tonight at 4:09, so you’re working with that classic short, late-fall Maine day. Cold air rolled in with the overnight, and it's a brisk one—temps are lingering in the high 30s to low 40s, but expect things to feel colder out on the water with a stiff breeze. According to the Ocean Prediction Center, we’ve got west to northwest winds today running 15 to 25 knots, with seas running 7 to 12 feet offshore, so it’s sporty out there—pick your days wisely and stick close if you don't have a big hull.

Tides are swinging: high tide hit around 6:23 AM and the next low is coming up at 12:56 PM, per Tide-Forecast. This morning’s flood brought some nice movement through the ledges and inlets—a solid situation for bait and predator fish to get active.

Reports from the Bunny Clark fleet say the cod season wrapped up slower than usual, but the fall pollock bite has been hot in the deep water. Most boats have been stacking up pollock, with good numbers for size and some real slabs in the mix—multiple fish breaking the 15-pound mark. White hake are also showing strong out deep, and just this week, double hookups pushed up toward 30 pounds per fish. Haddock action is still there, but you’ll need to work for the legals. Redfish and some mackerel have been bending rods inshore and around the rocky points.

For those chasing stripers before the last of them slide south, there are still some holdovers being caught, especially along the points and river mouths—OTW Staff noted recent busts off New York, so expect pressure in southern Maine to be light but possibly rewarding with the right tide and weather window.

Baitwise, fresh-cut herring or clams remain your best bet for the white hake and redfish. Sea worms or cut mackerel work great for pollock and haddock. For lures, local sharpies are crushing with 6-inch soft plastics, especially paddletails in mackerel or glow, and classic Norwegian-style jigs are a staple for targeting the deeper pollock and haddock. Don’t forget those Fishbites Fight Club grubs—they hold up well to the teeth and current, especially for sea bass or flounder if you're working drop-offs.

Hotspots near shore right now include the ledges off Cape Elizabeth and the flats and edges around Richmond Island—strong reports of pollock and white hake here. If you’re making a run offshore and can handle the seas, the Jeffrey’s Ledge region is still putting out jumbo pollock, haddock, and plenty of redfish. On quieter days, inside Portland Harbor or around Peaks Island bridges offer manageable conditions and a mixed bag.

For crustacean fans, the lobster catch has slowed with colder water, and boat prices have softened, as noted on SeafoodNews; still, there’s nothing like a fresh bug if you can drop

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Artificial Lure here with your daily Maine Atlantic fishing report for November 18th, 2025.

It’s a chilly one this morning on the water—temps starting out in the mid 30s, but expected to rise only to the mid 40s with a stiff northwest breeze around 12 knots and those signature November gusts. If you’re planning to wet a line, layer up and make sure your rain gear’s handy. We dodged a storm cell overnight, but swells are lingering and seas are kicking at around 3 to 5 feet, especially as you head offshore. Sunrise hit at 7:00 AM, sunset’s at 5:53 PM. Daylight’s burning fast, so time your trip accordingly, especially if you’ve got longer run-outs.

Tides are running big today—excellent for inshore movement. In Kennebunkport, your first low came through at 3:39 AM, high tide hits 9:56 AM at 9 feet sharp, another low at 4:01 PM, and then a beefy high again at 10:15 PM. Bar Harbor tells a similar story: low at 3:07 AM, high at 9:16 AM cresting just over 11 feet, another low again right at dusk. The strong tidal swing should push bait close to shore and have predators prowling the breaks and river mouths.

Striped bass are mostly ghosting now—those few hangers-on are tight to structure in the southern stretches (York to Saco), with most of the migration pushed south. Instead, the action’s with schoolie bluefish, some hefty late-season pollock, and haddock from the midcoast out to Penobscot Bay. Cod reports have been decent in deeper haunts off Casco Bay, and tautog are being caught around ledges and rockpiles—anglers have hauled in tog over 20 inches off Seal Ledge and nearby reefs the past few days, according to East Bay fishing groups.

A few diehards have been scoring well on mackerel and herring as water temps finally dip into the mid-to-low 40s. The herring quota was boosted for the year, so Area 1A landings are up, making fresh cut herring a top bait. Jigging sabiki rigs at first light right inside harbors like Portland and Boothbay has produced steady buckets of bait—perfect for chunking or live-lining.

If you’re heading offshore, haddock and cod are your main targets. Try heavier jigs and teasers tipped with clams; pink and chartreuse are the hot colors when the water muddies up after a blow. Inshore, green crabs and Asian shore crabs are the top baits for tog, and don’t overlook dropping sandworms along the marshes for lingering stripers or white perch in the brackish runs.

Lurewise, metal works—cast diamond, epoxy, or bucktail jigs near the drop-offs during peak flow. If you’re working the surf, try a 4- to 6-inch paddle tail soft plastic with a slow retrieve. For those after mackerel and the last bluefish, slim silver spoons and kastmasters work wonders.

Hot spots today: the Saco River mouth for mixed species—early morning incoming tide gives you the best shot. Seal Ledge by Newport is still cranking out that tautog, especially on the afternoon outgoing. Lastly, try Small Point or Popham Beach mid-tide for a surprise bluefish blitz if

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This is Artificial Lure with your November 17th fishing report for the waters in and around the Atlantic coast of Maine.

Trim that line tight—it’s a big one today! The sunrise over the Kennebunkport and Bar Harbor coast came at 6:38AM, and anglers who braved the chilly morning were met with a stiff breeze and rough seas. According to the National Weather Service, a Gale Warning is in effect through tonight, with westerly winds rolling 25 to 30 knots and gusting to 40. Seas are sitting 4 to 6 feet and not expected to lay down until midweek. It’s a cold one, and you’ll feel every bit of that north wind if you’re open to the elements.

Tidal action is classic November. Over in Kennebunkport, the morning saw a low tide at 3:04AM and the high rolling in at 9:18AM, peaking near 9 feet. You’ll have another low pulling out at 3:36PM, so if you’re planning a trip, work your fishing around the slack to moving tide transitions for better chances. Bar Harbor’s running close, with high tide at 8:36AM and low at 2:25AM—plenty of movement to get the baitfish up and the big ones hunting. Sunset is at 4:15 tonight, so squeeze in those casts before dusk.

Now, for the bite: the cold has thinned out the crowds, but the fishing is hot for those toughing it out. Eastman’s Docks shared that pollock are still stacked up—hungry and thick—and recent trips have bagged them in “massacre” numbers, with some catches as quick as you can swap jigs. Haddock signaled a strong reappearance last week as well. It’s mostly up-and-down fishing: unload a jig, haul a pollock. The full moon did keep things a bit touch-and-go yesterday with a slower bite, but overall this stretch has been among the best fall runs in years.

The best bets for lures right now are **4- to 8-ounce diamond or butterfly jigs**—silver and blue have been working great for deep drops. On the bait side, nothing beats a good chunk of fresh herring or clam if you can get it. Haddock are especially fond of clams, while pollock will hammer jigs with a teaser fly. If you’re surfcasting, go with cut mackerel or seaworms—especially near rocky points.

If you’re itching for locations, here are your **hot spots**:

- Jeffreys Ledge: Always a magnet for late-season pollock and haddock. Drift across the deeper edges for the best chance at loading up.

- The waters off Cape Porpoise: Boats drifting the reefs here consistently report big pollock and some surprising late stripers, especially on the outgoing tide.

Casco Bay is also producing for those working inside the islands out of the wind; try shallower runs with lighter gear for mixed groundfish.

Dress for the November air and anticipate some spray—and always check in for updates if the gales keep blowing. Most boats are limiting passengers with the cold, but they’re still running where the weather allows. When the wind lays down later this week, look for a surge of action as the bite rebounds after the blow.

That’s what’s biting, that’s where you’ll find them, and those

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Artificial Lure here with your Maine Atlantic fishing report for Sunday, November 16, 2025. The air’s crisp with a classic November chill, but that hasn’t kept the seasoned anglers indoors—especially with conditions shaping up for some real solid action offshore and around the coves.

Today’s **sunrise came at 6:57 am**, and **sunset will be at 5:57 pm**, which gives you just under 11 hours of daylight to chase your catch. Over in Kennebunkport and York County, the **first low tide hit at about 2:16 am** and **high tide peaked at 8:23 am**, with the next **low at 2:37 pm and another high at 8:53 pm**. With a tidal coefficient trending up and strong moving water, the bite should turn on around those high tide marks, especially in the morning and again before dusk. The moon’s on the wax, which can give the fish a bit of extra boost to their feeding windows, particularly in the early and late light according to Tides4Fishing and Surfline.

Weather-wise, the **National Weather Service reports a Gale Warning for today and into Monday**, so be sharp if you’re thinking of heading offshore. Winds are up, seas are kicked, and smaller craft should think twice about straying too far beyond the protection of the rivers or sheltered bays. Near shore, things are more manageable, and with a cold, flat morning, it’s a good time for tautog, haddock, or groundfish on the bottom.

Fish activity this past week has been steady despite some rough spells—according to Eastman’s Docks, boats have been picking away at huge pollock and a solid uptick in haddock, with no bad days in the past two weeks. Some days are massacres, others are more up and down, so expect variability. If you’re dropping bait or jigs out of Ogunquit, Kennebunkport, or down toward Wells, you can count on some action so long as you work the tides and don’t mind a brisk wind.

As for **species on the chew**:

- **Pollock** and **haddock** are the main event for deeper bottom fishing;

- **Atlantic mackerel** and some late-season school **stripers** still hanging near estuaries;

- Lobster and crab traps are still being tended, and if you’re set up right, you might tangle with a stray cod or the odd winter flounder in the mud.

Best lures and bait right now? For bottom fish, drop **7- to 12-ounce diamond or butterfly jigs** in chartreuse or pink, or classic Norwegian-style jigs if you’re on a headboat. Bait-wise, nothing beats a chunk of fresh mackerel or salted clam strips for haddock, and whole or cut herring for cod and pollock. Artificial soft baits on heavy jigheads also take fish, especially when worked close to the bottom over structure. If you’re set on shore casting, bring your heavier gear; tin spoons and bucktail jigs tipped with Gulp! have been moving schoolies near the river mouths at sunrise.

**Hot spots to try:**

- The Saco River mouth and Biddeford Pool for both late bass and mixed groundfish, especially during incoming tide.

- The offshore ledges southeast of Kennebunkport—boats work

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Artificial Lure here with your Maine Atlantic fishing report for November 15th, 2025.

First light came at 6:30AM with sunset settling in just after 4:05PM, giving us a short but productive window. Tide tables for Bar Harbor and around the Downeast coast show a **high tide at 7:03AM** and a **low at 12:48AM and 1:36PM**—prime morning movement for targeting structure-loving species like tautog and black sea bass. Weather this morning was brisk, Northwest winds at 10–15 knots, gusting up to 20, with seas around 2–3 feet. There’s a chill to the breeze, so layer up and keep an eye to the sky as another cold front is expected tomorrow according to the National Weather Service.

Fish activity this week saw a steady uptick with cooling waters. According to Old Inlet Bait & Tackle and Lewes Harbour Marina, tautog are feeding hard on the inbound tides, with green crabs and Asian crabs being the best natural bait. Anglers working jigging rigs off inshore rock piles and breakwaters reported catching **tautog up to 5 pounds**, plenty of smaller “blackfish,” and a handful of sea bass, especially around submerged wrecks. In deeper offshore spots, a few hardy boats braved seasonable chop for bluefin tuna—most were shut down by the recent small craft advisories, but those who got out reported moderate success, with **bluefins ranging from 150 to 170 pounds** last week, mainly on trolled plugs and RonZ soft plastics.

The **blueline tilefish fishery is closed** as of November 10th for the rest of the year, per NOAA, so steer clear of targeting tilefish. No recent word on cod, but scattered reports suggest they might bite for those dropping salted clams or jigging diamond jigs near the bottom.

The striper bite has definitely cooled but isn’t gone—nighttime anglers casting bucktail jigs with curly tails around estuary mouths are still finding **schoolies and the odd slot fish**, especially during outgoing tides in low light. White perch remain in tidal creeks and estuaries, hitting bloodworms and chartreuse grubs. If you’re targeting haddock on the outer banks, the latest scallop survey reports unusual aggregations, so watch for those exploratory fleets farther out.

For lures and tackle, go heavy: **one- to two-ounce bucktail jigs**, green or white for stripers; classic blackfish jigs tipped with fresh crab for tautog; diamond jigs for sea bass and the rare cod. If the wind picks up, try a chartreuse paddle-tail soft plastic or a Storm shad. Tuna hunters—stick with big RonZs and rig for stealth, as the bluefins are finicky after heavy pressure.

Hot spots this weekend:

- **Schoodic Point:** Good for tautog and sea bass on rocky ledges at incoming tide.

- **Bass Harbor Head:** Reliable for stripers and the occasional black sea bass after sundown.

- **Eastern Egg Rock:** For boats able to get out, these ledges are prime real estate for the late-season groundfish.

Harbor action in Portland is quieter, but New Harbor and Bar Harbor both held steady numbers of tautog

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G’morning from your Maine coast specialist, Artificial Lure, checking in with the November 14, 2025 Atlantic Ocean and coastal Maine fishing report.

We’re waking up to late fall chill—plenty of frost on the docks and boats—under partly cloudy skies. It’s currently cool and won’t warm up much, so bundle up if you’re heading out. Sunrise is at 6:35 AM and sunset at 4:17 PM according to Tide-Forecast. That makes for a short window, so use your daylight wisely.

For tide chasers around Kennebunkport, the high tide is right around 6:55 AM, with a low at 12:33 AM and the next one swinging back just after lunch. Winter Harbor and Harpswell Center show nearly identical tidal swings—prime early morning incoming water for nearshore action. Plan to fish the changing tide, where bait flushes and predatory fish get active.

Saltwater action is shifting as winter approaches. Most boats are focusing on haddock and pollock on deep structure. Spreaker’s recent report highlights strong pollock, haddock, and even the occasional late-run striper catches just offshore and around the river mouths. Haddock are biting best on clams or strips of squid on hi-lo rigs, with pollock smashing metal jigs and teasers fished vertically. If you’re after stripers, look to the last of the season’s schoolies holding near river outflows and estuaries, especially after a rain or during dusk. Try soft plastic paddle tails, bucktails tipped with pork, or old-school fresh-cut menhaden if you can get it.

Reports from On The Water and recent YouTube forecasts mention freshwater action heating up too, with standout catches of largemouth and smallmouth in warmed-up inlets and kettle ponds. Big swimbaits, suspending jerkbaits, and even larger jigs are top presentations—folks have been scoring by slowing their retrieves down to match the more lethargic bite.

If panfish are your thing, the perch are on fire in coastal bays and coves, with spikes (maggots) or small grubs outfishing old bait. Crappie, bluegill, and white perch are also very active, eager to take anything small and lively.

For bait choices: haddock and pollock love clams, fresh squid, and cut mackerel. Stripers respond best to soft plastics in white or chartreuse, but nothing beats a fresh chunk of menhaden if you can find some (though menhaden quotas are tight this fall, especially in Maine, per the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership). For largemouth and smallmouth, it’s all about those slow-moving swimbaits and jerkbaits, especially in shad or perch colors.

Keep in mind (from National Fisherman), the commercial blueline tilefish fishery is closed till the end of the year—if you’re strictly recreational and lucky enough to hook one, release it promptly.

Hot spots to target today:

- Pine Point in Scarborough for stripers and late bluefish, especially on the outflow during high tide.

- The Saco River mouth for schoolie stripers on soft plastics, early or late in the day on a moving tide.

- Jeffreys Ledge off the sout

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This is Artificial Lure, bringing you the latest Maine fishing report for Thursday, November 13, 2025. Out on the Atlantic, we’re heading into a classic chilly November stretch with flat calm seas—perfect for serious anglers willing to brave the brisk air for early winter action. Sunrise happened at 6:53 this morning, with sunset set for 4:19 PM up the coast near Portland and Kennebunkport, right in line with the days drawing shorter now, but granting prime daylight for targeting that morning and late-afternoon bite as temperatures hover from the mid-30s up to the low 50s according to local forecasts.

Tides are critical to time right today. At Union River and up along the midcoast, you’ve got a morning high tide at 5:29 AM, sitting just under 10 feet, and then a mid-day low rolling at 11:32 AM, dropping to just about a foot and a half. Kennebunkport’s tide chart shows similar numbers, so aim your fishing trips early or target the incoming tide late in the afternoon for best results—moving water is moving fish, especially now[Union River and Kennebunkport tide data].

Water temperatures are settling in around the upper 40s to low 50s, comfortable for a good bunch of our target species. The ocean is alive right now with late-fall action. On the groundfishing scene, the Bunny Clark crew out of Ogunquit reports “excellent” landings, with pollock leading the box count and strong numbers of haddock, cusk, cod, and a few whiting and mackerel. Legal cod is still open in patches, though restrictions may change soon—always confirm before heading out. Most success has been on jigs tipped with cod flies or teasers; pink, chartreuse, and orange stand out, especially when drift-fishing wrecks or structure on the outgoing tide. Bait-wise, fresh clam and cut mackerel remain the classic choice and are outfishing artificials for bottom dwellers[Recent Bunny Clark report].

Closer to shore, in the harbors and estuaries from Kittery to Seal Harbor, anglers are pulling up the last of the striped bass as the fall run wraps up, mostly slot fish and schoolies, but don’t count on big numbers—they’re leaving with the colder nights and dropping water. For stripers, try tossing soft plastic jerkbaits in pearl or bunker colors early in the day or as dusk settles. Mackerel, herring chunks, or even live eels can draw late season hits if you can source bait. Near reefs and rocky structure, the black sea bass are pretty much gone now, but there’s still a good shot at redfish and the odd cunner or bergall. Tautog have also been reported in small schools off rocky ledges—green crab and sandworm baits fished tight to bottom are best.

Lobster reports from the Gulf of Maine say landings are down about 34% from the peak a few years ago, but stocks are still holding above critical levels. Hauls are steady, mostly out of smaller inshore boats. If you’re potting today, stick to deeper water in the 60–120 foot range and bait those traps with herring or racks[Recent ASMFC and local lobst

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Good morning from the rocky coast of Maine—this is Artificial Lure with your November 11th Atlantic fishing report.

Out on the water before dawn, the air was crisp and just a touch salty. Sunrise hit at 6:33AM, painting the boats in Portland and along Casco Bay gold. Sunset tonight will come early, so plan to be off the water by about 4:14PM. Today’s weather is classic Maine November: skies are mostly clear, temps starting near 40°F at dawn, rising into the upper 40s, and a soft breeze from the southwest. Ocean visibility is excellent, ideal for spotting working birds and bait balls, which have been driving a lot of the recent activity according to several local captains.

Tide matters this time of year. In Portland Harbor and nearby Brunswick, high tide arrived at 4:57AM, with the next high at 9:33PM, both peaking near 3.7-3.8 feet. That puts the best moving water between 7AM and early afternoon—perfect for targeting stripers and the last of the migrating blues according to the Brunswick tide forecast.

Fishing’s been on the upswing the past week. The Bunny Clark out of Ogunquit reports that pollock and redfish are leading the haul on deepwater trips, with solid numbers of keeper pollock from 3-10 pounds. Legal gulf cod and haddock are being landed in decent numbers too—expect haddock in the two- to four-pound range. There’s also a good showing of cusk and whiting from the reefs and ledges, and mackerel are thick at times near the inshore wharves and piers. Small jigs, teasers, and cod flies are all scoring catches on the drift, often tipped with strips of mackerel or clams for haddock.

If you’re heading out for stripers, the bulk have pushed south, but some late ones are hanging at river mouths and ledges. Swimmers like Daiwa SP Minnows and bucktail jigs dressed with Gulp! curlytails are your best bets at dawn and dusk—especially where outgoing tides move bait over rocky points. Surfcasters reported setbacks with southeast winds over the weekend, but this morning finds the surf manageable, and the water’s clean.

Offshore, boats targeting groundfish found haddock and pollock active on the shoals, and the occasional surprise cod on heavy diamond jigs. The Fisherman magazine notes the bite is holding strong when the weather cooperates, with the best action in 150-250 feet over mixed bottom. Drifting chunks of herring or clams on hi-lo rigs is preferred, but those working metal jigs did just as well.

The lobster fishery, despite a 34% stock drop since 2018 per the recent American Lobster Assessment, still supports a robust catch. Local lobstermen argue the fishery remains strong and point to changing ocean conditions rather than overfishing as the driver. Lobster numbers, while lower than those record 2016-2018 hauls, are steady—traps are coming up with legal keeps daily.

A couple hot spots for today:

- **Jeffrey’s Ledge**: still giving up pollock, cusk, and haddock with minimal dogfish bycatch.

- **Mouth of the Saco River**: dawn and dus

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Artificial Lure here with your Atlantic Maine fishing report for Monday, November 10, 2025. Tide's kissing the coast early today and it's a classic clean, cold Maine fall morning. Sunrise came at 6:49 AM with sunset expected at 6:06 PM, so you've got a generous window to fish before darkness tightens its grip.

Today's tidal swing is moderate-to-strong, perfect for stirring things up. High tide hit around 1:59 PM and low at 7:41 AM, with the main push upwards of 11 feet. These good highs, per Tide Forecast, mean strong current in the major rivers and rocky points, so expect the bite to be best in the hour on either end of the tides at spots like Kennebunkport and Portland Head Light.

Weather? Clear and crisp. Bunny Clark Deep Sea Fishing reported ocean temps sticking in the upper 40s to low 50s offshore. That cold snap overnight, alongside calm seas and bright skies, has the bigger groundfish moving shallow. Air's climbing toward 50°F by midday, minimal wind. Visibility: excellent for both boating and shoreline casting.

Fish activity is reliable for November. Haddock and cod continue to show up well on the nearshore ledges. Bunny Clark says anglers are picking up keeper cod and lunker haddock – average trip sees folks landing a cod apiece and a dozen or more haddock if you're on task. Jig the bottom with green or pink Norwegian-style metal jigs, tipped with clam or squid; haddock have been hammering smaller plastics as well.

Striped bass are winding down, but some late migrators are cruising the estuaries and river mouths. Early risers throwing white bucktail jigs or swimming plugs are reporting a handful of schoolies in the Kennebec and Saco Rivers. If it's mackerel or pollock you're after, use Sabiki rigs at deeper wharf pilings and boat channels.

American lobster is still the big draw. According to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s October 2025 stock assessment, Gulf of Maine stocks aren’t depleted but are being fished hard. Most traps are coming up with mixed sizes – fewer jumbos than five years ago, but plenty enough for the table. Fresh herring or salted mackerel work best for bait.

Other hot catches this week: Redfish (ocean perch) are hitting around deeper rocks in Casco Bay. These guys love bright orange curly-tail grubs. Cusk and whiting are making appearances on baited rigs deeper off Wells Beach. Flounder have thinned, but you’ll luck into a few in sheltered mud flats using bits of clam.

Best lures and baits right now:

- **Haddock:** 5-6” diamond jigs or teasers tipped with clam.

- **Cod:** Pink or blue metal jigs, squid strips.

- **Stripers:** White bucktails; live eels at dusk for big ones.

- **Mackerel/pollock:** Sabiki rigs with mackerel skin.

- **Redfish:** Small orange soft plastics or shrimp bits.

- **Lobster:** Salted herring or mackerel in rocky areas.

A few local hotspots to hit today:

- **Portland Head Light:** Cast jigs off the rocks for cod and pollock right at the outgoing tide.

- **Kennebunkport R

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Name’s Artificial Lure and you’re tuned in for your Atlantic Maine fishing report, Sunday November 9, 2025.

We woke to *brisk breezes and cold water temps*, a true shoulder-season classic. Sunrise rolled in at **6:28 AM** and anglers can expect sunset to hit early by **4:24 PM** today, with moonset at **11:27 AM** and moonrise happening later at **8:08 PM**, so plan accordingly for those evening fishing windows. Big tidal amplitude today too—York Harbor sees a **high tide at 1:22 AM** (9.23 ft), **low tide at 7:25 AM** (0.13 ft), another **high at 1:31 PM** (10.46 ft), and a deep **low at 8:12 PM** (-0.89 ft). Tides are running strong all along the southern and mid-coast, prime for both surfcasters and those working the ledges according to Tide-Forecast.com.

The latest from the National Weather Service: cold front’s moved through, with winds from the northwest this morning picking up later and turning east-southeast as another system approaches. Expect gusts up to 20 knots and seas stacking in the **3-5 foot range**, especially if you’re offshore or fishing out from Stonington and Cape Elizabeth. Layer up – it’s chilly, and the wind cuts through.

Fish activity this week? Reports straight from Spreaker and Eastman’s Docks tell of **excellent late fall groundfishing** on the nearshore and ledges. Cod are showing up, haddock’s steady, and pollock are thick. Offshore trips are pulling limits with boats full, especially on those calmer, cold mornings where the bite has been very consistent; the late season surge is benefitting from high-action tides.

Striped bass run has largely thinned, with a few schoolies still holding in the estuary bends and marshes if you want to sneak in your last few. If you’re hunting winter flounder or checking in on early season white hake, try depths off Saco Bay or the Kennebunkport channels. Mackerel schools are pushing south now, and the last reports of shad are fading away.

Yesterday’s top catches:

- **Haddock and pollock** plentiful off Jeffreys Ledge and Cape Porpoise.

- **Cod** appearing more frequently as waters cool, especially below 15 fathoms.

- **Redfish** and cusk caught around rocky shoals northeast of Portland.

Best lures and baits for today’s conditions:

- For bottom dwellers, salted clams, squid strips, and cut herring are king.

- Metal jigs, especially diamond and Norwegian-style, are working wonders for haddock and cod in deeper water.

- Bright chartreuse and pink teasers on rigs will increase hookups in dirty water, thanks to turbidity from wind and tides.

- If you’re surfcasting for late stripers or flounder, try sandworms and soft plastics—white or orange paddle tails performed well last week.

Local hot spots worth a look:

- **Jeffreys Ledge**: still producing on every drift for groundfish, especially early with the tide change.

- **Kennebunkport tidal river and adjacent marshes**: active for schoolie bass and flounder on the outgoing tide.

- **Cape Elizabeth’s ledges**: prime window for cod, p

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