Artificial Lure here with your November 8th Atlantic Maine fishing report.

It’s a brisk, classic fall morning on the Maine coast—temps hovering near 45, climbing to a high around 64 in Portland and 66 in Perkins Cove by midday, with light winds mainly out of the southwest picking up a bit into the afternoon. Seas started off moderate but the forecast from the National Weather Service says they’ll run 2 to 4 feet with a small craft advisory kicking in late today, so smaller boats should keep a weather eye out. Sunrise hit at 6:20 AM and sunset’s just after 4:13 PM, so plan around that early darkness if you’re heading offshore or along the ledges.

The tides are big today—near Bar Harbor and Mount Desert, your morning low was just after 6 AM, high at about 12:15 PM with over 13 feet of water, and that next evening low will bottom out around 6:45 PM. For southern spots such as Maine Beach, you’ll see similar timings; high water about an hour later in the afternoon, around 4:30, with excellent flows for fishing structure and current midday and just ahead of dark.

Let’s talk fish—Bunny Clark Deep Sea Fishing reported “excellent” results on their most recent trips out of Perkins Cove. Keeper pollock are dominating the catch, most running 3 pounds with a few up to 10. Legal cod are still in the mix—remember, you can keep one per angler per trip this season. Anglers have also been bringing in a healthy number of haddock, cusk, whiting, and some nice mackerel, along with dozens of redfish. Dogfish numbers are down, which is a relief for those tired of the endless shark wrangling. On the tougher weather days, cusk and whiting replaced cod and pollock as top spots, and sea conditions forced more anchoring—but the fish were still chewing, especially later in the day when seas laid down.

For gear, everyone’s catching on classic New England metal: Norwegian-style diamond jigs, 8- to 12-ounce sizes, with brightly colored cod flies as teasers above. Tip those jigs with some squid strips or a chunk of mackerel if you want to up your chances for haddock or cusk. You’ll want braided line for the depth and current, and a sensitive but stout rod. Pollock and cod are hitting best near hard bottom, reefs, and wrecks at 120 to 220 feet. For pier and surf casters near York or Old Orchard, small bucktails tipped with Gulp!, long-casting metals, and fresh-cut clams have been scoring late-season mackerel and the odd schoolie striper.

Hot spots? The ledges off Ogunquit and the break between Jeffrey’s Ledge and Platt’s Bank are still producing. Close to shore, Wells Harbor and the Saco River mouth are seeing consistent mackerel and some mixed white perch and shad. If you’re shore-bound, the stone pier at Biddeford Pool is an easy-access spot with reliable action on an incoming tide.

Halibut targets are winding down as the season closes, and commercial landings report the Atlantic halibut catch has been lighter than usual for November, likely due to the persistent stormin

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Fishing off the Maine stretch of the Atlantic this November morning comes with classic autumn chill and that crisp ocean air. Sunrise hit at **6:36 AM** and sunset’s expected around **5:04 PM**, giving us a short but lively window to chase a fall bite. Weather’s holding cool—temps along the coast started down in the mid-40s and likely rising to the low 60s by midday, with light south winds and clear skies. Seas are running calm early, but expect a slight southwest breeze to pick up as the day goes, rolling up a modest chop offshore. Surface water temps hover in the mid-50s, so layer up if you’re headed out.

Tides today bring **a low at 4:20 AM**, building to a solid **high of 10:57 AM** along Pine Point and Portland. That mid-morning incoming is your ticket for the best action, especially near rocky structure or estuary mouths where tide pulses draw in bait.

Let’s talk fish—late-season reports from local boats like Bunny Clark Deep Sea Fishing and dockside chatter at Belsan’s Bait & Tackle confirm **pollock and redfish remain steady inshore and offshore**. Legal pollock are running **3–10 pounds**, with redfish piling up in numbers. Haddock’s still in the mix, with keepers landed between **2 and 6 pounds** and a handful of cod popping up where bottom is rough—one good haul last trip saw two cod, ten cusk, and six haddock taken with jigs and cod flies. Mackerel schools are spotty but moving fast; folks are filling buckets when found. Groundfishing for cusk, whiting, and even the odd hake is solid, especially over hard bottom, reefs, or ledges.

Striped bass action dropped off significantly in the first half of the fall, according to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and local anglers—so expectations are modest if you’re hunting for linesiders. Your best bet for striper now is near river mouths with herring runs or menhaden chunks; fresh chunk bait is still drawing the odd big bass, but it’s mostly quick hits before the fish move south. Bluefin tuna bite is closed for harvest, but catch-and-release anglers are still working deep wrecks and ledges using heavy jigs.

Lure selection right now is all about **metal jigs and spoons** for bottom fishing and surf:

- Ava-Style Diamond Jigs with green or red tube tails mimic sand eels, a favorite snack for pollock and bass.

- Deadly Dick and Hopkins Shorty jigs cut through wind, work well for casting distance, and bounce bottom for pollock, cod, and haddock.

- Kastmasters and Krocodile Spoons flash bright and flutter in the water column—deadly on mackerel and active whiting near the surface.

- Cod flies and simple teasers rigged over your jig keep cusk and redfish interested.

For bait, **fresh mackerel strips, clams, and salted herring chunks** produce steady results for groundfish. If you’re after haddock or redfish, use smaller hooks tipped with squid or clam—these species like a gentle touch.

Hot spots worth your time today:

- **Richmond Island Ledges** off Cape Elizabeth: always livel

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This is Artificial Lure with your November 6th fishing report for in and around the Atlantic Ocean, Maine.

It’s a crisp fall morning on the coast—temps starting out in the low to mid-40s, reaching into the low 60s by afternoon, thanks to some lingering mild air off the ocean. Skies are mostly clear today, and the wind’s been laying down after a rough start to the week. Seas off the Maine shore are finally calming, settling in at 2 to 4 feet by midday with a light southwest breeze. The weather looks right for an extended window on the water, unlike the blowy stretch we saw earlier this week, as Eastman’s Docks reports the toughest part is behind us and the coming days offer some of the best fishing of the season.

For the tide, look for a high around 6:00 a.m. and low at 12:40 p.m. Sun’s up at 6:20 this time of year, setting early at about 4:13 p.m., so you’ve got to work those prime hours either side of tide change when currents spark the bite. Tides and Currents from NOAA confirm moderate flow, enough to keep bait moving and fish active.

Now, to the heart of the action—groundfish continue to bite well offshore, especially on the ledges and banks. Bunny Clark Deep Sea Fishing logs that pollock are still the dominant catch, with plenty of “keeper” size around 3 pounds, and recent trips hauled aboard good numbers of haddock, hefty cusk, mixed redfish, and a few late-season cod. Biggest pollock to hit the deck in the last outing went 10 pounds, while some cusk and cod were pushing 7 to 8 pounds. Fishermen also found some mackerel on the inshore drifts, with an occasional whiting to top off a tote. The fall run is in full force, and landings per hour have been the best of the year this past week.

Cod remains open for another stretch, but regulations are still last year’s—a single fish per angler, with the slot and possession rules so make sure you’re legal before tossing one in the box. That said, the pollock and haddock are plentiful and aggressive. Put your faith in metal jigs, Norwegian-style in the 6- to 10-ounce range, or hi-lo rigs tipped with Gulp or strips of fresh mackerel or squid. Cod flies running above a hammered jig take the lion’s share of legal fish, and when the bite is hot, it doesn’t seem to matter what color you drop. If drifting, switch to lighter jigs and work the bottom; when anchored, slacken out and go to bait for stubborn fish.

Inshore, striped bass are pretty much finished north of Portland, but a few are still shadowing schools of menhaden around river mouths and harbors south toward Wells. Creekside Outfitters and other local tackle shops stress that migrations are winding down, but there’s still a flurry of activity on sandworms and soft-plastics if you’re in the right place at sunset.

Hot spots to target in the coming days include Jeffrey’s Ledge for mixed groundfish and cod, and Ogunquit’s Perkins Cove if you want a shorter run to potluck haddock, redfish, and harbor pollock. Casco Bay’s deeper holes have also tur

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This is Artificial Lure with your local Atlantic Maine fishing report for Wednesday, November 5th, 2025.

The day got started at 6:30 AM with a bracing sunrise over mostly clear skies along the coast. Sunset will fall early at 5:07 PM, so plan your afternoon outing accordingly. Bar Harbor’s tide chart by NOAA puts high tide at 8:07 AM and 8:34 PM, with low at 2:25 PM and again late at night. For Rockland, anticipate the high at 8:19 AM, low at 2:36 PM, and another high at 8:46 PM. On-the-water, you’re fishing just shy of a midday high tide, then watching as the ebb runs strong all afternoon. These mid-to-late falling tides often coincide with good action for bottom species.

Recent weather patterns have been cooperative: Maine Harbors is showing mild November air—mid 50s along the shoreline, dipping cooler by night—coupled with flat seas in the AM and just a light southwest breeze by midday. Ocean Weather reports west winds around 10–15 knots, seas calming down to 5–7 feet, good news after this past weekend’s chop.

The bite offshore has been brisk. The Bunny Clark reports exceptional recent trips, with bottom fishing for pollock, redfish, cusk, and haddock leading the charge. Legal landings last week included dozens of pollock (3–10 lbs), six or more cod up to 7 lbs, thirty-nine redfish, and eighteen good-sized mackerel. Haddock catches have been strong, with keeper fish mixed in. Fall numbers for cusk and whiting are up, a nice bonus for those fishing deeper ledges and humps. Jigging with Norwegian jigs, diamond jigs, and cod flies continues to outperform bait for pollock, cusk, and redfish. A few anglers have still done well using clam strips or cut mackerel on bottom rigs, especially for haddock and redfish. Mackerel schools are scattered but persistent—if you happen into one, sabikis tipped with bits of worm or squid will fill a livewell quickly.

Closer to shore, striped bass action is slowing but not yet done. On The Water notes that striper teasers, small rubber shads, and bucktails are working around tidal rivers and rocky points, particularly at the mouth of the Kennebec and the Harraseeket. The striper run is winding down, but patient casters during dawn’s slack or outgoing tide are still catching.

Lobster numbers, according to Saving Seafood and state data, continue their concerning decline, with this year’s harvest at record lows—a 35% drop since 2016. Even so, recreational lobstering still pulls the occasional keeper pot for those permitted.

Top baits this week: Norwegian or diamond jigs for offshore species, bucktail jigs or soft plastics for late-run stripers. If you’re looking for haddock in 160 to 200 feet, clam or squid strips on a hi-lo bottom rig remains the ticket.

Best hot spots:

- The Jeffreys Ledge edge, especially the southwest face, has been steady for mixed groundfish when jigged along the drift.

- Around Two Lights near Cape Elizabeth, redfish and cusk have been active on deeper rocks and drops.

- For those hoping

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Artificial Lure here, coming to you with the November 4th, 2025 fishing report for the Atlantic coast of Maine. It’s a crisp Tuesday morning and we’re looking at classic late-fall New England conditions—the kind that make your coffee taste better and every bite on the line just that much sweeter.

The main event today is the tide. Up around Maine Beach, the first high tide hit at 4:16 a.m. and the next will be at 4:27 p.m., peaking at a healthy 8.6 feet. Low tides are at 10:21 a.m. and 11:09 p.m., bottoming out near 2 feet and just above 1 foot, respectively. If you're hitting Reid State Park or Roque Island Harbor, you're looking at similar cycles, with high tides between 8–9 a.m. and again around sundown. The best fishing action is usually a few hours before and after those peak tides, so plan accordingly.

Sunrise was at 6:34 a.m.; sunset at 6:06 p.m., giving you about 10 hours to work the water before the cold creeps in. Weather today’s playing ball: partly sunny skies, south winds light in the morning and building a bit by noon, highs hovering in the low 60s at the Jetport—good visibility and just enough breeze to keep the bugs down. Water temps are cooling off, with surface readings in the mid-50s. Bring layers; ocean air cuts through you this time of year.

Fish activity’s on the upswing. Deep-sea runs this weekend saw phenomenal landings on pollock—lots of three-pound keepers, a couple up near 10 pounds, and some solid cusk and haddock in the mix. Cod are still around, with the fall regs permitting one keeper per angler until the season wraps up. Cusk and redfish have been steady, and whiting have had a banner run—whole totes full were hauled last trip, a rarity these days. Mackerel are patchy but present, and even a handful of blue sharks nosing around, though they’re a nuisance more than anything.

Bait and tackle are everything right now. Best results came from classic metal jigs and cod flies, especially tipped with strips of squid or clams. Pollock and haddock are hitting green and white jigs, with a little flash. For the bottom dwellers, fresh cut bait—sea herring or mackerel—is out-fishing the plastics this week. If you’re surf casting, bloodworms and sandworms are reliable, especially around dusk.

For lobster folks, it’s been lean. Recent reports out of Portland and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission show lobster stocks down 34% since 2018, now officially considered overfished. So, if you’re setting pots, expect fewer keepers. Regulators are in talks about future restrictions, but for now, steady stewardship and conservation are the name of the game.

Hot spots worth checking out:

- Perkins Cove, Ogunquit: Pollock and cusk are thick just outside the mouth, especially near high tide. If you time your cast between 7 and 10 a.m., you’re in business.

- Saco Bay: Cod and haddock are showing good numbers along the outer shoals, with some legal-sized cod pulled up last weekend. Flowing tides in the afternoons continue to pr

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Artificial Lure here reporting from the Maine coast, Atlantic-side, on Monday, November 3, 2025. It’s a crisp morning—sunrise came at 6:20 am, with sunset expected at 4:30 pm. You’re looking at solid daylight for your fishing window today, but the best bite window tends to be first light or late afternoon in these colder months.

The weather this morning’s starting off mild, about 44°F at the Portland Jetport, but expect it to tick up into the mid-60s later on, with clear skies and a light southwest wind. Forecasts from the National Weather Service say we’ll see southwest winds building into the afternoon, up to 15-20 knots with gusts even pushing 30 later, so offshore anglers: keep an eye out. Seas are going to kick up to about 3-5 feet, building towards evening, with higher swells possible. Gear up accordingly for chop if you’re planning deeper runs.

Tidal movement today is significant. High tide clocks in at 8:40 am and again at 9:09 pm, with the morning run peaking at 9.65 feet at Maine Beach and similar at Reid State Park and Kennebunkport. Low tides hit at 2:34 am and 3:04 pm, with the afternoon ebb dropping briefly negative in certain spots—a power move for shore anglers and surfcasters stalking the drop-off for stripers or tautog. Tidal coefficient is 78 and climbing: big swings, strong currents, and active fish.

Now, onto the bite: Fish activity has been strong across groundfish this past week. Boats out of Perkins Cove and Ogunquit continue landing hefty numbers of pollock—three-pound keepers are typical, but top anglers boated pollock over six pounds and a 10-pound slab took the pool recently. Cod catches remain solid, with the current regs allowing a keeper per person at least through today. Haddock and cusk are mixed in, along with a flurry of redfish and mackerel. Whiting made a notable showing, with one boat filling a whole tote recently, which hasn’t happened in ages. No dogfish nuisance, although blue sharks turned up now and again.

Most boats are reporting excellent landings by mid-trip using **jigs** and **cod flies**. Metal jigs—like the Norwegian and diamond—for deeper drop-offs are the ticket on the pollock and cod, matched with teaser flies for extra attraction. For bait, fresh clam and cut mackerel have delivered for haddock, and sandworms remain effective for shore tautog and stripers, though their activity is tapering with the colder water.

Bluefin tuna made headlines this weekend off the Gulf of Maine, with a handful showing up on deeper runs. These trans-Atlantic fighters are turning up more reliably, so those equipped might drift with live bait—mackerel or herring—for a shot at a true trophy, though it’s specialized gear only.

Hot spots this week:

• Perkins Cove—great for groundfish, especially pollock and cod, with productive drifts as the tide pushes.

• Kennebunkport reefs and ledges for stripers at low tide, with tautog bending rods right near Seal Ledge if the swells aren’t gnarly.

If you’re headed offsh

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Artificial Lure reporting in from the Maine coast, bringing you today’s Atlantic fishing conditions and real-time action from the local scene. It’s Sunday, November 2nd, and the ocean’s putting on a fall show—crisp air, clear blue water, and a sunrise that hit at 6:11 this morning with a sunset coming early at 4:20PM over Bar Harbor.

Weather’s been mild for November: highs offshore settled around 64°F at Portland Jetport, low humidity, mostly sun, and barely a whisper of wind—ideal for any saltwater outing, especially with visibility over 20 miles this morning. The surf’s mostly calm, a light southwesterly breeze picking up as the day gets on. Maine’s harbors are dotted with boats, fog lingering in spots, the last of fall colors reflected on the water, especially along the Maine Harbor Drive.

Tidal action is giving anglers some prime windows: the low tide this morning at 1:45AM and high coming in strong around 7:51AM, peaking near 8.99 feet, then dipping again at 2:11PM before pushing back up tonight at 8:15PM with the evening tide cresting around 9.15 feet. These cycles are creating mid-morning and late afternoon opportunities, with moving water bringing out the best bites.

On the fishing grounds, activity has been lively. Yesterday’s charter boats out of Perkins Cove reported good landings despite challenging conditions—most keeper catches have been **pollock** in the 3 to 6-pound class, mixed in with **cod**, **haddock**, and a bunch of **cusk**, **whiting**, and some **redfish**. Cunners and mackerel rounded out the bins. Notably, the biggest haul belonged to a 10-pound pollock and an 8-pound cusk, while the best cod ran up to 7 pounds.

Best techniques have shifted with the water temps dropping—surface temps now hanging around 54°F, so deeper channels and wrecks are seeing more action. Drift fishing with **jigs** and **cod flies** has led the way: silver and chartreuse have been top colors. A few anglers are still having luck anchoring over structure, particularly for those whiting and cusk. Most folks kept bait natural—**clam strips** and **cut mackerel** have been reliable, especially on the bottom rigs, but some locals swear by bringing along fresh shrimp or squid for bonus bites.

Menhaden (pogies) are still a hot discussion, with some reports showing they’ve been slow to trickle into the bay, but if you spot a school, they’re prime for attracting stripers and blues. Conservation updates will start trimming quotas next year, so expect changes in bait availability. Still, fresh or frozen pogies remain a classic for bigger predators along the coastline, especially early or late in the tide.

Looking for local hotspots? Try these:

- **Boone Island Ledge**: Solid action on groundfish, especially after slack tide.

- **Saco River mouth**: Plenty of structure and deep cuts, producing haddock and pollock.

- **Jeffrey’s Ledge**: Several charters reported banner catches yesterday, both on the drift and anchor.

For shore anglers, **Old Orchard

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Artificial Lure here with your November 1st fishing report for the Atlantic waters around coastal Maine. Sunrise hit at 7:10 AM, sunset will be at 5:21 PM. Over Bar Harbor and most of the coastline, we’re seeing a cool start—air temps on land are mid-40s to mid-50s, humidity’s low, skies are layered with patchy clouds rolling off last night’s front. Ocean water temp sits at a brisk 50°F, classic for November; gear up, especially if heading offshore.

Tide-wise, it’s a lively morning: low at 1:12 AM and a solid high tide rolling in around 7:26 AM with over 10 feet of swing—look for prime inshore action with that morning push before slack sets in. Next low tide is 1:37 PM, and another high around 7:46 PM. Timing drifts and anchoring for slack at turn-around is key today, especially with moderate currents.

Fishing activity’s been steady despite the seasonal shift. Cod and haddock regs for the Gulf of Maine remain steady—allowing for one keeper cod per angler for November, though reports from Bunny Clark suggest most hook-ups are with pollock and the occasional cusk. Biggest numbers landed lately have been pollock—these are schooling hard around the deeper ledges and pinnacles. Mixed bags are the rule: nine cod, twenty-seven haddock, forty-two cusk, a small haul of whiting, and about a dozen mackerel came over the rails on recent drifts. Jigging gear and cod flies are performing well, especially white and chartreuse patterns when the light’s low or under overcast.

Cusk and whiting are pulling late-season weight—be sure to try deeper drops with clam or squid strips to tempt the whiting, and bounce heavier jigs off the bottom for those stubborn cusk. Haddock like a two-hook rig tipped with sea clam; keep the rigs tight to the bottom. Monkfish showed up last week on one trip, so keep your eyes peeled for surprises.

Lobster catches continue but there’s local concern—reports from Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission warn lobster stocks have dipped 34% since 2018 and overfishing’s a real threat. Still, traps are coming up with keepers, especially in the deeper mud between Cape Elizabeth and Monhegan, just expect lighter hauls than the record years.

Atlantic salmon news is cautiously optimistic. According to the Atlantic Salmon Federation, this fall’s grilse numbers are up, especially as late rains and improving flows have given salmon a last-minute push in river mouths; those playing the river stretches should stick to morning and dusk outings, drifting small spoons, pink egg imitations, or a classic copper Mepps.

Best lures offshore:

- Norwegian jigs, 8-12 oz, blue/chrome

- White bucktail with pink teasers for pollock

- Sabiki rigs with mackerel strips for whiting and smaller groundfish

- Anything glow-in-the-dark for low light, especially on bottom

Baits to bring:

- Fresh sea clam

- Squid strips

- Mackerel chunks

- Vacuum-packed herring for those looking to tempt a stray halibut

Hot spots today:

- **Jeffrey’s Ledge:** Northe

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Good morning from coastal Maine, this is Artificial Lure bringing you your Atlantic Ocean fishing report for Friday, October 31st, 2025.

We’re starting out crisp and calm. According to NOAA’s Bar Harbor tide tables, we’ve got a **high tide just before sunrise at 5:36 AM** (9.08 ft), **low tide around 11:38 AM** (2.3 ft), and **another high at 5:49 PM** (9.14 ft). The **sun rises at 7:25 AM and drops behind the horizon by 5:53 PM**, so plan your trips and bait changes accordingly—those dawn and dusk bites will be your tickets today[6].

Weather-wise, locals woke to a **balmy 63°F under overcast skies**, but it’s clearing fast over open water. Wind is a gentle westerly—never more than five knots out to the grounds—meaning the ocean’s laid out flat as a pancake and making for comfortable casting all day, reports Bunny Clark Deep Sea Fishing. Visibility offshore is excellent for spotting birds and bait should they pop up—no rough seas to tangle your line or nerves[1].

**Fish activity has been nothing short of excellent.** The bottom bite is hot, with most boats reporting solid landings across the species. Pollock are the main event: lots of **keeper-sized fish around 3 pounds**. If you’re after a mix, cod and haddock are still in the regulations window—both open, so long as you check minimum size before the cooler closes. Typical trips out of Perkins Cove yesterday landed **two legal cod, six haddock, ten cusk, almost forty redfish, a nice whiting, eighteen wriggling mackerel**, and even the occasional cunner and blue shark for excitement. Released catch included an easy dozen sub-legal cod and haddock, reminder that there’s plenty of young fish moving in for the seasons ahead[1].

For best results, **jigs and cod flies are the lures of choice this week**. The drift bite is reliable, but those anchoring with a simple **diamond jig or bucktail tipped with a curly-tail or strip of squid** have been scoring the most consistent action all across these reefs. If you’re going after redfish or haddock, don’t be shy to drop baited rigs with salted clams or Gulp! artificials—these fish aren’t picky right now, and the boat limits are reflecting it. When sight-casting for mackerel, break out small shiny metals, and keep a Sabiki on hand—easy bait and lots of fun on light tackle[1].

**Hot spots this Friday:**

- **Jeffrey’s Ledge**: Still the top ticket for mixed-bag groundfishing—find deep structure, locate a drift with clean bottom, and you’ll be hooking up sturdy keeper pollock, hard-fighting cusk, and more.

- **Perkins Cove Run**: The inshore mackerel bite is running steady at the moment. Early morning and last light have produced best numbers along the wash and near the breakwaters—perfect for kayak or small-boat crews.

- If you want to stick around closer to shore with the weather still warm, the **mouths of the Saco and Kennebec rivers** have both had short hits of stripers and the occasional school blue as they filter out of the estuaries, especially

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Artificial Lure here with your October 30th, 2025, dawn fishing report for the Maine coast and the big blue Atlantic beyond. It’s a crisp start at 63°F, the skies are clearing off after some overnight clouds, and the seas are calm—among the best fall mornings we’ve had this month. Winds early are light, out of the west at under eight knots, so small boats should have no trouble running the nearshore ledges or heading offshore for the day.

Today’s tides at Maine Beach set a steady rhythm for planning: low tide hit around 12:05 am at just over a foot, high came at 6:07 am with 7.5 feet, and another low settles in at 12:19 pm—followed by a generous high at 6:22 pm pushing 8.5 feet, according to the Maine Beach tide chart. With a big tidal swing, current will be moving and fish feeding should perk up, especially on those incoming and falling windows. Sunrise was at 7:15 am and you’ll have daylight till 5:35 pm, so plenty of low-light hunting for stripers and bottom feeders alike.

The nearshore bite’s been excellent lately. According to Bunny Clark Deep Sea Fishing, landings remain strong for **pollock**, with many in the keeper range of 3–10 pounds and a number topping 14–18 pounds, especially offshore of Perkins Cove and the Ogunquit area. **Cod** remain in play, with several boats reporting catches near the one-fish-per-person limit, plus a fine scatter of legal **haddock** (mostly around 4 pounds), redfish, cusk, whiting, mackerel, and the occasional cunner. One lucky angler even pulled a Maine state trophy cusk at 12.5 pounds this week—a real slab for our waters. Released bycatch includes bluesharks and sub-legal cod and pollock, so come prepared for a mixed bag.

Best baits right now: nothing fancy, just solid fall fare. Jigging is king—**Norwegian-style jigs**, diamond jigs, and cod flies do most of the damage offshore. If you’re inshore or casting the rocky headlands, white bucktail jigs sweetened with Gulp, soft plastics, and flutter spoons will all get bit. Mackerel chunks or clams are getting it done for those soaking bait off piers or sand beaches. Tackle Warehouse and area bait shops recommend adding scent strips and working slow for finicky bottom dwellers as waters cool.

The weather looks to hold fair through the day, but NOAA expects increasing wind and possible showers by late tonight into Friday, and the National Weather Service is cautioning about possible minor coastal flooding during high tide cycles. If you’re heading out to the islands or past the shoals, keep an eye on the weather radio and your tide app.

Hot spots for today:

- **Jeffrey’s Ledge**, especially the southern fingers for pollock, cod, and late-season haddock. Plenty of keeper groundfish reported in the past 24 hours.

- The **mouth of the Kennebunk River**—schoolie stripers and a few slot fish are still running the sandbars and rocky points, especially near dusk.

- For shorecasters, **Portland Head Light** and the outflows at Biddeford Pool both saw decent run

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