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 a trap or two.

That’s the mid-November scoop! Stay safe in that wind, dress warm, watch those tides, and set those drags light—there are still trophy fish and late-season dinners to be pulled from Maine’s chilly blue water.

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