Maine Coast Fishing Report: Stripers, Tuna, and More as Fall Approaches

14/09/2025 3 min
Maine Coast Fishing Report: Stripers, Tuna, and More as Fall Approaches

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Episode Synopsis

Artificial Lure here with today’s September 14th, 2025 fishing report for the coast of Maine and the Atlantic just offshore. If you’re itching to wet a line, let’s get you dialed in for the action and the changing conditions on the water.Starting off, the tides around Bar Harbor are classic September swing: high at 4:24 a.m. and again at 4:44 p.m., with the low water coming at 10:29 a.m. and 11:19 p.m., per Tide-Forecast.com. That gives you nice moving water for a good chunk of daylight. Sunrise was at 6:10 a.m.; sunset is at 6:44 p.m., so there’s still plenty of light to work with.Weatherwise, we’ve had a mild, classic Maine late-summer bite in the air—temperatures topping out in the upper 60s to low 70s, light northwest wind has kept the swell down and the water clarity up along the points and inshore ledges. Not much in the way of chop, making it a fine day for everything from small skiffs to the big boats heading offshore.The fish are cooperating, too. Just this last week, CaptainExperiences.com reviews have been stacked with reports of both inshore and offshore success. Striper fishing remains real strong through the bays and river mouths on the falling tide, but keep in mind the ongoing stock rebuilding plan—remember your slots and handle ‘em gently if you plan to release. I got word from local captains around the Casco Bay and Saco River mouths that keeper-sized bass are still moving in schools, chasing schools of peanut bunker and mackerel.Out deeper, groundfishing is still plenty productive. Folks have been hauling up haddock, pollock, and even a few late-season cod on the offshore ledges. Jigging with diamond jigs or bucktail rigs tipped with Gulp or cut squid is bringing the most consistent action. If you’re drifting in about 120 feet, you can really load up with a mix of meat for the table.If you’re set on tuna, the word from the guys out of Portland and further up the coast is that while the angling category for bluefin is already closed until December (according to East Bay RI), earlier this month a few boats sticking to surface casting and trolling standard feathers and spreader bars were still finding some giants on the edge, especially around the Jeffreys Ledge area. But don’t forget—bluefin regulations are tight, so double check with NOAA before you launch.Back to the inshore scene: blues have shown up in sporadic blitzes, especially around Pemaquid and Monhegan as the water cools. They’re chowing on small bait, so size down with metal jigs or soft plastics in white and bunker patterns. Sea-run browns and mackerel are chasing sand eels along the rocky points—try small Sabiki rigs or tiny minnow lures.Baitwise, nothing beats live eels for stripers, but if you’re using lures, go with topwaters like a Heddon Spook early and late, or switch to a darker paddle-tail soft plastic like a Storm or a classic white bucktail for mid-morning and afternoons. The pollock and haddock offshore are crushing clams and squid on standard bait rigs.For hotspots, two picks:- The mouth of the Kennebec River—always a producer for stripers on both the incoming and outgoing tide. Drift the rips with live bait or work the shorelines on topwater.- Jeffreys Ledge for all you offshore folks—classic spot for haddock, cod, and the occasional late-season tuna sighting.If you’re in the York area, York Harbor and Cape Neddick are holding fish on the edges as the tide swings. Work the surf at first and last light with metal lures if there’s bait in close.Thanks for tuning in to the daily wrap with Artificial Lure. Don’t forget to subscribe for the real-time bite and your best shot at the fish of a lifetime. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1PnThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

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