22 August 2025
Atlantic Maine Fishing Report: Stripers, Pollock, and Rough Seas
Atlantic Ocean, Maine Fishing Report - Daily
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Artificial Lure here with your Atlantic Maine fishing report for Friday, August 22, 2025.
Sunrise greeted us at 6:34 AM and the sun will dip at 7:42 PM. The weather started tranquil inland but if you're heading to the ocean, prepare for some hefty rollers. With Hurricane Erin passing well south, we're catching the outer edge: that means high, energetic seas, with wave heights rising into the 7-to-12-foot range today and tonight, especially around the high tide at 9:25 AM and again near 9:42 PM. A coastal flood advisory’s in effect, so admire those swells from a safe spot on the rocks or beach and take care if you’re launching[National Weather Service Marine Forecast][Pine Tree Weather][NOAA Tide Predictions].
Fishing remains vibrant as we ride the new moon tide. Striped bass have been lighting up the area, especially in rivers like the Saco and around Casco Bay. Early morning bite inside the mouths is hot—these fish aren’t picky first light, then move deep as the sun climbs. Anglers have been scoring stripers and blues with mackerel near eddies by the islands, but those stick baits and soft plastics that match sand eels or peanuts have been lethal—like Slug-Gos or Albie Snax. For targeting numbers, tube-and-worm rigs are the go-to along shoreline structure and riverbanks. Mackerel are thick this week and not shy; they’ll hit a live rig or imitation, and are also swarming near current breaks[Webhannet Bait and Tackle, Diamond Pass Outfitters reports in On The Water].
Folks fishing offshore ledges are finding pollock by the dozens, and some haddock, but pollock have been the standout for sheer fight. With the bluefin season closed, anyone headed out past the 25-mile limit has been shifting focus to mahi, yellowfin, wahoo, and billfish, though seas are rough, so most are keeping close to shore this weekend[On The Water Reports].
Bluefish and schoolie stripers are present in the bays and river mouths, with decent sheepshead and fluke showing for those bottom fishing. If you want variety, pack a sabiki rig for macks and squid jigs as there've been nights when squid or sand eel imitations outperform everything. For panfish anglers, you’ll find surface-feeding rock gunnel and other small critters in tide pools on the morning low[Bangor Daily News].
Best baits today:
- Live or chunked **mackerel**
- **Sand eel imitations** (soft plastics/Slug-Gos)
- **Tube-and-worm rigs** (trolled slowly on structure)
- **Topwater spooks** if fish are frenzied offshore
Best lures:
- **Albie Snax**, **Slug-Gos**
- Stick baits in sand eel or peanut bunker colors
- For bottom work: 1.5" Northland Slurpies and other small fry imitations for crappie, sunfish, perch, and bass[Northland Lures]
Hot spots for the day:
- **Saco River mouth** (stripers, blues early)
- **Casco Bay ledges** (stripers on mackerel, pollock deeper)
- **Cape Porpoise & Webhannet River** (morning tube-and-worm bite)
- Shoreline eddies near islands, especially during outgoing tide
Tightlines Bait Rigging’s Maine chart recommends mixing in bottom rigs and live bait for variety from shore to deep water—so arrive prepared with rigs suited to the conditions, especially with shifting wind and sea state[Tightlines Bait Rigging Chart].
As always, adjust your approach to the tide and weather. On days like today, early light means action; after sunrise, follow fish deeper or seek calmer water in the rivers.
Thanks for tuning in to your local Maine coast fishing report. Subscribe for updates, and remember—This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn
Sunrise greeted us at 6:34 AM and the sun will dip at 7:42 PM. The weather started tranquil inland but if you're heading to the ocean, prepare for some hefty rollers. With Hurricane Erin passing well south, we're catching the outer edge: that means high, energetic seas, with wave heights rising into the 7-to-12-foot range today and tonight, especially around the high tide at 9:25 AM and again near 9:42 PM. A coastal flood advisory’s in effect, so admire those swells from a safe spot on the rocks or beach and take care if you’re launching[National Weather Service Marine Forecast][Pine Tree Weather][NOAA Tide Predictions].
Fishing remains vibrant as we ride the new moon tide. Striped bass have been lighting up the area, especially in rivers like the Saco and around Casco Bay. Early morning bite inside the mouths is hot—these fish aren’t picky first light, then move deep as the sun climbs. Anglers have been scoring stripers and blues with mackerel near eddies by the islands, but those stick baits and soft plastics that match sand eels or peanuts have been lethal—like Slug-Gos or Albie Snax. For targeting numbers, tube-and-worm rigs are the go-to along shoreline structure and riverbanks. Mackerel are thick this week and not shy; they’ll hit a live rig or imitation, and are also swarming near current breaks[Webhannet Bait and Tackle, Diamond Pass Outfitters reports in On The Water].
Folks fishing offshore ledges are finding pollock by the dozens, and some haddock, but pollock have been the standout for sheer fight. With the bluefin season closed, anyone headed out past the 25-mile limit has been shifting focus to mahi, yellowfin, wahoo, and billfish, though seas are rough, so most are keeping close to shore this weekend[On The Water Reports].
Bluefish and schoolie stripers are present in the bays and river mouths, with decent sheepshead and fluke showing for those bottom fishing. If you want variety, pack a sabiki rig for macks and squid jigs as there've been nights when squid or sand eel imitations outperform everything. For panfish anglers, you’ll find surface-feeding rock gunnel and other small critters in tide pools on the morning low[Bangor Daily News].
Best baits today:
- Live or chunked **mackerel**
- **Sand eel imitations** (soft plastics/Slug-Gos)
- **Tube-and-worm rigs** (trolled slowly on structure)
- **Topwater spooks** if fish are frenzied offshore
Best lures:
- **Albie Snax**, **Slug-Gos**
- Stick baits in sand eel or peanut bunker colors
- For bottom work: 1.5" Northland Slurpies and other small fry imitations for crappie, sunfish, perch, and bass[Northland Lures]
Hot spots for the day:
- **Saco River mouth** (stripers, blues early)
- **Casco Bay ledges** (stripers on mackerel, pollock deeper)
- **Cape Porpoise & Webhannet River** (morning tube-and-worm bite)
- Shoreline eddies near islands, especially during outgoing tide
Tightlines Bait Rigging’s Maine chart recommends mixing in bottom rigs and live bait for variety from shore to deep water—so arrive prepared with rigs suited to the conditions, especially with shifting wind and sea state[Tightlines Bait Rigging Chart].
As always, adjust your approach to the tide and weather. On days like today, early light means action; after sunrise, follow fish deeper or seek calmer water in the rivers.
Thanks for tuning in to your local Maine coast fishing report. Subscribe for updates, and remember—This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn