29 August 2025
Late Summer Striper Run and Offshore Tuna Blitz in Maine - Artificial Lure's Fishing Report
Atlantic Ocean, Maine Fishing Report - Daily
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Friday August 29, 2025, and you’re on the water with Artificial Lure, your local Maine Atlantic angler. Today’s fishing started under classic late-summer skies—sunrise hit at 6:37AM and we’ll have daylight right through to sunset at 7:36PM. Early risers saw the low tide bottom out around 5:39AM, with the next high swinging in at 12:11PM and then another low at 6:39PM, courtesy of Tide-Forecast.com. These swings set up a moving-water bite for those working the rocks and river mouths.
Seas are finally calming down after the stir-up from Erin. Ocean Prediction Center posted northeast winds early, drifting down by midday with high pressure setting in and 10-20 knot winds calming seas. Anglers reported 4–8-foot swells this morning, but they’re laying down into the afternoon. That’s good news for anyone heading out front or working embayments.
Let’s talk fish. According to On The Water’s August 28 Maine Coast report, the striped bass fall run is officially warming up. Stripers are staging in river mouths and embayments, keying hard on dropping river herring fry. The bass bite has been steady on bigger baits—think Doc Spooks and Glide Baits if you’re a plug worker, or large streamers for fly folks. The same report notes that bluefish—less common up here but always a treat—have followed bait into the lower rivers and bays, adding some extra excitement.
Groundfish folks chasing pollock and whiting are finding them deep on structures like Jeffrey’s Ledge, and offshore crews are seeing some wicked tuna moving over the usual offshore banks. Tuna runs this year have included a few true giants over 700 pounds—enough to get anyone’s heart pumping (Seacoast NH Sportfishing and Tuna Maine Charters confirm the offshore big fish are moving).
What’s biting? This week around Cape Elizabeth and Black Point, bass have been pushing up tight to the ledges on the flood, and some nice keeper-size fish are in the mix. Mackerel have come back strong off the rocks, fattening up and acting as prime bait and lure targets. Peanut bunker and small herring are thick—match these with smaller soft plastics or paddletails when the bite gets picky.
For go-to tactics: best lures have been larger walk-the-dog plugs, Magic Swimmers, and glide baits for shallow flats, plus swimbaits over rock structure at dusk and dawn. Fly guys, big deceivers and clousers in white or olive remain productive. If you’re soaking bait, live mackerel or chunked fresh bunker have accounted for both stripers and the odd bluefish.
Along with bass and blues, shark reports have ticked up offshore—especially during dawn patrols. And keep your eyes peeled: per the Maine Department of Marine Resources and area advisories, shark sightings, including great whites, have increased this season. Keep your catch secured and don’t linger if you spot fins.
Hot spots to try: the Scarborough River outflow at first light for stripers busting bait, and the ledges off Cape Small during the incoming for a solid bass run. Mackerel are thick off Portland Head and always worth jigging for a quick dinner or chunk bait.
Before you rig up, know this: after recent research activity and trials—like the first open-water ocean alkalinity experiment in the Gulf of Maine—fishers and scientists are keeping a close eye on the broader health of our fishery, especially groundfish, lobster, and forage species like herring.
Thanks for tuning in to the Artificial Lure Maine Atlantic fishing report. Hit subscribe so you never miss the tide, and keep those lines tight and your tackle wet. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn
Seas are finally calming down after the stir-up from Erin. Ocean Prediction Center posted northeast winds early, drifting down by midday with high pressure setting in and 10-20 knot winds calming seas. Anglers reported 4–8-foot swells this morning, but they’re laying down into the afternoon. That’s good news for anyone heading out front or working embayments.
Let’s talk fish. According to On The Water’s August 28 Maine Coast report, the striped bass fall run is officially warming up. Stripers are staging in river mouths and embayments, keying hard on dropping river herring fry. The bass bite has been steady on bigger baits—think Doc Spooks and Glide Baits if you’re a plug worker, or large streamers for fly folks. The same report notes that bluefish—less common up here but always a treat—have followed bait into the lower rivers and bays, adding some extra excitement.
Groundfish folks chasing pollock and whiting are finding them deep on structures like Jeffrey’s Ledge, and offshore crews are seeing some wicked tuna moving over the usual offshore banks. Tuna runs this year have included a few true giants over 700 pounds—enough to get anyone’s heart pumping (Seacoast NH Sportfishing and Tuna Maine Charters confirm the offshore big fish are moving).
What’s biting? This week around Cape Elizabeth and Black Point, bass have been pushing up tight to the ledges on the flood, and some nice keeper-size fish are in the mix. Mackerel have come back strong off the rocks, fattening up and acting as prime bait and lure targets. Peanut bunker and small herring are thick—match these with smaller soft plastics or paddletails when the bite gets picky.
For go-to tactics: best lures have been larger walk-the-dog plugs, Magic Swimmers, and glide baits for shallow flats, plus swimbaits over rock structure at dusk and dawn. Fly guys, big deceivers and clousers in white or olive remain productive. If you’re soaking bait, live mackerel or chunked fresh bunker have accounted for both stripers and the odd bluefish.
Along with bass and blues, shark reports have ticked up offshore—especially during dawn patrols. And keep your eyes peeled: per the Maine Department of Marine Resources and area advisories, shark sightings, including great whites, have increased this season. Keep your catch secured and don’t linger if you spot fins.
Hot spots to try: the Scarborough River outflow at first light for stripers busting bait, and the ledges off Cape Small during the incoming for a solid bass run. Mackerel are thick off Portland Head and always worth jigging for a quick dinner or chunk bait.
Before you rig up, know this: after recent research activity and trials—like the first open-water ocean alkalinity experiment in the Gulf of Maine—fishers and scientists are keeping a close eye on the broader health of our fishery, especially groundfish, lobster, and forage species like herring.
Thanks for tuning in to the Artificial Lure Maine Atlantic fishing report. Hit subscribe so you never miss the tide, and keep those lines tight and your tackle wet. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn