
Marina Profile: Champlin’s Marina & Resort, Rhode Island
March 24, 2026
New MA Boating Safety Law Takes Effect April 1
March 25, 2026
Fishing Portland, Maine
From mackerel to tuna, there’s plenty of action to be had in and around Portland Harbor and Casco Bay. The season kicks off with a run of striped bass that typically begins in mid- to late May and extends into June. The stripers show first in the local rivers, including the Fore, Presumpscot, and Royal, chasing alewives and river herring. Martins Point is a traditional hot spot.
These early-season bass can be aggressive, and will readily take lures and flies. Work Storm or Tsunami plastic shads, 3″ to 5″ Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnows or black Bomber swimming plugs to connect with fish that average 16″ to 24″, but may push upwards of 30 pounds. White-and-chartreuse Clouser Minnows and Deceivers are effective fly patterns.
Once the bass exit the rivers in late June, they take up station in channels and rocky areas along the islands and tight to the coast between Portland Harbor and Spring Point. Use Bug Light as a reference for the center of the action. You can sight-fish or probe the shallows in the lee of the islands on windy days, or jig the deeper channels with bucktails when seas are calm. The waters around Great Diamond Island give up a lot of keeper bass, as does the west end of Cow Island. Bait chunks, live mackerel and swimming plugs all account for their share of fish.
If you enjoy tangling with bottom dwellers, a run to Tanners or Trinidad Ledges can produce action with cod, haddock and other groundfish. These species can also be caught as close as West Cod Ledge outside Portland Harbor.
In some years, bluefin tuna can be found close to Casco Bay. The smaller fish (50- to 100-pound class) can be taken on spinning gear and a variety of topwater plugs and jigs. If bigger fish decide to show, you’d better have a 50-wide setup aboard, at the minimum.
While battling monsters has its fans, youngsters are often happy simply catching mackerel inside Portland Harbor. Cast around the commercial docks with tiny silver spoons and you can hook macks all day long from summer through the fall. The mackerel only vanish when the bluefish are around, but that’s not such a bad thing. Break out some poppers or metal spoons or troll some Bomber plugs, and let the choppers spice up your day.
Bait & Tackle
Charters
License Requirements
Anglers over the age of 16 who wish to fish in Maine’s marine waters out to three miles from shore, including the waters surrounding its offshore islands, must register annually with the state. There is a $1 to $2 service fee to register. The permit expires on December 31. Learn more about Maine’s fishing license requirements here. Visit the Maine Online Sportsman Electronic System to purchase a license.
Seasons, Catch & Size Limits
For information on Maine’s saltwater fishing regulations, by species, visit the Maine Department of Marine Resources website.
Written by Tom Richardson
A Massachusetts native and past editor of New England Boating & Fishing, Tom has spent time working for Salt Water Sportsman, Offshore Magazine and was a founder of BoatingLocal. You can now find Tom as the Host, Executive Producer at Explore New England TV.























































