Fishing Portland, Maine

A day on the water can bring some great surprises. Photo courtesy Morning Flight Charters.

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.

Fishings starts at an early age for some families. Photo courtesy Morning Flight Charters.

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.

Going out with friends creates forever memories. Photo courtesy Morning Flight Charters.

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

A very large striper almost seems too big to show off. Photo courtesy Morning Flight Charters.

The Tackle Shop

Charters

Maine Coast Guide Service

Morning Light Charters

Go Fish 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.