"Bluefish Blitz and Striper Hotspots: Your Coastal Maine Fishing Report"

Good morning anglers, this is Artificial Lure with your Wednesday, August 13th, 2025, fishing report for coastal Maine and the big blue Atlantic just beyond. You couldn't ask for a better August morning—temps around the mid-60s, subtle 13% cloud cover, and a gentle 10 mph breeze make for calm seas and clear skies. Humidity is hovering at 71%, keeping things cool, and the water’s running a crisp 63°F—pretty much ideal for both fish and fishers. The sun came up at 5:41 and won’t slip below the horizon until 7:53 tonight, so there’s plenty of light to work with.

Tide action today is strong with big swings. If you’re casting at Union River, the first high tide crested at 2:07 am, followed by a skinny low at 8:19 am. The afternoon brings another big high at 2:33 pm and another retreat at 8:46 pm. That tidal coefficient is up near 90, which means active currents, and that pulls the baitfish—and the big eaters—closer to shore. If you’re out on the beaches of Kennebunkport or Higgins, you’ll find similar timing: highs around midday and strong, dramatic run-outs in the morning and evening.

The bite’s shaping up well as we’re coming off a full moon, pushing fish to feed during both tide peaks and the crepuscular hours. Striped bass are the headliners right now, running heavy from Kittery right on up past Portland. Locals and tourists alike have been reporting good numbers of keepers in the 28–36” range, with the best action at mouth rivers and rocky points—think the Saco River mouth and Biddeford Pool. Surfcasters working Clouser Minnows and soft plastics in white or chartreuse, or chunk mackerel and fresh Atlantic herring, are seeing the most hits.

Bluefish are in too, and they’re aggressive—find them blitzing bait balls off Prouts Neck and the edge of Scarborough Marsh at mid-tide. Diamond jigs and silver spoons will get you bit, but don’t forget a wire leader, or you’ll be donating a lot of hardware! According to the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, recent catches have been up and down with the big tides, but action flared up with the spike in menhaden schools.

Flounder are responding to the cooler water with increased activity on sandy bottoms east of Wells and out toward Small Point Harbor—drift bait rigs tipped with strips of squid or sandworms are the ticket. And over the rocky ledges from Cape Elizabeth north, pollock and mackerel remain steady for those drifting small Sabiki rigs or casting metals and teasers.

A hot topic on the docks right now: the closure of the “trophy” bluefin tuna category for the Gulf of Maine. The National Marine Fisheries Service dropped the curtain after a strong early-season showing, so you’ll have to target schoolies if bluefin is your game. Remember, stick to the rules and check federal limits before heading out.

Heads up for those chasing stripers and blues—the best bite windows will be that early-morning slack heading into the rising tide, and again in the late afternoon as the current turns. Lure-wise, white bucktail jigs, classic Rapala X-Raps, and Storm shads are fooling the most fish, especially near structure or in the surf wash. For bait, fresh-cut mackerel and live eels remain top dog.

For hotspots, my picks today are:
- The Saco River mouth—reliable for big stripers, best near high tide with topwater plugs.
- Small Point Harbor—steady flounder and schoolie action on the outgoing tide.

Shark sightings have increased off Cape Elizabeth, but fishermen aren’t shying away, according to the Portland Press Herald. Great whites are mostly passing through, so use caution but don’t let it spoil your day—just keep your eye on the water.

Thanks for tuning in to your Maine coastal roundup. Don’t forget to subscribe for the freshest local info. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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