Coastal Maine Fishing Report: Haddock, Cusk, and Stripers Heating Up in Early July

Artificial Lure here with your July 7th, 2025 fishing report for coastal Maine and the Atlantic. Sunrise was at 4:56am, sunset at 8:18pm. Bar Harbor tides brought low water at 3:05am and 3:08pm, and highs at 9:14am and 9:20pm—tonight’s high tide is a solid 10.57 feet. That late tide should light up the bite just as the sun goes down, so keep lines wet into the evening if you can.

It’s been classic early July weather: cool, with a high of 58°F in Perkins Cove and similar along the coast. The water’s crisp, and there’s still a bit of a chill on the morning breeze, so layer up if you’re heading out for that sunrise action. Winds have been moderate, mostly comfortable, and the seas are behaving—just enough chop to stir things up but nothing to keep the small boats at the dock.

Fishing action has been lively this week. Out of Perkins Cove, the Bunny Clark reports “very good” fishing and “good to very good catching,” with haddock stealing the show. Just shy of boat limits were landed, with plenty released—expect 15-inchers (the legal limit), and a fair share pushing bigger. Cusk have been thick at anchor, and a respectable number of redfish and a handful of pollock spiced up the mix. Halibut made a rare appearance, so keep your heavy gear ready for that lucky hookup. There’s even been a couple of decent wolfish and cod—though, as always, mind the regulations on cod if you’re headed deep.

Best success today came drifting over rougher bottom THEN switching to anchoring up. Drifting was better in the early hours, but once the sun hit, anchoring and letting the bite develop paid off. Cusk hit first, followed by a steady roll of haddock as the session wore on.

Bait is still outperforming lures most days. Fresh clams and cut herring are top producers for haddock and cusk. If you’re itching to toss artificials, heavier jigs like Norwegian cod jigs tipped with a bit of squid or Gulp! scented baits can draw strikes, especially during the tidal swing. Pollock and redfish respond best to smaller metal jigs bounced close to structure. For those targeting stripers around river mouths and rocky points—Kittery and Ogunquit are particularly hot right now—soft plastic paddle tails in bunker or mackerel patterns are triggering keepers. Early and late low-light hours are best for topwater plugs.

Hot spots this week:

- Jeffreys Ledge: Reliable for haddock, cusk, and big pollock—just outside the heavy recreational traffic and a consistent bet for mixed groundfish if you’re running offshore.
- Perkins Cove reefs: Especially on anchor for cusk and haddock as the tide turns.
- Mouth of the Piscataqua River near Kittery: Keeper stripers are staging on outgoing tides, especially at dawn and dusk.
- Saco Bay: Good reports of mixed groundfish near the ledges.

For gear, go with stout rods and 12-16oz sinkers to handle the current and get bait down fast. If it’s blowing, use heavier jigs to stay in the strike zone.

Thanks for tuning in to the Atlantic Ocean, Maine fishing report. Don’t forget to subscribe for more local knowledge, and may your next cast bring the fish of your dreams. This has been a Quiet Please production; for more, check out quietplease.ai.

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