Maine Coast Report: Stripers, Bluefish, and Offshore Opportunities

Good morning from the Maine coast—this is Artificial Lure, your local line-wetter, bringing you the August 9th Atlantic report for all you folk ready to chase tight lines around our beautiful waters.

Sunrise painted the sky at 5:28 a.m., with low morning temps, clean air, and a promise of another bluebird day. Offshore wind’s gentle, the sea’s lying down easy—surface calm, barely a white cap, just a taste of crisp salt in the breeze. Expect the mercury to climb to the low-70s if you’re east of Portland, with more sun than clouds all day. You’ll get every bit of daylight too, with sunset slipping just after 7:47 p.m.

Tides are classic for mid-coast Maine. According to Tide-Forecast.com, low tide at Bar Harbor crested early at 4:45 a.m., high swings in at 10:53 a.m. near 10 feet, and the afternoon low’s at 4:50 p.m.—so plan those beach and jetty sessions for the incoming after breakfast or right as that evening push gets cooking.

Let’s talk fish: Stripers are still the talk from Portland up to Eastport. “On The Water” has folks finding bass prowling beaches at night—try soft plastics or eels, and if you’re casting around ledges at dawn, topwater plugs are producing explosive hits. Harbour mouths and estuaries have pods of schoolies, but there’s been some toothy 30-pounders caught from the surf between Scarborough and Kennebunk.

Bluefish are slashing through bait balls from Biddeford Pool to Popham Beach—a chunk of mackerel or a metal spoon will do. Out on the shoals, groundfish are into their summer groove. The Bunny Clark Deep Sea Fishing report from Ogunquit says most days lately are “excellent”—haddock by the dozens, plus steady pollock, cusk, and the odd monkfish, with dogfish patchy but manageable if you move around. They’re anchoring for haddock with clam or squid strips, but jigs are landing the biggest pollock.

Fluke are sprawling the sandy drop-offs, especially west of Saco. Sea bass and the occasional triggerfish are mixing into the bottom grab bag, especially if you’re near deeper reefs.

As for offshore, there’s a wrinkle this week: the bluefin tuna Angling Category closes August 12, per NOAA, so it’s catch-and-release or tag-and-release only, no keeps till the new year. Still, a handful of giants showed up on Jeffries Ledge, with whiting or mackerel the hot live baits. Mahi are popping in the warmer eddies. If you’re running out deep, bring both bait rods and spreader bars with small feathers to tempt some roaming tuna or mahis.

Hot spots today:
- **Pine Point & Scarborough Marsh**: Pre-dawn to sun-up for topwater stripers; switching to soft plastics when the sun climbs.
- **Jeffries Ledge**: For those heading offshore, even with the closure, big bluefin are still blitzing bait balls—great area to practice catch and release and maybe spot some mahi in the rips.
- **Old Orchard Beach Pier**: Good for family-friendly fluke and sea bass, and a chance at some fightin’ blues chasing bait right up to the pilings.

Best lures and bait: Soft plastics and eels for stripers at night, pencil poppers or spooks at first light. For groundfish, try jigs tipped with squid or clams. Offshore, live whiting or mackerel is the clear winner on tuna, but heavy metal jigs will pull pollock and can surprise with big bites.

That’s your pulse on the Maine Atlantic for August 9th. Thanks for tuning in—tight lines, sharp hooks, and smooth waters. Don’t forget to subscribe for your daily tide and bite updates. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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