Maine Coastal Fishing Report: Stripers, Haddock, and Trout in the Spring Chill

Here’s your fishing report for the Maine coastline and nearby Atlantic waters for Friday, April 4, 2025:

Today’s tidal activity provides good opportunities for anglers. At Prospect Harbor, high tides hit early at 3:52 AM and again at 4:46 PM, with lows at 10:33 AM and 10:48 PM. Sunrise was at 6:07 AM, and sunset will be at 7:03 PM, giving plenty of daylight for fishing. Cooler water temperatures and the season’s slow fish activity demand patient techniques and well-matched gear to the conditions.

The late push of striped bass into Maine waters has anglers buzzing, particularly in local estuaries and sandy beaches. Striped bass are feeding aggressively in back bays, rivers, and along rocky structures. Use live menhaden or mackerel as bait for boat fishing, or try sandworms, clams, or cut bunker from the shore. For lures, soft plastic paddletails, bucktails, or Super Strike Little Neck Poppers are excellent choices. In clearer waters, popping plugs or spooks work well to mimic prey.

Early-season haddock and cod fishing remains promising, especially as the recreational sub-ACL limits for 2025 are set. Haddock seem to be biting better recently, particularly on 17-inch minimum size baits. Try slow trolling with natural options if targeting these species. Anglers regularly report success in deeper offshore waters.

Inshore, early trout fishing is heating up in rivers like the Kennebec for those shifting from ice-fishing to open water. Rivers and smaller estuaries like Reid State Park are prime for targeting striped bass on natural baits or artificial lures. Surfcasting along boulder fields or sandy beaches at Nubble Lighthouse area is also producing fish, with stripers up to 31 inches being caught on smaller plugs and plastics.

A couple of hot spots worth checking out include:
1. **Reid State Park**, where the Kennebec River pours into the Atlantic, continues to yield stripers during tidal changes.
2. **Cape Neddick (Nubble Lighthouse)**, which offers steady action on striped bass and the occasional haddock or pollock.

The weather today is mild but expect cold water conditions, so layer up and ensure safety measures are in place, especially if you’re on a boat. With fish still sluggish in the cold water, slow retrieves and natural bait presentations will yield the best results. Good luck out there!

This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI