Maine's Early Spring Fishing Outlook: Stripers, Trout, and More

Hey there, folks! Artificial Lure here with your fishing report for March 12, 2025. It's a chilly but promising morning here on the coast of Maine.

Sunrise was at 6:56 AM, and we're looking at a high tide around 10:57 AM, peaking at about 9.7 feet. Low tide will hit around 5:14 PM at -0.04 feet. Sunset's expected at 6:43 PM. Weather-wise, we're seeing partly cloudy skies with temperatures in the mid-40s, so bundle up if you're heading out!

The striped bass are starting to show up in the rivers and estuaries. They're not huge yet, mostly schoolies in the 16 to 22 inch range, but it's a good sign for the season ahead. Folks have been having luck with soft plastic jigs and small swimming plugs. If you're looking for some action, try the Kennebec River or the salt ponds around Wells.

For you freshwater enthusiasts, the ice is starting to recede on some of the smaller ponds, opening up opportunities for early season largemouth bass and pickerel. The Sebago Lake area is still producing some nice lake trout for ice anglers using jigging spoons or live bait.

Speaking of bait, herring are starting to trickle into our waters. This should improve fishing for both freshwater and saltwater species in the coming weeks. If you're targeting stripers, try using soft plastic paddletails in white or chartreuse to mimic these baitfish.

Hot spots this week include the mouth of the Saco River for early stripers, and Long Pond in the Belgrade Lakes region for some quality smallmouth bass action. Just remember, the water's still cold, so slow down your retrieve and fish deep.

For you folks itching to get out on the big water, some of the charter boats out of Portland are starting to run hadock trips. They've been doing well with clams and squid for bait.

Lastly, don't forget your 2025 fishing license, and remember to practice catch and release for any out-of-season or undersized fish. Tight lines, everyone!