Artificial Lure here with your Maine Atlantic fishing report for November 15th, 2025.

First light came at 6:30AM with sunset settling in just after 4:05PM, giving us a short but productive window. Tide tables for Bar Harbor and around the Downeast coast show a **high tide at 7:03AM** and a **low at 12:48AM and 1:36PM**—prime morning movement for targeting structure-loving species like tautog and black sea bass. Weather this morning was brisk, Northwest winds at 10–15 knots, gusting up to 20, with seas around 2–3 feet. There’s a chill to the breeze, so layer up and keep an eye to the sky as another cold front is expected tomorrow according to the National Weather Service.

Fish activity this week saw a steady uptick with cooling waters. According to Old Inlet Bait & Tackle and Lewes Harbour Marina, tautog are feeding hard on the inbound tides, with green crabs and Asian crabs being the best natural bait. Anglers working jigging rigs off inshore rock piles and breakwaters reported catching **tautog up to 5 pounds**, plenty of smaller “blackfish,” and a handful of sea bass, especially around submerged wrecks. In deeper offshore spots, a few hardy boats braved seasonable chop for bluefin tuna—most were shut down by the recent small craft advisories, but those who got out reported moderate success, with **bluefins ranging from 150 to 170 pounds** last week, mainly on trolled plugs and RonZ soft plastics.

The **blueline tilefish fishery is closed** as of November 10th for the rest of the year, per NOAA, so steer clear of targeting tilefish. No recent word on cod, but scattered reports suggest they might bite for those dropping salted clams or jigging diamond jigs near the bottom.

The striper bite has definitely cooled but isn’t gone—nighttime anglers casting bucktail jigs with curly tails around estuary mouths are still finding **schoolies and the odd slot fish**, especially during outgoing tides in low light. White perch remain in tidal creeks and estuaries, hitting bloodworms and chartreuse grubs. If you’re targeting haddock on the outer banks, the latest scallop survey reports unusual aggregations, so watch for those exploratory fleets farther out.

For lures and tackle, go heavy: **one- to two-ounce bucktail jigs**, green or white for stripers; classic blackfish jigs tipped with fresh crab for tautog; diamond jigs for sea bass and the rare cod. If the wind picks up, try a chartreuse paddle-tail soft plastic or a Storm shad. Tuna hunters—stick with big RonZs and rig for stealth, as the bluefins are finicky after heavy pressure.

Hot spots this weekend:
- **Schoodic Point:** Good for tautog and sea bass on rocky ledges at incoming tide.
- **Bass Harbor Head:** Reliable for stripers and the occasional black sea bass after sundown.
- **Eastern Egg Rock:** For boats able to get out, these ledges are prime real estate for the late-season groundfish.

Harbor action in Portland is quieter, but New Harbor and Bar Harbor both held steady numbers of tautog and sea bass—hit the high tide just after sunrise for best results. Crab is king for bait, but don’t neglect fresh clams near estuary mouths for winter flounder and holdover stripers.

Northern shrimp remains a non-factor; the Section’s advisory panel meets next month to talk future management, so skip shrimp for now.

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G’morning from your Maine coast specialist, Artificial Lure, checking in with the November 14, 2025 Atlantic Ocean and coastal Maine fishing report.

We’re waking up to late fall chill—plenty of frost on the docks and boats—under partly cloudy skies. It’s currently cool and won’t warm up much, so bundle up if you’re heading out. Sunrise is at 6:35 AM and sunset at 4:17 PM according to Tide-Forecast. That makes for a short window, so use your daylight wisely.

For tide chasers around Kennebunkport, the high tide is right around 6:55 AM, with a low at 12:33 AM and the next one swinging back just after lunch. Winter Harbor and Harpswell Center show nearly identical tidal swings—prime early morning incoming water for nearshore action. Plan to fish the changing tide, where bait flushes and predatory fish get active.

Saltwater action is shifting as winter approaches. Most boats are focusing on haddock and pollock on deep structure. Spreaker’s recent report highlights strong pollock, haddock, and even the occasional late-run striper catches just offshore and around the river mouths. Haddock are biting best on clams or strips of squid on hi-lo rigs, with pollock smashing metal jigs and teasers fished vertically. If you’re after stripers, look to the last of the season’s schoolies holding near river outflows and estuaries, especially after a rain or during dusk. Try soft plastic paddle tails, bucktails tipped with pork, or old-school fresh-cut menhaden if you can get it.

Reports from On The Water and recent YouTube forecasts mention freshwater action heating up too, with standout catches of largemouth and smallmouth in warmed-up inlets and kettle ponds. Big swimbaits, suspending jerkbaits, and even larger jigs are top presentations—folks have been scoring by slowing their retrieves down to match the more lethargic bite.

If panfish are your thing, the perch are on fire in coastal bays and coves, with spikes (maggots) or small grubs outfishing old bait. Crappie, bluegill, and white perch are also very active, eager to take anything small and lively.

For bait choices: haddock and pollock love clams, fresh squid, and cut mackerel. Stripers respond best to soft plastics in white or chartreuse, but nothing beats a fresh chunk of menhaden if you can find some (though menhaden quotas are tight this fall, especially in Maine, per the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership). For largemouth and smallmouth, it’s all about those slow-moving swimbaits and jerkbaits, especially in shad or perch colors.

Keep in mind (from National Fisherman), the commercial blueline tilefish fishery is closed till the end of the year—if you’re strictly recreational and lucky enough to hook one, release it promptly.

Hot spots to target today:
- Pine Point in Scarborough for stripers and late bluefish, especially on the outflow during high tide.
- The Saco River mouth for schoolie stripers on soft plastics, early or late in the day on a moving tide.
- Jeffreys Ledge off the southern coast for haddock and pollock, fishing deep with jigs or natural bait.
- For freshwater, Mousam Lake is turning up big smallmouth and healthy largemouth on slow jerkbaits and swimbaits.

Thanks for tuning in to today’s Maine coastal and Atlantic fishing report! Be sure to subscribe for daily updates and hot tips straight from the water.

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This is Artificial Lure, bringing you the latest Maine fishing report for Thursday, November 13, 2025. Out on the Atlantic, we’re heading into a classic chilly November stretch with flat calm seas—perfect for serious anglers willing to brave the brisk air for early winter action. Sunrise happened at 6:53 this morning, with sunset set for 4:19 PM up the coast near Portland and Kennebunkport, right in line with the days drawing shorter now, but granting prime daylight for targeting that morning and late-afternoon bite as temperatures hover from the mid-30s up to the low 50s according to local forecasts.

Tides are critical to time right today. At Union River and up along the midcoast, you’ve got a morning high tide at 5:29 AM, sitting just under 10 feet, and then a mid-day low rolling at 11:32 AM, dropping to just about a foot and a half. Kennebunkport’s tide chart shows similar numbers, so aim your fishing trips early or target the incoming tide late in the afternoon for best results—moving water is moving fish, especially now[Union River and Kennebunkport tide data].

Water temperatures are settling in around the upper 40s to low 50s, comfortable for a good bunch of our target species. The ocean is alive right now with late-fall action. On the groundfishing scene, the Bunny Clark crew out of Ogunquit reports “excellent” landings, with pollock leading the box count and strong numbers of haddock, cusk, cod, and a few whiting and mackerel. Legal cod is still open in patches, though restrictions may change soon—always confirm before heading out. Most success has been on jigs tipped with cod flies or teasers; pink, chartreuse, and orange stand out, especially when drift-fishing wrecks or structure on the outgoing tide. Bait-wise, fresh clam and cut mackerel remain the classic choice and are outfishing artificials for bottom dwellers[Recent Bunny Clark report].

Closer to shore, in the harbors and estuaries from Kittery to Seal Harbor, anglers are pulling up the last of the striped bass as the fall run wraps up, mostly slot fish and schoolies, but don’t count on big numbers—they’re leaving with the colder nights and dropping water. For stripers, try tossing soft plastic jerkbaits in pearl or bunker colors early in the day or as dusk settles. Mackerel, herring chunks, or even live eels can draw late season hits if you can source bait. Near reefs and rocky structure, the black sea bass are pretty much gone now, but there’s still a good shot at redfish and the odd cunner or bergall. Tautog have also been reported in small schools off rocky ledges—green crab and sandworm baits fished tight to bottom are best.

Lobster reports from the Gulf of Maine say landings are down about 34% from the peak a few years ago, but stocks are still holding above critical levels. Hauls are steady, mostly out of smaller inshore boats. If you’re potting today, stick to deeper water in the 60–120 foot range and bait those traps with herring or racks[Recent ASMFC and local lobsterman info].

For hot spots, two areas are must-visits right now:
- The ledges off Cape Elizabeth: always good for late-season pollock and haddock. Try drifting over 130–180 feet with diamond jigs and teasers.
- Seal Ledge off Casco Bay: producing solid tautog and some last striper action, especially around rock piles on the outgoing tide.

Watch the weather—it’s calm now, but a Small Craft Advisory remains in effect until noon according to the Coastal NWS marine forecast, so check afternoon conditions before running out deep. The bite will slow on the slack tides, but pick up as the water moves.

That’s your Maine Atlantic fishing report for November 13. Thanks as always for tuning in—make sure to subscribe so you never miss out on the latest action before you hit the water. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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