Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Atlantic Ocean, Maine saltwater report.
We’re locked into deep winter now, and the Gulf of Maine feels every bit of it. Cold, clear high pressure is sitting over New England this morning according to the Ocean Prediction Center, so expect **light northwest winds early, building to 10–20 knots** by afternoon with a stiff chill in the low 20s along the coast and teens offshore. Skies mostly clear, with just some high clouds drifting through.
Sunrise along the southern Maine coast is right around **7:10 a.m.** and sunset about **4:20 p.m.**, so you’ve got a tight daylight window. The mid‑day sun is still low, but it’s just enough to perk things up on the afternoon tide.
NOAA tide predictions for the Portland area show a **pre‑dawn high, dropping to a mid‑morning low, then a solid afternoon flood**. That afternoon push has been the money tide the last couple of days: slower current, better boat control, and fish sliding up onto nearshore structure to feed.
Fishing-wise, it’s a “thin but quality” pattern. Most offshore effort has been out of **Kennebunkport and Portland Head**, running 10–25 miles to the deeper humps and ledges. The last few trips reported **steady pollock with some bigger 8–12 pound fish, a mix of legal haddock, plus a handful of redfish** on the deeper edges. According to recent Maine headboat reports, the guys who stayed on the structure and didn’t chase marks all over the chart are the ones coming back with the best coolers.
Inshore, it’s scratchy but not dead. A few hardy crews working around **Boothbay and down toward Cape Small** are still finding **holdover schoolie stripers** in the river mouths and back coves on the warmest parts of the tide, mostly catch‑and‑release. Activity lines up with the Farmers’ Almanac, which calls this a **poor morning but improving afternoon** for fishing; that tracks with what we’re seeing—slow early, a small bump in life once the sun’s had time to work on the surface temp.
Best offerings right now:
- For **pollock and haddock** offshore:
- 8–16 oz chrome or glow **Norwegian‑style jigs**, diamond jigs, or Bengts with a **Gulp strip or salted herring** teaser up above.
- Bait rigs still work: **clams and cut herring** on high‑low setups, but you’ll sort through more dogs if you sit too long.
- For inshore **winter stripers**:
- Small **soft plastics on 3/8–1/2 oz jigheads** in white, bone, or olive; think slim, subtle hops near the bottom.
- If you insist on bait, **bloodworms or chunked mackerel** fished slow in the deeper bends of tidal rivers.
Couple of local hot spots to think about if you’re heading out:
- **Jeffreys Ledge (southern end)** – Classic winter destination for pollock and haddock. The fleet’s been spread out along the edges; follow the contour lines in 250–320 feet and watch for bait bunching up off the bottom.
- **Tantas Ledge and The Fingers off Kennebunkport** – Shorter run, good when the wind is marginal. Mixed bag of pollock, some haddock, and the occasional cusk if you stay glued to hard bottom.
- Closer to shore, the **Kennebec and Saco river mouths** are your best shot at winter holdover stripers; think slow, quiet approaches and lighter gear.
Dress for it, double‑check your safety gear, and keep an eye on that afternoon breeze—these clear, cold days can stack up a nasty chop in a hurry once the wind shifts.
Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss tomorrow’s Maine saltwater update.
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