Artificial Lure here with your daily Maine Atlantic fishing report for November 18th, 2025.
It’s a chilly one this morning on the water—temps starting out in the mid 30s, but expected to rise only to the mid 40s with a stiff northwest breeze around 12 knots and those signature November gusts. If you’re planning to wet a line, layer up and make sure your rain gear’s handy. We dodged a storm cell overnight, but swells are lingering and seas are kicking at around 3 to 5 feet, especially as you head offshore. Sunrise hit at 7:00 AM, sunset’s at 5:53 PM. Daylight’s burning fast, so time your trip accordingly, especially if you’ve got longer run-outs.
Tides are running big today—excellent for inshore movement. In Kennebunkport, your first low came through at 3:39 AM, high tide hits 9:56 AM at 9 feet sharp, another low at 4:01 PM, and then a beefy high again at 10:15 PM. Bar Harbor tells a similar story: low at 3:07 AM, high at 9:16 AM cresting just over 11 feet, another low again right at dusk. The strong tidal swing should push bait close to shore and have predators prowling the breaks and river mouths.
Striped bass are mostly ghosting now—those few hangers-on are tight to structure in the southern stretches (York to Saco), with most of the migration pushed south. Instead, the action’s with schoolie bluefish, some hefty late-season pollock, and haddock from the midcoast out to Penobscot Bay. Cod reports have been decent in deeper haunts off Casco Bay, and tautog are being caught around ledges and rockpiles—anglers have hauled in tog over 20 inches off Seal Ledge and nearby reefs the past few days, according to East Bay fishing groups.
A few diehards have been scoring well on mackerel and herring as water temps finally dip into the mid-to-low 40s. The herring quota was boosted for the year, so Area 1A landings are up, making fresh cut herring a top bait. Jigging sabiki rigs at first light right inside harbors like Portland and Boothbay has produced steady buckets of bait—perfect for chunking or live-lining.
If you’re heading offshore, haddock and cod are your main targets. Try heavier jigs and teasers tipped with clams; pink and chartreuse are the hot colors when the water muddies up after a blow. Inshore, green crabs and Asian shore crabs are the top baits for tog, and don’t overlook dropping sandworms along the marshes for lingering stripers or white perch in the brackish runs.
Lurewise, metal works—cast diamond, epoxy, or bucktail jigs near the drop-offs during peak flow. If you’re working the surf, try a 4- to 6-inch paddle tail soft plastic with a slow retrieve. For those after mackerel and the last bluefish, slim silver spoons and kastmasters work wonders.
Hot spots today: the Saco River mouth for mixed species—early morning incoming tide gives you the best shot. Seal Ledge by Newport is still cranking out that tautog, especially on the afternoon outgoing. Lastly, try Small Point or Popham Beach mid-tide for a surprise bluefish blitz if you’re lucky.
That's your tide-to-tackle rundown for the waters from Portsmouth up past Mount Desert. Thanks for tuning in—don’t forget to subscribe. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
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