Stripers Biting Offshore Haddock Showing Up - Fishing Report for Atlantic Maine 703p5m

Fishing Report for the Atlantic Ocean, Maine May 28, 2025 Good morning anglers, this is Artificial Lure with your local fishing update for the Maine coast and the surrounding Atlantic waters. Today is starting off cool with onshore winds and some clouds in the forecast, but the bite’s still been strong for those willing to get out there. Sunrise hit at 5:05 am this morning and we’re looking at sunset around 8:09 pm, giving us a generous window to hit the water. The tide is running on a classic early summer pattern. This morning brought a higher tide, slacking off later toward the afternoon. If you can time your fishing around the changing tide, you’ll have the best shot—especially right after the high slack when feeding really seems to pick up. On the striper front, it’s been an excellent week. Slot-size striped bass are dominating the scene, with plenty being caught around the mouth of the Saco River and the beaches near Scarborough Marsh. Herring runs are strong in Great Bay and Little Bay, and stripers have been chasing them hard, so those are great spots to check out. Folks drifting live eels or casting soft plastics in white or bunker colors are reporting consistent action. If you’re using bait, fresh mackerel strips or live herring are both producing well[3]. Groundfishing has also been solid. Haddock are showing up in good numbers offshore, and the best action has come from anchoring up on deeper humps and ledges. Anglers on the headboats are reporting legal limits of haddock pretty regularly, with some bonus cusk, redfish, and even an occasional halibut making an appearance. Jigs tipped with clams or Gulp! baits are working well, and a basic diamond jig is always a staple out here. The last few days saw some big numbers, including over seventy cusk, a halibut, and a handful of pollock around five pounds landed on a single trip[2]. If you’re a fan of inshore action, mackerel are beginning to show as well. Small Sabiki rigs or bright metal jigs around piers and rocky points are your best bet for a mess of macks, which also make great bait for everything from stripers to sharks. Hot spots right now include the mouth of the Saco River for stripers, Jeffrey’s Ledge for groundfish action, and the Portland Head area for a mixed bag of bass and mackerel. Don’t overlook the York and Ogunquit stretches, either, especially around the river mouths. Lure tips for today: Go with soft plastics, especially white and chartreuse shades for stripers. For groundfish, stick with metal jigs and baited rigs. And as always, stay flexible and pay attention to the birds—they’ll lead you right to the bait and the bite. That’s your local saltwater rundown for May 28. Tight lines out there, and don’t forget to share your catch reports. 4p1458