Cod and other groundfish are available off the coast of South Portland. Photo by Tom Richardson

From mackerel to stripers, codfish to tuna, there’s plenty of action to be had around Portland Harbor and Casco Bay. The season kicks off with an early run of striped bass that typically begins in mid-May and extends into June. The stripers show first in the local rivers, including the Fore, Presumpscot and Royal, chasing alewives and river herring. Martins Point is a traditional hotspot.

The early-season bass can be really aggressive, and will readily take lures and flies. Work Storm or Tsunami plastic shads, 3- to 5-inch Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnows or black Bomber swimming plugs to connect with fish that average 16 to 24 inches, but may push upwards of 30 pounds. White Clouser minnows and Deceivers are effective fly patterns.

While battling monsters has its fans, youngsters are often happy simply catching mackerel inside Portland Harbor.

Once the bass exit the rivers in late June, they take up station in rocky areas along the island edges and tight to the coast between Portland Harbor and Spring Point. Use Bug Light as a reference for the center of the action. You can sight-fish or probe the shallows in the lee of the islands on windy days, or use bucktails and jig the deeper channels when the seas calm down. The waters around Great Diamond Island give up a lot of keeper bass, as does the west end of Cow Island. Bait chunks, swimming plugs, poppers and flies all account for their share of fish. Most years, the stripers stick around throughout the summer, mixing with bluefish from time to time.

If you enjoy tangling with bottom dwellers, a run 10 or 12 miles out to Tanners or Trinidad Ledges can result in good action with cod, haddock and other groundfish. These species can also be caught as close as West Cod Ledge outside Portland Harbor.

In some years, bluefin tuna can be found close to Casco Bay. The smaller fish (50- to 100-pound class) can be taken on spinning gear and a variety of topwater plugs and jigs. If bigger fish decide to show, you had better have a 50-wide setup aboard, at the minimum.

While battling monsters has its fans, youngsters are often happy simply catching mackerel inside Portland Harbor. Cast around the commercial docks with tiny silver spoons and you can hook macks all day long from summer through the fall. The mackerel only vanish when the bluefish are around, but that’s not such a bad thing. Break out some poppers or metal spoons or troll some Bomber plugs, and let the choppers spice up your day.

Bait & Tackle

Charters

License Requirements

Anglers over the age of 16 who wish to fish in Maine’s marine waters out to 3 miles from shore, including the waters surrounding its offshore islands, must register annually with the state. There is a $1 to $2 service fee to register. The permit expires on December 31.

Exemptions:

The following individuals do not need to register:

  • Persons under the age of 16.
  • Persons fishing aboard a charter or partyboat.
  • Persons renting a smelt shack from an individual who holds a commercial operator’s permit.
  • Persons with a disability.
  • Disabled veterans.
  • Persons holding a saltwater recreational fishing license from another state.
  • Maine residents who purchased a freshwater fishing license and who checked a box indicating that they intend to fish in saltwater.
  • Maine residents fishing on July 4, Memorial Day weekend, or Labor Day weekend.

To register online, go to:

(MOSES) Maine Online Sportsman Electronic System

Seasons, Catch & Size Limits

For information on Maine’s saltwater fishing regulations, by species, go to: Maine Department of Marine Resources.