Bield: fish

Inshore migration calendar

Maine & New Hampshire Coast migration calendar.

  • Northeast
  • Maine
  • New Hampshire
  • 2 species tracked

The northern terminus of the Atlantic striped bass migration. Cold water keeps the season short — fish typically arrive in late May and depart by mid-October — but the bass that reach this far north tend to be larger, and bluefish push the same windows.

Verify with the agency before fishing

Fishing regulations change every season. This page is a summary maintained by Bield — bag limits, exact dates, and species-specific rules must be verified with Maine Department of Marine Resources before each trip.

What's running now

August on the water.

2 active species

Map

Maine & New Hampshire Coast hotspots.

Productive locations

  • Casco Bay
  • Saco River mouth
  • Isles of Shoals
  • Piscataqua River

Active this month

  • BluefishPeak
  • Striped BassGood

All species

Sorted by current month.

  • BluefishPomatomus saltatrix
    Peak
    JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJan — Absent Wintering offshore South Atlantic. Typical water temp: 38–44°FFeb — Absent Not in northern waters. Typical water temp: 40–46°FMar — Absent Spring run not yet reaching Maine. Typical water temp: 44–50°FApr — Absent Still south. Typical water temp: 48–54°FMay — Possible First scattered arrivals; not yet a fishery. Typical water temp: 54–60°FJun — Good Bluefish arriving with bait. Choppers along the beaches. Typical water temp: 60–66°FJul — Peak Summer blue blitzes — Boston Harbor north into Casco Bay. Typical water temp: 64–72°FAug — Peak Peak season; both gator-class fish and snappers in the bays. Typical water temp: 66–74°FSep — Good Fall departure beginning; big fish on the move. Typical water temp: 60–68°FOct — Fair Last of the fall blues pushing south. Typical water temp: 54–62°FNov — Absent Fish have moved south. Typical water temp: 48–54°FDec — Absent No bluefish in northern waters. Typical water temp: 40–46°F
    Best months: July · August

    Peak season; both gator-class fish and snappers in the bays.

    Top lures: Metal-lipped poppers, Diamond jigs, Cut bunker chunks (wire leader)
    Full Bluefish calendar for Maine & New Hampshire Coast
  • Striped BassMorone saxatilis
    Good
    JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJan — Absent Departed south for the winter. Typical water temp: 38–44°FFeb — Absent Wintering off VA/NC; few fish in Maine waters. Typical water temp: 38–44°FMar — Absent Migration not yet reaching Maine — still in the Mid-Atlantic. Typical water temp: 40–46°FApr — Possible First scattered arrivals in southern New England waters; early Maine fish rare. Typical water temp: 46–52°FMay — Good Spring arrival underway. Migrating fish following bait and tide rips into the Gulf of Maine. Typical water temp: 52–58°FJun — Peak Resident summer fish established along the coast. Sand eel and herring blitzes off the rocks and beaches. Typical water temp: 58–64°FJul — Peak Mid-summer fishing. Peak resident bass on structure; larger fish hold deeper during midday heat. Typical water temp: 60–68°FAug — Good Late summer slowdown midday — early/late tide windows still strong. Typical water temp: 60–68°FSep — Good Fall migration begins — bass actively feeding and moving south. Typical water temp: 56–64°FOct — Peak Peak fall blitzes along the beaches. Large fish on the move with bait. Typical water temp: 50–58°FNov — Fair Last of the migration pushing through. Cool water shuts down the bite quickly. Typical water temp: 44–52°FDec — Absent Winter migration south complete. Typical water temp: 38–44°F
    Best months: June · July · October

    Late summer slowdown midday — early/late tide windows still strong.

    Top lures: Live menhaden, Soft plastic shads on jigheads, Bucktail jigs
    Full Striped Bass calendar for Maine & New Hampshire Coast

Month-by-month

Top 2 species, full year.

Quick reference for trip planning across the year. Each cell shows the typical migration status for that month.

SpeciesJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Striped Bass
Bluefish
PeakGoodFairPossibleAbsent

Regional notes

Top species — the longer read.

Bluefish in Maine & New Hampshire Coast

Bluefish push north into Maine waters with the warming water — June arrivals, July–August peak, departure by mid-October. Heavily tied to bunker and herring schools.

Striped Bass in Maine & New Hampshire Coast

Striped bass complete their northward migration into the Gulf of Maine by late May, peak from mid-June through August, and depart south by mid-October. Resident summer fish hold on coastal structure once water hits 60°F.

Marine forecast

NOAA Zone ANZ150

Wind, swell, and tide-stage forecasts that drive whether fish are feeding inshore or holding offshore.

State agencies

Bag limits, slot rules, and seasonal closures live with the agencies — verify before keeping fish.

Real-time migration alerts for Maine & New Hampshire Coast.

Bield: Fish ties NOAA buoy data, water-temperature readings, and your saved species list together — and alerts you when arrivals reach your home water.

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Nearby regions

Massachusetts, Cape Cod & Islands →Rhode Island & Connecticut Sound →Long Island Sound & New York Bight →All regions →