Sea surface temperature guide
Gulf of Maine & Stellwagen Bank SST guide.
- Northeast
- 10–30 mi offshore
- Cold-water shelf
Stellwagen Bank and the Gulf of Maine offer the northernmost commercial-scale tuna fishery on the East Coast — bluefin tuna that follow herring, mackerel, and sand eel migrations into cold-water shelf waters May through October.
Nearest ports
- Gloucester MA
- Boston MA
- Portsmouth NH
- Portland ME
Typical SST
By month.
Climatologically typical sea surface temperature ranges based on NOAA CoastWatch SST climatologies. Year-to-year variation is real — verify with current SST imagery before each trip.
| Month | Typical SST | Dominant current | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 38–44°F | Continental shelf cold water | Mid-winter low; offshore generally inaccessible. |
| February | 38–44°F | Continental shelf cold water | Same. |
| March | 40–46°F | Continental shelf cold water | Spring warming begins late month. |
| April | 42–50°F | Continental shelf cold water | Cold-water tuna and bluefin migration begins offshore. |
| May | 46–56°F | Continental shelf cold water | Bluefin building; bait migrations underway. |
| Junenow | 54–64°F | Continental shelf cold water | Summer pelagic season opens — bluefin, sharks. |
| July | 58–66°F | Continental shelf cold water | Peak Gulf of Maine pelagic month. |
| August | 60–68°F | Continental shelf cold water | Same — bluefin school feeding actively. |
| September | 58–66°F | Continental shelf cold water | Late summer continuing. |
| October | 52–60°F | Continental shelf cold water | Fall departures of pelagics. |
| November | 46–54°F | Continental shelf cold water | Most pelagics gone south. |
| December | 40–48°F | Continental shelf cold water | Winter pattern returning. |
Species accessibility
By month.
For each target species, the cells show whether typical monthly SST in Gulf of Maine & Stellwagen Bank falls in that species' preferred or optimal range. Best all-around months: June, July, August, September.
| Species | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic Bluefin Tuna |
Species in range
June on the blue water.
For each species in their preferred SST range this month, the gauge shows the threshold band — verify against current SST imagery before deciding on the run.
Canyon & structure features
- Stellwagen Bank
- Jeffreys Ledge
- Tillies Bank
NOAA marine forecast
NOAA Zone ANZ150 →Wind, swell, and tide-stage forecasts for the offshore zone. Pair with SST imagery for trip planning.
Live SST imagery for Gulf of Maine & Stellwagen Bank.
Bield: Fish overlays NOAA CoastWatch SST imagery onto your navigation view, highlights temperature breaks within your target species' threshold band, and alerts you when your home zone hits the optimal window.
Start free trial →This page shows climatological SST patterns for planning purposes. Live SST imagery is available in the Bield: Fish app via NOAA CoastWatch — actual conditions vary year to year and verify before each trip.