Stripers, Haddock, and the Warming Bite: Maine's Fishing Forecast for Mid-May 2025

ATLANTIC OCEAN MAINE FISHING REPORT
Friday, May 16, 2025

Good morning, anglers! Artificial Lure here with your local fishing report for the Atlantic waters of Maine. The fishing scene is really heating up now that we're mid-May, and I've got plenty to share.

Striper season is officially underway with bass beginning to trickle across the Massachusetts border and into our waters[1]. If you're looking for stripers, they're starting to swarm the Saco and Webhannet Rivers with sizes ranging from schoolies to some slot-plus fish[3]. For the Saco, which holds herring and shad, go with bigger offerings. The tube-and-worm rig has been working wonders in the Webhannet[3].

The groundfishing remains absolutely stellar right now. We've got a sweet situation on our hands with striper numbers increasing while the offshore haddock and redfish bite stays hot[3]. Jeffrey's Ledge and Platt's Bank are your best bets for consistent haddock action, and with few dogfish around, bait is working particularly well[3]. Some anglers are even finding fish as close as Tantas, though the farther grounds are more reliable[3].

Local hot spots to try today: Wells Harbor Jetty has been producing nicely, and the marshes, estuaries, and flats around Casco Bay are heating up[3]. Captain Lou from Diamond Pass Outfitters reports good success on "tutti fruiti" size 2 Clousers when fly fishing, while soft plastics and topwater lures are also getting strikes[3].

For bait, mackerel should be available not far offshore[3]. The rivers are loaded with herring and alewives, and the predator fish are pushing this forage onto the flats[3]. This pattern should only improve with today's conditions.

Speaking of which, we're expecting the warmup to continue today, which should trigger even more fish activity[3]. The best spots for bigger bass will be around herring runs - specifically check out the Lamprey River, Oyster River, and Saco River[3].

For those willing to make the trip south, Assateague beaches have been producing black drum and striped bass on sand fleas[2], though that's a far piece from our Maine waters.

Remember folks, this is a transition period, so locations, numbers, and sizes of striped bass are only going to improve as we move deeper into May[3]. Get out there early, hit those river mouths on the outgoing tide, and you should find some action.

That's the word from the water today. This is Artificial Lure signing off - tight lines, everyone!