Species guide · Maine
Bluefish fishing in Maine
Pomatomus saltatrix, a nearshore species also called blues, choppers and snapper blues. Listed for the New England region. Off season, about 3 more weeks.
Right now it scores best in Casco Bay at 35, one of 3 Maine bay systems where the Waterlands engine is scoring it.
Season now
Off seasonSeason by month
From the Waterlands saltwater species research: when the fish are present and biting, not whether retention is open.
New England
Off season, about 3 more weeks- Jan: Not present
- Feb: Not present
- Mar: Not present
- Apr: Not present
- May: Shoulder season
- Jun: Peak season
- Jul: Peak season
- Aug: Shoulder season
- Sep: Peak season
- Oct: Shoulder season
- Nov: Off season
- Dec: Not present
Peak: Jun to Jul, Sep. In season (shoulder or peak): May to Oct.
Research notes, New England region
Arrive in May once water passes the high 50s F, feed on rips, shoals and harbor mouths through summer, and school up again on the fall run in September and October. Snapper blues fill harbors in late summer.
Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.
Where it's scoring now · 3
Maine bay systems ranked by the Waterlands engine's bluefish score this hour.
Best window today 7 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Thu, Nov 5 at 12 AM (35) · 715 named spots
Best window today 7 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Thu, Nov 5 at 12 AM (35) · 825 named spots
Best window today 7 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Thu, Nov 5 at 12 AM (35) · 514 named spots
How and where it feeds
- Water temperature
- Feeds from 55°F to 84°F, best between 64°F and 75°F.
- Water depth
- 3 to 70 ft of water.
- Structure
- Rip, inlet, shoal, surf, point, jetty, pier and bay, in that order of preference.
- Tide and current
- Prefers moving water and outgoing tide, with strong current.Bluefish feed where current concentrates bait: rips, inlet mouths and shoal edges on a hard-running tide. The ebb out of inlets pushes bait to waiting fish. Slack water usually slows the bite.
- Light
- Bites best around dawn and dusk; feeds at night too.
- Pressure
- Little response to pressure changes.
- Wind and sea limits
- 20 kt of wind and 5 ft of sea. The Waterlands engine scores hours down as conditions pass them.
Tackle and technique
Bluefish travel in size-sorted schools and feed where tide pushes bait past structure: inlet mouths, rips, shoal edges and the surf line, mostly in water shallower than 60 feet. Look for birds and breaking bait and cast metal or poppers into it, or soak cut bunker or mullet on the bottom from the beach. Use a short wire or heavy leader because their teeth cut light line.
- Methods
- casting, surf casting, trolling, chunking, jigging, fly fishing
- Lures
- metal spoons, diamond jigs, topwater poppers, swimming plugs, bucktail jigs, soft plastic jerkbaits
- Bait
- cut menhaden (bunker), cut or finger mullet, live peanut bunker, squid strips
Regulations
Maine Department of Marine Resources. Synced with Maine DMR Nov 4, 2026.
No reviewed bluefish rule for Maine is on file yet. Check with Maine DMR before you keep one.