Maine has a short, intense saltwater season bracketed by a long inland winter. Stripers define the summer, groundfish and ice fishing fill the cold months, and the shoulder seasons belong to trout and landlocked salmon.
Related: Maine Coast Fishing Guide · Maine Coast Weekly Fishing Reports
| Month | Top Species | Peak Technique | Conditions & Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Lake Trout, Pike, Cusk | Ice fishing, jigging | Coastal season closed; inland ice fishing underway |
| February | Lake Trout, Pike, Cusk | Ice fishing, tip-ups | Deep winter; ice fishing at its peak inland |
| March | Brook Trout, Landlocked Salmon | Streamers, early season stream work | Ice going out; first stream trout of the year |
| April | Brook Trout, Landlocked Salmon | Streamers, trolling | Rivers open; landlocked salmon trolling begins |
| May | Striped Bass, Brook Trout | Live bait, streamers | First stripers push into the Kennebec |
| June | Striped Bass, Mackerel | Live mackerel, plugs | Stripers arrive in numbers; mackerel return |
| July | Striped Bass, Mackerel, Groundfish | Live bait, jigs | Peak striper season along the whole coast |
| August | Striped Bass, Bluefish, Mackerel | Live mackerel, needlefish | Warmest water; bluefish push into the south coast |
| September | Striped Bass, Bluefish | Plugs, live bait | Fall feed begins; excellent fishing |
| October | Striped Bass | Plugs, flies | Fish migrate south; the last good stretch |
| November | Groundfish, Lake Trout | Bottom jigs | Stripers gone; groundfish and inland options |
| December | Cod, Haddock, Landlocked Salmon | Bottom fishing, jigging | Winter groundfish; inland waters freezing up |
Best Months to Visit Maine Coast
Striped bass: June–October, with July–August the peak. Mackerel: June–September. Landlocked salmon: April–May. Ice fishing: January–February inland.