Artificial Lure here with your October 30th, 2025, dawn fishing report for the Maine coast and the big blue Atlantic beyond. It’s a crisp start at 63°F, the skies are clearing off after some overnight clouds, and the seas are calm—among the best fall mornings we’ve had this month. Winds early are light, out of the west at under eight knots, so small boats should have no trouble running the nearshore ledges or heading offshore for the day.

Today’s tides at Maine Beach set a steady rhythm for planning: low tide hit around 12:05 am at just over a foot, high came at 6:07 am with 7.5 feet, and another low settles in at 12:19 pm—followed by a generous high at 6:22 pm pushing 8.5 feet, according to the Maine Beach tide chart. With a big tidal swing, current will be moving and fish feeding should perk up, especially on those incoming and falling windows. Sunrise was at 7:15 am and you’ll have daylight till 5:35 pm, so plenty of low-light hunting for stripers and bottom feeders alike.

The nearshore bite’s been excellent lately. According to Bunny Clark Deep Sea Fishing, landings remain strong for **pollock**, with many in the keeper range of 3–10 pounds and a number topping 14–18 pounds, especially offshore of Perkins Cove and the Ogunquit area. **Cod** remain in play, with several boats reporting catches near the one-fish-per-person limit, plus a fine scatter of legal **haddock** (mostly around 4 pounds), redfish, cusk, whiting, mackerel, and the occasional cunner. One lucky angler even pulled a Maine state trophy cusk at 12.5 pounds this week—a real slab for our waters. Released bycatch includes bluesharks and sub-legal cod and pollock, so come prepared for a mixed bag.

Best baits right now: nothing fancy, just solid fall fare. Jigging is king—**Norwegian-style jigs**, diamond jigs, and cod flies do most of the damage offshore. If you’re inshore or casting the rocky headlands, white bucktail jigs sweetened with Gulp, soft plastics, and flutter spoons will all get bit. Mackerel chunks or clams are getting it done for those soaking bait off piers or sand beaches. Tackle Warehouse and area bait shops recommend adding scent strips and working slow for finicky bottom dwellers as waters cool.

The weather looks to hold fair through the day, but NOAA expects increasing wind and possible showers by late tonight into Friday, and the National Weather Service is cautioning about possible minor coastal flooding during high tide cycles. If you’re heading out to the islands or past the shoals, keep an eye on the weather radio and your tide app.

Hot spots for today:
- **Jeffrey’s Ledge**, especially the southern fingers for pollock, cod, and late-season haddock. Plenty of keeper groundfish reported in the past 24 hours.
- The **mouth of the Kennebunk River**—schoolie stripers and a few slot fish are still running the sandbars and rocky points, especially near dusk.
- For shorecasters, **Portland Head Light** and the outflows at Biddeford Pool both saw decent runs of mackerel and the odd bluefish breaking at sunup.

As always, remember those slots and limits—regulations haven’t changed yet for 2025, but stay tuned for November cod closures and keep all oversized stripers in the water for a clean release.

Thanks for tuning in to the dawn patrol with Artificial Lure. Be sure to subscribe so you never miss the bite, wherever you are on the Maine coast.

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