The Portland, ME marine forecast covers live wind speed and gusts, tide predictions, wave conditions, and major and minor solunar feeding times, updated continuously from NOAA and Open-Meteo. The strongest fishing windows usually line up with the moving tide and the solunar periods shown below — check current conditions before you head out.
By Steve Wilson, lifelong angler & founder of My Marine Forecast
Last updated: Sep 15, 2026, 8:00 AM
On Tuesday, September 15, Portland, ME sees high tide at 2:28 AM (9.3 ft) and 2:39 PM (9.8 ft), low tide at 8:26 AM (0.7 ft) and 9:00 PM (0.3 ft). Winds 4–9 mph from the E gusting to 18 mph. Air temperatures 48–66°F. Current water temperature is about 60°F. The strongest fishing windows line up with the moving water around each tide change, roughly an hour on either side.
Today's Tides · Station 8418150
| High tide | 2:28 AM | 9.3 ft |
| Low tide | 8:26 AM | 0.7 ft |
| High tide | 2:39 PM | 9.8 ft |
| Low tide | 9:00 PM | 0.3 ft |
Wind
4–9 mph E
Gusts
18 mph
Air Temp
48–66°F
Water Temp
60°F
Tides from NOAA Station 8418150 · wind & temperature from Open-Meteo. Open the live forecast for hourly charts and the 7-day outlook.
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Tide data sourced from NOAA Station 8418150
Portland is Maine's most accessible coastal fishing hub. Casco Bay, the harbor islands, and the Presumpscot River mouth all hold striped bass and bluefish from late May through early October. The rocky coastline of Cape Elizabeth — visible from the city — is one of Maine's best shore-accessible striper destinations. The fishery is compressed into a shorter season than further south, but the fish are present and the scenery is hard to beat.
Portland Head Light and the rocky shores around Cape Elizabeth are striper landmarks. Bass move tight to the kelp-covered ledges, and fishing with soft plastics or eels from the rocks in the evening is consistently productive. Peaks Island and the harbor islands produce bass around the rocky shores and near the lobster trap buoy lines.
Offshore from Portland, bluefin tuna are the marquee target. The waters of Casco Bay and the Gulf of Maine see excellent bluefin action in Summer and Fall. Maine stripers run large — fish over 40 inches are more common here than further south, a function of cooler water and less pressure from surf anglers who don't want to make the drive.
Maine water temperature is the controlling factor. Bass don't arrive until mid- to late May and leave by mid-October. The best fishing is often in August and September when mackerel schools are thick in the bay. Maine tides can exceed nine feet and the current in the passages between the harbor islands runs accordingly — check the tide chart above before planning your approach.
Spring: Striped bass arrive in Casco Bay in late May or early June, later than points south, with the first fish shadowing alewife and herring runs into the rivers. Mackerel show up around the same time and thicken through June. Winter flounder move into the shallow coves. It builds fast once water passes 55.
Summer: Striped bass are the mainstay from June through August, feeding around ledges, beaches and river mouths throughout Casco Bay. Mackerel are everywhere, easy to catch from piers and jetties. Bluefish appear in warm summers but are never guaranteed this far north. Offshore, party boats target haddock, cusk and pollock on the inshore grounds.
Fall: September is prime time, with striped bass fattening on peanut bunker and mackerel before leaving by early October. The heaviest fish of the year often come in the first two weeks of September. Groundfishing stays productive offshore. After the bass go, attention shifts to late mackerel and the last calm day trips.
Winter: The saltwater season effectively closes from November through April. There is no holdover striper fishery this far north, and winter weather keeps most boats hauled out. A few hardy anglers jig cod offshore in calm stretches, and smelt shacks operate on the tidal rivers. Most winter fishing here happens through the ice.
The Presumpscot River mouth and the water around Martin Point Bridge produce striped bass from June through September on moving tides. The Eastern Promenade gives shore access right in the city, with mackerel and stripers in casting range. Across the harbor in South Portland, Bug Light Park and the Spring Point Ledge breakwater are the most popular walk-on spots in Casco Bay. Mackworth Island connects by causeway and fishes well on the flood. Two Lights State Park and Kettle Cove in Cape Elizabeth cover the rocky oceanfront south of the harbor.