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Bield:Fish
Single-species migration calendar

Bluefish in Maine & New Hampshire Coast may fishing.

Pomatomus saltatrixMigratoryPossible

First scattered arrivals; not yet a fishery.

Year-round calendar

Each month encodes typical migration status. The current month is outlined in gold. Tap a cell for the month-specific note and water temperature.

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JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJan — Absent Wintering offshore South Atlantic. Typical water temp: 38–44°FFeb — Absent Not in northern waters. Typical water temp: 40–46°FMar — Absent Spring run not yet reaching Maine. Typical water temp: 44–50°FApr — Absent Still south. Typical water temp: 48–54°FMay — Possible First scattered arrivals; not yet a fishery. Typical water temp: 54–60°FPossibleJun — Good Bluefish arriving with bait. Choppers along the beaches. Typical water temp: 60–66°FGoodJul — Peak Summer blue blitzes — Boston Harbor north into Casco Bay. Typical water temp: 64–72°FPeakAug — Peak Peak season; both gator-class fish and snappers in the bays. Typical water temp: 66–74°FPeakSep — Good Fall departure beginning; big fish on the move. Typical water temp: 60–68°FGoodOct — Fair Last of the fall blues pushing south. Typical water temp: 54–62°FFairNov — Absent Fish have moved south. Typical water temp: 48–54°FDec — Absent No bluefish in northern waters. Typical water temp: 40–46°F

Migration pattern

Bluefish push north into Maine waters with the warming water — June arrivals, July–August peak, departure by mid-October. Heavily tied to bunker and herring schools.

Best locations

  • Casco Bay
  • Saco River mouth
  • Isles of Shoals
  • Piscataqua River

Top lures

  • Metal-lipped poppers
  • Diamond jigs
  • Cut bunker chunks (wire leader)
  • Gotcha plugs
  • Surface plugs
Verify with current conditions

Migration timing varies year to year. Cross-reference NOAA marine forecasts and a local source the week of your trip.

Bluefish in other regions

Get a notification when bluefish show up.

Bield: Fish ties NOAA buoy data and water temperature readings to species arrival windows so you're on the water the day they arrive in Maine & New Hampshire Coast.

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