Gulf of Maine & Stellwagen Bank SST guide.
Stellwagen Bank and the Gulf of Maine offer the northernmost commercial-scale tuna fishery on the East Coast — bluefin tuna that follow herring, mackerel, and sand eel migrations into cold-water shelf waters May through October.
Typical SST by month
Climatological normsClimatologically typical sea surface temperature ranges based on NOAA CoastWatch SST climatologies. Year-to-year variation is real — verify with current SST imagery before each trip.
| Month | Typical SST | Dominant current | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 38–44°F | Continental shelf cold water | Mid-winter low; offshore generally inaccessible. |
| February | 38–44°F | Continental shelf cold water | Same. |
| March | 40–46°F | Continental shelf cold water | Spring warming begins late month. |
| April | 42–50°F | Continental shelf cold water | Cold-water tuna and bluefin migration begins offshore. |
| Maynow | 46–56°F | Continental shelf cold water | Bluefin building; bait migrations underway. |
| June | 54–64°F | Continental shelf cold water | Summer pelagic season opens — bluefin, sharks. |
| July | 58–66°F | Continental shelf cold water | Peak Gulf of Maine pelagic month. |
| August | 60–68°F | Continental shelf cold water | Same — bluefin school feeding actively. |
| September | 58–66°F | Continental shelf cold water | Late summer continuing. |
| October | 52–60°F | Continental shelf cold water | Fall departures of pelagics. |
| November | 46–54°F | Continental shelf cold water | Most pelagics gone south. |
| December | 40–48°F | Continental shelf cold water | Winter pattern returning. |
Species accessibility by month
For each target species, the cells show whether typical monthly SST in Gulf of Maine & Stellwagen Bank falls in that species' preferred or optimal range. Best all-around months: June, July, August, September.
| Species | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic Bluefin Tuna |
Species in range — May
For each species in their preferred SST range this month, the gauge shows the threshold band — verify against current SST imagery before deciding on the run.
- Atlantic Bluefin TunaOptimal 59–72°FTypical May SST in this zone: 46–56°F
Canyon & structure features
- Stellwagen Bank
- Jeffreys Ledge
- Tillies Bank
NOAA marine forecast
NOAA Zone ANZ150 →Wind, swell, and tide-stage forecasts for the offshore zone. Pair with SST imagery for trip planning.
Live SST imagery for Gulf of Maine & Stellwagen Bank.
Bield: Fish overlays NOAA CoastWatch SST imagery onto your navigation view, highlights temperature breaks within your target species' threshold band, and alerts you when your home zone hits the optimal window.