UTERAtlantic mackerel fishing in Gulf of Maine fishing
In Gulf of Maine fishing, Atlantic mackerel peak June–September and are around May–October, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. June: Mackerel off every Maine and North Shore dock and ledge; sabikis and mackerel trees.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Atlantic mackerel in Gulf of Maine fishing, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilNot here
- MayArrivingFirst stripers into the rivers; mackerel arrive. Schoolies into Boston Harbor, the Merrimack and the Piscataqua late in the month; mackerel off the docks for bait; haddock and pollock on Jeffreys.
- JunePeakMackerel off every Maine and North Shore dock and ledge; sabikis and mackerel trees.
- JulyPeakGiants on Stellwagen; river-mouth stripers in Maine. Live mackerel and herring for giant bluefin on Stellwagen and Jeffreys; stripers on the dropping tide at the Kennebec, Saco and Scarborough marsh; big pollock on diamond jigs.
- AugustPeak
- SeptemberPeak
- OctoberLeaving
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish Atlantic mackerel near Boston, Gloucester, Newburyport
Cold, deep, rocky water: Massachusetts Bay and Stellwagen Bank, the North Shore beaches and Plum Island, the Merrimack and Piscataqua rivers, the Isles of Shoals and Jeffreys Ledge, and the long ragged Maine coast of rocky points, islands and tidal rivers (Saco, Kennebec, Penobscot) out to Platts Bank and Tillies.
Fish Scouter charts 2 ledge / hard bottom spots in the The Gulf of Maine map area — the kinds Atlantic mackerel hold on.
What to use for Atlantic mackerel
- Leader20–40 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook#1–4/0
- Jig head1/8–1/2 oz
- Braid10–30 lb
Feeds in 44–68°F water, best at 48–62°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch Atlantic mackerel in Gulf of Maine fishing?
Peak season is June–September. Atlantic mackerel are in Gulf of Maine fishing May–October. June: Mackerel off every Maine and North Shore dock and ledge; sabikis and mackerel trees.
Where do Atlantic mackerel hold in Gulf of Maine fishing?
Look on fishing pier, dock / pilings, ledge / hard bottom, pass / inlet, channel edge — around Boston, Gloucester, Newburyport, Portsmouth, Portland, Boothbay.
What is the best bait for Atlantic mackerel in Gulf of Maine fishing?
Tackle: leader 20–40 lb fluorocarbon, hook #1–4/0, jig head 1/8–1/2 oz, braid 10–30 lb.
Fish it with the tide in your pocket
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All about Atlantic mackerel · The Gulf of Maine, the whole year