UTERBlue shark fishing in Gulf of Maine fishing
In Gulf of Maine fishing, blue shark peak July–September and are around June–October, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. August: Blue sharks on the chum off Stellwagen and the outer Maine ledges.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Blue shark in Gulf of Maine fishing, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilNot here
- MayNot here
- JuneArriving
- JulyPeak
- AugustPeakBlue sharks on the chum off Stellwagen and the outer Maine ledges.
- SeptemberPeak
- OctoberLeaving
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish blue shark 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 361 wreck, 2 ledge / hard bottom spots in the The Gulf of Maine map area — the kinds blue shark hold on.
What to use for blue shark
- Menhaden (pogies)Nose-hooked on a circle hook and free-lined or slow-trolled; cut in chunks for the bottom.
- Bonito (cut)Whole on cable for tiger and bull sharks; fillets and chunks on the bottom for grouper and snapper; strips trolled for wahoo.
- SquidStrips on a bottom rig for snapper, grunts and porgies; whole on a deep-drop rig.
- Leader80–150 lb mono
- Hook8/0–16/0
- Braid65–150 lb
Feeds in 54–72°F water, best at 58–68°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch blue shark in Gulf of Maine fishing?
Peak season is July–September. Blue shark are in Gulf of Maine fishing June–October. August: Blue sharks on the chum off Stellwagen and the outer Maine ledges.
Where do blue shark hold in Gulf of Maine fishing?
Look on ledge / hard bottom, wreck — around Boston, Gloucester, Newburyport, Portsmouth, Portland, Boothbay.
What is the best bait for blue shark in Gulf of Maine fishing?
Live bait: menhaden (pogies), bonito (cut), squid. Menhaden (pogies): Nose-hooked on a circle hook and free-lined or slow-trolled; cut in chunks for the bottom. Tackle: leader 80–150 lb mono, hook 8/0–16/0, braid 65–150 lb.
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All about blue shark · The Gulf of Maine, the whole year