UTERBluefish fishing in Gulf of Maine fishing
In Gulf of Maine fishing, bluefish peak August and are around July–October, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. August: Choppers in Boston Harbor and off the North Shore when they come.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Bluefish in Gulf of Maine fishing, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilNot here
- MayNot here
- JuneNot here
- JulyArrivingBlues reach Massachusetts Bay in some summers.
- AugustPeakChoppers in Boston Harbor and off the North Shore when they come.
- SeptemberAroundThe fall feed — big stripers, bigger bluefin. Big stripers on pogies in Boston Harbor and the Maine rivers; the largest bluefin of the year; cod seasons are short and change yearly (eastern GOM listed Sept–Oct in 2026) — check NOAA.
- OctoberLeaving
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish bluefish 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.
What to use for bluefish
- Finger mulletLip-hooked on a 2/0 to 4/0 circle hook and free-lined, or on a fish-finder rig in the surf. Cut mullet on the bottom for redfish and drum.
- Pilchards (whitebait)Free-lined or under a cork, hooked through the nose on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook. The one bait that catches everything inshore.
- Threadfin herring (greenbacks)Nose-hooked on a circle hook and free-lined, or slow-trolled. Fragile — handle them wet and fast.
- Sand eelsFree-lined or on a light jig head for stripers, fluke and bluefish; strips teased on a fluke rig.
- Leader20–40 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook#1–4/0
- Jig head1/8–1/2 oz
- Braid10–30 lb
Feeds in 58–80°F water, best at 62–74°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch bluefish in Gulf of Maine fishing?
Peak season is August. Bluefish are in Gulf of Maine fishing July–October. August: Choppers in Boston Harbor and off the North Shore when they come.
Where do bluefish hold in Gulf of Maine fishing?
Look on pass / inlet, beach / surf, fishing pier, channel edge — around Boston, Gloucester, Newburyport, Portsmouth, Portland, Boothbay.
What is the best bait for bluefish in Gulf of Maine fishing?
Live bait: finger mullet, pilchards (whitebait), threadfin herring (greenbacks), sand eels. Finger mullet: Lip-hooked on a 2/0 to 4/0 circle hook and free-lined, or on a fish-finder rig in the surf. Cut mullet on the bottom for redfish and drum. Tackle: leader 20–40 lb fluorocarbon, hook #1–4/0, jig head 1/8–1/2 oz, braid 10–30 lb.
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