August Report

Offshore Report 
August 1, 2025
Jonah Paris 

Well, the only thing worse than forgetting bait in the back of the truck for a few days is a sugar-coated fishing report. Despite what other reports are saying, fishing has been “off” this season - ask the local striper boys, the tuna junkies, and the ground-pounders. But even so, that doesn’t mean you should stay home!

We have been groundfishing nearly every day for the past month on the edges, ledges, and humps from 9-26 miles offshore. The fishing is not like last season, but it is substantially better than a few weeks ago, and continues to get stronger by the day. Thumbnail-sized pieces of clam remain our bait of choice.  

We are finding haddock in 220-240 feet. Measure carefully; we are releasing many shorts in the 16-17.5 inch range, and plucking out the occasional legal fish that makes the 18-inch minimum. Legal pollock have been tough to locate the past few weeks. The dogfish have been manageable.  

The whiting bite has picked up on the nearshore humps this week, and we have started landing 2-4 pounders. Traditionally, the larger whiting come up on the bank the last two weeks of July as they prepare to spawn, and the fishing remains hot through first half of August. You don’t have to steam far from Portland to find productive whiting bottom. Look for them in 210-250 feet. Whiting is the most underrated dinner fish in the Gulf of Maine; fried filets are unbeatable.

We are landing cusk up to 12 pounds in 250-270 feet, and some beauties to 20 pounds in 350-400 feet. The same deep drops are producing 1-2 pound redfish. Remember the rule: Find the shrimp, find the fish. Don’t be afraid to explore new bottom. The unnamed rock pile in the middle of nowhere can become your next hot spot.

August is here and that means sharking. The blue dogs have not moved in yet, but each hot, sunny day brings us closer. We found a band of 67 degree water about 15 miles offshore yesterday. We are predicting another banner catch-and-release mako season ahead.

The stage is set for the tuna bite to crack wide open. The fleet has taken more fish this week compared to last. Giants are crashing bait on top and we marked a few this week while groundfishing. We are marking schools of herring on bottom, catching squid on groundfish rigs, and seeing huge schools of mackerel and pogies on the surface offshore. There is no shortage of bait!

Summer goes fast here in Maine. Sitting at the dock and waiting for the bite to “turn on” means missed opportunities. Instead, make the best of it. This is the season to experiment. Go fishing and make some memories. See you out there!

Jonah Paris, First Mate 
TEAZER Charters
South Portland, Maine
jonaheparis@gmail.com