Local Waters

← Around Portland

River Fish should be around

Kennebec River (Bath town landing)

Bath, ME · about 55 min from Portland (typical, off-peak)

Midcoast Kennebec from the named Bath lot.

Salt River / stream Lake / pond Shop (desk) Guide only Parking Stay State access Private — ask first

Season
Maine schoolies usually show later than Mass and leave earlier. Same slot limit. You need the Maine saltwater registry as well as a freshwater license if you mix rivers. Confirm DMR / IFW. Official rule
License
Maine saltwater registry; Maine freshwater license
Park
City of Bath all-tide hard ramp. Barrier-free. Toilets. Trailer parking.
Walk in
Short from the city lot.
Wading
Big tidal river. Shore fly. Boat wake.
Usual window
June–September for stripers.
Tuesday conditions

SW 3 mph around dawn. Fine to go.

Sky
⛅ 85° partly
Sun and moon
Rise 5:53 · 🌔 Waxing gibbous · Set 7:29
Wind at dawn
SW 3 mph offshore · Mostly Clear · 59°F
Wind later
  • dawn: SW 3 mph
  • 10am: SSW 2 mph
  • 2pm: W 3 mph
  • dusk: WNW 6 mph
Tide
Low 4:03 am (0.9 ft) · High 10:12 am (8.1 ft) · Low 4:02 pm (1.6 ft) · High 10:18 pm (9.5 ft) Best moving water is the three hours into 10:12 am high. · Portland (Kennebec lags — sketch)
A setup that belongs here
8-wt, Clouser.
Notes
City public ramp. Tidal. Stripers in season. Stay in the city lot.

Log this trip

Stays on this phone only. Nobody else sees it.

SW 3 mph · offshore · Mostly Clear · Low 4:03 am

How did it go

Shops

Maine Sport Outfitters

115 Commercial St, Rockport, ME 04856
Call — midcoast hours

Midcoast desk for Reid, the rivers, and a first Maine weekend.

L.L. Bean Hunting & Fishing

95 Main St, Freeport, ME 04032
Store hours vary; fishing department inside the flagship

Classes and a full counter. Tourist, but they will talk to a first-timer.

Guides

Shop desks, plus a few independents who fish public water. We do not take a cut. Call them.

Maine Sport — book a day

Rockport, ME · shore / boat · Half or full day

Good for: Midcoast public shore and a first overnight down east of Portland

Shop desk. Midcoast, not Rangeley.

L.L. Bean — lessons and trips

Freeport, ME · lesson / shore · Walk-on classes and booked trips — ask the fishing desk

Good for: A first lesson, Portland-area day

Tourist flagship, but the fishing desk is real. Better for a lesson than a secret river.

If this isn’t the day