Fishing Season: Late May through October

Kennebec River Estuary - ME

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Inshore Temp:

74

Offshore Temp:

63

Dave Pecci's Tip of the Week

Time to break out the sinking lines.

Directions open in app

Map of Kennebec River Estuary

Tide data

Tidal Conditions

Orvis-Endorsed guides nearby

Capt. Dave Pecci

5-Day Outlook as of 7/16/26

Hot and dry! There's tons of bait in the lower River. juvenile Atlantic herring at the mouth and adult river herring from Bath to Phippsburg. Average tides and flow should provide great fishing conditions

Techniques & Tips as of 7/16/26

Surface temps are increasing so the stripers will be holding in deeper water this week. Watch your fishfinder for suspended bait and fish around them.

Current Conditions as of 7/16/26

The lower river is pretty muddy after the weekend's rain. the big tides of the month are past us so flow will be dropping and the water will clear up by the week's end.

Local Species Available Late May through October

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    Striped bass

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    bluefish

Dave Pecci's Recommended Fly Patterns

"Must-have" fly fishing patterns in descending order of importance:

Name: Colors: Size(s):
Burk's Hot Flash Minnow natural 1/0
Bucktail Deceiver Olive / White 1/0
Clouser Minnow Chart 1
Cowen's Mullet N/A 2

Burk's Hot Flash Minnow

Catch big salt water fish with this baitfish fly pattern.

2.99

Item #46C8

Buy Now

Dave Pecci's Recommended Gear

Description: About Kennebec River Estuary

The Kennebec Estuary is located in Midcoast Maine. Carrying 30% of the state's freshwater run off it is one of the largest and most important estuaries in the Northeast. The Kennebec is home to America's most northern native populations of striped bass, Atlantic sturgeon, carp, American eel, alewives and blue back herring. Migratory species such as bluefish, mackerel, pollock, sand eels, Atlantic herring, and menhaden call the Kennebec their summer home. Merrymeeting Bay is the most expansive tidal marsh north of the Chesapeake Bay. Substantial tidal ranges and a tremendous variation in structure provides for a diverse fishing opportunities. Everything from sight fishing to dredging the rips with Depth Charge lines can be done on any given day. The rugged beauty of the rocky coast, the miles of pristine beaches and the wooded shores of the mighty Kennebec set the tone for a world class fishing trip. During the months of May & June the Kennebec is catch and release only providing some of the very best striped bass fishing on the East Coast. July - September striped bass fly fishing is also excellent. In July the bluefish show up along the coastal islands and beaches along with school sized (footballs) bluefin tuna offshore. August & September is the time to try your luck at offshore fishing for shark. Blue shark with the occasional mako mixed in cruise the cool waters of the Gulf of Maine.

Nearest Airport:

Portland International Airport (PWM) 45 minutes Boston (BOS) 2 hours

Bait Recommendations:

Sand Eels, juvenile Sea Herring, River Herring, Alewives, American Eels, Pogies, Mackerel.