Fishing Season: Late May through October

Kennebec River Estuary - ME

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Inshore Temp:

76

Offshore Temp:

66

Dave Pecci's Tip of the Week

The striped bass season on the Kennebec starts with schools of fish chasing bait. Sounds of simplified but if you find the bait, you will find the stripers.

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 6/4/26

the first of our striped bass have arrived. more on the way. lots of bait in the river to make them happy,

Techniques & Tips as of 6/4/26

It will be a few weeks before the stripers settle into their usual haunts. spend time covering lots of water and looking for bait and surface action.

Current Conditions as of 6/4/26

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

  • Fish Icon

    Striped bass

  • Fish Icon

    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, River Herring, Alewives, American Eels, Pogies, Whiting, Mackerel.