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693-acre Bar Harbor fishing map with NOAA BlueTopo survey contours (99.8% measured, 99.9% assessed), charted rock and wreck structure, regional fish-survey occurrence, sourced forage timing and verified public access. The water tops out around 186 ft. The depth chart is built from real agency bathymetry referenced to NAVD88; directly measured coverage remains distinguished from source interpolation. The channels, holes and drop-offs come from the source data, not a distance-from-shore model. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.
Early season striped bass use the shallows, holding in 5 to 20 ft. Expect a summer slide to 25 to 60 ft, then a winter hold in 20 to 50 ft. Put Surveyed channel edge first on the milk run — a drop-off near 59 ft that grades prime for summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a flutter spoon (deep) or an umbrella rig (trolled) and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Bucktail jig + trailer, Walking topwater (dawn) |
| Summer | 25 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (59 ft) | Flutter spoon (deep), Umbrella rig (trolled) |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Topwater walker, Jerkbait |
| Winter | 20 to 50 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (59 ft) | Alabama rig (slow), Flutter spoon |
In spring, bluefish run shallow here, mostly 3 to 20 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 5 to 30 ft before dropping to 15 to 40 ft for winter. Fall bluefish concentrate at Feeding flat, a prime-rated feeding flat around 26 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a popper (early/late) or a metal jigs in the rips most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Feeding flat (26 ft) | Metal (Hopkins/Kastmaster), Pencil popper |
| Summer | 5 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Popper (early/late), Metal jigs in the rips |
| Fall | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & midday | Feeding flat (26 ft) | Pencil popper, Big metal |
| Winter | 15 to 40 ft | midday | open water | Metal jig worked slow (southern waters) |
Spring atlantic mackerel on Bar Harbor hold shallow, usually 5 to 45 ft. They move out to 15 to 80 ft in summer and finish the year down in 30 to 120 ft. Put Surveyed channel edge first on the milk run — a drop-off near 59 ft that grades prime for summer. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a feather rig or a small vertical jig.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Mackerel feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Summer | 15 to 80 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (59 ft) | Feather rig, Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 10 to 65 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (59 ft) | Compact silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 30 to 120 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (114 ft) | Small deep jig |
When the water first warms, atlantic cod slide up into 20 to 100 ft. Summer is a 45 to 180 ft game here, winter a 42 to 186 ft one. Start at NOAA charted underwater rock. It's a rock pile holding about 22 ft of water and rates prime come spring. The feeding windows run early morning. Keep a heavy metal jig or a large soft-plastic jig rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 20 to 100 ft | dawn | NOAA charted underwater rock (22 ft) | Diamond jig, Heavy bucktail |
| Summer | 45 to 180 ft | dawn | NOAA charted underwater rock (22 ft) | Heavy metal jig, Large soft-plastic jig |
| Fall | 25 to 140 ft | dawn | NOAA charted underwater rock (22 ft) | Diamond jig, Bucktail with teaser |
| Winter | 42 to 186 ft | midday | NOAA charted underwater rock (22 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
Spring puts atlantic herring in skinny water — 5 to 25 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 15 to 50 ft; cold water stacks them in 20 to 60 ft. NOAA charted underwater rock is the standout, a rock pile at roughly 7 ft, rated prime for spring atlantic herring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A herring feather rig or a small silver jig covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | NOAA charted underwater rock (7 ft) | Small herring feather rig, Micro jig rig |
| Summer | 15 to 50 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (59 ft) | Herring feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Fall | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Small feather rig, Compact silver spoon |
| Winter | 20 to 60 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (59 ft) | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
16 pieces of structure are mapped here — Surveyed channel edge, around 175 ft, is the deepest of them.
Access data: Maine GeoLibrary — Boat Launches (Maine IF&W / DACF). Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Maine waters are set by the Maine DMR (saltwater recreational fishing) — and special regulations can apply to Bar Harbor specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Maine fishing regulations →
Bar Harbor is about 186 ft (57 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart is built from real agency bathymetry referenced to NAVD88; directly measured coverage remains distinguished from source interpolation. The contours reflect measured and quality-assessed source depths.
Anglers target striped bass, bluefish, atlantic mackerel, atlantic cod, atlantic herring on Bar Harbor.
NOAA charted underwater rock is the top-rated area: a rock pile in about 22 ft of water that rates prime for atlantic cod in spring. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
For striped bass, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Bar Harbor is regulated by the Maine DMR (saltwater recreational fishing). Check the official Maine regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Cromwell Cove 1 mi · Frenchman Bay 2 mi · Jordan Harbor 4 mi · Lake Wood 4 mi · Stave Island Harbor 4 mi · Sorrento Harbor 5 mi · Eastern Point Harbor 6 mi · Winter Harbor 6 mi · Eastern Bay 6 mi · Flanders Bay 6 mi · Long Pond 7 mi · Northeast Harbor 8 mi
See how Bar Harbor stacks up: best striped bass lakes in Maine · best bluefish lakes in Maine · best atlantic herring lakes in Maine · best atlantic mackerel lakes in Maine
Browse all Maine fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: NOAA BlueTopo (NAVD88; 100% measured, 0% source-interpolated). How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.