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1,300-acre East Bay fishing map with NOAA BlueTopo survey contours (93.48% measured, 96.7% assessed), charted rock and wreck structure, regional fish-survey occurrence, sourced forage timing and verified public access. The water tops out around 45 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. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
On the chart, East Bay draws 1,297 acres inside 21 miles of shoreline, broken up by 4 islands. A development index of 4.2 means a maze of bays and points: far more casting targets than a round bowl of the same size. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 62% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. Figure 3.2 mi of water from one end to the other, 2.1 mi at the beam. The nearest mapped water is Cobscook Bay, 3 mi to the southeast.
Spring striped bass on East Bay hold shallow, usually 5 to 20 ft. By summer they slide out to 14 to 45 ft, and by winter most fish are in 14 to 45 ft. The chart's best answer is Surveyed channel edge — drop-off, 19 ft, good for summer. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a topwater walker at low light or a paddletail on a light jig.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (19 ft) | 3-6 inch paddletail, Suspending minnow plug |
| Summer | 14 to 45 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (19 ft) | Topwater walker at low light, Paddletail on a light jig |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (19 ft) | Pencil popper, Baitfish swimbait |
| Winter | 14 to 45 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 50 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (19 ft) | Slow paddletail, Bucktail near bottom |
Spring puts bluefish in skinny water — 3 to 20 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 5 to 30 ft; cold water stacks them in 15 to 40 ft. Surveyed channel edge is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 19 ft, rated good for summer bluefish. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A popper (early/late) or a metal jigs in the rips covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (19 ft) | Metal (Hopkins/Kastmaster), Pencil popper |
| Summer | 5 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (19 ft) | Popper (early/late), Metal jigs in the rips |
| Fall | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & midday | Surveyed channel edge (19 ft) | Pencil popper, Big metal |
| Winter | 15 to 40 ft | midday | open water | Metal jig worked slow (southern waters) |
Early season atlantic mackerel use the shallows, holding in 5 to 45 ft. Even in summer they hold at 8 to 45 ft; winter keeps them in 11 to 45 ft. The chart's best answer is Surveyed channel edge — drop-off, 19 ft, good for summer. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a feather rig or a small vertical jig and you're in the game.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (19 ft) | Mackerel feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Summer | 8 to 45 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 80 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (19 ft) | Feather rig, Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 7 to 45 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 65 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (19 ft) | Compact silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 11 to 45 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 120 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (19 ft) | Small deep jig |
Come spring, look for atlantic cod tight to the bank in 9 to 45 ft. Through summer count on 11 to 45 ft; the winter hold is 10 to 45 ft. If you only fish one area, make it NOAA charted underwater rock: a rock pile around 13 ft that scores prime in spring. Best bite is early morning. A heavy metal jig or a large soft-plastic jig is the honest summer answer here.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 9 to 45 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 100 ft | dawn | NOAA charted underwater rock (13 ft) | Diamond jig, Heavy bucktail |
| Summer | 11 to 45 ft chart-limited; documented 45 to 180 ft | dawn | NOAA charted underwater rock (13 ft) | Heavy metal jig, Large soft-plastic jig |
| Fall | 8 to 45 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 140 ft | dawn | NOAA charted underwater rock (13 ft) | Diamond jig, Bucktail with teaser |
| Winter | 10 to 45 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 220 ft | midday | NOAA charted underwater rock (13 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
In spring, atlantic herring run shallow here, mostly 5 to 25 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 14 to 45 ft before dropping to 14 to 45 ft for winter. Spring atlantic herring concentrate at NOAA charted underwater rock, a prime-rated rock pile around 7 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a herring feather rig or a small silver jig most summer days.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| 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 | 14 to 45 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 50 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (19 ft) | Herring feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Fall | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (19 ft) | Small feather rig, Compact silver spoon |
| Winter | 14 to 45 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 60 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (19 ft) | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
When the water first warms, winter flounder slide up into 2 to 18 ft. By summer they slide out to 8 to 30 ft, and by winter most fish are in 3 to 20 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Surveyed channel edge: a drop-off around 8 ft that scores good in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Keep a light scented jig worked slowly rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Surveyed channel edge (8 ft) | Small bucktail tipped with worm, Scented grub on a light jig |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn | Surveyed channel edge (19 ft) | Light scented jig worked slowly |
| Fall | 6 to 25 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (19 ft) | Small bucktail + worm, Scented bottom jig |
| Winter | 3 to 20 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (19 ft) | Small bucktail tipped with worm |
13 pieces of structure are mapped here — NOAA charted underwater rock, around 24 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 East Bay specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Maine fishing regulations →
East Bay is about 45 ft (14 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, winter flounder on East Bay. The list combines the water's survey records with habitat-filtered species from broader official evidence; those additions are plausible occurrences, not exact-water abundance or guaranteed catches.
NOAA charted underwater rock is the top-rated area: a rock pile in about 13 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 East Bay 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.
Cobscook Bay 3 mi · Boyden Lake 5 mi · Harris Cove 6 mi · Pennamaquan Lake 7 mi · Johnson Bay 8 mi · Round Pond 9 mi · Lake Glensevern 10 mi, NB · Rocky Lake 13 mi · Chamcook Lake 14 mi, NB · Gardner Lake 15 mi · Little Chamcook Lake 15 mi, NB · Meddybemps Lake 16 mi
See how East Bay stacks up: best striped bass lakes in Maine · best winter flounder lakes in Maine · best bluefish lakes in Maine · best atlantic herring lakes in Maine
Browse all Maine fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: NOAA BlueTopo (NAVD88; 93% measured, 3% 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.