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1,340-acre Fore River fishing map with NOAA BlueTopo survey contours (93.94% measured, 98.39% assessed), charted rock and wreck structure, regional fish-survey occurrence, sourced forage timing and verified public access. The water tops out around 67 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. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Fore River maps at 1,338 acres behind 24.9 miles of shoreline, with 8 islands in the mix. The 4.9 development index tells the story — a convoluted bank whose fishable edge far outruns the acreage. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 65% of this chart. The basin spans about 3.9 mi end to end and 2.3 mi across at its widest. If the bite dies, Whitehead Passage is 3 mi to the east.
In spring, striped bass run shallow here, mostly 5 to 20 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 25 to 60 ft before dropping to 20 to 50 ft for winter. Summer striped bass concentrate at Surveyed channel edge, a prime-rated drop-off around 35 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a flutter spoon (deep) or an umbrella rig (trolled) most summer days.
| 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 (35 ft) | Flutter spoon (deep), Umbrella rig (trolled) |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (35 ft) | Topwater walker, Jerkbait |
| Winter | 20 to 50 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (35 ft) | Alabama rig (slow), Flutter spoon |
Come spring, look for bluefish tight to the bank in 3 to 20 ft. They move out to 5 to 30 ft in summer and finish the year down in 15 to 40 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Surveyed channel edge: a drop-off around 30 ft that scores prime in summer. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A popper (early/late) or a metal jigs in the rips is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow feeding flat (9 ft) | Metal (Hopkins/Kastmaster), Pencil popper |
| Summer | 5 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (30 ft) | Popper (early/late), Metal jigs in the rips |
| Fall | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & midday | Shallow feeding flat (9 ft) | Pencil popper, Big metal |
| Winter | 15 to 40 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (35 ft) | Metal jig worked slow (southern waters) |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: atlantic mackerel in 5 to 45 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 13 to 67 ft before dropping to 17 to 67 ft for winter. The spot to know is Surveyed channel edge, a drop-off in about 35 ft of water that rates prime for atlantic mackerel in summer. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a feather rig or a small vertical jig gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (35 ft) | Mackerel feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Summer | 13 to 67 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (35 ft) | Feather rig, Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 10 to 65 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (35 ft) | Compact silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 17 to 67 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (35 ft) | Small deep jig |
Start shallow in spring: atlantic cod sit in 13 to 67 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 17 to 67 ft covers summer, 15 to 67 ft covers winter. The spot to know is NOAA charted underwater rock, a rock pile in about 11 ft of water that rates prime for atlantic cod in fall. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning. Throw a heavy metal jig or a large soft-plastic jig until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 13 to 67 ft | dawn | NOAA charted underwater rock (11 ft) | Diamond jig, Heavy bucktail |
| Summer | 17 to 67 ft | dawn | Dangerous NOAA charted wreck (38 ft) | Heavy metal jig, Large soft-plastic jig |
| Fall | 12 to 67 ft | dawn | NOAA charted underwater rock (11 ft) | Diamond jig, Bucktail with teaser |
| Winter | 15 to 67 ft | midday | Dangerous NOAA charted wreck (38 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
When the water first warms, atlantic herring slide up into 5 to 25 ft. Summer is a 15 to 50 ft game here, winter a 20 to 60 ft one. Start at Surveyed channel edge. It's a drop-off holding about 35 ft of water and rates prime come summer. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. Keep a herring feather rig or a small silver jig rigged through the warm months.
| 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 (35 ft) | Herring feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Fall | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (35 ft) | Small feather rig, Compact silver spoon |
| Winter | 20 to 60 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (35 ft) | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
The chart marks 18 structure features on Fore River; the deepest is Surveyed channel edge at about 45 ft.
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 Fore River specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Maine fishing regulations →
Fore River is about 67 ft (20 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 Fore River.
NOAA charted underwater rock is the top-rated area: a rock pile in about 11 ft of water that rates prime for atlantic cod in fall. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
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 Fore River 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.
Whitehead Passage 3 mi · Diamond Cove 4 mi · Hussey Sound 4 mi · Dorseys Cove 6 mi · Great Ledge Cove 6 mi · Dyer Cove 6 mi · Luckse Sound 6 mi · Richmond Island Harbor 7 mi · Chandler Cove 7 mi · Coleman Cove 8 mi · Broken Cove 10 mi · Highland Lake 10 mi
See how Fore River 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; 94% measured, 4% 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.