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447-acre Gilley Thorofare fishing map with NOAA BlueTopo survey contours (87.5% measured, 100% assessed), charted rock and wreck structure, regional fish-survey occurrence, sourced forage timing and verified public access. The water tops out around 62 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.
Gilley Thorofare maps at 446 acres behind 3.8 miles of shoreline — 3 islands included. Nearly circular (index 1.3), so the story is the bottom, not the bank. 9% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water. Tip to tip the water measures near 1.2 mi with a 1.1-mi widest point. Its nearest charted neighbour, Cranberry Harbor, is 1 mi to the south.
Spring puts striped bass in skinny water — 5 to 20 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 25 to 60 ft; cold water stacks them in 20 to 50 ft. Surveyed channel edge is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 28 ft, rated prime for summer striped bass. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A flutter spoon (deep) or an umbrella rig (trolled) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (20 ft) | Bucktail jig + trailer, Walking topwater (dawn) |
| Summer | 25 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (28 ft) | Flutter spoon (deep), Umbrella rig (trolled) |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (28 ft) | Topwater walker, Jerkbait |
| Winter | 20 to 50 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (28 ft) | Alabama rig (slow), Flutter spoon |
When the water first warms, bluefish slide up into 3 to 20 ft. Summer is a 5 to 30 ft game here, winter a 15 to 40 ft one. Start at Surveyed channel edge. It's a drop-off holding about 28 ft of water and rates prime come summer. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. Keep a popper (early/late) or a metal jigs in the rips rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (20 ft) | Metal (Hopkins/Kastmaster), Pencil popper |
| Summer | 5 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (28 ft) | Popper (early/late), Metal jigs in the rips |
| Fall | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & midday | Surveyed channel edge (20 ft) | Pencil popper, Big metal |
| Winter | 15 to 40 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (28 ft) | Metal jig worked slow (southern waters) |
Start shallow in spring: atlantic mackerel sit in 5 to 45 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 12 to 62 ft; cold water stacks them in 16 to 62 ft. Top water on the chart: Surveyed channel edge, a drop-off in the 28 ft range, prime in summer. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw a feather rig or a small vertical jig until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (28 ft) | Mackerel feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Summer | 12 to 62 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (28 ft) | Feather rig, Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 10 to 62 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (28 ft) | Compact silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 16 to 62 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (28 ft) | Small deep jig |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: atlantic cod in 12 to 62 ft. The depth story barely changes: 16 to 62 ft through summer, 14 to 62 ft in winter. Top water on the chart: NOAA charted underwater rock, a rock pile in the 15 ft range, prime in spring. Time it for early morning. Summer baits: a heavy metal jig or a large soft-plastic jig gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 12 to 62 ft | dawn | NOAA charted underwater rock (15 ft) | Diamond jig, Heavy bucktail |
| Summer | 16 to 62 ft | dawn | NOAA charted underwater rock (16 ft) | Heavy metal jig, Large soft-plastic jig |
| Fall | 11 to 62 ft | dawn | NOAA charted underwater rock (11 ft) | Diamond jig, Bucktail with teaser |
| Winter | 14 to 62 ft | midday | NOAA charted underwater rock (15 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
Come spring, look for atlantic herring tight to the bank in 5 to 25 ft. They move out to 15 to 50 ft in summer and finish the year down in 20 to 60 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Surveyed channel edge: a drop-off around 28 ft that scores prime in summer. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A herring feather rig or a small silver jig is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | NOAA charted underwater rock (11 ft) | Small herring feather rig, Micro jig rig |
| Summer | 15 to 50 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (28 ft) | Herring feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Fall | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (28 ft) | Small feather rig, Compact silver spoon |
| Winter | 20 to 60 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (28 ft) | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
Count 13 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Surveyed channel edge, sits near 30 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 Gilley Thorofare specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Maine fishing regulations →
Gilley Thorofare is about 62 ft (19 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 Gilley Thorofare.
NOAA charted underwater rock is the top-rated area: a rock pile in about 15 ft of water that rates prime for atlantic cod in spring. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every 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 Gilley Thorofare 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.
Cranberry Harbor 1 mi · Long Pond 2 mi · Northeast Harbor 3 mi · Southwest Harbor 3 mi · Bass Harbor Bar 6 mi · Bass Harbor 6 mi · Long Pond 7 mi · Cromwell Cove 8 mi · Eastern Passage 8 mi · Blue Hill Bay 9 mi · Bar Harbor 9 mi · Lake Wood 10 mi
See how Gilley Thorofare 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; 88% measured, 13% 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.