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281-acre Mackerel Cove fishing map with NOAA BlueTopo survey contours (100% measured, 100% assessed), charted rock and wreck structure, regional fish-survey occurrence, sourced forage timing and verified public access. The water tops out around 65 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. What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:
On the chart, Mackerel Cove draws 281 acres inside 3.8 miles of shoreline, broken up by 3 islands. Index 1.6 on the shoreline: a few honest points and pockets, nothing labyrinthine. About 13% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft — that's the weed-and-bait zone. The basin spans about 1.4 mi end to end and 0.4 mi across at its widest. For a second option, Casco Passage lies 1 mi northwest.
Early season striped bass use the shallows, holding in 5 to 20 ft. Summer is a 25 to 60 ft game here, winter a 20 to 50 ft one. The chart's best answer is Surveyed channel edge — drop-off, 43 ft, prime for summer. Best bite is 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 | Surveyed channel edge (15 ft) | Bucktail jig + trailer, Walking topwater (dawn) |
| Summer | 25 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (43 ft) | Flutter spoon (deep), Umbrella rig (trolled) |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (15 ft) | Topwater walker, Jerkbait |
| Winter | 20 to 50 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (43 ft) | Alabama rig (slow), Flutter spoon |
In spring, bluefish run shallow here, mostly 3 to 20 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 5 to 30 ft, and winter fish settle into 15 to 40 ft. Surveyed channel edge is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 15 ft, rated prime for summer bluefish. Time it for early morning and the evening. 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 | Surveyed channel edge (15 ft) | Metal (Hopkins/Kastmaster), Pencil popper |
| Summer | 5 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (15 ft) | Popper (early/late), Metal jigs in the rips |
| Fall | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & midday | Surveyed channel edge (15 ft) | Pencil popper, Big metal |
| Winter | 15 to 40 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (15 ft) | Metal jig worked slow (southern waters) |
Spring atlantic mackerel on Mackerel Cove hold shallow, usually 5 to 45 ft. By summer they slide out to 12 to 65 ft, and by winter most fish are in 16 to 65 ft. The chart's best answer is Surveyed channel edge — drop-off, 43 ft, prime for summer. Prime time lands in 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 | Surveyed channel edge (43 ft) | Mackerel feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Summer | 12 to 65 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (43 ft) | Feather rig, Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 10 to 65 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (43 ft) | Compact silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 16 to 65 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (43 ft) | Small deep jig |
When the water first warms, atlantic cod slide up into 13 to 65 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 16 to 65 ft, winter 15 to 65 ft. If you only fish one area, make it NOAA charted underwater rock: a rock pile around 19 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in 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 | 13 to 65 ft | dawn | NOAA charted underwater rock (19 ft) | Diamond jig, Heavy bucktail |
| Summer | 16 to 65 ft | dawn | NOAA charted underwater rock (19 ft) | Heavy metal jig, Large soft-plastic jig |
| Fall | 12 to 65 ft | dawn | NOAA charted underwater rock (19 ft) | Diamond jig, Bucktail with teaser |
| Winter | 15 to 65 ft | midday | NOAA charted underwater rock (19 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
Spring puts atlantic herring in skinny water — 5 to 25 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 15 to 50 ft, wintering in 20 to 60 ft. Summer atlantic herring concentrate at Surveyed channel edge, a prime-rated drop-off around 43 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. 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 (43 ft) | Herring feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Fall | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (15 ft) | Small feather rig, Compact silver spoon |
| Winter | 20 to 60 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (43 ft) | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
Mackerel Cove carries 10 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Surveyed channel edge, about 43 ft down.
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 Mackerel Cove specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Maine fishing regulations →
Mackerel Cove is about 65 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 Mackerel Cove.
NOAA charted underwater rock is the top-rated area: a rock pile in about 19 ft of water that rates prime for atlantic cod in spring. Open the map above to see every rated 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 Mackerel Cove 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.
Casco Passage 1 mi · Goose Pond 2 mi · Blue Hill Bay 3 mi · Eastern Passage 4 mi · Toothacher Bay 4 mi · Jericho Bay 5 mi · Bass Harbor Bar 5 mi · Bass Harbor 6 mi · Boxam Cove 6 mi · Naskeag Harbor 6 mi · Southwest Harbor 9 mi · Southeast Harbor 10 mi
See how Mackerel Cove 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.