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549-acre Wheeler Bay fishing map with NOAA BlueTopo survey contours (98.49% measured, 100% assessed), charted rock and wreck structure, regional fish-survey occurrence, sourced forage timing and verified public access. The water tops out around 39 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.
The outline encloses 548 acres, worked by 9.4 miles of shoreline, broken up by 5 islands. The 2.9 development index tells the story — a convoluted bank whose fishable edge far outruns the acreage. About 69% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft — that's the weed-and-bait zone. Figure 1.6 mi of water from one end to the other, 1.2 mi at the beam. If the bite dies, Rackliff Bay is 1 mi to the southeast.
In spring, striped bass run shallow here, mostly 5 to 20 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 12 to 39 ft, and winter fish settle into 12 to 39 ft. Surveyed channel edge is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 17 ft, rated good for summer striped bass. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a topwater walker at low light or a paddletail on a light 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 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (17 ft) | 3-6 inch paddletail, Suspending minnow plug |
| Summer | 12 to 39 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (17 ft) | Topwater walker at low light, Paddletail on a light jig |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (17 ft) | Pencil popper, Baitfish swimbait |
| Winter | 12 to 39 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 50 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (17 ft) | Slow paddletail, Bucktail near bottom |
Come spring, look for bluefish tight to the bank in 3 to 20 ft. Expect a summer slide to 5 to 30 ft, then a winter hold in 12 to 39 ft. Start at Surveyed channel edge. It's a drop-off holding about 17 ft of water and rates good come summer. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A popper (early/late) or a metal jigs in the rips 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 | 3 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (17 ft) | Metal (Hopkins/Kastmaster), Pencil popper |
| Summer | 5 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (17 ft) | Popper (early/late), Metal jigs in the rips |
| Fall | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & midday | Surveyed channel edge (17 ft) | Pencil popper, Big metal |
| Winter | 12 to 39 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 40 ft | midday | open water | Metal jig worked slow (southern waters) |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: atlantic mackerel in 4 to 39 ft. The depth story barely changes: 7 to 39 ft through summer, 10 to 39 ft in winter. Top water on the chart: Surveyed channel edge, a drop-off in the 17 ft range, good in summer. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a feather rig or a small vertical jig gets it done.
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 | 4 to 39 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (17 ft) | Mackerel feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Summer | 7 to 39 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 80 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (17 ft) | Feather rig, Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 6 to 39 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 65 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (17 ft) | Compact silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 10 to 39 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 120 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (17 ft) | Small deep jig |
Start shallow in spring: atlantic cod sit in 8 to 39 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 10 to 39 ft covers summer, 9 to 39 ft covers winter. Top water on the chart: NOAA charted underwater rock, a rock pile in the 17 ft range, prime in spring. Fish it in early morning and you'll meet the bite. Throw a heavy metal jig or a large soft-plastic jig until the fish tell you otherwise.
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 | 8 to 39 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 100 ft | dawn | NOAA charted underwater rock (17 ft) | Diamond jig, Heavy bucktail |
| Summer | 10 to 39 ft chart-limited; documented 45 to 180 ft | dawn | NOAA charted underwater rock (17 ft) | Heavy metal jig, Large soft-plastic jig |
| Fall | 7 to 39 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 140 ft | dawn | NOAA charted underwater rock (17 ft) | Diamond jig, Bucktail with teaser |
| Winter | 9 to 39 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 220 ft | midday | NOAA charted underwater rock (17 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
When the water first warms, atlantic herring slide up into 5 to 25 ft. By summer they slide out to 12 to 39 ft, and by winter most fish are in 12 to 39 ft. If you only fish one area, make it NOAA charted underwater rock: a rock pile around 17 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a herring feather rig or a small silver jig rigged through the warm months.
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 (17 ft) | Small herring feather rig, Micro jig rig |
| Summer | 12 to 39 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 50 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (17 ft) | Herring feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Fall | 10 to 39 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (17 ft) | Small feather rig, Compact silver spoon |
| Winter | 12 to 39 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 60 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (17 ft) | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
In spring, winter flounder run shallow here, mostly 2 to 18 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 8 to 30 ft before dropping to 3 to 20 ft for winter. Spring winter flounder concentrate at Surveyed channel edge, a good-rated drop-off around 17 ft. Fish it in early morning and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a light scented jig worked slowly most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Surveyed channel edge (17 ft) | Small bucktail tipped with worm, Scented grub on a light jig |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn | Surveyed channel edge (17 ft) | Light scented jig worked slowly |
| Fall | 6 to 25 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (17 ft) | Small bucktail + worm, Scented bottom jig |
| Winter | 3 to 20 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (17 ft) | Small bucktail tipped with worm |
The chart marks 10 structure features on Wheeler Bay; the deepest is NOAA charted underwater rock at about 17 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 Wheeler Bay specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Maine fishing regulations →
Wheeler Bay is about 39 ft (12 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 Wheeler 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 17 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 Wheeler 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.
Rackliff Bay 1 mi · Clark Cove 1 mi · Saint George River 3 mi · Muscle Ridge Channel 3 mi · Tenants Harbor 3 mi · Home Harbor 4 mi · Dix Island Harbor 5 mi · Rockland Harbor 8 mi · Owls Head Bay 8 mi · South Pond 9 mi · Crawford Pond 14 mi · Seven Tree Pond 14 mi
See how Wheeler 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; 98% measured, 2% 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.