Best Fishing Times in Old Orchard Beach Today
Today's solunar windows
Rule-of-thumb windows (angler reference).
Rule-of-thumb fishing window: 10:41 AM – 10:42 AM — the 2 hours before high tide, overlapping today's solunar major. Angler reference, not a guarantee.
Local fishing guide
Common here: striped bass · mackerel · bluefish
Old Orchard is Maine’s classic boardwalk beach, and its pier is one of the few places in the state where a visiting angler can be over fishable water in five minutes from the sand.
What runs when
- Striped bass: July and August are peak — schoolies in the surf at dawn, better fish where the Saco River drains just north.
- Atlantic mackerel: June runs from the pier when they school inshore; a string of sabikis fills a bucket fast.
- Bluefish: late summer, hit-and-run in the wash.
Where to cast
The pier (small fee, all the tackle rental you need) at the tide change; the surf south of the pier at first light; the Saco mouth on a strong outgoing for bigger bass.
Tide timing here
With Maine’s big range, low tide turns the beach into a football field and the pier becomes the only deep option — the rising tide is the surf window, the high tide change is the pier window. Both are readable off today’s chips on this page.
Rules to know
Maine requires no license for its municipal pier, but the surf needs one. Striped bass is slot-only with circle hooks on bait. Current rules: Maine DMR.
Rules: state fishing regulations · today's tide chart for Old Orchard Beach →
Tide movement today
Today's tidal range in Old Orchard Beach is 10.2 ft — close to the annual average of 9.5 ft. The classic rule of thumb: moving water around tide changes tends to fish better than slack tide, and the 2 hours before high tide is the window many anglers favor.
7-day solunar outlook
Gear for this window
- Fish finder / sonar (portable castable) — spot structure on moving tides
- Medium-action rod + 3000-size reel combo — all-round inshore setup
- Wading boots with felt/studded soles — slippery rocks at low tide
- Braid line 15 lb + fluorocarbon leader — feel the bite in current
Gear picks are general recommendations for this kind of tide window. Gear links coming soon.
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FAQ
What time is high tide in Old Orchard Beach today?
Today in Old Orchard Beach, high tide times are 10:42 AM (9.87 ft) and 11:19 PM (8.78 ft), local time (America/New_York), based on NOAA station 8418557.
What time is low tide in Old Orchard Beach today?
Today's low tides in Old Orchard Beach: 4:25 AM (0.72 ft) and 5:00 PM (-0.29 ft), local time, datum MLLW.
Is today good for fishing in Old Orchard Beach?
Yes — solunar rates Old Orchard Beach 5/5 today. Rule-of-thumb fishing window: 10:41 AM – 10:42 AM — the 2 hours before high tide, overlapping today's solunar major. Angler reference, not a guarantee.
Where is the tide measured for Old Orchard Beach?
Tides for Old Orchard Beach are predicted at NOAA CO-OPS station 8418557 (Old Orchard Beach), measured right in Old Orchard Beach — a subordinate station. Times are America/New_York (ET), heights in feet relative to MLLW datum.
Tide predictions for Old Orchard Beach come from NOAA CO-OPS station 8418557 (Old Orchard Beach) — measured right in Old Orchard Beach — a subordinate station — predictions are derived by time/height offsets from a nearby harmonic reference station. Heights are in feet relative to the MLLW datum; all times are local to the station (America/New_York, ET). Source: NOAA Tides & Currents.
Data date: 2026-11-09 · page generated 2026-11-10 00:11 UTC · astronomical predictions, not observed water levels.