About Wells
Wells Harbor is a jettied harbor at the mouth of the Webhannet River on the southern Maine coast. Local fishing and pleasure boats use it to reach the Gulf of Maine. It lies about 6 miles west-southwest of Goat Island Light at Cape Porpoise, off Kennebunkport, on a beach-and-ledge coast that runs northeast toward Saco Bay. Groundfish on the offshore ledges run in spring and autumn, and striped bass and giant bluefin tuna run from summer into autumn. The targets are haddock, pollock and cod on the ledges, striped bass inshore, and giant bluefin tuna offshore. Rules come from the Maine Department of Marine Resources, so check the Maine DMR recreational fishing rules before fishing. Anyone fishing Maine saltwater must register each year with the DMR saltwater registry.
Access and navigation at Wells Harbor
Public launching and mooring at Wells Harbor:
- Wells Harbor town launching ramps – east and west sides of the anchorage basin, double launch, off Harbor Road.
- Wells Harbor moorings – 175 moorings for vessels up to 42 feet, assigned through the harbormaster, waiting list.
The channel runs between the north jetty, which extends southeasterly from Drakes Island, and the south jetty, which extends easterly from Wells Beach. Both have lights on their outer ends, and the opening between them is 400 feet wide. The federal channel is 8 feet deep and 100 feet wide. The inner channel and anchorage are 6 feet deep, and a 10-foot settling basin is dredged to reduce shoaling. NOAA Coast Pilot 1 advises favoring the south jetty side. Swells are reported to break across the entrance even in a moderate sea, and an easterly swell on the ebb tends to stand up across the bar. Shoaling can leave less water than the federal channel’s 8 feet, and charted depths are survey values.
Foul ground lies on both sides of the approach. An unmarked foul area with many rocks awash sits about 0.7 mile off Drakes Island Beach. Another unmarked shoal and foul area extends about 0.5 mile off Wells Beach, with a rock that uncovers 3 feet. Bibb Rock uncovers 2 feet about 0.8 mile off the north end of Moody Beach and is buoyed on its east side.
Perkins Cove in Ogunquit, to the south, is the alternative approach, though it is a poor escape. The entrance channel is narrow, with a reported controlling depth of 4.7 feet. Heavy swells are reported to break clear across the entrance in easterly weather and for as long as 2 days after a heavy blow. A lighted bell buoy sits about 0.8 mile northeast of the entrance, and the harbormaster operates the footbridge on request.
For wind and sea state, use the coastal waters forecast ANZ154. It covers Cape Elizabeth to the Merrimack River out 25 NM, so it does not describe conditions at the entrance itself. The NDBC 44098 Jeffreys Ledge buoy reports wave height and period, but it sits offshore and cannot show what the bar is doing. On arrival, look at the water at the jetties and read the official forecast. If conditions look bigger than you want, switch approaches or wait. The state and port guides on breakpointmaps.com lay out the ledges and water temperature for each port.
Fishing conditions off Wells
The named grounds are Jeffreys Ledge, the main offshore ground, and West Cod Ledge. Both follow the same seasonal pattern, described across the Gulf of Maine. Check the edge on OBS SST or Chart Contours before running to the ledge. Chart layers are not for navigation.
Winter
Weather windows are short and far apart, so watch the ANZ154 and 44098 numbers. Haddock is open outside March. Cod is closed. Check Maine DMR before keeping anything.
Spring
The water is cold, so dress for it. Haddock and pollock are on the ledges. Haddock is closed in March, and the halibut window is short, so check Maine DMR for the dates.
Summer
Giant bluefin tuna work offshore, and the inshore striped bass run follows the beaches and rocks. The foul ground off the beaches matters for small boats working the shoreline. Bluefin require a federal HMS permit.
Autumn
Haddock, pollock and cod are on the ledges. Bluefin carry into fall on Jeffreys Ledge, and striped bass are inshore. Cod opens for only part of autumn, so check Maine DMR before keeping one.
