When yellowfin show up off Saco / Biddeford
Yellowfin tuna fishing out of Saco / Biddeford rests on a single charter listing, which names yellowfin "if conditions are right." This page makes no promise of fish. It gives the grounds, depths, buoy and departure point so you can decide whether the run is worth making.
Boats leave from Camp Ellis at the Saco River mouth and work the western Gulf of Maine.
What the local evidence says
The Struggle Is Reel Charters, out of Camp Ellis, names yellowfin among the species in its waters "if conditions are right." That is a species mention and nothing more, and there are no dated local catches to point to.
Reading "if conditions are right"
The listing ties yellowfin to conditions rather than to a calendar. No fixed window exists to circle, so a trip decision starts from what the water is doing on the day. For the seasonal picture across the region, see yellowfin across the Atlantic Northeast (see also the Atlantic Northeast fishing guide).
Three things shape the call:
- Water on the day. Presence depends on conditions, so check the water before you commit fuel.
- Distance to the ledges. The named offshore grounds sit well beyond the inshore marks.
- The buoy and forecast. Wind, wave height and period determine what the run will be like.
Where boats run and the grounds that hold fish
Boats leave from the Camp Ellis jetty at the Saco River mouth. The offshore grounds are two ledges at 300 ft, and the inshore marks are shallow landmarks passed on the way out.
| Ground | Depth (ft) | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Jeffreys Ledge | 300 | Offshore, tuna-relevant depth |
| Tantas Ledge | 300 | Offshore, tuna-relevant depth |
| Negro Island Ledge | 8 | Inshore landmark |
| Ram Island Ledge | 6 | Inshore landmark |
| Camp Ellis jetty | n/a | Saco River mouth, departure point |
| Biddeford Pool and Fortunes Rocks | n/a | Inshore, south of the river mouth |
| Goose Rocks Beach | n/a | Inshore, night striper bite on eels |
Jeffreys and Tantas both show on Chart Contours in the app. Chart layers are not for navigation.
Jeffreys Ledge
Jeffreys Ledge sits at 300 ft, the depth class that puts it on a yellowfin run list.
Tantas Ledge
Tantas Ledge is the other named offshore ground, also at 300 ft. Neither ledge has a dated yellowfin catch tied to it.
Inshore ledges and landmarks
Ram Island Ledge is 6 ft and Negro Island Ledge is 8 ft. Both are inshore landmarks you pass on the way, not tuna ground. The Camp Ellis jetty sits at the Saco River mouth, and Biddeford Pool and Fortunes Rocks lie south of it.
Goose Rocks Beach in Biddeford is known for a night striper bite on eels, so a boat working these marks is fishing for something else.
Reading NDBC 44007
The nearest buoy is the NDBC 44007 Portland buoy, 12 NM southeast of Portland, ME, at 43.525N 70.140W. Three numbers matter: wind, wave height and dominant period. Wave height alone gives only part of the picture, since the period shows how those seas are spaced.
Check the official NWS marine forecast alongside the buoy. The buoy reports conditions where it sits, which may differ from the ledges.
How yellowfin are fished from this port
No local method is documented for yellowfin out of Saco / Biddeford. For technique, temperature and behavior, see how yellowfin are fished.
Who fishes for yellowfin out of Camp Ellis
The Struggle Is Reel Charters
Captain Chris Cobbett runs a 2502 Parker offshore sportfisher for 4 passengers out of Camp Ellis. The Struggle Is Reel listing names yellowfin "if conditions are right." Ask the captain how conditions look before you book a yellowfin-specific trip.
FAQ: yellowfin tuna out of Saco / Biddeford
Do yellowfin tuna come to Saco / Biddeford?
One local charter lists them "if conditions are right." There are no dated local catches, so presence should be treated as depending on conditions rather than the calendar.
How deep are the offshore grounds?
Jeffreys Ledge and Tantas Ledge are both 300 ft. The inshore ledges are 6 ft and 8 ft, and they are not tuna ground.
Which buoy should I check before the run?
NDBC 44007, 12 NM southeast of Portland at 43.525N 70.140W. Read wind, wave height and dominant period alongside the official forecast.
Is bluefin the more realistic tuna here?
This page covers yellowfin only. For bluefin and the other tunas, start with our tuna fishing guides index.
Can I book a yellowfin trip from Camp Ellis?
The Struggle Is Reel Charters lists yellowfin, with Captain Chris Cobbett, a 2502 Parker and room for 4 passengers. Bookings depend on conditions.
