When bluefin are off Wells
Atlantic bluefin tuna fishing out of Wells runs through summer and fall, per Apex Charters. This port briefing is for anglers running their own boats and covers the grounds, the local routine and the boats that fish it. If you already work the water around Wells, you know the harbor. What follows is what lies past the jetties.
Summer and fall
Apex Charters gives summer and fall as the bluefin window out of Wells, so plan around two seasons rather than a single week. The species guide covers why the fish come and go.
The August shift
Later in August, tuna are reported moving toward Tantas Ledge, Jeffreys Ledge and Platts. That shift is worth keeping in mind when deciding where to point the boat late in summer. It is a report of movement and says nothing certain about where fish will be on a given day.
Where boats run from Wells
Apex describes catching bait at the dock, then running to the tuna grounds. The grounds it names are Jeffreys Ledge, Tantas Ledge and Platts Bank. The Gulf of Maine picture is in the regional guide (see also the wider Atlantic Northeast guide). Southern Maine anglers also mark a handful of reference points along the way.
| Name | Depth or role |
|---|---|
| Jeffreys Ledge | 164 ft; tuna ground |
| Tantas Ledge | Tuna ground |
| Platts Bank (Platt’s) | Tuna ground |
| LNB Buoy | Offshore buoy used as a marker |
| West Cod Ledge | Named structure |
| Boon Island | Named landmark |
| Wells Harbor entrance jetties | Harbor entrance |
| Humps within a mile of the harbor | Hold bait and bass |
Leaving the harbor
The run begins at the Wells Harbor entrance jetties. Within a mile of the harbor, unnamed humps hold bait and bass. Anglers who fish stripers inshore will know this water already, and it is where a day of bait work can start.
Reference marks: LNB Buoy, West Cod Ledge, Boon Island
The LNB Buoy is an offshore buoy used as a marker. West Cod Ledge and Boon Island are named reference points on the way out. Mark them, along with the named ledges, against Chart Contours before the run. Chart layers are not for navigation.
The three tuna grounds
Jeffreys Ledge (164 ft), Tantas Ledge and Platts Bank, which locals shorten to Platt’s, are the grounds where tuna are reported moving later in August. They are also the three grounds named for bluefin out of Wells.
Reading conditions: NOAA buoy 44030
The nearest NOAA buoy is NOAA NDBC 44030 (Buoy B01, Western Maine Shelf), at 43.179 N, 70.426 W in 62 m (about 203 ft) of water. It is listed on the NDBC Northeast station list.
Read wind, wave height and wave period as numbers before you leave the jetties. The buoy reports a single point on the Western Maine Shelf, not conditions on each ledge, so check the NWS Gray marine forecasts alongside it.
How bluefin are fished out of Wells
Apex Charters trips follow a set sequence: catch bait, run to the grounds, then either sit on the ball or drift.
Catching bait first
Apex trips begin at the dock, catching bait before the run. The inshore humps that hold bait are close to the harbor, which helps when planning your own morning.
Sitting on the ball or drifting
On the grounds, Apex describes two options. Sitting on the ball means holding the boat on a marked school of bait instead of moving off it. Drifting means letting the boat move instead of holding position. A boat does one or the other, so decide before you set up.
Light-tackle and fly bluefin
Breton’s and Apex-style operators in the area offer light-tackle and fly tuna trips.
Who fishes bluefin out of Wells
These boats fish the same grounds in the same way, and a charter is one way to see the method before you run your own.
- Apex Charters fishing charters: 2 boats.
- Relentless Pursuit Charters (Relentless Fishing Charters): the C-Brook, a 25 ft Steiger Craft pilot house.
- Breton’s southern Maine charters: light-tackle and fly tuna trips.
- Salty Lewer Charter Fishing: Capt. Bryan Lewer.
FAQ about Atlantic bluefin tuna fishing out of Wells
When are bluefin off Wells?
Atlantic bluefin tuna fishing out of Wells runs through summer and fall, per Apex Charters. Later in August, tuna are reported moving toward Tantas Ledge, Jeffreys Ledge and Platts. That is a reported shift and does not guarantee fish on any given day.
Where do Wells boats run for tuna?
Boats catch bait at the dock, then run to Jeffreys Ledge (164 ft), Tantas Ledge and Platts Bank. The LNB Buoy, West Cod Ledge and Boon Island serve as reference marks along the way. Mark them before you go.
What buoy do I check before running out of Wells?
Check NOAA NDBC 44030 (Buoy B01, Western Maine Shelf), 43.179 N, 70.426 W, 62 m (about 203 ft). Read wind, wave height and wave period as numbers. It reports one point, not each ledge, so pair it with the official NWS Gray marine forecast.
How is bluefin fished from Wells?
Trips start by catching bait at the dock, then run to the grounds. There the boat either sits on the ball or drifts. Breton’s and Apex-style operators also offer light-tackle and fly tuna trips locally.
