Monhegan Boat Line: Puffin and Lobstering Tour from Port Clyde, MidCoast

During the summer months getting out on the water in Maine is always a treat. Monhegan Boat Line’s puffin and nature cruise from Port Clyde offers a really cool tour that includes everything you want from a Maine boating experience: lighthouses, nautical views, lobstering and wildlife watching. One of the more remote places you can visit in MidCoast Maine is Easter Egg Rock and that’s why we chose a tour with Monhegan Boat Lines, as this is where you can actually see puffins in the wild. Puffin tours!! Who knew that was a thing?

Did you know that you can actually see puffins in Maine? It’s true! Read on to get the full scoop on what you can expect with and why you should go out with Monhegan Boat Lines. The town of Port Clyde itself is picturesque and then when you add all the fun on the water it becomes a destination you MUST add to your summertime trip to Maine. If you have any questions about going out with Monhegan Boat Lines or visiting Port Clyde, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and help you plan a great visit to Maine.

Highlights of Monhegan Boat Line Tour

We initially booked our boat tour with Monhegan Boat Line from Port Clyde because they’re one of the few boat companies that goes out to Easter Egg Rock to see the puffins, so we didn’t research much more of what the tour involved. Turns out that this is actually a wonderfully Maine experience that includes whale watching, sailing past picturesque Wyeth sites from his paintings, and even lobstering demonstrations. I think it was all the additional perks of the trip that made the Monhegan Boat Lines tour so great.

As you leave from Port Clyde you get to gently meander through the coves and waterways, passing by Monhegan Island, as you make it out to the lobstering waters. The crew shares their stories of the lobster industry and being in lobstering families and then proceeds to start pulling pots to demonstrate the process and actually bring in lobsters (not for guests to keep). It’s really cool to see the whole thing from start to finish, including measuring and identifying unique traits of the lobsters. Seriously, it’s one of the best educational opportunities you’ll find on the water.

The other highlights I mentioned include going through the island the Wyeth family have called home over the years. If you’re not familiar Andrew and Jamie Wyeth are both well known artists with many famous pieces in museums all around Maine and the USA. Seeing the beautiful landscapes and way of life out in the islands is very special. When you make it out into the open water that’s when it’s time to watch for whales, porpoises, sea birds and, of course, Atlantic puffins. Mixed into lots of other species of birds, looking for puffins is a bit of a Where’s Waldo? but the Monhegan Boat Lines crew is awesome at spotting them and following them around Easter Egg Rock. It’s one of my favorite boat experiences in Maine.

Visit Monhegan Boat Line site to book!

Tips for the Lobstering and Puffin Tour

Any time we plan a boat tour, whether it’s whale watching with Monhegan Boat Lines from Port Clyde or doing a longer trip, say with Capn N Fishes from Boothbay Harbor, we’re always well prepared with full tummies, plenty of water and we’re dressed in layers. When you do the lobster and puffin tour, it’s on a smaller ship, but larger than most lobstering vessels, so if there’s a bit of a swell (waves) or wind it may get a bit rocky. I’m prone to seasickness so I try to manage it from the start. If you’re okay taking an anti-nausea medicine, I find that to be more helpful than motion sickness medication, just because it doesn’t knock me out. I want to be awake to enjoy the boat tour and see puffins. While it doesn’t make a huge difference on a smaller boat, being near the back and in the fresh air is another way to manage motion sickness.

When the lobstering demonstration is going, be sure that you or your family gets into a good position to be able to see what’s happening. While the crew is great about going around to everyone to show the lobsters and answer questions, it’s fun to be a part of the whole thing. Visiting Maine with kids is always fun because there’s such a strong nautical culture engrained in everything, so being on a lobster boat is the paramount experience, I think. You should know where your lobster rolls come from!

Wildlife in Maine is beautiful… and fleeting. When you’re in the open water on your Monhegan Boat Lines tour, keep your eyes peeled and your ears alert to be able to see the whales and other wildlife as you go. The crew will announce any wildlife that they see, but if it’s a whale it may dive down and not resurface while you’re in the area. With the puffins, the captain keeps the boat circling Easter Egg Rock for a while so there are lots of opportunities to see the puffins. You have to pay attention though and keep alert because sometimes they fly and I’ll tell you, they fly fast!

Being Prepared for Monhegan Boat Line Puffin Tour

Dress for the weather you see and be prepared for the weather you don’t. While Maine in the summer is often beautiful without surprise storms, the Atlantic Ocean is large and weather systems can move in. Dress in layers, including a raincoat if that’s in the potential forecast. There is an indoor cabin when you’re on the Monhegan Boat Lines tour from Port Clyde, so if the rain rolls in or it’s too windy for you that’s an option to keep the boat tour enjoyable. We’ve been on the water with the rain and on beautiful days, and each experience is fun in its own way.

On sunny days, you’ll definitely need sunblock (applied before you’re on the boat) because the sunlight reflects off the water quite a bit and you’ll feel it after a while. Polarized sunglasses are also great to have with you, particularly if it’s a sunny day and you’re watching the puffins. The reflections can make it difficult to see the birds, and porpoises too if they’re around.

When it comes to camera gear for the Monhegan Boat Lines tour, I would recommend a DSLR or mirrorless with a telephoto lens if you’re into wildlife photography. A camera phone is nice for capturing the beauty of the area and some of the whales you’ll likely see, but for good photos of fluking whales or puffins, or even the nautical buildings on the islands, a bigger lens is helpful. Since the boat is moving, a lens bigger than 400mm can be difficult to keep stable, but if you’re lucky and it’s a really calm day you can for sure manage a 600mm lens for photographing the puffins.

Parking in Port Clyde for Monhegan Boat Line

Monhegan Boat Lines goes from the small town of Port Clyde, which is also a favorite destination for tourist looking for lunch on the water or who want to go kayaking between the coves and islands. On summer days, particularly weekends, Port Clyde can be BUSY. When you arrive for your tour, be sure you’re getting there plenty early to get parking. There are parking attendants who will help direct traffic and stacked parking just off the marina. It may be tight, but the staff on site is great about getting people situated so everyone can park in time for their tour. If you’re looking for parking on your own, just be mindful of the posted signs around town.