Massachusetts fishing forecast
Tides, wind and the best bite windows for 13 saltwater spots. Cape Cod, the Islands and the coast from Newburyport to Plymouth.
Striped bass head south along the coast; false albacore and bonito around Cape Cod and the Islands in early fall.
Other seasons
- Winter: Very slow inshore - most anglers switch to ice or freshwater fishing.
- Spring: Striped bass arrive in May along with squid and mackerel.
- Summer: Striped bass, bluefish, scup and black sea bass; fish the rips and the canal at dawn.
General seasonal patterns - always check local reports and the official rules.
North Shore (Massachusetts)
Boston and South Shore
Cape Cod
The Islands
About fishing in Massachusetts
North Shore (Massachusetts)
Plum Island, Gloucester and Salem: rocky coast, river mouths and harbors.
Common catches: Striped bass, bluefish, mackerel and flounder.
Boston and South Shore
Boston Harbor, Scituate and Plymouth: harbor islands, jetties and marshes.
Common catches: Striped bass, bluefish, mackerel, flounder and squid.
Cape Cod
Provincetown, Wellfleet, Chatham and Hyannis: flats, rips and the Cape Cod Canal nearby.
Common catches: Striped bass, bluefish, black sea bass, scup and fluke.
The Islands
Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket and Cuttyhunk: legendary surf and rips for striped bass and bluefish.
Common catches: Striped bass, bluefish, false albacore and bonito in late summer.
Always check the official rules before you keep any fish: Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries - permits, Massachusetts recreational limits (DMF).
