When bluefin are off Scituate
Atlantic bluefin tuna fishing out of Scituate runs June through October on operator sites. Harbor, launch and marina details are on the Scituate port page. For how the fish move through the year, see our Atlantic bluefin tuna guide.
This page covers where the fleet runs, what it uses and who fishes the port.
Where boats run from Scituate
Mass Bay Guides gives its average offshore run as about 20 miles, or wherever the bite is. The fleet follows the fish rather than a fixed spot.
Labrador lists Stellwagen Bank, Wildcat Knoll, Cape Cod Bay, Jeffreys Ledge, Race Point and Platts Bank / Three Dory Ledge as its grounds.
| Ground | What the operators say |
|---|---|
| Stellwagen Bank | On the Mass Bay Guides average run of about 20 miles |
| Cape Cod Bay | Named by Labrador |
| Race Point | Named by operators as a striper and tuna ground |
| Wildcat Knoll | Named by Labrador |
| Jeffreys Ledge | Named by Labrador |
| Platts Bank / Three Dory Ledge | Named by Labrador |
You can view these grounds against bottom contours in the Chart Contours layer in Breakpoint. Chart layers are not for navigation.
Stellwagen Bank
Stellwagen Bank is on Labrador’s list of grounds. It sits on the average offshore run of about 20 miles that Mass Bay Guides gives.
Cape Cod Bay and Race Point
Cape Cod Bay is on Labrador’s list. Operators also name Race Point as a striped bass and tuna ground.
Wildcat Knoll
Wildcat Knoll is on Labrador’s list of fishing grounds.
Jeffreys Ledge
Jeffreys Ledge is on Labrador’s list of fishing grounds.
Platts Bank and Three Dory Ledge
Labrador lists Platts Bank / Three Dory Ledge as a fishing ground. These northern grounds point toward the wider Gulf of Maine, which the Northeast bluefin guide (see also the Atlantic Northeast region guide) covers.
Structure close to the harbor
Operators don’t place bluefin on the structure near the harbor.
Minot’s Ledge
Minot’s Ledge lies off Scituate Neck and is marked by the "I Love You" light. It is a landmark, not a tuna spot.
Stone Ledge and Flatt Ledge
Stone Ledge is a haddock and cod ground, and Flatt Ledge is a cod ground. Neither is a tuna ground; the bluefin runs go offshore.
How bluefin are fished here
Local boats fish bluefin three ways: live bait loaded on the run out, trolling, and casting when fish show on the surface.
Bait on the way out
Boats load live bait on the way out. The local list is mackerel, pogies, herring or whiting.
Live bait or troll
Boats either fish that live bait or troll. Atlantic bluefin tuna fishing out of Scituate uses both.
Casting to feeds
Boats cast to surface feeds when the fish are under roughly 150 lb.
Who fishes for bluefin from Scituate
Six local charters list Atlantic bluefin tuna. If you are comparing beyond this port, see our guide to tuna charters and guides.
| Operator | Listed detail |
|---|---|
| Mass Bay Guides | Family-run since 1999 |
| Legit Fish Sportfishing | Captain Mark Rowell |
| Elizabeth Marie Sport Fishing | Captain Rob Green |
| Labrador Fishing Charters | Captain Don Campbell, 32-foot BHM |
| Polar Bear Charters | 38-foot sportfish with twin diesels, based at Mill Wharf Marina |
| Go Get ‘Em Sportfishing | No captain or boat names found on the pages opened |
FAQ about Atlantic bluefin tuna fishing out of Scituate
When is the bluefin season out of Scituate?
Operator sites list June through October. The grounds above are where boats run in that window.
How far do boats run from Scituate for bluefin?
Mass Bay Guides gives its average offshore run as about 20 miles, or wherever the bite is. Stellwagen Bank sits on that run.
What bait do Scituate boats use for bluefin?
Boats load live mackerel, pogies, herring or whiting on the way out. Trolling is the alternative.
When do boats cast to bluefin here?
Boats cast when surface feeds show and the fish are under roughly 150 lb.
Is Minot’s Ledge a tuna spot?
No. It is a landmark off Scituate Neck, marked by the "I Love You" light. Stone Ledge and Flatt Ledge are cod and haddock grounds. The bluefin grounds are offshore: Stellwagen Bank, Cape Cod Bay and the others Labrador names.
