When black sea bass are around Hyannis
Half-day porgy and sea bass trips out of Hyannis run June to September, which sets the practical window for Hyannis black sea bass. Fishing here splits into two runs: the inshore half-day game in Nantucket Sound, and the offshore run to Nantucket and Nantucket Shoals. The wider picture is in the black sea bass fishing in the Atlantic Northeast and the Atlantic Northeast fishing guide.
Trip season (June to September)
The June to September window comes from the half-day trip schedule. It describes when those trips run, not when fish arrive or leave. For the fish itself, see our black sea bass fishing guide.
| Window | What runs |
|---|---|
| June to September | Half-day porgy and sea bass trips |
| Year-round for planning | Offshore fluke and sea bass trips to Nantucket and Nantucket Shoals |
Where boats run from Hyannis
Trips depart Hyannis Harbor and go one of two ways: half-day trips in Nantucket Sound, or offshore fluke and sea bass trips to Nantucket and Nantucket Shoals. Departure details are on our Hyannis port page. That choice shapes the rest of the day, since sea bass out of Hyannis means either a short run in the sound or a long one to the Shoals.
| Inshore | Offshore | |
|---|---|---|
| Area | Nantucket Sound | Nantucket and Nantucket Shoals |
| Trip type | Half-day trips | Offshore fluke and sea bass trips |
| Targets | black sea bass, scup, porgies, fluke | fluke, black sea bass |
Nantucket Sound half-day trips
The half-day inshore trips stay in Nantucket Sound and target a mixed bag of black sea bass, scup, porgies and fluke.
Nantucket and Nantucket Shoals offshore
The offshore trips run to Nantucket and Nantucket Shoals for fluke and sea bass. The named features of the Shoals are covered in the next section.
Reading conditions at buoy 44020
NOAA’s NDBC Station 44020 buoy data comes from the Nantucket Sound buoy at 41.497 N 70.283 W. It reports wind, wave height and wave period, which describe the water a boat crosses leaving Hyannis Harbor into Nantucket Sound.
Check NDBC 44020 and the official Nantucket Sound marine forecast before the run. The buoy reports only at its own position, so it says nothing about conditions at the Shoals. Read both sources, then compare them with what you see at the harbor mouth.
Grounds and structure that hold them
The named grounds off Hyannis are Nantucket Shoals, Phelps Bank, Davis Bank, Middle Rip, Asia Rip and Fishing Rip. For how structure holds fish across the region, see our reef fish fishing guides. Chart layers are not for navigation.
Nantucket Shoals
Nantucket Shoals is the offshore ground the fluke and sea bass trips run to.
Phelps Bank
Phelps Bank is a named bank on the list of grounds fished from this port.
Davis Bank and the Shoals rips
Davis Bank, Middle Rip, Asia Rip and Fishing Rip are named features of Nantucket Shoals:
- Davis Bank
- Middle Rip
- Asia Rip
- Fishing Rip
How they are fished and who fishes them
Out of Hyannis, black sea bass are fished on mixed-bag trips for sea bass, scup, porgies and fluke in Nantucket Sound.
Mixed-bag trips
The inshore half-day trips are built around variety. Black sea bass, scup, porgies and fluke share the same water in Nantucket Sound, so a single trip works for all four.
| Species | Where it fits |
|---|---|
| black sea bass | Target on half-day and offshore trips |
| scup | Mixed-bag partner in Nantucket Sound |
| porgies | Mixed-bag partner in Nantucket Sound |
| fluke | Mixed-bag partner inshore, paired with sea bass offshore |
Helen H Fleet
Helen H Offshore Fishing runs the Helen H Fleet out of Hyannis Harbor, including the boats John and Son I and John and Son II.
FAQ
When can I fish black sea bass out of Hyannis?
Half-day porgy and sea bass trips run June to September, which sets the window for black sea bass fishing out of Hyannis.
Where do Hyannis boats go for sea bass?
Inshore half-day trips go to Nantucket Sound. Offshore trips go to Nantucket and Nantucket Shoals, where Davis Bank, Middle Rip, Asia Rip and Fishing Rip are named features.
What else gets caught on these trips?
Scup, porgies and fluke, alongside black sea bass.
Which buoy covers Nantucket Sound?
NDBC 44020 at 41.497 N 70.283 W. It reports wind, wave height and wave period.
Who runs sea bass trips from Hyannis?
Helen H Offshore Fishing (Helen H Fleet), on John and Son I and John and Son II.
