Striped bass fishing out of Chatham, Massachusetts, centers on Monomoy and the rips, the main offshore targets for boats leaving Ryder’s Cove and Stage Harbor. For the species itself, see the striped bass guide. This page covers the port: the months, the runs, the grounds, the methods and the operators.
When the fish are here
The Chatham striped bass season runs May through October, according to the Chatham Chamber. The strongest action builds from mid-May into early July, then holds on the outer beaches and rips through October.
For the wider migration that brings stripers to the Cape, see the Northeast striped bass guide (see also the Atlantic Northeast fishing guide).
| Period | What the Chamber guide describes |
|---|---|
| May | Season opens |
| Mid-May to early July | Strongest action builds |
| Early July to October | Action holds on the outer beaches and rips |
Where boats run
Ryder’s Cove and Stage Harbor are separate departure points, but boats from both fish the same grounds. Those grounds fall into three kinds of water: the rips, the flats and the backside beaches.
Monomoy rips
The rips run south from the tip of Monomoy toward Nantucket and spread east toward Pollock Rip. They are fished with wire line, covered below.
Monomoy flats
The flats are sight-fishing water, best in June. Anglers look for individual fish rather than searching blind.
Backside beaches
The backside beaches are the third kind of water boats run. Action holds on the outer beaches through October.
Grounds and structure
Positions are given as listed, ordered from the nearest.
| Name | Type | Depth | Position from port |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harwich artificial reef | Artificial reef | South of Saquatucket Harbor in Harwich, Nantucket Sound | |
| Nauset | Marsh and inlet tuna ground | North up the beach from Chatham | |
| Crab Ledge | Ledge | About 6 miles east of Chatham Inlet | |
| BC Buoy | Reference point, buoy removed | Basically due east of Chatham, in the shipping lanes | |
| Regal Sword | Wreck | 210 ft | About 25 miles southeast of Chatham, per The Fisherman |
| BB Buoy | Reference point, buoy removed | 200 ft | Due east of Nantucket, about 40 miles from Monomoy |
BB Buoy and BC Buoy are positions anglers still use, though no physical buoy marks them now. Nauset is listed as a tuna ground.
Chart layers and positions here are not for navigation.
How it is fished locally
Five methods cover the local water, each suited to a particular part of it.
Wire line and bucktail
Wire line with a heavy bucktail jig, tipped to imitate squid, is the method for the Monomoy rips.
Plugs and poppers
Topwater poppers and swimming plugs are the local casting methods. They work on fish you can see and on water you have already marked.
Live bait
Live bait is a standard local approach, fished on the same grounds as the plug and jig crowd.
Sight casting
Sight casting is matched to the Monomoy flats, with June the best month. You spot the fish, then make the cast.
Trolling
Trolling covers the water between spots.
Who fishes here
These operators list striped bass out of Chatham.
Charters
| Operator | Boat(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Down East Charters trip list | F/V Rainmaker (33 ft Grady White Canyon); F/V Isla Grace (26 ft Regulator) | |
| Outermost Harbor Marine in Chatham | F/V Rainmaker (33 ft Grady White Canyon); F/V Isla Grace (26 ft Regulator) | |
| Got Stryper Charters | Captains based from Sandwich to Chatham | |
| Monomoy Sportfishing charter options | 32 ft Andros center console | Up to 6 passengers; Capt. Darren |
| Liveliner Sportfishing | 28 ft Grady White, twin 150 HP Honda | |
| Chatham Sport Fishing | Saltwater Gospel | Capt. Keith; departs Stage Harbor Marine |
Down East Charters and Outermost Harbor Marine list the same two boats.
Monomoy Shootout
The Monomoy Shootout is a striped bass tournament out of Chatham, usually held in August.
FAQ: stripers out of Chatham
When is the best striped bass fishing out of Chatham?
The strongest action builds from mid-May into early July and holds on the outer beaches and rips through October. The full season runs May through October.
Where do Chatham boats fish for stripers?
Monomoy and the rips, which run south toward Nantucket and east toward Pollock Rip. Boats also work the flats and the backside beaches, leaving from Ryder’s Cove and Stage Harbor.
How far is Crab Ledge?
About 6 miles east of Chatham Inlet.
When are the Monomoy flats best?
June, for sight fishing.
What is the local rip method?
Wire line with a heavy bucktail jig, tipped to imitate squid.
When is the Monomoy Shootout?
Usually August. Nauset and the offshore reference points are also tuna water, covered in the coastal and offshore gamefish guides.
