Striped bass fishing out of Provincetown comes down to a short list of edges, rips and holes within reach of Provincetown Harbor and MacMillan Pier. The port page has harbor and conditions detail. Fish work the tip of the Cape: the Wood End to Race Point edge, the Race rips, the back side to Peaked Hill Bar, and the bay toward Beach Point.
This guide covers when the fish are here, where boats run, the grounds and depths, how it is fished locally, and who runs charters from the pier. It can help you decide where to look, but it makes no promise of fish.
When the fish are here
New England Boating’s Provincetown guide puts trophy fish here from June to October. My Fishing Cape Cod describes the spring and fall migrations (see also the Atlantic Northeast offshore fishing guide), which the Northeast guide follows up the coast. These windows are general. Fish move with bait, so the calendar sets the range and the water sets the day.
Where boats run from the harbor
Boats leaving the harbor work four runs, listed roughly in order of distance and exposure:
- Wood End to Race Point
- The Race rips
- Race Point to Peaked Hill Bar on the back side
- The bay, east to Beach Point and south toward the Pamet
Wood End to Race Point
This steep sandy edge runs from Wood End past Race Point in about 150 ft of water. Boats work it along its length.
The Race rips
The Race rips sit at the tip of the Cape, off Race Point, and are a named destination in their own right.
Race Point to Peaked Hill Bar
This is the back-side run, from Race Point out to Peaked Hill Bar. Boats work it as one continuous stretch.
The bay to Beach Point and the Pamet
From the harbor, boats run east to Beach Point and south toward the Pamet. This is the inside option.
Grounds and structure
These are the named grounds near Provincetown and their depths.
| Ground | Depth | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Stellwagen Bank | 100 ft | Not listed |
| Stellwagen Bank Southwest Corner | 65 ft | About 5 miles off Race Point |
| Race Point drop-off | 150 ft | Not listed |
| Wood End to Race Point drop-off | 150 ft | Steep sandy edge from Wood End past Race Point |
| Herring Cove Beach drop-off | 150 ft | Just offshore Herring Cove Beach |
| Peaked Hill Bar | Not listed | Far end of the back-side run |
| Bathhouse holes | Not listed | Perennial striper holes west of Herring Cove Beach |
Race Point drop-off
The Race Point drop-off sits at 150 ft and pairs with the Race rips, which break over the same ground.
Herring Cove drop-off
The Herring Cove Beach drop-off is 150 ft, just offshore of the beach.
Bathhouse holes
These perennial striper holes lie off the bathhouse west of Herring Cove Beach.
Stellwagen Southwest Corner
The Southwest Corner sits at 65 ft, about 5 miles off Race Point. The rest of Stellwagen Bank is about 100 ft.
Peaked Hill Bar
Peaked Hill Bar marks the far end of the back-side run from Race Point.
The 150 ft edges and the Southwest Corner show clearly on Chart Contours. Chart layers are not for navigation.
How it is fished here
Local boats troll, drift and jig. Four methods cover most of what happens on this water, and the species guide covers rigging in general.
Wire-line bucktails
Boats slow-troll bucktails with pork rind in 25 to 35 ft on 250 to 300 ft of wire.
Umbrella rigs and Jig-n-Eels
Both are trolled locally, along the same edges as the bucktails.
Drifting live bait
Boats drift squid, or live mackerel, pogies or herring. The drop-offs and holes are where this gets fished.
Vertical jigging
Boats jig butterfly or diamond jigs, mostly on the deeper edges.
Because fish move with bait, the method follows the water more than the calendar.
Who fishes striped bass out of Provincetown
Six local charters list striped bass, and most work from MacMillan Pier.
- Cape Tip’N Charter Fishing: 31 ft Contender; Captain Nico; MacMillan Pier
- Ginny G Cape Cod Fishing: up to 6 guests; Captain Dave Gibson; MacMillan Pier
- FV Odysea Provincetown Boat Rides: 32 ft BHM Downeast; Captain Ralph Wilkins; MacMillan Pier
- Beth Ann Charters: 38 ft Wesmac; Provincetown Harbor
- Captain Craig’s Charters: Cassidy Mae; Captain Craig
- Chas’n Tails Charter Fishing: 28 ft ROS Downeast, Lisa Zee; Captain Russ
FAQ
When are trophy stripers around Provincetown?
Trophy fish are here from June to October, per New England Boating. Fish also pass through on the spring and fall migrations.
How far is the Stellwagen Southwest Corner?
It is about 5 miles off Race Point, in 65 ft. The rest of the bank sits at about 100 ft.
What depth do you troll wire?
Local boats slow-troll bucktails with pork rind in 25 to 35 ft on 250 to 300 ft of wire.
Where do charters leave from?
Most listed charters work from MacMillan Pier. Beth Ann launches from Provincetown Harbor.
Are there guides for other gamefish?
Yes. See the coastal and offshore gamefish guides.
