Bluefin from this harbor means one of two trips: an inshore search for bait balls and blow ups in Buzzards Bay and the Cape Cod Canal, or a long offshore run. This guide to Atlantic bluefin tuna fishing out of New Bedford / Fairhaven covers when the fish are around, where boats run, the structure the bay is organized around, how the bay is fished, and who runs trips.
When bluefin are around New Bedford and Fairhaven
Two operators publish windows for this port. For the species-wide picture of where bluefin go, see the Atlantic bluefin tuna guide.
| Area | Window | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Buzzards Bay and the Cape Cod Canal | May to September | Offshore Madore |
| South of Martha’s Vineyard | July and August | Worth The Weight |
Buzzards Bay and the Canal
Offshore Madore lists May through September for tuna blow ups in Buzzards Bay and the Cape Cod Canal.
South of Martha’s Vineyard
Worth The Weight puts runs south of Martha’s Vineyard in July and August. That window falls inside the bay window, so both trip types are open in midsummer.
Where boats run
Boats leave this harbor on two kinds of trip. One stays in the bay, and the other is a long offshore run.
| Trip type | Area | Distance/length | Window |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inshore search | Buzzards Bay and the Cape Cod Canal | Inside the bay | May to September (Offshore Madore) |
| South Side day trip | South of Martha’s Vineyard | 10-12 hours (B3 Charters) | July and August (Worth The Weight) |
| Overnight canyon trip | Offshore canyons | 100+ miles each way (Offshore Madore) | Not listed |
Inshore search
This trip is a search for bait balls and surface blow ups in Buzzards Bay and the Cape Cod Canal. The goal is to find the event itself rather than to run to a mark.
South Side day trips
B3 Charters lists a 10-12 hour South Side Special from Fairhaven. It lines up with the July and August window south of Martha’s Vineyard.
Overnight canyon trips
Offshore Madore runs an overnight canyon trip, 100+ miles each way. For how this port fits the wider region, see the Atlantic Northeast bluefin guide (see also the Atlantic Northeast region guide).
Grounds and structure near the harbor
Boats from this harbor use these named rocks, ledges and reefs as landmarks for orienting in the bay. They are not tuna marks. Blow ups happen at the surface, and no chart layer shows them.
The named ledges and reefs appear on the Chart Contours layer, which is not for navigation.
Round Hill and Dartmouth
- Dumpling Rocks: just off Round Hill, Dartmouth.
- Sandspit: off Round Hill, Dartmouth, grouped with Dumpling Rocks and Great Ledge.
- Mishaum Ledge: described as nearby the Dumpling Rocks trio.
Off the harbor
- Great Ledge: just offshore of New Bedford Harbor.
- West Island rocky ledges, Fairhaven: closest structure to the Fairhaven side.
Elizabeth Islands and the upper bay
- Sow and Pigs Reef: off the western end of Cuttyhunk, Elizabeth Islands.
- Quicks Hole: the passage through the Elizabeth Islands.
- Cleveland Ledge: named structure in Buzzards Bay.
How bluefin are fished here
Locally, the method is to find the bait and then cast to the fish feeding on top of it. It is easy to describe and hard to execute well.
Finding bait balls
The inshore trip is a search. Boats look for bait balls and the blow ups that come with them. A blow up is short-lived and visible only from the boat, so no map or satellite layer will show one.
Casting to blow ups
Casting at surface blow ups in the bay is the method described locally. The fish are on the surface, and the cast goes to them.
Reading BUZM3
The nearest NOAA buoy is NDBC C-MAN station BUZM3, Buzzards Bay, MA, at 41.397N 71.033W. Pull wind, wave height and period before leaving the dock, then check the official marine forecast. A buoy reading describes a single point in the bay, not the whole bay.
Who fishes bluefin from this port
Three operators list Atlantic bluefin tuna from this port. For a wider look at the fishery, see these tuna fishing guides and charters.
Offshore Madore
Captain Alex Madore runs Offshore Madore. It lists May through September for bay and Canal blow ups and runs overnight canyon trips, 100+ miles each way. See the Offshore Madore charter site.
B3 Charters
B3 Charters (Buzzards Bay Bear Charters) fishes from a 28 foot True World by Master Marine. Its trip is the 10-12 hour South Side Special from Fairhaven. See B3 Charters South Side Special.
Strike 2 Fishing Charters
Captain Bruce Calvin runs Strike 2 Fishing Charters from a 30 ft Black Watch built in 1990. It lists Atlantic bluefin tuna. See the Strike 2 Fishing Charters listing.
FAQ: bluefin tuna out of New Bedford and Fairhaven
When are bluefin in Buzzards Bay?
Offshore Madore lists May through September for bay and Canal blow ups. Worth The Weight puts runs south of Martha’s Vineyard in July and August.
How far is the canyon run from New Bedford?
Offshore Madore’s overnight canyon trip is 100+ miles each way. The shorter alternative is B3’s 10-12 hour South Side Special from Fairhaven.
Which charters fish bluefin from New Bedford and Fairhaven?
Offshore Madore (Captain Alex Madore), B3 Charters (28 foot True World, South Side Special) and Strike 2 Fishing Charters (Captain Bruce Calvin, 30 ft Black Watch) list Atlantic bluefin tuna.
Which buoy should I check before leaving?
Use NDBC station BUZM3 at 41.397N 71.033W. Pull wind, wave height and period, then check the official forecast. The reading covers one point in the bay.
How are bluefin fished in the bay?
Boats search for bait balls and cast at surface blow ups. A blow up is visible only from the boat.
Where are the bluefin rules?
Rules are set at the federal and state levels, and seasons can change with quota. Check the Regulations section above before you fish.
