When black sea bass are around Nantucket
Black sea bass fishing out of Nantucket centers on bottom drifts along the east side beaches and the Great Point rip area. June is among the best months, according to Topspin, and Topspin and Albacore both run half-day and full-day trips that include sea bass. Sea bass are one part of fishing out of Nantucket, and June is the month to plan a crossing around. The wider picture is in the black sea bass fishing in the Atlantic Northeast and the Atlantic Northeast region guide.
Where boats run for sea bass
Boats drift the east side beaches and the Great Point rip area for sea bass, fluke and scup. No depths or named wrecks or reefs are published for the island’s sea bass grounds, so you’ll need to read the bottom on your own sounder.
Check the NWS marine forecast for Nantucket Sound before you run.
- Start on the east side beaches and work the Great Point rip area.
- Mark what your sounder shows and drift back over it.
- Expect fluke and scup on the same drifts.
Grounds and structure around the island
Named rips, bars and rock sit on every side of Nantucket, but only Great Point Rip and the east side have a documented tie to sea bass. For the rest, rely on your own sounder. The hard-bottom tactics in our reef fish guides carry over to the island’s rips. Chart Contours shows where the bottom breaks near the rips. Chart layers are not for navigation.
Northeast and east side
- Great Point Rip: part of the rip area boats drift for sea bass.
- Sankaty Light and the east side: the eastern shore near Sankaty Light, tied to the east side beaches drift.
- The Gauls: a named ground near the island.
South shore
- Miacomet Rip: on the south shore, west of Miacomet.
West end
- Tuckernuck rips and the pass: the rip-edge pass between Madaket Harbor and Tuckernuck Island, on the western shore.
- Bonito Bar: on the western shore of Nantucket, fished in the fall.
- The Hooter: named for the fairway buoy at the end of Muskeget Channel, and the named mark for boats coming in through the channel.
Nantucket Harbor jetties
- The rock jetties protecting the harbor entrance are the harbor’s named rock structure.
How it’s fished here
According to Salty Cape, sea bass here come up on bottom drifts mixed with fluke and scup. Bill Fisher Outfitters bottom fishes on the back side of its charters, usually with spinning rods. For rigs and baits, see the rigs and baits in our black sea bass guide.
Who fishes for black sea bass out of Nantucket
Three island operators list black sea bass.
| Operator | Captains | Boat |
|---|---|---|
| Topspin Fishing Charters | Captain Carl Bois | 35-foot Terry Jason, up to 6 anglers |
| Albacore Charters | Captain Bob Decosta | |
| Bill Fisher Outfitters | Captains Corey Gammill, Bill Toelstedt, Cam Gammill |
Topspin Fishing Charters
Topspin Fishing Charters, run by Carl Bois, operates a 35-foot Terry Jason for up to 6 anglers and names June as one of the best months for sea bass.
Albacore Charters
Albacore Charters out of Nantucket is run by Captain Bob Decosta and offers half-day and full-day trips that include sea bass.
Bill Fisher Outfitters
Captains Corey Gammill, Bill Toelstedt and Cam Gammill run Bill Fisher Outfitters. Bottom fishing happens on the back side of its charters, usually with spinning rods.
FAQ
When is the best month for black sea bass around Nantucket?
Topspin names June as one of the best months for black sea bass fishing out of Nantucket.
Where do boats drift for sea bass around the island?
Boats drift the east side beaches and the Great Point rip area.
What other fish come up on the same drifts?
Fluke and scup come up on the same bottom drifts.
Which Nantucket charters target black sea bass?
Topspin Fishing Charters, Albacore Charters and Bill Fisher Outfitters list black sea bass. Topspin and Albacore run half-day and full-day trips that include sea bass.
Where do I find the sea bass rules?
The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries sets them, and our state regulations page points you there. If you run outside state waters, check the federal rules too.
