Spring
Offshore
haddock and other groundfish, within closures (check DMF and GARFO)
Nearshore
stripers arriving, then black sea bass, scup and fluke openings (check DMF)
MassachusettsOffshore Fishing: Ports, Rules and Seasons
Cape Cod divides Massachusetts offshore water into two fisheries. North of the Cape is Gulf of Maine water, with giant bluefin on Stellwagen Bank and groundfish on the ledges. South and west is Southern New England, with stripers in the rips, bonito and albies, and canyon runs off the Islands. It is one of the states we map along the U.S. coast. This page covers how the coast fishes from end to end, the ports by stretch, what runs each season, and which agency’s rules apply on each side of the 3 nm line.
By Breakpoint Team
14Offshore ports
6Stretches of coast
3 NMState waters
The coast
How the Massachusetts Coast Fishes
The haddock and cod stock areas split along the same line as the Cape: Gulf of Maine to the north, Southern New England to the south and west. Inside 3 nautical miles you fish under state rules, and beyond it under federal rules (see Regulations below).
Here is the coast as a waypoint run, from the New Hampshire line to Buzzards Bay:
- Jeffreys Ledge sits off the North Shore. It holds groundfish, tuna and pollock.
- Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary lies across the mouth of Massachusetts Bay. Bluefin, groundfish and whales share it.
- Cape Cod Bay fishes for groundfish, stripers and bay tuna.
- The Cape Cod Canal connects Cape Cod Bay and Buzzards Bay, and is a shore striper fishery.
- The Monomoy rips and the Outer Cape hold stripers, with tuna east of the Cape.
- Nantucket Shoals and the sounds are rip country, with bonito and albies.
- Buzzards Bay fishes for black sea bass, scup and fluke.
- The canyons (Atlantis, Veatch and Hydrographer) lie south of the Islands. They hold yellowfin, mahi, billfish and swordfish.
The night before a trip, the map layers help with planning. OBS SST shows where temperature breaks set up off the canyons and along Stellwagen. Chlorophyll shows color and bait water. Chart Contours shows the edges and ledges that hold fish. Chart layers are not for navigation. Cloud cover blocks satellite SST and chlorophyll passes, so a clear gap in the image is missing data, not cold water.
For the larger region, see the wider Gulf of Maine and Southern New England picture.
Ports
14 ports, 6 stretches of coast
Each port below links to its own page with charters, tournaments and local water. Tap a number on the map, or a stretch below, to zoom in on its ports.
Pick a stretch of coast
1
2 ports
North Shore and Cape Ann
Gulf of Maine water, with Jeffreys Ledge and the northern end of Stellwagen in range.
2
4 ports
Boston Harbor and the South Shore
Massachusetts Bay ports facing Stellwagen, with the South Shore Striper Tournament running along this coast.
3
3 ports
Cape Cod Bay and the Outer Cape
The bay side and the back side of the Cape, still Gulf of Maine water.
4
2 ports
Nantucket Sound and the Upper Cape
South-side water, which falls under Southern New England rules. The Big 3 runs out of Harwich Port, and Cape Cod charters work this side too.
5
2 ports
The Islands
Rips, shoals and the shortest jump toward the canyons.
6
1 port
Buzzards Bay and the South Coast
Protected bay bottom fishing, with offshore departures to the canyons.
Seasons
What runs through the year
What tends to be around each season. Open seasons are covered under Regulations.
Summer
Offshore
bluefin tuna on Stellwagen and the ledges, sharks, canyon yellowfin, mahi and billfish
Nearshore
stripers, bluefish, fluke, black sea bass
Fall
Offshore
bluefin tuna and the cod window (check the agency)
Nearshore
false albacore, bonito, the striper and bluefish migration, the Martha’s Vineyard Derby
Winter
Offshore
limited groundfish under closures (check the agencies)
Nearshore
largely quiet, holdover stripers
Massachusetts offshore and nearshore fishing runs on a four-season cycle, and the agencies set openings for quota species each year.
Confirm openings on the agency pages linked in the Regulations section before you go.
Seasons tell you which fish are around, and daily water conditions show where to find them
Temperature breaks and color edges shift with wind and current. In Breakpoint, these three layers show those edges and the bottom structure near them.
Clouds block satellite SST passes, so some days show gaps. Chart layers are not for navigation.
Charters and tournaments
Tournaments in Massachusetts
Show 10 more tournaments
Regulations
State rules apply out to 3 nautical miles, with federal rules beyond
State waters run from shore to 3 nautical miles and are managed by the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (MassDMF). Federal waters run from 3 to 200 nautical miles and are managed by NOAA Fisheries. Our Massachusetts regulations page is the starting point, and the agency page should be checked before every trip.
3 NMState waters. Federal rules apply beyond the line.
Massachusetts regulations page
State waters (0 to 3 nm)
Inside 3 nautical miles, MassDMF sets the rules. Its Massachusetts recreational fishing regulations page carries the current limits.
- Every angler 16 and older needs a permit, on a private boat or from shore. There is no boat permit for private vessels.
- The fee is $10. Anglers 60 and over pay $0 but still need the permit.
- The permit expires December 31.
- Anglers on a permitted for-hire vessel are exempt.
- Reciprocity applies with New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Connecticut.
The Massachusetts permit also covers you in federal waters. Striped bass is a state-waters fish: 1 fish, in the 28 to less than 31 inch slot.
Federal waters (3 to 200 nm)
Beyond 3 nautical miles, the NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office sets the rules, with the New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Councils.
Fishing for, keeping or possessing striped bass in federal waters is unlawful. See the federal striped bass closure. Fluke and black sea bass caught in federal waters follow the rules of the state where you land them.
Cod and haddock seasons and closures change, so use NOAA recreational groundfish rules rather than a printed figure. NOAA vessel-speed rules for right whales also affect transit planning, so check NOAA before you run.
Tunas, billfish, swordfish and sharks
NOAA Highly Migratory Species (HMS) manages tunas, billfish, swordfish and sharks, and you need a federal HMS permit to fish for them. The NOAA HMS permits site is where you get it.
The HMS permit sits on top of the state permit and does not replace it. Massachusetts sets no separate recreational tuna limits. Bluefin and mako retention is a NOAA HMS question, so check there before you fish. HMS charter and headboat catch is reported to NOAA Fisheries within 24 hours of landing. State-water and federal-water shark rules differ, so check both MassDMF and HMS.
FAQ
Massachusetts offshore, answered
Official answers come from the state wildlife agency and NOAA Fisheries. Check them before you go.
Do I need a Massachusetts saltwater fishing permit?
Yes, if you are 16 or older, on a private boat or from shore. The permit costs $10, or $0 for anglers 60 and over, who still need it. It expires December 31 and also covers federal waters. See our Massachusetts regulations page and check the agency before fishing.
Do charter customers need their own permit?
No, if the boat holds a for-hire permit. The captain’s permit covers customers. Confirm this with the operator when you book.
Do I need a permit for bluefin tuna?
Yes. You need a federal HMS permit from NOAA Highly Migratory Species, in addition to the state permit. Retention rules sit with NOAA HMS, so check there before you fish.
Can I keep striped bass offshore?
No. Striped bass is closed in federal waters beyond 3 nm. In state waters, the limit is 1 fish in the 28 to less than 31 inch slot.
What are the best months for bluefin, and where?
Summer through fall. The grounds are Stellwagen Bank, Jeffreys Ledge, Cape Cod Bay and east of the Cape. Fish are never guaranteed, so use OBS SST and Chlorophyll to decide where to look.
Which ports run canyon trips?
New Bedford, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket run toward the Atlantis, Veatch and Hydrographer canyons. OBS SST shows where the temperature breaks set up before you commit to the run.
What are the major Massachusetts fishing tournaments?
The Bluefin Blowout (Gloucester), Green Harbor Tuna Club (Marshfield), South Shore Striper Tournament, Big 3 (Harwich Port), Cape Cod Bluewater Classic (Falmouth), Monomoy Shootout (Chatham), Big Game Battle (Nantucket) and the fall Martha’s Vineyard Derby. For timing, use a regional fishing tournament calendar.
Know Where the Fish Are Before You Leave the Dock.
Ranked hotspots, live ocean layers and offline maps.
Open Breakpoint