BOSTON HARBOR NAMES & NUMBERS

Big scup are available in the waters off Falmouth. Photo Tom Richardson

With miles of coastline and close proximity to the Islands, Falmouth is an ideal place to walk the beach or launch a boat for a day of fishing. Here’s what you can expect to find in the local waters from spring through fall.

• MAY – early JUNE: The Falmouth fishing season generally kicks off in mid-May, when large schools of squid migrate into Nantucket Sound. Hot on their heels are big bluefish and striped bass. As water temperatures hit the 55-degree mark, “racer” bluefish in the 10-15 pound range invade the beachfronts and flats, from Waquoit to Wianno. Larger stripers also begin to arrive at this time, filtering into the local salt ponds, coves and estuaries in search of herring and silversides. Late May also marks the start of sea bass season, with prime fishing running through June. The waters of Buzzards Bay teem with big sea bass and scup, which gather to spawn in 15 to 35 feet of water at this time.

  JUNE: This month brings more consistent striper action, as the bigger fish begin taking up station in the rips and around the rocky shores and holes of the Elizabeth Islands, including Woods Hole, Quicks Hole and Robinsons Hole. The numerous rips in Nantucket and Vineyard Sounds will also hold stripers at this time. Black sea bass and scup continue to provide action for bottom fishermen through the month, although it’s best to target smaller rock piles, ledges and wrecks as June draws to a close. Fluke fishing also picks up mid-month, with legal fish available in both Nantucket and Vineyard Sounds. This is great fun for summer boaters, and can yield some tasty dinners, as well. For trophy flounder, head for Nomans Island or the deeper shoals off Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard.

  Also in June, bluefin anglers begin to keep their ear to the ground for tuna off Chatham or south of the islands.

  JULY: Come July, fishing for stripers largely becomes a night or dawn-patrol game for plug- and fly-casters. Seasoned fishermen looking to take a decent fish on light gear often make the run to the Elizabeth Islands to score in the false-dawn hour. Those who arrive after 7:00 a.m., may not get a sniff. Trolling tube lures and parachute jigs on wire line is often the key to scoring keeper-size bass and bigger blues during the mid-day hours; sharpies target the big rips and rocky areas in the Sounds, off Monomoy, or around the islands. Night fishing with eels is another go-to technique for trophy bass in midsummer, but takes plenty of local knowledge to do it safely and effectively.

  Offshore fishing hits high gear in July, and Falmouth makes a great jumping-off spot for trips to the canyons or the closer grounds along the 20- and 30-fathom lines. Sharks, mahi, tuna, and white marlin are all possible on daytrips if conditions are right.

  AUGUST: Late August/early September often brings action with false albacore and bonito, as well as Spanish and king mackerel, to the waters of Nantucket Sound, Vineyard Sound and Buzzards Bay. “Albies” and “bones” are powerful inshore fish, but can be fiendishly hard to hook at times (tip: try using small, unweighted Slug-Gos and Zoom Flukes when the fish are finicky). Both species hang around through mid-October.

  FALL: Fall fishing for stripers and blues, once the best of the year, has been lackluster in recent years, although inshore blitzes are still possible as the fish migrate west and south. Baiting with eels or menhaden (if available) in the Elizabeth Islands can produce some hefty bass at this time, however. As October rolls around, many anglers put the cap on their season by targeting tautog, which move inshore to feed over shallow wrecks and rock piles at this time. Prime fishing can last right through Thanksgiving, if the weather holds.

  BAIT & TACKLE:

  • Eastman’s Tackle (508-548-6900)

  Charters:

  • Riptide Charters (774-696-0420)
  • Bluefin Charters (508-292-3244)

  License Requirements

  A Recreational Saltwater Fishing Permit is required to fish the marine waters of Massachusetts out to 3 miles from shore. Cost is $10 for both residents and non-residents.

  Exemptions:

  No permit is required for the following individuals:

  • Persons under 16 years of age.
  • Persons fishing on a charter or party boat.
  • Persons who possess a saltwater fishing license from Connecticut, Rhode Island or New Hampshire.
  • Persons who, regardless of age, otherwise meet the definition of a disabled person.
  • The permit fee is waived for anglers 60 and older; however, these individuals must still register with the state. A small fee will be charged by the vendor to process the permit if purchased online.

  MAY – early JUNE: The Falmouth fishing season generally kicks off in mid-May, when large schools of squid migrate into Nantucket Sound. Hot on their heels are big bluefish and striped bass. As water temperatures hit the 55-degree mark, “racer” bluefish in the 10-15 pound range invade the beachfronts and flats, from Waquoit to Wianno. Larger stripers also begin to arrive at this time, filtering into the local salt ponds, coves and estuaries in search of herring and silversides. Late May also marks the start of sea bass season, with prime fishing running through June. The waters of Buzzards Bay teem with big sea bass and scup, which gather to spawn in 15 to 35 feet of water at this time.

  JUNE: This month brings more consistent striper action, as the bigger fish begin taking up station in the rips and around the rocky shores and holes of the Elizabeth Islands, including Woods Hole, Quicks Hole and Robinsons Hole. The numerous rips in Nantucket and Vineyard Sounds will also hold stripers at this time. Black sea bass and scup continue to provide action for bottom fishermen through the month, although it’s best to target smaller rock piles, ledges and wrecks as June draws to a close. Fluke fishing also picks up mid-month, with legal fish available in both Nantucket and Vineyard Sounds. This is great fun for summer boaters, and can yield some tasty dinners, as well. For trophy flounder, head for Nomans Island or the deeper shoals off Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard.

  Also in June, bluefin anglers begin to keep their ear to the ground for tuna off Chatham or south of the islands.

  JULY: Come July, fishing for stripers largely becomes a night or dawn-patrol game for plug- and fly-casters. Seasoned fishermen looking to take a decent fish on light gear often make the run to the Elizabeth Islands to score in the false-dawn hour. Those who arrive after 7:00 a.m., may not get a sniff. Trolling tube lures and parachute jigs on wire line is often the key to scoring keeper-size bass and bigger blues during the mid-day hours; sharpies target the big rips and rocky areas in the Sounds, off Monomoy, or around the islands. Night fishing with eels is another go-to technique for trophy bass in midsummer, but takes plenty of local knowledge to do it safely and effectively.

  Offshore fishing hits high gear in July, and Falmouth makes a great jumping-off spot for trips to the canyons or the closer grounds along the 20- and 30-fathom lines. Sharks, mahi, tuna, and white marlin are all possible on daytrips if conditions are right.

  AUGUST: Late August/early September often brings action with false albacore and bonito, as well as Spanish and king mackerel, to the waters of Nantucket Sound, Vineyard Sound and Buzzards Bay. “Albies” and “bones” are powerful inshore fish, but can be fiendishly hard to hook at times (tip: try using small, unweighted Slug-Gos and Zoom Flukes when the fish are finicky). Both species hang around through mid-October.

  FALL: Fall fishing for stripers and blues, once the best of the year, has been lackluster in recent years, although inshore blitzes are still possible as the fish migrate west and south. Baiting with eels or menhaden (if available) in the Elizabeth Islands can produce some hefty bass at this time, however. As October rolls around, many anglers put the cap on their season by targeting tautog, which move inshore to feed over shallow wrecks and rock piles at this time. Prime fishing can last right through Thanksgiving, if the weather holds.

  BAIT & TACKLE:

  • Eastman’s Tackle (508-548-6900)

  Charters:

  • Riptide Charters (774-696-0420)
  • Bluefin Charters (508-292-3244)

  License Requirements

  A Recreational Saltwater Fishing Permit is required to fish the marine waters of Massachusetts out to 3 miles from shore. Cost is $10 for both residents and non-residents.

  Exemptions:

  No permit is required for the following individuals:

  • • Persons under 16 years of age.
    • Persons fishing on a charter or party boat.
    • Persons who possess a saltwater fishing license from Connecticut, Rhode Island or New Hampshire.
    • Persons who, regardless of age, otherwise meet the definition of a disabled person.
    • The permit fee is waived for anglers 60 and older; however, these individuals must still register with the state. A small fee will be charged by the vendor to process the permit if purchased online.