Massachusetts Striped Bass Fishing Hot Spots

Capable of reaching 100 pounds, striped bass are among the most frequently pursued game fish along the Atlantic Coast. Striped bass – often called striper or rockfish – make their home in southern waters, but their annual spawning migration brings them to the coast of Massachusetts every summer, where these abundant and hard-fighting fish congregate in some of the state’s best fishing hot spots

South Shore Hot Spots
The south shore of Massachusetts is where striped bass arrive first on their way north. The southern edge of Cape Cod, including Buzzards Bay, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Sound, offer outstanding striper fishing as early as April. Hot spots in the area include Woods Hole, South Cape Beach and Wings Neck. Areas in Cape Cod Bay become productive shortly afterward, with excellent catches of striped bass around Race Point, Sandy Neck and the Cape Cod National Seashore.

North Shore Hot Spots
It doesn’t take long for striped bass to make their way up to the north shore of Massachusetts, including Boston, Gloucester and Massachusetts Bay. The bay, which includes Boston Harbor, is home to some of the best striper hot spots in this part of the state, including Deer Island, Old Harbor Park and numerous public piers and jetties along the Harbor. Just off the coast of Boston, Governors Flats is another perennial hot spot, with deep holes that produce some of the biggest stripers in the state.

River Hot Spots
The annual striped bass spawning migration culminates with millions of fish entering freshwater rivers all along the coast, where they feed heavily and reproduce before returning to the ocean. The Connecticut River is one of the best striped bass rivers in Massachusetts, with excellent fishing in May and June, particularly near the mouth of the river. The Merrimack and Taunton Rivers also host a significant striper run around the same time.

Know Before You Go
Striped bass feed heavily on baitfish – particularly alewives, herring and smelt –) as they make their way up the coast. Many anglers cast from shore using live baitfish or baitfish-imitating crankbaits or soft plastic lures. Trolling open water in known striper hot spots is an efficient way to find fish more quickly. A valid Massachusetts saltwater fishing license is required to fish for striped bass. Purchase a license through the

MassFishHunt Licensing system.

Author: michael mcstay

Michael McStay serves as the Senior Editor and CEO of NockedUp, a platform dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts in Massachusetts. An avid fisherman, hunter, and hiker, he has a deep passion for the outdoors and values the importance of sharing knowledge and information related to Massachusetts' natural environment. If you have any thrilling outdoor news to share, or if you would like to provide feedback or suggest story ideas, we encourage you to contact us via text at 339-309-8721 (Join NockedUp Massachusetts Outdoors—it's free and simple! Stay in the loop and never miss another post or update).