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Atlantic Cod:
These fish are the deepwater treasures of coastal Massachusetts (a carving of a cod hangs in the Massachusetts State House motto is Land of the Sacred Cod). They are the number one fish sought after by charter boats North of Cape Cod. They are found throughout the Gulf of Maine, in deepwater and inshore while the water is cold.
Season: Year round
Baits and Lures: Sea worms, clams, mackerel, strips of all fish, crabs, jigs.
Methods and Tackle: Bait-fishing from shore and boats, fishing from boats using medium to stiff boat rod, conventional reel and at least 50 lb test line.
Mass. Saltwater Fishing Derby Minimum Weight: 30 lbs
State Record: 92 lbs
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Black Sea Bass:
Although found primarily south of Cape Cod, an occasional black sea bass can be found in Cape Cod Bay. These migratory fish arrive in late spring. The majority of these fish begin life as females and then change to males at around three years of age. They prefer habitats with bottom structure, such as boulder reefs, rocky outcrops and wrecks.
Season: May - September
Baits and Lures: Cut squid, clams, green crabs.
Methods and Tackle: bottom fish from a boat.
Mass. Saltwater Fishing Derby Minimum Weight: 4 lbs
State Record: 8 lbs
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Blue Shark:
Blue sharks are common to our offshore waters and are sought after by recreational anglers. Blue sharks have been known to bite humans so Venture with an experienced shark angler to prevent unexpected surprises and make sure you bleed and ice the shark flesh immediately. Anglers are encouraged to release sharks not intended for consumption.
Season: June-October
Baits and Lures: Chumming and baited hooks (preferably oily fish)
Methods and Tackle: Trolling, drifting; medium to heavy tackle,
Mass. Saltwater Fishing Derby Minimum Weights: 150 lbs
State Records: 454 lbs
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Bluefin Tuna:
All the tunas are very swift swimmers, provide a thrilling and sometimes backbreaking fight and are literally hot blooded. The giant bluefin tuna is the biggest and most lucrative of the tunas and thus creates much competition amongst fishermen. Stellwagen bank is known for the largest bluefin tuna in the world. Ernest hemingway fished in Mass Bay for giant tuna.
Season: Late June-October
Baits and Lures: Bait fish used with chum slick; plastic squids, multi-
chains, jigs, artificial lures
Methods and Tackle: Trolling, chunk baits with chum; medium to heavy
State Record: 1,228
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Bluefish:
Bluefish are usually ravenous and will strike at just about anything you give them. Watch out for those teeth! They average around 3-15 lbs along the coast and tend to be larger just offshore in the rips. The juveniles, referred to as “snappers,” can be found in the estuaries and are fun to catch with light tackle. In all cases, they put up an excellent fight all the way to your boat or shore.
Season: June-mid October
Baits and Lures: All small bait fish, jigs, spoons, plugs, spinners, flies.
Methods and Tackle: Casting from shore or boat (you may want to use a wire leader) with spin and fly fishing gear, trolling.
Mass. Saltwater Fishing Derby Minimum Weight: 12 lbs
State Record: 27 lbs- 4 oz
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Cusk:
Like the cod, the cusk is a cool water fish and is found on hard, rough bottom habitat. Look for the continuous dorsal fin to assist with identification. very good eating although they are dificult to filet.
Season: Year round
Baits and Lures: Same as cod.
Methods and Tackle: Same as cod.
Mass. Saltwater Fishing Derby Minimum Weight: 20lbs
State Record: 34 lbs - 4 oz.
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Fluke :
The Fluke is one of the best eating fish nice white meet with a sweet taste. They are very accessible and provide the angler with thick fillets to take home.
Season: June to Sept
Baits and Lures: Sand worms, bloodworms, clams, strips of squid.
Methods and Tackle: Chum pot (crushed clams), still-fishing from boats, piers, jetties, bridges, breakwaters; light tackle
Mass. Saltwater Fishing Derby Minimum Weight:
State Record: 21 pounds 8 ounces
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Haddock:
Haddock is a member of the cod family and is a delicious fish for the dinner table. The black spot and lateral line distinguishes it from the Cod and Pollock.
Season: May-November
Baits and Lures: Same as Cod Sea worms, clams
Methods and Tackle: Drift or Still-fishing from a boat, medium action rod
Mass. Saltwater Fishing Derby Minimum Weights: 8 lbs
State Record: 20 lbs
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Halibut:
This is the largest of the Atlantic flatfishes, which if you do happen to hook one, can be very challenging to reel up from deep water.
Season: Year round
Baits and Lures: Sea worms, clams, strips of fish, sand lance, jigs.
Methods and Tackle:Drift Bottom Fishing from a boat with medium to stiff rod.
Mass. Saltwater Fishing Derby Minimum Weight: 50 lbs
State Record: 321 lbs
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Mackerel:
Mackerel are fast swimmers and voracious feeders, which offers the angler many options for catching them. They are also an important food fish for many other species of fish and marine mammals.
Season: May-September
Baits and Lures: Sabiki Rigs, Small bait fish, crab, clams, sea worms, squid strips, jigs, spoons, flies.
Methods and Tackle: Trolling, jigging, casting from shore or boat: light tackle.
Mass. Saltwater Fishing Derby Minimum Weight: 2 lbs
State Record: 3 lbs - 8 oz.
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Mako Shark:
Mako's are the more aggressive of the shark fish and will put up an exciting fight. considered to be the Marlin of the shark species. Mako's are know to be a man eater so Venture with an experienced shark angler to prevent unexpected surprises and make sure you bleed and ice the shark flesh immediately. Anglers are encouraged to release sharks not intended for consumption.
Season: June-October
Baits and Lures: Chumming and Chunking baited hooks (preferably oily fish)
Methods and Tackle: Trolling, drifting; medium to heavy tackle, wire leader.
Mass. Saltwater Fishing Derby Minimum Weights: 150 lbs
State Records: 1,324 lbs
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Porbeagle Shark
Porbeagle's look allot like a great white but have a prominent white patch at the bottom of the dorsal fin. Porbeagle sharks are very agresive and will eat live bait as big as tuna. They are a fairly rare fish and should be released. Porbeagles bite so Venture with an experienced shark angler to prevent unexpected surprises and make sure you bleed and ice the shark flesh immediately. Anglers are encouraged to release sharks not intended for consumption.
Season: June-October
Baits and Lures: Chumming and Chunking baited hooks (preferably oily fish)
Methods and Tackle: Drifting Trolling
Mass. Saltwater Fishing Derby Minimum Weights:
State Records: 455 pounds caught by Capt. Mike Evens of Mass Bay Guides 2007
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American Shad
Shad are an extremely strong fish a member of the herring family this fish migrates up stream to spawn they fight like salmon with long runs and incredible ariel action but unlike salmon some of these fish return to the ocean to come back to the same spot again.
Season:May ( Mothers Day)
Baits and Lures:Flies small jigs and spinners
Methods and Tackle:Fly fishing from shore or small boat drifting or working the shore
Mass. Saltwater Fishing Derby Minimum Weights:7lbs
State Record: not available but around 12 pounds |
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Pollock:
The Pollock is more available to the angler than its Cod fish relative. These aggressive fighters offer the thrills of a bluefish and the flesh of a cod.
Season: May-October with the best runs in May
Baits and Lures: In deeper water use the same as for cod (jigs, clams...). Inshore waters try small plugs, mackerel jigs, metal lures with a strip of squid.
Methods and Tackle: Drift or Still-fishing, casting, trolling. For deep water use same set up as for cod. Lighter spinning gear can be used for inshore fishing.
Mass. Saltwater Fishing Derby Minimum Weights: 20 lbs
State Record: 48 lbs - 2 oz.
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Striped Bass:
Striped Bass is the number one sport fish in the Massachusetts area. Easily caught from shore and aggressive fights make stripers a favorite amongst fisherman. These fish are easy to identify with black stripes running along the length of their body
Season: May to October
Baits and Lures: Sea worms, clams, mackerel, strips of all fish, crabs, Lures and jigs. Live Bait is a favorite use circle hooks to prevent gut hooking small fish
Methods and Tackle: Bait-fishing from shore and boats, fishing from boats using medium to light rod, spinning or conventional reel and at least 30 lb test leaders.
Mass. Saltwater Fishing Derby Minimum Weight: 35 lbs
State Record: 73 lbs
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Winter Flounder:
The winter flounder (black back) provides good fishing during the cold weather months. They are very accessible and provide the angler with thick fillets to take home.
Season: May - February
Baits and Lures: Sand worms, bloodworms, clams, strips of squid.
Methods and Tackle: Chum pot (crushed clams), still-fishing from boats, piers, jetties, bridges, breakwaters; light tackle
Mass. Saltwater Fishing Derby Minimum Weight: 3 lbs
State Record: 8 lbs -2 oz.
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Thresher Shark
The Thresher Shark is probably the most exciting shark to catch these extremely strong animals are able to leap 20 feet in the air one of the most prized of the shark species Threshers are probably the most dangerous shark to capture the tail can knock a man overboard or cut you bad so venture with an experienced shark fisherman to avoid surprise .
Season: July through Sept.
Baits and Lures: chum Oily fish Live Bait
Methods and Tackle: Chumming and chunking, Drifting and Trolling
Mass. Saltwater Fishing Derby Minimum Weight:
State Record: 548 pounds
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Wolfish:
Wolfish are distinguished by their large size, pronounced molar and canine teeth, and the lack of ventral fins. They do not school and prefer hard bottom, not mud, in deep waters.
Season: Year Round
Baits and Lures: sea worms, shellfish, crustaceans, jigs
Methods and Tackle: Drift- or still-fishing from a boat
Mass. Saltwater Fishing Derby Minimum Weight: 20 lbs
State Record: 55 lbs - 8 oz.
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Massachusetts Saltwater Game Fish Records as of 12/19/06 |
Species |
Weight |
Location |
Date |
Angler |
Albacore |
65 lbs. |
Canyon |
8/23/03 |
Tommy Good |
Black Sea Bass |
8 lbs. |
Cotuit |
6/8/85 |
Kevin Smith |
Bluefish |
27lbs. 4 oz. |
Graves Light |
9/11/82 |
Louis Gordon |
Bluefin Tuna |
1,228 lbs. |
Cape Cod Bay |
9/23/84 |
Marlene Goldstein |
Blue Marlin |
701 lbs. |
Fishtails |
7/26/92 |
Walter Morrison |
Blue Shark |
454 lbs. |
Inside Fingers |
7/19/96 |
Peter Bergin |
Bonito |
13 lbs. 8 oz. |
NB Dike |
9/23/02 |
Eddie Gomez |
Cod |
92 lbs. |
Jeffreys Ledge |
7/5/87 |
Robert Radzik |
Coho Salmon |
18 lbs. 8 oz. |
North River |
1/21/86 |
James Lewis |
Cusk |
34 lbs. 4 oz. |
Stellwagon Bank |
7/15/90 |
Gabe Silverstrone |
Dolphin |
38 lbs. 8 oz. |
Atlantis Canyon |
7/26/03 |
Michael Kane |
False Albacore |
19 lbs. 5 oz. |
Edgartown |
9/27/1990 |
Donald MacGillivray |
Fluke |
21 lbs. 8 oz. |
Nomans Isl. |
9/25/80 |
Joseph Czapiga |
Haddock |
20 lbs. |
Stellwagon Bank |
1972 |
Don Rehnstrom |
|
20 lbs. |
Boston Lightship |
8/3/74 |
Joseph Gelsomini |
Halibut |
321 lbs. |
Mass. Bay |
7/21/65 |
Norman Cournoyer |
Mackerel |
3 lbs. 8 oz. |
Hampton Shoal |
10/9/94 |
Steve Ostrander |
Mako Shark |
1,324 lbs. |
Mass Bay |
7/27/99 |
Kevin Scola |
Pollock |
48 lbs. 2 oz. |
Cashes Ledge |
9/14/92 |
Sal Mocerino |
Porbeagle Shark |
414 lbs. |
Nantucket |
8/26/04 |
Clifford Halik |
Scup |
5 lbs. 14 oz. |
Noman's Isl. |
10/17/83 |
Robert Pimental |
Spanish Mackerel |
7 lbs. 13 oz. |
|
9/24/06 |
Rocco DeTeso |
Striped Bass |
73 lbs. |
Quick's Hole |
1913 |
Charles Church |
|
73 lbs. |
Sow & Pigs |
1967 |
Charles Cinto |
|
73 lbs. |
Nauset Beach |
11/3/81 |
Anton Stetzko |
Swordfish |
646 lbs. |
Noman's Isl. |
1972 |
Albert Little |
Tautog |
22 lbs. 9 oz. |
Gay Head |
6/29/78 |
Michael Horsely |
Thresher Shark |
548 lbs. |
Star |
7/17/04 |
R. Keith Allison Jr. |
Wahoo |
131 lbs 5 oz. |
|
9/23/06 |
Kenneth Abbott |
Weakfish |
18 lbs 12 oz. |
Buzzards Bay |
8/19/84 |
George Mahoney |
White Marlin |
131 lbs. |
Nantucket |
7/30/82 |
Ted Nfatzger |
Winter Flounder |
8 lbs. 2 oz. |
Georges Bank |
7/12/96 |
Tom Hillebrand |
Wolffish |
55 lbs. 8 oz. |
Cape Cod Bay |
6/19/00 |
Andrew Glovsky |
Yellowfin Tuna |
187 lbs. |
Nantucket |
8/5/90 |
Mark Boujoukos |
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