Stellwagen Bank

Saltwater
Bay

Stellwagen Bank

Saltwater
Bay

Sq. miles: 851
Boat Ramps: 0
Access Points: 0
Species: 19

Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary is a premier offshore fishing destination located east of Boston, Massachusetts, between Cape Ann and Cape Cod. This 842-square-mile underwater plateau, formed by glacial activity, rises from the seafloor to create a highly productive marine ecosystem. The bank's relative shallowness, combined with strong tidal currents and nutrient upwelling, supports an extraordinary abundance of plankton, forage fish, and larger predatory species. Historically vital as a commercial fishing ground, the sanctuary now reigns as a world-class location for recreational angling and whale watching, offering a diverse and unpredictable fishery where anglers can target everything from bottom-dwelling cod to migratory bluefin tuna.

Massachusetts licenses and regulations6 to check before you go

Species & education

Learn what type of fish are at Stellwagen Bank and what's needed to catch them.

Find which waters have the species you want to catch

Atlantic Cod

Gadus morhua

Atlantic Halibut

Hippoglossus hippoglossus

Atlantic Mackerel

Scomber scombrus

Black Sea Bass

Centropristis striata

Bluefin Tuna

Thunnus thynnus

Bluefish

Pomatomus saltatrix

Cunner

Tautogolabrus adspersus

Haddock

Melanogrammus aeglefinus

Pollock

Pollachius virens

Redfish

Sciaenops ocellatus

Scup

Stenotomus chrysops

Spiny Dogfish

Squalus acanthias

Striped Bass

Morone saxatilis

Summer Flounder

Paralichthys dentatus

Tautog

Tautoga onitis

White Grunt

Haemulon plumierii

Winter Flounder

Pseudopleuronectes americanus

Yellowfin Tuna

Thunnus albacares

Yellowtail

Seriola lalandi

Fishing spots, boat ramps & amenities

Learn how to get on Stellwagen Bank. Uncover great fishing access points, boat ramps, and all the facilities you need for an unforgettable day on the water. Some locations shown may border or include private property. Always check property boundaries and applicable regulations before visiting. onWater's Public & Private Land layer can help you plan your access with confidence.

Wreck

HEROIC (91 ft long wooden eastern rig dragger)

Wreck

NORTH STAR (55 ft long wooden eastern rig dragger)

Wreck

JOSEPHINE MARIE (90 ft long steel fishing trawler)

Wreck

Know where you can legally fish on Stellwagen Bank

See public and private land boundaries along the water, turn on private parcels with owner details to know where permission is required, and find land-trust parcels that offer permitted fishing access.

Massachusetts licenses and regulations

Massachusetts Boating Regulations

When using any type of watercraft to access a body of water, it is important to follow all federal, state, and local rules and regulations. These rules and regulations include boat permitting and licensing, invasive species inspections and stamps, life jacket and PFD rules, motor size and horsepower restrictions, noise limitations, restrictions on personal watercraft, and many more. Visit the web link below for the most current rules and regulations for this body of water.

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Massachusetts Coastal & Inland Waters

Massachusetts manages saltwater and freshwater fishing through two separate agencies: the Division of Marine Fisheries covers marine waters, while MassWildlife covers inland waters. The saltwater permit applies in marine waters, which extend up to the first upstream bridge on rivers and streams that flow to the ocean. A freshwater license from MassWildlife is required for fishing beyond that boundary.

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Massachusetts Federal Waters & Offshore Rules

Beyond 3 nautical miles from shore, NOAA Fisheries manages fisheries in federal waters out to 200 nautical miles, working with the New England Fishery Management Council. Federal rules can differ from state rules, and when both apply you must follow the more restrictive requirement. Anglers targeting highly migratory species such as tuna, billfish, or swordfish should check NOAA Fisheries for any applicable federal permit or registration requirements.

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Massachusetts Saltwater Fishing License

Any angler 16 or older needs a recreational saltwater fishing permit issued by the Division of Marine Fisheries to fish Massachusetts marine waters. Anglers fishing aboard a permitted for-hire vessel and those who qualify as disabled under state law are exempt. The Division also designates a couple of free fishing days each year when no permit is required.

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Massachusetts Saltwater Size & Bag Limits

Size and bag limits apply per species and can shift during the year; the Division of Marine Fisheries sets and updates them. Striped bass, cod, black sea bass, bluefish, and summer flounder are among the species with active season and size rules. The current table for all species lives on the Division's recreational regulations page.

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Massachusetts Shellfish Closures & Advisories

Recreational shellfish harvesting in Massachusetts requires a permit issued by your local town or city, not the state; contact your town hall before heading out. Areas close regularly due to rainfall, red tide, or biotoxin concerns, and you must check the status of your local flats before every trip. The Division of Marine Fisheries maintains shellfish classification areas and posts current closure and consumption advisory information.

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Take Stellwagen Bank with you

The onWater Fish app keeps this water's access points, species and conditions in your pocket, with the tools you use once you're there.

Use the map without signal
Download the map around Stellwagen Bank to use it offline when coverage drops.
Log your catches here
Keep a private fishing journal for Stellwagen Bank to find where and when fish are biting for you.

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Tides, wind & water conditions (10 day forecast)

On open water, wind and tide matter as much as the weather. See the best times to fish Stellwagen Bank and check the marine forecast before you launch.

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