Offshore Striped Bass & Bluefish Charter
Private Trip
Offshore Fishing
5-hour offshore charter targeting Striped Bass and Bluefish near ScituateAll fishing gear, tackle, and licensing included for up to 6 guestsPrime season fishing from June 15 to September 15 with local guide
When the summer sun beats down on Scituate's coastline and the offshore waters warm up just right, there's nothing quite like heading out beyond the harbor for some serious striper and bluefish action. This top-rated 5-hour charter puts you right in the thick of it with First Pic Sportfishing, where Captain and crew know exactly where these fish stack up during prime season. From mid-June through mid-September, the offshore grounds come alive with feeding fish, and this charter gets you there with everything you need for a productive day on the water.
This isn't your typical harbor fishing trip - we're talking about heading offshore where the big stripers cruise and blues go into feeding frenzies. The boat holds up to six anglers comfortably, making it perfect for small groups who want personal attention from the captain and plenty of room to fish without tangling lines. All your gear and tackle comes included, plus licensing is handled, so you just show up ready to fish. The crew runs a clean operation and knows these waters like the back of their hand, adjusting locations based on current conditions, bait movements, and where the fish are showing up on the finder. Expect to cover some ground as we hunt down the best bite, whether that's structure fishing, working bait schools, or hitting the edges where stripers love to ambush prey.
Depending on what the fish want on any given day, you'll get to experience different fishing methods that keep things interesting. When the stripers are relating to structure or suspended baitfish, trolling with umbrella rigs and tube-and-worm combos can be deadly effective. If we find surface activity or working birds, nothing beats the rush of casting plugs or live bait to actively feeding fish. The blues especially love when you can get a live mackerel or pogies in front of them, and their aggressive strikes will test your drag system. All rods and reels are tournament-grade spinning and conventional setups that can handle anything from schoolie stripers to trophy bass pushing 40-plus pounds. The tackle box stays stocked with everything from jigs and soft plastics to topwater plugs and live bait rigs, so you're covered no matter what technique produces fish that day.
Massachusetts offshore waters during summer months offer some of the most consistent striper and bluefish action on the entire East Coast. Striped bass here range from keeper-sized fish in the 28-inch range all the way up to genuine trophies that can stretch past 50 inches and weigh over 40 pounds. These fish feed heavily throughout the summer months, fattening up on abundant bait like mackerel, herring, and squid. What makes stripers so special is their intelligence and fight - they'll test your skills with powerful runs and head shakes that can straighten hooks if you're not careful. The bite typically peaks during dawn and dusk hours, but offshore fish often stay active throughout the day, especially when bait concentrations are thick.
Bluefish bring a completely different energy to the trip with their aggressive nature and razor-sharp teeth. These fish hunt in schools and when you find them feeding, the action can be non-stop with multiple hookups happening simultaneously. Blues in these waters commonly run between 3 to 8 pounds, with larger gator blues showing up regularly that can push into double digits. They're phenomenal table fare when handled properly, and their fighting ability pound-for-pound rivals just about any fish that swims. The key with bluefish is being ready when they turn on - they can appear out of nowhere, feed aggressively for 30 minutes, then disappear just as quickly.
Summer offshore fishing in Massachusetts doesn't last forever, and the prime season window from June 15 to September 15 fills up fast with both local anglers and visitors who know when the fishing peaks. This customer favorite charter combines the expertise of local knowledge with quality equipment and a boat that can handle offshore conditions comfortably. Whether you're an experienced angler looking to target trophy stripers or someone new to saltwater fishing who wants to learn proper techniques, this trip delivers the goods. Pack your sunscreen, hat, polarized glasses, and plenty of food and drinks for the day, then get ready to experience why Massachusetts offshore fishing has such a renowned reputation among serious anglers.
The First Pic is a solid 35-foot 2008 Contender that gets you to the fishing grounds fast and keeps you comfortable while you work the water. Twin Yamaha F300 engines push her through Massachusetts waters with plenty of power, while the Simrad electronics help us locate schools of stripers and blues in offshore spots around Scituate. The boat handles six anglers with room to move around when the fish are hitting. Whether we're trolling the deeper waters or casting to breaking fish, she's set up for serious fishing with all the safety gear required by the Coast Guard. The ride out to productive waters is smooth, and you'll have space to fight fish without getting tangled up with other lines.
Pomatomus SaltatrixBluefish are aggressive predators that'll give you a serious fight on light tackle. They typically run 3-10 pounds in our waters, with razor-sharp teeth and an attitude to match. These fish show up in late June and stick around through September, often feeding in massive schools that create feeding frenzies. You'll find them anywhere from shallow sandy areas to 50 feet over structure, especially when they're chasing baitfish. They're excellent table fare when fresh - the smaller ones are mild and flaky. What guests love is their willingness to hit lures hard and their acrobatic fights. Pro tip: always use a wire leader or heavy fluorocarbon. Those teeth will slice through regular mono in a heartbeat, and you'll lose more fish than you land.
Morone SaxatilisStripers are the crown jewel of our Massachusetts waters, running 20-40 pounds with those signature dark stripes down their silver sides. These powerful fish migrate through our area from June through September, following baitfish along structure like drop-offs and rocky bottom. They're strong fighters that'll test your drag and make long runs. What makes them special is they're fantastic eating - sweet, flaky white meat that's hard to beat. Around here, we often find them feeding on pogies and sand eels in 30-60 feet of water. My local tip: when you see birds working the surface, get your lines down fast. The stripers are usually right underneath that bait, and you've got maybe a 10-minute window before they move on.
Scituate, MA