Book Your Fishing Charter in Harwich, MA

Looking for your next saltwater and freshwater fishing spot? Look no further as Harwich, MA has it all as it sits as a part of Cape Cod.

Book Your Fishing Charter in Harwich, MA
Book Your Fishing Charter in Harwich, MA
Team Guidesly

January 31, 2022, 4 min read

Updated on June 19, 2023

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With a suitable location near the Cape Cod National Seashore, the New England town of Harwich in Barnstable County in Massachusetts is one of the best vacation destinations to go to on your next fishing trip. Why? Because of this quiet yet vibrant resort, its shoreline looks out over the Nantucket Sound, one of the best places to catch the saltwater game in the region. It is also riddled with freshwater ponds and rivers where a variety of fish abound while giving you a chance to enjoy diverse scenic landscapes, from cranberry bogs to marshes and even white sandy beaches.

If you're looking for a relaxing summer destination, Harwich offers calmness among its many natural environments, as well as a stimulating nightlife atmosphere in areas such as Harwich Port and Bank Street Beach. You can also recognize Harwich’s marine and agricultural heritage by visiting local bogs, farms, conservation lands, and state parks found throughout the area. Anglers looking to plan their next trip in Harwich won’t be disappointed because of the variety of fishing options available, whether it’s onshore or offshore or freshwater and saltwater, Cape Cod town has you covered.

Harwich Fishing: Cape Cod Fishing at Its Finest 

man wearing cap and bag fishing on the lake

Whether you want to go deep sea fishing out from the harbors or go fly fishing in its smaller ponds, Harwich will cross out your checklist when it comes to finding a place with a plethora of fishing opportunities. 

Saltwater anglers should start in the trendy area of Harwich Port, where three busy harbors and miles of beaches can either have you surf casting from the shores and piers or out in the water to reel in fish from the Nantucket Sound. From Saquatucket Harbor in the east, you can target an abundance of black sea bass and scup found in its artificial reef. Other species you can find include cunner, northern sea robin, tautog, striped bass, bluefish, and pink dentex.  Wychmere Harbor hosts similar species in the middle, including summer flounder, tuna, and cod. To the west, you'll find Allen Harbor. It is shallower compared to the other two but hosts similar species. It also acts as a deep sea launch area to the Nantucket Sound. If you don’t want to venture out to sea yet, you can cast your line from Bank Street Beach, found near Wychmere Harbor, whose jetty is one of the best places for shore anglers.

Freshwater anglers won’t feel left out in Harwich because there are so many fishing spots to choose from throughout the place. Some of the best areas include Long Pond and Hinckleys Pond found in the north. Long Pond is a great place to target smallmouth bass and possesses a variety of freshwater species like largemouth bass, yellow perch, white perch, American eel, banded killifish, alewife, white sucker, brown bullhead, pumpkinseed, and tessellated darter. Hinckleys Pond is a great warm water spot where you can find brown bullhead, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, white perch, pumpkinseed, white sucker, banded killifish, tessellated darter, American eel, alewife, and chain pickerel. Both are welcome to bank fishers as well as boat anglers.

If you want to try out some of Harwich’s rivers, cast your lines in the Herring River found in the northwest. You can find a variety of saltwater and freshwater fish in it like striped bass, bluefish, tautog, summer flounder, winter flounder, black bullhead, alewife, river herring, and blueback herring because of its complex ecosystem. 

Fun at the Gateway to the Lower Cape in Harwich

1. Aquatic Amusements

Harwich boasts a one-of-a-kind opportunity to be able to offer any aquatic activity, from peaceful canoeing through the Herring River’s great marshes, water skiing at Long Pond, swimming, and sunbathing on the beaches by the Nantucket Sound and Pleasant Bay, and so much more.

2. Take Part in the Festivities

Harwich Port has become a fantastic summer nightlife destination due to its many bars and restaurants. There, you can enjoy seaside fun while immersing yourself in the community. In September, you can also attend the Harwich Cranberry Arts & Music Festival, where you get to experience two days of food trucks, craft fairs, a carnival, dancing, live music, an impressive fireworks display, and more. The Harwich Farm Fest is where locals like boat captains and farmers give tours and teach people about the city's heritage.

Fish in Harwich and beyond.