Book Your Fishing Charter in Lawrence, MA

Straddling the Merrimack River and found smack dab in the middle of the Merrimack Valley is the city of Lawrence. The city is part of Essex County in northern Massachusetts. Boasting a riverside location amidst an urban backdrop, Lawrence can provide a unique fishing experience for anglers. Nicknamed the ‘Immigrant City,’ Lawrence shows off a diversity that no other city in the state can claim. 

The multi-ethnic and multicultural gateway city offers many things for people to do and see, from historical architecture to stunning natural landscapes. The city’s industrial heritage has been honored through massive mill buildings that line the river, historical clock and bell towers, and the Great Stone Dam. With its advantageous location around the Merrimack River, Lawrence allows anglers to experience urban fishing like no other.

Lawrence Fishing: Urban Freshwater Fishing in the Merrimack 

With waterways waving through the city, fishing spots in Lawrence are easily accessible. Whether you’re casting from the shoreside or navigating your way by boat, you’ll be able to secure a variety of freshwater targets in Lawrence.

If you’ve always wanted to experience urban fishing, you’ll have the chance to do so when you fish from the Merrimack River. Lawrence straddles its warm waters that host various species like smallmouth bass, common carp, and northern pike as its main draws. You can also find trophy-sized panfish like black crappie and redbreast sunfish. The upper reaches of the river are stocked with brook trout. Other fish you can find in its waters are Atlantic salmon, American shad, Atlantic sturgeon, bluegill, brown bullhead, bluefish, channel catfish, mirror carp, largemouth bass, and striped bass. There are tons of access areas to the river if you want to fish onshore. If you’re going to use a boat, a boat ramp is available at Riley Park.  Fly fishing, spinning, and baitcasting are the most popular ways to reel fish in from the Merrimack. If you find yourself in the middle of the city, you can also catch fish from the Merrimack River Reservoir, which hosts smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, common carp, northern pike, striped bass, black crappie, channel catfish, and yellow perch. It has a boat ramp and provides fishing access with piers and docks.

You also have the chance to fish in some of the local canals of the Merrimack. South Canal and North Canal are both located in the center of Lawrence near the Great Stone Dam. You can hook fish like smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, striped bass, northern pike, yellow perch, black crappie, black bullhead, white bass, and pumpkinseed in their waters. The Great Stone Dam area is also a fantastic place for shoreside anglers and boaters where you can reel in white perch, river herring, American shad, and seasonal striped bass.

Tributaries of the Merrimack found in Lawrence, such as the Spicket River and Shawsheen River, can catch similar fish found in the main river and other species like rainbow trout, chain pickerel, fallfish, white sucker, brown trout, and tiger trout. Both tributaries are located near parks and trails to cast your line. 

Soak in More of Lawrence

1. Learn About Its History and Heritage

There are many sites located throughout Lawrence for you to visit and learn more about its rich and diverse history and culture. On 6 Essex St, you can see the Lawrence History Center, which houses a collection of photographs, glass plate negatives, mastered oral histories, and various historical records. The historical park of Campagnone Common is where you can pay tribute to those who’ve given their lives in war. The park is home to memorials dedicated to Lawrence, who’ve fought in the Civil War, World War II, the Spanish-American War, the Gulf War, and the Korean War.

2. Take Part in the Festivities

Every June, Lawrence hosts the Semana Hispana. It is a festival held at the Campagnone Common which celebrates various cultures, mainly Latin, with a whole week of events. The festival features live music, dancing, rides, a city-wide parade, and more.