Book Your Fishing Charter in Rockport, MA
Have you been wanting to go on an offshore fishing adventure? Put Rockport, MA, on the top of your list. It will not disappoint!
Complete your North Shore bucket list by including Rockport, Massachusetts on your next fishing trip. This small yet stunning peninsula, right at the tip of Cape Ann, is a quaint artists colony with a thriving fishing community and a warm and friendly small-town atmosphere. It's just an hour’s drive from Boston, so it is easily accessible yet worlds away from the city in terms of charm.
Once a timber and granite export powerhouse, Rockport turned itself into the artists' colony that it is today, thanks to its natural vista and unassuming vibe. No other spot in Rockport embodies this better than Motif No. 1, a weather-beaten red fishing shack that looks perfectly positioned on Bradley Wharf and has been the subject of so many artistic pieces through the years. The one still standing on the very same wharf is no longer the original, but the town still protects and preserves this well-loved replica.
Because of its enviable position surrounded on three sides by the Atlantic Ocean, Rockport offers amazing offshore opportunities. And with a long tradition of fishing in the area, you’ll be sure to find friendly locals and guides who will be more than willing to share their bounty of fishing knowledge with you.
Rockport Fishing: Small Town, Big Offshore Fishing Opportunities
Want to cut your teeth in nearshore and offshore fishing opportunities? There’s no better place to do it than in Rockport. Here you can target plenty of New England classics such as cod, striped bass, black sea bass, winter flounder, and summer flounder, as well as bluefin and yellowfin tuna, haddock, and shark.
Come to Halibut Point State Park for the beautiful trails, amazing natural views, and productive striped bass fishing. Then head out to one of the harbors in town such as Rockport Harbor, Pigeon Cove, Granite Pier, and White Wharf where you can book a charter to take you to some of the best offshore fishing spots in New England, located east of Cape Ann. These include the Stellwagen Bank, a renowned grounds for cod and haddock, where you can also target mako and blue shark, halibut, winter flounder, and black seabass; Jeffreys Ledge, a major morphologic feature that attracts a diverse species of marine life, including cod, haddock, pollock, and cusk; and Tillies Bank, another productive fishing ground for cod, haddock, and pollock.
Like many New England fishing spots, Rockport is productive from April to November, with species like cusk, pollock, and halibut active all year round.
Discover the Diverse Charms of Rockport, MA
1. Be a Patron of the Arts
Visit one or more of the 30 art galleries scattered all over town. But if you don’t want to get lost, stroll through Bearskin Neck, a popular shopping destination in itself, and you’ll find a gallery or two.
2. Get in the Water
Rockport is a water-obsessed town where you can try plenty of water-based activities apart from fishing. Here you can try ocean-kayaking out of Rockport Harbor, whale-watching, scuba-diving on Back Beach, or even just strolling on the beautiful shores of Long Beach.
