Edgartown, MA Fishing: Why It’s One of New England’s Top Fishing and Vacation Spot

Edgartown is a popular tourist destination that is not only known for its natural beauty but its historical landmarks as well. The town sits on the eastern tip of the island of Martha’s Vineyard, which is located just south of Cape Cod in Massachusetts, right in between Vineyard and Nantucket Sounds. Aside from the areas located on the island of Martha’s Vineyard, the town also includes the nearby smaller island of Chappaquiddick.

Edgartown got its name from Edgar, the son of James II of England, who was the heir to the throne at that time. As the oldest European settlement on the island, Edgartown was first established in 1642 and was formally incorporated into a township in 1671. Initially, the first settlers were mostly farmers and fisherfolks. During the 1800s, the town’s economy was mainly driven by the then prosperous whaling industry. Ports in and around the town were constructed to accommodate whaling vessels coming from far away places, and the communities were established to house rich captains, merchants, and their families. By the early 20th century, however, the whaling industry began to decline, which prompted Edgartown folks to shift from whaling to tourism as their main source of livelihood. Today, more than four thousand people call Edgartown their home, many of which work in the tourism sector. 

As a popular summer and tourist spot, Edgartown draws in tens of thousands of domestic and international tourists every year, especially during the summer months. Attractions include, of course, the picturesque beaches and the other beautiful sceneries in this quaint seaport town. Edgartown is a history buff’s dream destination because of the rich whaling and maritime history that the town is known for, given that many of the old mansions, churches, lighthouses, and other historical landmarks are still well-maintained to this day. As for accommodations, Edgartown has hotels, inns, and resorts located all over town that boast the best amenities and views. 

Edgartown Fishing

Nestled on the edge of an island surrounded by some of the most productive bodies of water in the region, anyone can easily surmise that one of the most favorite activities here is sport fishing. Anglers often visit the town to take advantage of the outstanding fishing opportunities found in the waters surrounding the island, including Vineyard Sound to the west side of the island, Nantucket Sound to the other side, Sengekontacket Pond on the northwestern edge of the town, Eel Pond to the northeast, Katama Bay located between the islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Chappaquiddick, Cape Poge Bay to the northern part of Chappaquiddick, and the Edgartown Harbor just north of the town. And beyond Nantucket Sound, anglers can experience the best deep-sea fishing in the great Atlantic. 

With easy access to so many great fishing locations, Edgartown can truly be considered a sportfishing mecca. One doesn’t even have to be an experienced angler to enjoy fishing in these waters as there are fishing guides and charters available all over town that won’t just point you where you can fish but can also teach you the best techniques to catch different types of fish—may these fish be found inshore, nearshore, or offshore. As for fish species, one can catch some of the most sought-after targets here, including fluke, stripers, sea bass, false albacore, bluefish, and bonito, just to name a few. And these are just the ones you can catch inshore and nearshore—while drifting on a boat across the flats off Eel Pond or while casting your line straight off the beaches around town. If you’re going to be fishing the waters inshore and nearshore, you can use strip squids and shiners as bait, which you can easily purchase from the tackle and bait shops found near fishing spots. Flies are also said to be quite effective as well.

If you go a bit farther from the shores, you can catch some of the favorite deep-sea targets such as mahi-mahi, marlin, tuna, and sharks. There are actually specific areas that are known to produce some trophy fish, and these are found in the waters surrounding the islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Chappaquiddick, namely Gordon’s Gully, The Fingers, The Claw, The Dump, and The Star. Just ask your fishing guide or charter captain where you can find these hotspots, and they’d be more than happy to take you there. Now, for some real fishing adventure, you can head out to the middle of the Atlantic Ocean in Georges Bank, one of the most productive fishing grounds in the world located approximately 180 miles east of Nantucket Island. Of course, when it comes to deep-sea fishing, one must be ready to face some of the toughest fighters in the ocean. So aside from being physically fit to handle hours of reeling in, say, white marlin, you should also come prepared with the right equipment—a 6- to 7-foot medium action offshore fishing rod, a heavy saltwater specific baitcaster reel, a 20-pound test monofilament line, a 6 to 10 feet of 40 to 80-pound test monofilament leader, a 5/0 to 7/0 sized hook, and some live baits. If you don’t have your own gear for deep-sea fishing, you don’t have to worry about it as fishing charters are usually equipped with all the essentials that you can rent.     

Top Ten Fish in Edgartown, MA

The top ten fish species in Edgartown, MA are striped bass, fluke, sea bass, false albacore, bluefish, bonito, mahi-mahi, tuna, sharks, and marlin. 

Edgartown Fishing Season

Fishing season on the whole island of Martha’s Vineyard usually starts in May; although, yes, there are still some fishing opportunities found throughout the waters around islands even before the weather starts to warm up. From June to October, there’s plenty of fish to be caught in the waters inshore and nearshore including bonito, fluke, striped bass, false albacore, bluefish, sea trout, and a whole lot more.

For offshore fishing, the best months to go are between July and September when deep-sea targets such as mahi-mahi, tuna, and marlin are said to be more active.        

Summertime Love: Top Activities in Edgartown

As one of New England’s top summer destinations, Edgartown boasts some of the most fantastic views in the region—from beautiful seascapes to the most charming communities you’ll ever see in your life. However, the town isn’t just about these amazing views as you can enjoy either a relaxing activity or go on a thrilling adventure. Here are some of the most popular activities in Edgartown:   

1.Fishing Charters  

It’s definitely a fishing paradise thanks to the bountiful waters surrounding the town. And the best way to enjoy fishing here is through a fishing charter that can take you to the best fishing spots in the area. 

2. Explore the Island on a Bike 

Just rent a bike and you can enjoy a day or two of biking around the whole island of Martha’s Vineyard via miles and miles of biking trails. This is actually one of the most popular ways to go around and see the sceneries including the beautiful beaches, the local flora and fauna, the charming communities, and the historical landmarks found in Edgartown.     

3. Explore the Island on a Boat 

Whether paddling on a kayak or just chilling out on a motorized boat, a visit here wouldn’t be complete without enjoying the views straight from the waters surrounding the island. 

4. Explore the Island on Foot 

With places such as Sherrif’s Meadow and Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary, a true nature lover would definitely appreciate an exhilarating hike through these naturally beautiful spots where one can truly breathe in what Mother Nature has to offer.