Rockport, MA Fishing: Artistic Seaside Town with Great Offshore Fishing Opportunities

Rockport is a small seaside town right on the tip of Cape Ann. It is surrounded by nearby Gloucester on the east and the Atlantic Ocean on all the other sides. This peninsula is just an hour’s drive away from Boston but worlds away with its quaint small-town atmosphere and strong maritime history.

Originally inhabited by the Agawam tribe, the area where Rockport now stands became part of the Sandy Bay Colony when the first Europeans settled in it during the 1600s. Around that time, Rockport and nearby Gloucester were considered a rich source of timber and granite as well as one of the richest New England fishing grounds. In the mid-1700s, the first dock was established on Rockport. This was used to export timber and granite as well as for fishing. It was so successful that eventually, Rockport was able to establish itself as a separate city. 

However, with the rise of concrete, the demand for granite decreased during the Great Depression. Rockport, though, was able to reinvent itself as an artists colony even during the decline of the export of granite. This was because years prior, more and more artists began to flock to the area, in awe of the amazing natural lighting on the dock. No other emblem embodied this better than Motif No. 1, a seemingly ordinary red fishing shack on Bradley Wharf that artists loved to render in their art. The original was destroyed in 1978 during a blizzard but was instantly rebuilt. As the town’s timeless icon, it continues to be preserved and loved by the community.

Today, Rockport is a serene suburban town with plenty of hidden gems, a thriving artists colony, and an active fishing town. Surrounded as it is on three sides by the Atlantic Ocean, you’re sure to find plenty of fishing opportunities in this historic small town.

Rockport Fishing

Rockport has always enjoyed a reputation as a healthy fishing town because of its enviable position as a peninsula jutting out on the Atlantic Ocean. As part of the North Shore on Cape Ann, it’s a great place to practice your nearshore and offshore fishing skills. Here you can target plenty of New England classics such as striped bass, black seabass, winter, and summer flounder, as well as bluefin and yellowfin tuna, haddock, and shark. In its freshwater bodies, you can cut your teeth targeting species of salmon, trout, and catfish.

Some of the best fishing spots here include the scenic Halibut Point State Park, and harbors such as Rockport Harbor, Pigeon Cove, Granite Pier, and White Wharf. Halibut Point, in particular, attracts plenty of striped bass and even sharks with its unique topography. 

Out on the harbors, you can book a fishing charter to take you to some of the best offshore fishing spots in New England, located east of Cape Ann. One such stop you will fall in love with is Stellwagen Bank, which is rightfully known as a rich cod and haddock ground. Other species that are attracted to the bank include black seabass, blue and mako shark, bluefish, cusk, halibut, pollock, and winter flounder.

Another offshore destination you can access from Rockport is Jeffreys Ledge. It is a Marine Protected Area just like Stellwagen and a major morphologic feature that attracts a diverse species of marine life, including cod, haddock, pollock, and cusk, as well as thresher, mako, and blue shark. And while you’re at it, don’t miss out on the legendary fishing off on Tillies Bank, another productive fishing ground for cod, haddock, and pollock.
 

Top 10 Fish Species in Rockport MA

The top 10 fish species to target in Rockport MA are cod, haddock, pollock, cusk, striped bass, winter flounder, black sea bass, blue shark, mako shark, and bluefin tuna.

Seasonal Fishing

Rockport, like many New England fishing spots, can be quite productive from April to November. Species such as cusk, pollock, and halibut are active here all year round. But if you’re targeting cod, better get here from August 1 to September 30 for the species’ open season, and if you’re partial to haddock, you can best target them from May 1 to February 28. Striped bass peak season happens from August to September, while sharks and tuna are best targeted from July to September.
 

Enjoy the Uniqueness of Rockport 

Rockport is a small town that will surprise you at every turn, whether you’re an angler ticking off North Shore from your bucket list, a culture vulture eager to immerse in a thriving artists colony, or a nature-lover.

1. Book a Fishing Charter

Head on over to one of Rockport’s active docks to book a fishing charter that will take you offshore to some of New England’s best fishing grounds.

2. Do as the Artists Do

Discover why artists continue to fall in love with Rockport. Visit Motif No. 1 with your sketchbook and painting materials, or if you’re not a painter, visit one of the 30 galleries all over town, many of which are located in Dock Square and Bearskin Neck.

3. Immerse in Many Water-Related Activities

Rockport is a town obsessed with water, so if you’re the same, you’ve come to the right place. Here you can try ocean kayaking out of Rockport Harbor which gives you a front-row seat to many of the town’s lighthouses and wildlife. Whale-watching is yet another popular activity here as Cape Ann attracts a healthy number of whales such as humpbacks, minkes, and finbacks. But if you want to get up close and personal with marine life, head on over to Back Beach where you can try some scuba diving. However, if you’re just looking for a relaxing time with a view of the waters, then perhaps a trip to Long Beach might be more up your alley.