Salisbury, MA Fishing: Home of the Iconic Beachfront and More

Located in Essex County, Massachusetts, Salisbury is a dream summer destination known for its scenic five-mile-long sandy ocean beach. It lies along the northern banks of the Merrimack River and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean.

The land now known as Salisbury was home to the Pentucket tribe until it was settled as Colchester by the English in 1638. After two years, it was incorporated as Salisbury after the cathedral city of the same name in Wiltshire, England. Two centuries later, Beach Road was constructed, which provided access to the five-mile beach and eventually led to the coastal beach spot becoming a thriving summer getaway spot lined with hotels, restaurants, shops, arcades, and amusement parks.

Today, Salisbury is the home of around 10,000 people who enjoy a sparse suburban feel. Its bustling community and a plethora of scenic beachside views and family-friendly tourist spots entice people to move here or for tourists to extend their stay and enjoy the warmth of the Salisbury sun. Whatever kind of tourist you may be, Salisbury has something for you. When visiting Salisbury, there are various exciting and fun things to do, including fishing in any of its known waterways.

Salisbury Fishing

Due to its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, it is no wonder that Salisbury is a good fishing destination that provides an abundance of fishing opportunities. The waters of Salisbury are teeming with baitfish and rich nutrients that enable it to foster a healthy ecosystem and marine biodiversity where huge populations of game fish can grow. Be it inshore fishing or deep-sea fishing, Salisbury has something to give to anglers.

Situated along Beach Road, Route 1A is the Salisbury Beach State Reservation. It has the iconic Salisbury beachfront, stretching for 3.8 miles along the Atlantic Ocean. This 521-acre park is a popular spot for fishing, boating, fishing, and camping. Considered the best game fish in Massachusetts, striped bass are abundant from May to November. The best times to catch them are during dusk or dawn and at night during the middle of summer. They are caught by trolling, baitcasting, jigging with artificial baits, or floating or bottom fishing with natural baits. They also surf fish with spoons or heavy lures. 

Just one mile away from Worcester, Massachusetts, is the Salisbury Pond, where anglers can catch largemouth bass, bluegill, and common carp, which are available all year round. Largemouth bass are usually caught through bait-fishing using live bait, such as shiners, minnows, shad, and crawfish, since they are what bass typically eat. For those who prefer artificial lures, using those that look just like their prey is highly recommended. The most common baits are worms and nightcrawlers for bluegill, and their sizes should only be enough to cover the hook. As for the common carp, the best baits are either boilies or sweet corn, depending on the fishing activities in the area.

The Merrimack River is one of the three most important large rivers on the East Coast. It is a 117-mile-long river that passes through Franklin, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and empties into the Gulf of Maine at Newburyport. The most popular species caught in the Merrimack River are striped bass, smallmouth bass, and Northern pike. The peak months for striped bass are April, May, and June, and they can be caught by casting hard plastic baits, spinners, jigs or plastic worms, or plastic crayfish. Meanwhile, September, October, and November are the best months to fish Northern pike using baits with high-visibility colors, such as white and bright orange. They are also highly responsive to baits that give off a lot of vibration or sound. The best lures for Northern pike are spinnerbaits, inline spinners, and lipless cranks.

In Salisbury, Massachusetts, the northeastern corner is the Blackwater River, a 3.1 mile-long tidal inlet. It is a tributary of the Contoocook River and is interconnected with the Merrimack River. Here, anglers can catch striped bass.

The Quabbin Reservoir is the largest unfiltered water source in the United States. It produces 412 billion gallons of water, covering 39 square miles with 181 miles of shoreline. Generally, visitors can enter through its designated gates and areas an hour before sunrise and until an hour after sunset. In the Quabbin Reservoir, anglers can catch smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, and lake trout. Lake trout are at their peak numbers between March and May and at the end of September. They are best caught using light to medium spinning tackle using a variety of artificial bait. Popular baits include shrimp and minnows suspended from afloat. Artificially scented lures are also popular.

Situated near the Salisbury Salt Marsh Wildlife Management Area is Town Creek, a tributary of the Merrimack River. The most common fish species here are the striped bass and chain pickerel. The best time to fish for chain pickerel is June, using artificial lures.

The 194-acre warm water pond called the Tispaquin Pond is characterized by clear water with good transparency. The most popular species caught here are largemouth bass, chain pickerel, and yellow perch. February and March are the best months to catch yellow perch, usually using small jigs and lures tipped with maggots, wax worms, shrimp, or small pieces of perch meat.

Top 10 Fish Species in Salisbury, MA

The top species caught in Salisbury are largemouth bass, striped bass, bluegill, chain pickerel, summer flounder, channel catfish, black crappie, blue catfish, bluefish, and yellow perch.

Seasonal Fishing

In Salisbury, Massachusetts, the most pleasant months are August, July, and June, while January and February are the least comfortable ones. While various gamefish are available all year round, the best period for fishing is from April to September. The month of April experiences great yields of winter flounder and yellowfin tuna. Meanwhile, May is the peak month for striped bass, haddock, Atlantic mackerel, black sea bass, yellowfish, and tautog. June and August give anglers a chance to catch bluefish, blue shark, maco shark, bonito, albacore, and scup.

Unwind in Salisbury

1. Book a Fishing Charter

Salisbury welcomes anglers of all skill levels year-round, and for you to enjoy the best of this coastal place, booking a fishing charter is highly recommended. Allow a licensed guide to assist you so you can focus on your fishing and have a fun-filled day, especially in the spring. 

2. Hike on the Salisbury Rail Trail

Also known as the Gillis Rail Trail Connector, the Salisbury Rail Trail Connector is a 0.3-mile link that connects two rail trails, namely Salisbury's Old Eastern Marsh Trail and Newburyport's Clipper City Rail Trail and Harborwalk. The 10-foot-wide trail traverses underneath the Gillis Bridge and provides hikers and visitors a stunning panoramic view of Salisbury's harbor, marinas, and the breathtaking Newburyport riverfront.

3. Visit the Pettengill Farm

The Pettengill Farm consists of a 70-acre expanse of land brimming with vibrant flowers and shrubs and has been owned by the same family since 1792. It backs onto Salisbury’s Great Marsh. More than 20,000 guests come here every year—often during the spring and summer—to visit. Visitors are invited to join the Pasture to Plate dinners or the Vintage Bazaar, or slow down and appreciate an ample space where nature takes center stage.