South Boston, MA Fishing: Urban Fishing in Southie’s Waterfront

South Boston, colloquially called and known as Southie, is an urban neighborhood of Boston in Massachusetts. It is found south and east of Fort Point Channel and verges on Dorchester Bay. The neighborhood has a breathtaking waterfront called the Seaport District, which is now considered a community. The area was once primarily farmland, and it was known for being a predominantly Irish Catholic community. In 1804, it was annexed to the city of Boston and has since undergone multiple demographic changes. South Boston is the home of Dorchester Heights, where former US President George Washington forced British troops to evacuate during the American Revolutionary War.

South Boston is a predominantly working-class neighborhood with the ongoing development of hotels, restaurants, and shopping centers. Because of this, the bustling community attracts families and millennial professionals. Aside from its industrial aesthetic and background, South Boston also has a historic district, several parks, and miles of beaches that make it a highly desirable area for recreation, leisure, and permanent residence. The neighborhood is also the home of many notable events, such as the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and the Boston Triathlon. Anglers won’t have a hard time finding places to fish in South Boston as it’s surrounded by plenty of waterways and advantageously sits upon a productive waterfront.

South Boston Fishing

South Boston is bordered by a channel and bay, making it an excellent urban fishing destination. A scenic and exciting waterfront offers a variety of angling opportunities. Southie can provide inshore or offshore fishing and saltwater or freshwater fishing.

One of Boston's best urban fishing spots is Castle Island, east of South Boston. It surrounds Pleasure Bay which contains cunner, striped bass, bluefish, winter flounder, summer flounder, black sea bass, starry ray, New Zealand brill, blue skate, tautog, Atlantic bonito, little tunny, and Spanish mackerel. Anglers can use a boat or surf cast from the beaches that encircle the bay; there is also a fishing pier to the west of Fort Independence. The calm, enclosed lagoon consistently has high water and sediment quality. It’s an excellent place to go fishing by foot due to its walkable causeway, beaches, and harbors. Baitcasting, spinning, and fly fishing using live bait is the best method to reel in any fish from the bay. To fish for flounder, go where the roads meet the water, and the road crosses to the island. For anglers fishing out in the bay, start by casting halfway and work towards the middle. Anglers can find bass where the bay flows out to Dorchester Bay at the Head Island Causeway. One might also come upon mackerel in that area. 

To the south, anglers can access and get the chance to fish in Old Harbor and Dorchester Bay. Old Harbor can be accessed through Carson Beach, L Street Beach, and M Street Beach. Both Old Harbor and Dorchester Bay host a variety of fish species like cunner, striped bass, largemouth bass, Atlantic rainbow smelt, American eel, rainbow trout, bluefin tuna, bluefish, haddock, Atlantic mackerel, gray triggerfish, summer flounder, winter flounder, European conger, and gulf menhaden. The waterways are highly accessible because of the many public beaches and walkways. The beaches provide terrific sight fishing, wade fishing, surf casting, and inshore fishing opportunities. Anglers who want to launch their boats can do so from the yacht club’s docks next to M Street Beach. The primary targets in Dorchester Bay are striped bass and bluefish. They can be found around rock piles, in and around man-made structures, or other structures. It is best to fish around the area at dusk when the fish are most active. 

By traveling north, anglers can reach the Seaport District, which boasts South Boston's exciting and active waterfront. One will find the Boston Fishing Pier looking out the Boston Main Channel. The pier is on the National Register of Historic Places and was home to one of the largest fishing fleets in the eastern part of the country in the 1920s. The channel has striped bass, black sea bass, Atlantic mackerel, chub mackerel, smallmouth bass, and Atlantic cod. Walking around this Boston harbor is a unique experience no other fishing location offers.

Anglers who have the time to go to the south end of the state can fish in the renowned Cape Cod area. It's a great place for both freshwater and saltwater angling.

In recent years, the Save the Harbor - Save the Bay Youth Fishing Tournament has been held at Fan Pier Marina in the Seaport District. The event promotes fishing in one of the cleanest harbors in the nation. 

Top 10 Fish Species in South Boston, MA

The top 10 fish species found in South Boston, Massachusetts are striped bass, bluefish, winter flounder, summer flounder, black sea bass, Atlantic mackerel, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, Atlantic cod, and tautog.

Seasonal Fishing

Striped bass can be fished all year; they are most active from May to November and are best targeted during dusk and dawn. In the middle of summer, fishing for them at night is a good idea. Bluefish can also be caught all year recreationally. The best season to catch them is around mid to late summer through early fall. Flounder species can be targeted from May to October, while black sea bass is best sought out from May to September. Mackerel fishing is great in May and November. In the summer, they can be found where the waters are cooler in the north area. Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass fishing are allowed daily creel and keep limits throughout the year. Atlantic cod can be targeted in two weeks in April and September. Tautog can be caught between January and March, and anglers can keep them.

Check Out More of South Boston

South Boston offers plenty of other activities and attractions aside from excellent fishing. The bustling neighborhood is rich in history and culture, making it an interesting and exciting place to explore.

1. Book a Fishing Charter

Fishing is ingrained in South Boston’s identity, proven by being the home to the famed Boston Fishing Pier and the Seaport District. Anglers can book fishing charters to take advantage of local expertise and knowledge when fishing in local waterways. Boat rentals are also available. Bait and tackle shops and fishing gear and equipment stores can also be found in the area. 

2. Take Part in the Celebration

South Boston is the original home of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which celebrates Irish-American culture and honors Evacuation Day. The parade marches from West Broadway to East Broadway, ending on Farragut Road. Around 10,000 to 20,000 people participate in the festivities held every March.

3. Explore the Historic District

People who want to explore and admire South Boston’s industrial aesthetic can stop by the Fort Point Channel Landmark District. The 55-acre area possesses the largest, most significant, and most cohesive collection of late 19th century and early 20th-century industrial buildings. It is also a hub for the artistic community, with many working artists.