Sagamore, MA Fishing: A Charming Getaway

Located along the shores of Cape Cod Bay, Sagamore is a small charming place in Southeastern Massachusetts. It is bordered by two highways, two cities, and a beach, namely: Massachusetts Route 3 expressway to the west, U.S. Route 6 to the southwest and south, Plymouth to the northwest, Sandwich to the east, and Cape Cod Bay to the northeast.

Sagamore was named after the respected chief of the Algonquian peoples. Northeastern indigenous peoples roamed the region now known as Sagamore during the summer months to hunt and explore. They camped around the lake called “An-Di-A-Ta-Roc-Te,” which roughly translates to "Where the mountains touch the water."

The time has witnessed how much Sagamore has grown into what it is today—a quaint, homey place filled with kindhearted residents and welcoming neighborhoods that frequently hosted cookouts, especially during the summer. It is best known for its beaches, making it a popular summer destination, but it is also a great place for anglers to visit anytime. With Cape Cod being here, Sagamore has plenty of fishing opportunities to offer and memorable experiences for you to make. Get a chance to capture striped bass, black sea bass, winter flounder, and scup!

Sagamore Fishing

Sagamore may be a small, unassuming place, but it is a vacation and tourist mecca most known for its pristine beaches. Owing to its proximity to various waterways, it is no wonder that this small place, with an approximate population of 4,000, provides several good fishing locations for guests and anglers alike.

Once you get here, one of your first major tasks is to look for a fishing location in which Sagamore has plenty. Situated near the PG Heliport and the Best Western Adams Inn, Sagamore Creek is home to striped bass, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and bluegill, available from May to November. The best time to catch bass is during dusk or dawn, although fishing at night is highly recommended in the middle of summer. They are best caught by trolling, casting, or jigging with artificial baits or floating or bottom fishing with natural lures. Baits may be live or artificial, including eels, squid, sea worms, plugs, spoons, jigs, and spinners. As for bluegills, anglers are recommended to use hooks with long shanks so that it would be easier to remove them from the bluegill's tiny mouth. In addition, thin wire hooks work best for holding small baits.

Cape Cod Bay is another well-known fishing destination in Sagamore. It stretches up to 65 miles out from the mainland to the sea, so it is not surprising for Cape Cod's fishing scene to be considered one of the best in the whole country. Here, anglers can catch cod, haddock, striped bass, bluefish, and bluefin tuna. Cod and haddocks are at their peak numbers from April to November, with the months between April and June being perfect. The best fishing technique to catch them is a simple baited hook rig.

You'd be happy to know that prolific numbers of such live in Cape Cod Bay waters for bluefish lovers. The best time to catch them is from June until October. They will strike almost anything in the water. It is recommended that anglers fish from boats, piers, bridges, and the surf using cut baits fished on the bottom or casting or trolling artificial lures, such as metal spoons and bright-colored popping lures. Meanwhile, the bluefin tuna fishing season is from June until November, with August and September being the peak months overall. Anglers are advised to use a sturdy rod with a high-quality reel and test line.

The most popular shore-fishing destination in the whole peninsula is the Cape Cod Canal. It is an artificial, narrow body of water in Southeastern Massachusetts, which makes it an ideal spot for casting into the shore. It also forms part of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and connects Cape Cod Bay to the northeast and Buzzards Bay to the Southwest. Here, anglers can catch striped bass, bluefish, black sea bass, and tautog. The best time to target black sea bass is from late May to mid-June through bait fishing with crab, fish, or squid. While they may have large mouths, smaller hooks with a small sinker are more recommended.

Buzzards Bay is another top fishing destination connected to Cape Cod Bay through the Cape Cod Canal. Because the Bay's waters are shallow, it is a great place to introduce kids to fishing. Here, anglers can catch tautog, striped bass, and black sea bass. As for tautog, April through May is the most rewarding month because this species is concentrated in great numbers along the shorelines. Tautogs are best caught from a boat at anchor or by casting from rocky shoreline using bait such as a large piece of sea worm, whole or halved crabs, conch pieces, snails, or cracked clams.

While much of the fishing scene in Sagamore takes place in Cape Cod because of its access to the sea, other spots are for freshwater favorites. Once the striped bass season is over, many saltwater anglers turn to ponds and lakes to catch other bass species. These underdeveloped and lesser-known fishing spots include Nickerson State Park, Higgins, Cliff Ponds, and Flax Pond. Freshwater anglers can catch smallmouth bass, brook trout, brown trout, rainbow trout, and tiger trout around these areas.

Top 10 Fish Species in Sagamore, MA

The top 10 fish found in Sagamore are striped bass, bluefish, sea bass, largemouth bass, cod, haddock, bluegill, winter flounder, tautog, and scup.

Seasonal Fishing

For anglers looking into fishing in the Cape Cod Canal specifically, the best period is from May to June due to the huge variety of fish species available. Not many tourists are here yet for the summer during the 8 weeks.

Anglers who wish to target striped bass should come here from May to November because the bays and canals offer plenty of angling opportunities for the said species. Those who want to watch cod and haddocks are available all year and can be visited at any time.

Enjoy a Fun-filled Day in Sagamore

 1.  Book a Fishing Charter

It is no secret that Cape Cod Canal is a mecca for a huge variety of gamefish and that fishing trips will always be fruitful whatever season you may decide to visit. Take that experience up a notch by booking a fishing charter and enjoy fishing without dealing with the hassle of operating your own boat.

 2.  Check Out the Pairpoint Glass Works

Sagamore is the home of the oldest operating glass company in the whole United States, and a visit to this iconic place is something you wouldn't want to miss. Known for the finest glassworks locally and internationally, Pairpoint Glass Works has been in operation for over 175 years. Watch the artisans excel in their craft up close, get to know their works personally, and visit this historical factory.

 3.  Enjoy Nature in the Shawme-Crowell State Forest

Located on the western end of Cape Cod, Shawme-Crowell State Forest consists of 700-acre pitch pine and scrub oak forest, making it an excellent base camp for those who want to explore the Cape further. Quiet and filled with picturesque scenery, it has over 15 miles of trails perfect for hiking and/or horseback-riding enthusiasts.