← Massachusetts fishing maps

Best atlantic cod lakes in Massachusetts

24 Massachusetts waters hold atlantic cod, 24 mapped with real state-agency depth surveys. Ranked below by size and depth-data quality — open any water to see exactly where to fish it: depth contours, scored spots with plain-English reasons, seasonal windows and bait picks. A cold-water bottom predator associated with rock, ledges and wrecks from Massachusetts Bay through the Gulf of Maine.

1. Broad Sound — 94 ft max · survey depth data · Striped Bass, Bluefish, Black Sea Bass, Tautog (Blackfish)Why #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
2. Hingham Bay — 67 ft max · survey depth data · Striped Bass, Bluefish, Black Sea Bass, Tautog (Blackfish)Why #2: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
3. Nantasket Roads — 79 ft max · survey depth data · Striped Bass, Bluefish, Black Sea Bass, Tautog (Blackfish)Why #3: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 4 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
4. Salem Sound — 70 ft max · survey depth data · Striped Bass, Bluefish, Black Sea Bass, Tautog (Blackfish)Why #4: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
5. Marblehead Channel — 111 ft max · survey depth data · Striped Bass, Bluefish, Black Sea Bass, Tautog (Blackfish)Why #5: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
6. Salem Harbor — 42 ft max · survey depth data · Striped Bass, Bluefish, Black Sea Bass, Tautog (Blackfish)Why #6: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
7. Nahant Bay — 69 ft max · survey depth data · Striped Bass, Bluefish, Black Sea Bass, Tautog (Blackfish)Why #7: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
8. President Roads — 79 ft max · survey depth data · Striped Bass, Bluefish, Black Sea Bass, Tautog (Blackfish)Why #8: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 4 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
9. Plum Island Sound — 32 ft max · survey depth data · Striped Bass, Bluefish, Black Sea Bass, Tautog (Blackfish)Why #9: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
10. Gloucester Harbor — 71 ft max · survey depth data · Striped Bass, Bluefish, Black Sea Bass, Tautog (Blackfish)Why #10: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
11. Sculpin Ledge Channel — 28 ft max · survey depth data · Striped Bass, Bluefish, Black Sea Bass, Tautog (Blackfish)Why #11: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
12. Childrens Island Channel — 69 ft max · survey depth data · Striped Bass, Bluefish, Black Sea Bass, Tautog (Blackfish)Why #12: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
13. Eagle Island Channel — 60 ft max · survey depth data · Striped Bass, Bluefish, Black Sea Bass, Tautog (Blackfish)Why #13: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
14. Cohasset Harbor — 41 ft max · survey depth data · Striped Bass, Bluefish, Black Sea Bass, Tautog (Blackfish)Why #14: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
15. Sandwich Harbor — 36 ft max · survey depth data · Striped Bass, Bluefish, Black Sea Bass, Tautog (Blackfish)Why #15: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
16. Sandy Bay — 94 ft max · survey depth data · Striped Bass, Bluefish, Black Sea Bass, Tautog (Blackfish)Why #16: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
17. Manchester Bay — 47 ft max · survey depth data · Striped Bass, Bluefish, Black Sea Bass, Tautog (Blackfish)Why #17: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
18. Beverly Harbor — 43 ft max · survey depth data · Striped Bass, Bluefish, Black Sea Bass, Tautog (Blackfish)Why #18: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
19. Beverly Channel — 43 ft max · survey depth data · Striped Bass, Bluefish, Black Sea Bass, Tautog (Blackfish)Why #19: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
20. Lynn Harbor — 31 ft max · survey depth data · Striped Bass, Bluefish, Black Sea Bass, Tautog (Blackfish)Why #20: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
21. Marblehead Harbor — 37 ft max · survey depth data · Striped Bass, Bluefish, Black Sea Bass, Tautog (Blackfish)Why #21: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
22. Scituate Harbor — 22 ft max · survey depth data · Striped Bass, Bluefish, Black Sea Bass, Tautog (Blackfish)Why #22: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
23. Manchester Harbor — 17 ft max · survey depth data · Striped Bass, Bluefish, Black Sea Bass, Tautog (Blackfish)Why #23: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
24. Nahant Harbor — 25 ft max · survey depth data · Striped Bass, Bluefish, Black Sea Bass, Tautog (Blackfish)Why #24: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site

Find the closest atlantic cod waters to you →

When to fish atlantic cod in Massachusetts

• Spring 20–100 ft — Work jigs or bait close to charted rock and ledges near the bay mouth; verify the current season and possession rules before targeting cod.
• Summer 45–180 ft — Warmer water pushes most cod deeper or offshore; inner-harbor spots should be read as low-confidence unless cold water and bait are present.
• Fall 25–140 ft — Probe the up-current face of ledges and charted rock with controlled bottom contact, and release prohibited or undersized fish promptly.
• Winter 50–220 ft — Most fishing is in deep offshore water and regulations can close or sharply limit harvest; the in-bay map is not an offshore forecast.

Also in Massachusetts: best largemouth bass lakes · best smallmouth bass lakes · best northern pike lakes · best crappie lakes · best bluegill lakes · best rainbow trout lakes · best striped bass lakes · best yellow perch lakes · best common carp lakes · best brown trout lakes · best brook trout lakes · best chain pickerel lakes · best rock bass lakes · best white perch lakes · best pumpkinseed lakes · best brown bullhead lakes · best summer flounder (fluke) lakes · best bluefish lakes · best black sea bass lakes · best tautog (blackfish) lakes · best atlantic mackerel lakes

Atlantic Cod elsewhere: Maine