Best atlantic mackerel lakes in Massachusetts
24 Massachusetts waters list atlantic mackerel (official records or labelled estimates), 24 mapped with survey or official-chart depth data. Ranked below by size and depth-data quality, leading with the waters in our reviewed search catalog — open any water to see exactly where to fish it: depth contours, scored spots with plain-English reasons, seasonal windows and bait picks. A fast, schooling pelagic fish that moves along the Northeast coast with cool water and dense concentrations of small bait and plankton.
- Broad Sound — 94 ft max · real survey depth contours · Striped Bass, Bluefish, Black Sea Bass, Tautog (Blackfish)Why #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Hingham Bay — 67 ft max · real survey depth contours · 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
- Nantasket Roads — 79 ft max · real survey depth contours · 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
- Salem Sound — 70 ft max · real survey depth contours · Striped Bass, Bluefish, Black Sea Bass, Tautog (Blackfish)Why #4: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Marblehead Channel — 111 ft max · real survey depth contours · Striped Bass, Bluefish, Black Sea Bass, Tautog (Blackfish)Why #5: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Salem Harbor — 42 ft max · real survey depth contours · Striped Bass, Bluefish, Black Sea Bass, Tautog (Blackfish)Why #6: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Nahant Bay — 69 ft max · real survey depth contours · Striped Bass, Bluefish, Black Sea Bass, Tautog (Blackfish)Why #7: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- President Roads — 79 ft max · real survey depth contours · 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
- Plum Island Sound — 32 ft max · real survey depth contours · Striped Bass, Bluefish, Black Sea Bass, Tautog (Blackfish)Why #9: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Gloucester Harbor — 71 ft max · real survey depth contours · Striped Bass, Bluefish, Black Sea Bass, Tautog (Blackfish)Why #10: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Sculpin Ledge Channel — 28 ft max · real survey depth contours · Striped Bass, Bluefish, Black Sea Bass, Tautog (Blackfish)Why #11: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Childrens Island Channel — 69 ft max · real survey depth contours · Striped Bass, Bluefish, Black Sea Bass, Tautog (Blackfish)Why #12: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Eagle Island Channel — 60 ft max · real survey depth contours · Striped Bass, Bluefish, Black Sea Bass, Tautog (Blackfish)Why #13: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Cohasset Harbor — 41 ft max · real survey depth contours · Striped Bass, Bluefish, Black Sea Bass, Tautog (Blackfish)Why #14: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Sandwich Harbor — 36 ft max · real survey depth contours · Striped Bass, Bluefish, Black Sea Bass, Tautog (Blackfish)Why #15: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Sandy Bay — 94 ft max · real survey depth contours · Striped Bass, Bluefish, Black Sea Bass, Tautog (Blackfish)Why #16: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Manchester Bay — 47 ft max · real survey depth contours · Striped Bass, Bluefish, Black Sea Bass, Tautog (Blackfish)Why #17: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Beverly Harbor — 43 ft max · real survey depth contours · Striped Bass, Bluefish, Black Sea Bass, Tautog (Blackfish)Why #18: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Beverly Channel — 43 ft max · real survey depth contours · Striped Bass, Bluefish, Black Sea Bass, Tautog (Blackfish)Why #19: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Lynn Harbor — 31 ft max · real survey depth contours · Striped Bass, Bluefish, Black Sea Bass, Tautog (Blackfish)Why #20: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Marblehead Harbor — 37 ft max · real survey depth contours · Striped Bass, Bluefish, Black Sea Bass, Tautog (Blackfish)Why #21: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Scituate Harbor — 22 ft max · real survey depth contours · Striped Bass, Bluefish, Black Sea Bass, Tautog (Blackfish)Why #22: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Manchester Harbor — 17 ft max · real survey depth contours · 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
- Nahant Harbor — 25 ft max · real survey depth contours · Striped Bass, Bluefish, Black Sea Bass, Tautog (Blackfish)Why #24: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
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How to use this ranking
The order is a map-planning ranking, not a claim about today's fish population. It favors larger mapped waters and gives survey-backed contours a three-times data-quality boost. Agency population surveys, current regulations, access and recent conditions should make the final decision.
Compare maximum depth across 37,233 lake records · See Massachusetts waters with public access data
When to fish atlantic mackerel in Massachusetts
- Spring 5–45 ft — Search inlet approaches, current seams and outer points for tight schools; keep a small jig or feather rig above the marks rather than dragging bottom.
- Summer 15–80 ft — In the Gulf of Maine, use sonar over deeper bay approaches and current lines; farther south, many schools have already moved north or offshore.
- Fall 10–65 ft — Cooling water starts the return migration; check harbor mouths and outer channel edges, then follow the school rather than anchoring on yesterday's location.
- Winter 30–120 ft — Most Northeast bay fish are offshore or well south; do not treat a summer harbor location as a dependable winter fishery.
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