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450-acre Childrens Island Channel fishing map with NOAA BlueTopo survey contours (100% measured, 100% assessed), charted rock and wreck structure, regional fish-survey occurrence, sourced forage timing and verified public access. The water tops out around 69 ft. The depth chart is built from real agency bathymetry referenced to NAVD88; directly measured coverage remains distinguished from source interpolation. The channels, holes and drop-offs come from the source data, not a distance-from-shore model. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.
Traced from the shoreline, Childrens Island Channel runs 450 acres with 4.5 miles of edge, broken up by 2 islands. The shoreline is moderately structured (index 1.5) — enough points and pockets to pattern. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 2% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. Call it 1.4 mi long by 0.9 mi wide at the broadest reach. For a second option, Eagle Island Channel lies 1 mi north.
Come spring, look for striped bass tight to the bank in 5 to 20 ft. They move out to 25 to 60 ft in summer and finish the year down in 20 to 50 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Surveyed channel edge: a drop-off around 47 ft that scores prime in summer. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A flutter spoon (deep) or an umbrella rig (trolled) is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Bucktail jig + trailer, Walking topwater (dawn) |
| Summer | 25 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (47 ft) | Flutter spoon (deep), Umbrella rig (trolled) |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (28 ft) | Topwater walker, Jerkbait |
| Winter | 20 to 50 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (47 ft) | Alabama rig (slow), Flutter spoon |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: bluefish in 3 to 20 ft. As the season builds they drop to 5 to 30 ft, wintering in 15 to 40 ft. Top water on the chart: Surveyed channel edge, a drop-off in the 28 ft range, prime in summer. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a popper (early/late) or a metal jigs in the rips gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Metal (Hopkins/Kastmaster), Pencil popper |
| Summer | 5 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (28 ft) | Popper (early/late), Metal jigs in the rips |
| Fall | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & midday | Surveyed channel edge (28 ft) | Pencil popper, Big metal |
| Winter | 15 to 40 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (28 ft) | Metal jig worked slow (southern waters) |
Come spring, look for black sea bass tight to the bank in 10 to 40 ft. They move out to 15 to 60 ft in summer and finish the year down in 21 to 69 ft. If you only fish one area, make it NOAA charted underwater rock: a rock pile around 16 ft that scores prime in spring. Best bite is midday and early morning. A bucktail + grub or a diamond jig + squid teaser is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 40 ft | midday & dawn | NOAA charted underwater rock (16 ft) | Hi-lo rig + squid, 1-2 oz bucktail + Gulp |
| Summer | 15 to 60 ft | midday & dawn | NOAA charted underwater rock (16 ft) | Bucktail + grub, Diamond jig + squid teaser |
| Fall | 17 to 69 ft | midday | NOAA charted underwater rock (18 ft) | 3-4 oz vertical jig (deep), Double-teaser rig |
| Winter | 21 to 69 ft | midday | NOAA charted underwater rock (21 ft) | Heavy hi-lo rig on deep wrecks |
In spring, tautog (blackfish) run shallow here, mostly 5 to 25 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 10 to 35 ft before dropping to 21 to 69 ft for winter. Spring tautog (blackfish) concentrate at NOAA charted underwater rock, a prime-rated rock pile around 16 ft. Fish it in early morning and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a 1/2-1 oz tog jig + crab most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | NOAA charted underwater rock (16 ft) | Tog jig + green crab half, Bare jig + clam (early) |
| Summer | 10 to 35 ft | dawn | NOAA charted underwater rock (16 ft) | 1/2-1 oz tog jig + crab |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | midday | NOAA charted underwater rock (16 ft) | Tog jig + whole green crab, Old-school rig + double crab (deep) |
| Winter | 21 to 69 ft | midday | NOAA charted underwater rock (21 ft) | Heavy jig + crab on deep structure |
Come spring, look for atlantic mackerel tight to the bank in 5 to 45 ft. Expect a summer slide to 13 to 69 ft, then a winter hold in 17 to 69 ft. Start at Surveyed channel edge. It's a drop-off holding about 47 ft of water and rates prime come summer. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A feather rig or a small vertical jig is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (28 ft) | Mackerel feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Summer | 13 to 69 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (47 ft) | Feather rig, Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 10 to 65 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (47 ft) | Compact silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 17 to 69 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (47 ft) | Small deep jig |
Early season atlantic cod use the shallows, holding in 14 to 69 ft. Even in summer they hold at 17 to 69 ft; winter keeps them in 16 to 69 ft. Put NOAA charted underwater rock first on the milk run — a rock pile near 16 ft that grades prime for spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Tie on a heavy metal jig or a large soft-plastic jig and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 14 to 69 ft | dawn | NOAA charted underwater rock (16 ft) | Diamond jig, Heavy bucktail |
| Summer | 17 to 69 ft | dawn | NOAA charted underwater rock (18 ft) | Heavy metal jig, Large soft-plastic jig |
| Fall | 12 to 69 ft | dawn | NOAA charted underwater rock (16 ft) | Diamond jig, Bucktail with teaser |
| Winter | 16 to 69 ft | midday | NOAA charted underwater rock (16 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
Structure-wise the chart holds 12 features, led in depth by Surveyed channel edge at roughly 47 ft.
Access data: Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife — Public Water Access. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Massachusetts waters are set by the Massachusetts DMF (recreational saltwater) — and special regulations can apply to Childrens Island Channel specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Massachusetts fishing regulations →
Childrens Island Channel is about 69 ft (21 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart is built from real agency bathymetry referenced to NAVD88; directly measured coverage remains distinguished from source interpolation. The contours reflect measured and quality-assessed source depths.
Anglers target striped bass, bluefish, black sea bass, tautog (blackfish), atlantic mackerel, atlantic cod on Childrens Island Channel.
NOAA charted underwater rock is the top-rated area: a rock pile in about 16 ft of water that rates prime for black sea bass in spring. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
For striped bass, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Childrens Island Channel is regulated by the Massachusetts DMF (recreational saltwater). Check the official Massachusetts regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Eagle Island Channel 1 mi · Marblehead Channel 1 mi · Salem Sound 2 mi · Marblehead Harbor 2 mi · Beverly Harbor 3 mi · Manchester Bay 3 mi · Salem Harbor 3 mi · Beverly Channel 4 mi · Manchester Harbor 4 mi · Chebacco Lake 7 mi · Nahant Bay 7 mi · Pleasant Pond 8 mi
See how Childrens Island Channel stacks up: best striped bass lakes in Massachusetts · best bluefish lakes in Massachusetts · best black sea bass lakes in Massachusetts · best tautog (blackfish) lakes in Massachusetts
Browse all Massachusetts fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: NOAA BlueTopo (NAVD88; 100% measured, 0% source-interpolated). How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.