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1,720-acre Gloucester Harbor 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 71 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. Here's the year, species by species, as the scoring engine sees it.
On the chart, Gloucester Harbor draws 1,717 acres inside 11.6 miles of shoreline — 12 islands included. The shoreline is moderately structured (index 2) — enough points and pockets to pattern. 12% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water. The basin spans about 3.1 mi end to end and 1.9 mi across at its widest. For a second option, Manchester Harbor lies 5 mi west.
Come spring, look for striped bass tight to the bank in 5 to 20 ft. Expect a summer slide to 25 to 60 ft, then a winter hold in 20 to 50 ft. Start at Surveyed channel edge. It's a drop-off holding about 39 ft of water and rates prime come summer. Prime time lands in 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 (39 ft) | Flutter spoon (deep), Umbrella rig (trolled) |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (27 ft) | Topwater walker, Jerkbait |
| Winter | 20 to 50 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (39 ft) | Alabama rig (slow), Flutter spoon |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: bluefish in 3 to 20 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 5 to 30 ft before dropping to 15 to 40 ft for winter. The spot to know is Surveyed channel edge, a drop-off in about 27 ft of water that rates prime for bluefish in summer. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. 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 (27 ft) | Popper (early/late), Metal jigs in the rips |
| Fall | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & midday | Surveyed channel edge (27 ft) | Pencil popper, Big metal |
| Winter | 15 to 40 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (39 ft) | Metal jig worked slow (southern waters) |
Come spring, look for black sea bass tight to the bank in 10 to 40 ft. Expect a summer slide to 15 to 60 ft, then a winter hold in 21 to 71 ft. Start at NOAA charted underwater rock. It's a rock pile holding about 21 ft of water and rates prime come spring. Prime time lands in 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 (21 ft) | Hi-lo rig + squid, 1-2 oz bucktail + Gulp |
| Summer | 15 to 60 ft | midday & dawn | NOAA charted underwater rock (21 ft) | Bucktail + grub, Diamond jig + squid teaser |
| Fall | 18 to 71 ft | midday | NOAA charted underwater rock (21 ft) | 3-4 oz vertical jig (deep), Double-teaser rig |
| Winter | 21 to 71 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. Summer pushes them deeper, 10 to 35 ft, and winter fish settle into 30 to 70 ft. Dangerous NOAA charted wreck is the standout, a wreck at roughly 8 ft, rated prime for spring tautog (blackfish). Time it for early morning. 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 | Dangerous NOAA charted wreck (8 ft) | Tog jig + green crab half, Bare jig + clam (early) |
| Summer | 10 to 35 ft | dawn | NOAA charted underwater rock (21 ft) | 1/2-1 oz tog jig + crab |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | midday | Dangerous NOAA charted wreck (46 ft) | Tog jig + whole green crab, Old-school rig + double crab (deep) |
| Winter | 30 to 70 ft | midday | Dangerous NOAA charted wreck (46 ft) | Heavy jig + crab on deep structure |
Come spring, look for atlantic mackerel tight to the bank in 5 to 45 ft. They move out to 13 to 71 ft in summer and finish the year down in 18 to 71 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Surveyed channel edge: a drop-off around 39 ft that scores prime in summer. Best bite is 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 (39 ft) | Mackerel feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Summer | 13 to 71 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (39 ft) | Feather rig, Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 10 to 65 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (39 ft) | Compact silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 18 to 71 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (39 ft) | Small deep jig |
Early season atlantic cod use the shallows, holding in 14 to 71 ft. Even in summer they hold at 18 to 71 ft; winter keeps them in 16 to 71 ft. The chart's best answer is NOAA charted underwater rock — rock pile, 21 ft, prime for spring. Best bite is 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 71 ft | dawn | NOAA charted underwater rock (21 ft) | Diamond jig, Heavy bucktail |
| Summer | 18 to 71 ft | dawn | NOAA charted underwater rock (21 ft) | Heavy metal jig, Large soft-plastic jig |
| Fall | 13 to 71 ft | dawn | NOAA charted underwater rock (21 ft) | Diamond jig, Bucktail with teaser |
| Winter | 16 to 71 ft | midday | NOAA charted underwater rock (21 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
Count 79 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, NOAA charted underwater rock, sits near 60 ft.
Access data: City of Gloucester — public landings with launch ramps. 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 Gloucester Harbor specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Massachusetts fishing regulations →
Gloucester Harbor is about 71 ft (22 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 Gloucester Harbor.
NOAA charted underwater rock is the top-rated area: a rock pile in about 21 ft of water that rates prime for black sea bass in spring. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by species and season.
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 Gloucester Harbor 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.
Manchester Harbor 5 mi · Manchester Bay 6 mi · Sandy Bay 6 mi · Chebacco Lake 7 mi · Salem Sound 8 mi · Eagle Island Channel 8 mi · Childrens Island Channel 8 mi · Marblehead Channel 9 mi · Beverly Harbor 10 mi · Beverly Channel 10 mi · Marblehead Harbor 10 mi · Pleasant Pond 11 mi
See how Gloucester Harbor 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.