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2,925-acre Nahant Bay fishing map with NOAA BlueTopo survey contours (99.95% 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. What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:
Nahant Bay maps at 2,921 acres behind 10.5 miles of shoreline — 6 islands included. A shoreline index of 1.4 says round and simple: fish relate to depth changes here, not shoreline features. 28% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water. Figure 2.9 mi of water from one end to the other, 2 mi at the beam. Its nearest charted neighbour, Lynn Harbor, is 2 mi to the west.
In spring, striped bass run shallow here, mostly 5 to 20 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 25 to 60 ft before dropping to 20 to 50 ft for winter. Summer striped bass concentrate at Surveyed channel edge, a good-rated drop-off around 49 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a topwater walker at low light or a paddletail on a light jig most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | 3-6 inch paddletail, Suspending minnow plug |
| Summer | 25 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (49 ft) | Topwater walker at low light, Paddletail on a light jig |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (33 ft) | Pencil popper, Baitfish swimbait |
| Winter | 20 to 50 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (49 ft) | Slow paddletail, Bucktail near bottom |
Come spring, look for bluefish tight to the bank in 3 to 20 ft. They move out to 5 to 30 ft in summer and finish the year down in 15 to 40 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Surveyed channel edge: a drop-off around 24 ft that scores good in summer. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A popper (early/late) or a metal jigs in the rips is the honest summer answer here.
| 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 (24 ft) | Popper (early/late), Metal jigs in the rips |
| Fall | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & midday | Surveyed channel edge (24 ft) | Pencil popper, Big metal |
| Winter | 15 to 40 ft | midday | open water | Metal jig worked slow (southern waters) |
In spring, black sea bass run shallow here, mostly 10 to 40 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 15 to 60 ft before dropping to 21 to 69 ft for winter. Spring black sea bass concentrate at NOAA charted underwater rock, a prime-rated rock pile around 13 ft. Fish it in midday and early morning and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a bucktail + grub or a diamond jig + squid teaser most summer days.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 40 ft | midday & dawn | NOAA charted underwater rock (13 ft) | Hi-lo rig + squid, 1-2 oz bucktail + Gulp |
| Summer | 15 to 60 ft | midday & dawn | NOAA charted underwater rock (15 ft) | Bucktail + grub, Diamond jig + squid teaser |
| Fall | 17 to 69 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 80 ft | midday | NOAA charted underwater rock (26 ft) | 3-4 oz vertical jig (deep), Double-teaser rig |
| Winter | 21 to 69 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 100 ft | midday | NOAA charted underwater rock (26 ft) | Heavy hi-lo rig on deep wrecks |
Early season tautog (blackfish) use the shallows, holding in 5 to 25 ft. Expect a summer slide to 10 to 35 ft, then a winter hold in 21 to 69 ft. Put NOAA charted underwater rock first on the milk run — a rock pile near 9 ft that grades prime for spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Tie on a 1/2-1 oz tog jig + crab and you're in the game.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | NOAA charted underwater rock (9 ft) | Tog jig + green crab half, Bare jig + clam (early) |
| Summer | 10 to 35 ft | dawn | NOAA charted underwater rock (13 ft) | 1/2-1 oz tog jig + crab |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | midday | Dangerous NOAA charted wreck (39 ft) | Tog jig + whole green crab, Old-school rig + double crab (deep) |
| Winter | 21 to 69 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 70 ft | midday | Dangerous NOAA charted wreck (39 ft) | Heavy jig + crab on deep structure |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: atlantic mackerel in 5 to 45 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 13 to 69 ft before dropping to 17 to 69 ft for winter. The spot to know is Surveyed channel edge, a drop-off in about 49 ft of water that rates good for atlantic mackerel in summer. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a feather rig or a small vertical jig gets it done.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (33 ft) | Mackerel feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Summer | 13 to 69 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 80 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (49 ft) | Feather rig, Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 10 to 65 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (49 ft) | Compact silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 17 to 69 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 120 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (49 ft) | Small deep jig |
Start shallow in spring: atlantic cod sit in 14 to 69 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 17 to 69 ft covers summer, 16 to 69 ft covers winter. The spot to know is NOAA charted underwater rock, a rock pile in about 15 ft of water that rates prime for atlantic cod in spring. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning. Throw a heavy metal jig or a large soft-plastic jig until the fish tell you otherwise.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 14 to 69 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 100 ft | dawn | NOAA charted underwater rock (15 ft) | Diamond jig, Heavy bucktail |
| Summer | 17 to 69 ft chart-limited; documented 45 to 180 ft | dawn | NOAA charted underwater rock (26 ft) | Heavy metal jig, Large soft-plastic jig |
| Fall | 12 to 69 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 140 ft | dawn | NOAA charted underwater rock (13 ft) | Diamond jig, Bucktail with teaser |
| Winter | 16 to 69 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 220 ft | midday | NOAA charted underwater rock (26 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
Count 48 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Surveyed channel edge, sits near 60 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 Nahant Bay specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Massachusetts fishing regulations →
Nahant Bay 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 Nahant Bay.
NOAA charted underwater rock is the top-rated area: a rock pile in about 13 ft of water that rates prime for black sea bass in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each 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 Nahant Bay 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.
Lynn Harbor 2 mi · Nahant Harbor 2 mi · Broad Sound 3 mi · Sluice Pond 4 mi · Salem Harbor 5 mi · Marblehead Harbor 5 mi · Marblehead Channel 6 mi · Beverly Channel 7 mi · Beverly Harbor 7 mi · Childrens Island Channel 7 mi · Eagle Island Channel 8 mi · President Roads 8 mi
See how Nahant Bay 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. 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.