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1,103-acre Salem Harbor fishing map with NOAA BlueTopo survey contours (97.22% measured, 99.94% assessed), charted rock and wreck structure, regional fish-survey occurrence, sourced forage timing and verified public access. The water tops out around 42 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:
The drawn water covers 1,101 acres wrapped in 13 miles of bank — 32 islands included. A development index of 2.8 means a maze of bays and points: far more casting targets than a round bowl of the same size. About 65% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft — that's the weed-and-bait zone. Call it 2.8 mi long by 1.4 mi wide at the broadest reach. Its nearest charted neighbour, Beverly Channel, is 2 mi to the north.
Spring puts striped bass in skinny water — 5 to 20 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 13 to 42 ft; cold water stacks them in 13 to 42 ft. Surveyed channel edge is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 28 ft, rated good for summer striped bass. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A topwater walker at low light or a paddletail on a light jig covers the summer program.
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 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (20 ft) | 3-6 inch paddletail, Suspending minnow plug |
| Summer | 13 to 42 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (28 ft) | Topwater walker at low light, Paddletail on a light jig |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (28 ft) | Pencil popper, Baitfish swimbait |
| Winter | 13 to 42 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 50 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (28 ft) | Slow paddletail, Bucktail near bottom |
When the water first warms, bluefish slide up into 3 to 20 ft. Summer is a 5 to 30 ft game here, winter a 15 to 40 ft one. Start at Surveyed channel edge. It's a drop-off holding about 28 ft of water and rates good come summer. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. Keep a popper (early/late) or a metal jigs in the rips rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (20 ft) | 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 (20 ft) | Pencil popper, Big metal |
| Winter | 15 to 40 ft | midday | open water | Metal jig worked slow (southern waters) |
Spring puts black sea bass in skinny water — 10 to 40 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 11 to 42 ft; cold water stacks them in 13 to 42 ft. NOAA charted underwater rock is the standout, a rock pile at roughly 11 ft, rated prime for spring black sea bass. Plan around midday and early morning in the warm months. A bucktail + grub or a diamond jig + squid teaser covers the summer program.
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 (11 ft) | Hi-lo rig + squid, 1-2 oz bucktail + Gulp |
| Summer | 11 to 42 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 60 ft | midday & dawn | NOAA charted underwater rock (11 ft) | Bucktail + grub, Diamond jig + squid teaser |
| Fall | 11 to 42 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 80 ft | midday | NOAA charted underwater rock (11 ft) | 3-4 oz vertical jig (deep), Double-teaser rig |
| Winter | 13 to 42 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 100 ft | midday | NOAA charted underwater rock (17 ft) | Heavy hi-lo rig on deep wrecks |
Spring tautog (blackfish) on Salem Harbor hold shallow, usually 5 to 25 ft. By summer they slide out to 10 to 35 ft, and by winter most fish are in 13 to 42 ft. The chart's best answer is NOAA charted underwater rock — rock pile, 7 ft, prime for spring. Prime time lands in early morning. The summer box starts with a 1/2-1 oz tog jig + crab.
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 (7 ft) | Tog jig + green crab half, Bare jig + clam (early) |
| Summer | 10 to 35 ft | dawn | NOAA charted underwater rock (11 ft) | 1/2-1 oz tog jig + crab |
| Fall | 8 to 42 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 50 ft | midday | NOAA charted underwater rock (8 ft) | Tog jig + whole green crab, Old-school rig + double crab (deep) |
| Winter | 13 to 42 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 70 ft | midday | NOAA charted underwater rock (17 ft) | Heavy jig + crab on deep structure |
Start shallow in spring: atlantic mackerel sit in 5 to 42 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 8 to 42 ft covers summer, 11 to 42 ft covers winter. Top water on the chart: Surveyed channel edge, a drop-off in the 28 ft range, good in summer. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw a feather rig or a small vertical 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 | 5 to 42 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (28 ft) | Mackerel feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Summer | 8 to 42 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 80 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (28 ft) | Feather rig, Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 6 to 42 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 65 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (28 ft) | Compact silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 11 to 42 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 120 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (28 ft) | Small deep jig |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: atlantic cod in 8 to 42 ft. The depth story barely changes: 11 to 42 ft through summer, 10 to 42 ft in winter. Top water on the chart: NOAA charted underwater rock, a rock pile in the 8 ft range, prime in spring. Time it for early morning. Summer baits: a heavy metal jig or a large soft-plastic 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 | 8 to 42 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 100 ft | dawn | NOAA charted underwater rock (8 ft) | Diamond jig, Heavy bucktail |
| Summer | 11 to 42 ft chart-limited; documented 45 to 180 ft | dawn | NOAA charted underwater rock (11 ft) | Heavy metal jig, Large soft-plastic jig |
| Fall | 8 to 42 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 140 ft | dawn | NOAA charted underwater rock (8 ft) | Diamond jig, Bucktail with teaser |
| Winter | 10 to 42 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 220 ft | midday | NOAA charted underwater rock (11 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
Salem Harbor carries 65 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Surveyed channel edge, about 29 ft down.
Access data: Massachusetts public water-access inventory. 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 Salem Harbor specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Massachusetts fishing regulations →
Salem Harbor is about 42 ft (13 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 Salem Harbor.
NOAA charted underwater rock is the top-rated area: a rock pile in about 11 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 Salem 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.
Beverly Channel 2 mi · Marblehead Harbor 2 mi · Beverly Harbor 2 mi · Marblehead Channel 3 mi · Childrens Island Channel 3 mi · Salem Sound 4 mi · Eagle Island Channel 4 mi · Sluice Pond 5 mi · Manchester Bay 5 mi · Nahant Bay 5 mi · Lynn Harbor 6 mi · Manchester Harbor 6 mi
See how Salem 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. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: NOAA BlueTopo (NAVD88; 97% measured, 3% 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.