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925-acre bay near Falmouth. The water tops out around 8 ft. The depth chart is built from real agency bathymetric surveys, so measured depths remain distinct from source interpolation. The channels, holes and drop-offs come from the source data, not a distance-from-shore model. Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
The drawn water covers 923 acres wrapped in 7 miles of bank. A middling shoreline index (1.6) gives it some bays to work without being a maze. There is no deep basin to speak of — the entire surface is under ~15 ft, prime weed water end to end. End to end it runs roughly 2.3 mi, about 1.1 mi across. Barnstable County claims this one. Its nearest charted neighbour, Popponesset Bay, is 4 mi to the northeast.
In spring, striped bass run shallow here, mostly 2 to 8 ft. Summer keeps them at 2 to 8 ft, and they winter in 2 to 8 ft. Quashnet River inflow is the standout, an inflow / creek mouth at roughly 4 ft, rated prime for spring striped bass. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a topwater walker at low light or a paddletail on a light jig 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 | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Quashnet River inflow (4 ft) | 3-6 inch paddletail, Suspending minnow plug |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (7 ft) | Topwater walker at low light, Paddletail on a light jig |
| Fall | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (2 ft) | Pencil popper, Baitfish swimbait |
| Winter | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 50 ft | midday | Old creek channel (5 ft) | Slow paddletail, Bucktail near bottom |
Come spring, look for bluefish tight to the bank in 1 to 8 ft. Through summer count on 1 to 8 ft; the winter hold is 2 to 8 ft. Start at Quashnet River inflow. It's an inflow / creek mouth holding about 4 ft of water and rates prime come fall. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A popper (early/late) or a metal jigs in the rips is the honest summer answer here.
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 | 1 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Quashnet River inflow (4 ft) | Metal (Hopkins/Kastmaster), Pencil popper |
| Summer | 1 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Quashnet River inflow (4 ft) | Popper (early/late), Metal jigs in the rips |
| Fall | 1 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 25 ft | dawn & midday | Quashnet River inflow (4 ft) | Pencil popper, Big metal |
| Winter | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 40 ft | midday | Deep basin (7 ft) | Metal jig worked slow (southern waters) |
Spring puts scup (porgy) in skinny water — 2 to 8 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 1 to 8 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 8 ft. Fall scup (porgy) concentrate at Break off the point, a prime-rated drop-off around 2 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around midday and early morning. A hi-lo porgy rig or a micro metal 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 | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 25 ft | dawn | Break off the point (2 ft) | Small hi-lo rig, Micro jig tipped with bait |
| Summer | 1 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 6 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (2 ft) | Hi-lo porgy rig, Micro metal jig |
| Fall | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 40 ft | midday | Break off the point (2 ft) | Compact vertical jig, Hi-lo rig |
| Winter | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 50 ft | midday | Break off the point (2 ft) | Small slow vertical jig |
Structure-wise the chart holds 8 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 7 ft.
Access data: MassGIS / Massachusetts DFG 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 Waquoit Bay specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Massachusetts fishing regulations →
Waquoit Bay is about 8 ft (2 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart is built from real agency bathymetric surveys, so measured depths remain distinct from source interpolation. The contours reflect measured and quality-assessed source depths.
Anglers target striped bass, bluefish, scup (porgy) on Waquoit Bay.
Quashnet River inflow is the top-rated area: an inflow / creek mouth in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for striped bass in spring. The interactive chart above rates every 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 Waquoit 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.
Popponesset Bay 4 mi · Johns Pond 4 mi · Coonamessett Pond 4 mi · Ashumet Pond 5 mi · Quissett Harbor 7 mi · Santuit Pond 7 mi · Lovells Pond 7 mi · Mashpee Pond 7 mi · Oak Bluffs Harbor 7 mi · Vineyard Haven Harbor 7 mi · Long Pond (Barnstable) 8 mi · Woods Hole Passage 9 mi
See how Waquoit Bay stacks up: best striped bass lakes in Massachusetts · best bluefish lakes in Massachusetts · best scup (porgy) lakes in Massachusetts
More water nearby: Barnstable County fishing maps (25 charts). Browse all Massachusetts fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: NOAA Office of Coast Survey (ENC soundings, MLLW datum). 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.