Gloucester Fishing Charters

Gloucester is one of New England’s oldest and most established fishing ports, and the charter fleet here reflects that heritage. Boats run everything from short half-day inshore runs for striped bass and bluefish to multi-day offshore adventures for giant bluefin tuna. Inshore, you’ll find rocky shorelines, tidal rips, and nearshore ledges holding stripers, blues, and black sea bass. Offshore, Stellwagen Bank, Tillies Bank, and Jeffrey’s Ledge are prime spots for cod, haddock, pollock, and trophy tuna. The run to Stellwagen is often 12–18 miles, while canyon trips for tuna and swordfish can push well past 60 miles.

Most charters here work out of Gloucester Harbor, with staging areas near Harbor Loop and the State Fish Pier. Early summer sees a strong inshore striper bite, with topwater plugs, live mackerel, and soft plastics producing. By midsummer, the tuna fishery kicks into gear, with jig-and-pop, chunking, and trolling all in play. Bottom fishing for cod, haddock, and redfish remains solid much of the year, especially on full-day trips to the banks.

Seasonal shifts are pronounced. Spring starts with bass and haddock, summer peaks with tuna and mixed bag bottom fishing, fall sees blitzes of stripers and bluefish, and winter is generally the downtime for charters. Some captains switch to freshwater trips or maintain winter cod runs when regulations allow. Fly anglers work the rocky points and harbor mouths in June and September when bait is thick. Gloucester’s location also gives easy access to nearby hotspots like Rockport, Manchester-by-the-Sea, and Ipswich Bay if condit

Gloucester is one of New England’s oldest and most established fishing ports, and the charter fleet here reflects that heritage. Boats run everything from short half-day inshore runs for striped bass and bluefish to multi-day offshore adventures for giant bluefin tuna. Inshore, you’ll find rocky shorelines, tidal rips, and nearshore ledges holding stripers, blues, and black sea bass. Offshore, Stellwagen Bank, Tillies Bank, and Jeffrey’s Ledge are prime spots for cod, haddock, pollock, and trophy tuna. The run to Stellwagen is often 12–18 miles, while canyon trips for tuna and swordfish can push well past 60 miles.

Most charters here work out of Gloucester Harbor, with staging areas near Harbor Loop and the State Fish Pier. Early summer sees a strong inshore striper bite, with topwater plugs, live mackerel, and soft plastics producing. By midsummer, the tuna fishery kicks into gear, with jig-and-pop, chunking, and trolling all in play. Bottom fishing for cod, haddock, and redfish remains solid much of the year, especially on full-day trips to the banks.

Seasonal shifts are pronounced. Spring starts with bass and haddock, summer peaks with tuna and mixed bag bottom fishing, fall sees blitzes of stripers and bluefish, and winter is generally the downtime for charters. Some captains switch to freshwater trips or maintain winter cod runs when regulations allow. Fly anglers work the rocky points and harbor mouths in June and September when bait is thick. Gloucester’s location also gives easy access to nearby hotspots like Rockport, Manchester-by-the-Sea, and Ipswich Bay if conditions shift. With a fleet that knows both the local rocks and offshore ledges, you can dial in anything from light-tackle schoolie stripers to 800-pound tuna.

ions shift. With a fleet that knows both the local rocks and offshore ledges, you can dial in anything from light-tackle schoolie stripers to 800-pound tuna.