Ever wonder what kind of fish you can catch in the Boston area and how to catch them. Here are some answers...


Saltwater Game Fish in the Boston Area

Striped Bass Striped Bass are a favorite sport fish here in the Boston area. Their large size and reputation as strong fighters in addition to their quality flesh makes them rightfully popular. Large schools of these striped bass arrive here in Boston every spring and then migrate back south in fall. They are attracted by the large number of bait fish in the Boston area such as herrings, pogies and mackerels. Stripers can be be between 18 and 50 inches in length and can weigh over 40 pounds. Stripers must be at least 28” long to be taken and there is a catch limit of 2 fish per day. Stripers love fast moving water and can be caught from land or from boats. Popular baits are live eels, live bait fish, swimming plugs and many other artificial lures.  
Cod Cod fish have been one of the most important food fish in New England. Even the early settlers appreciated its mild flavor and would catch and salt them by the thousands. Cod love the cold deep and rocky water of the Northeast and come into Boston Harbor in pursuit of herring. They generally prefer deep waters and rocky bottom but cod sometimes feed in shallow water especially at night. Offshore cod tend to be larger than inshore ones but it is possible to catch cod over ten pounds even close to land. Most anglers use fresh bait such as clams, sand eels squid and shrimp and fish. Jigs with teasers are also very popular.  
Bluefish245x148 Bluefish are very popular game fish here in Boston because of their reputation as being super-aggressive and voracious and a thrill to catch. They are particularly aggressive when they are schooling and feeding on top-water bait fish and churning the surface in a feeding frenzy. In such situations bluefish will strike almost any bait or lure. You can catch blues in Boston harbor anytime between May and October but June may be the best month. Because of this tendency to feed on anything available, bluefish can be caught with a wide variety of techniques. These fish are particularly exiting when caught with light tackle or fly-fishing gear. Anglers prefer pogies and mackerel as live live baits but top-water plugs are also very popular.  
Flounder Flounder is a bottom-fish that is very popular in the Boston area because of their delicious flesh. Boston used to be thought of as the “Flounder Capital of the World” and luckily populations of flounders have rebounded strongly so this title may be regained. Fishing for flounder in Boston is best in early summer but they can be caught all year even Winter. Best baits baits for flounder include clam worms, blood worms and clams. Many anglers chum for flounder.  
Black Sea Bass Black sea bass are very sought-after here in Boston because of their superb taste and their reputation as a strong fighting fish. They are often thought of as a type of sea bass, but in fact they are a completely different species. Fish as large as 8 pound have been caught but generally a 3-pound fish is more common size in the harbor. Summer is the best time to catch this fish. Black sea bass primarily are bottom feeders but anglers are also successful with jigs fished near the bottom.  
Mackerel The Atlantic mackerel is a popular game fish because of their voracious feeding habits. They are a lot of fun to catch and are great for children. It is not uncommon to find them in large schools and they are know to be very fast swimmers and quick strikers. Mackerels can be found everywhere in Boston harbor and are most numerous in May, September and October. Mackerel are one of the prefered food of striped bass, so they make great bait for larger fish. Mackerel caught in Boston Harbor are generally between 10 and 15 inches. They can be caught on small lures, diamond jigs and mackerel trees.  
     



Freswater Game Fish

Largemouth Bass Large Mouth Bass are probably the most popular freshwater game fish in this area due to their reputation as voracious fighters and their delicious flesh. They are very prolific and you can find them in lakes, ponds and in slow moving rivers. They hide in deeply overgrown areas and like artificial structures and rocks. They can be as large as 12 lbs but more common they are around 1-4 lbs. Most popular bait are night crawlers and shiners as well as many artificial worms, lures and poppers.  
Brown Trout Brown Trout are very popular game fish and renowned for their great tasting flesh and fighting ability. They thrive in fast-moving heavily oxygenated water as you would find in mountain streams. They prefer to hide in submerged rocks and logs or overhanging vegetation. There are many wild populations in remote streams but typically these fish are stocked at 8–14 inches with larger specimens to 18 inches. Best bait for this fish are night-crawlers, and various artificial lures such as spinners, mepps, crankbait and small spoons.
AtlanticSalmon245x100 Atlantic Salmon are cousins of the salmons we all know from the super market. Other than their popular saltwater cousins, they are freshwater fish and can be found near Boston in the Quabbin and Wachusett Reservoirs . These salmon like to live in deep freshwater lakes and spawn in tributaries. Other than the saltwater salmon who grow up to 20 lbs, these landlocked salmon average about 2-5 lbs. Best bait are llive smelts or artificial flash lures, spoons and stickbait.
SmallMouthBass245x109 Smallmouth Bass are less common in the Boston area as their largemouth cousins. They are spectacular fighters and often leap out of the water when caught. Smallmouth bass like clear rocky shoals and rocky outlying points. They also prefer sometimes deeper areas just at the edge of a drop-off. They can grow as large as 8 lbs but generally are around 1-3 lbs. The best bait for smallmouths are worms. Many artificial lures like spinnerbaits and diving crankbaits are also effective.
BrookTrout245x99 Brook Trout are very popular as game fish and are by many considered the most beautiful freshwater fish. This fish thrives in clean, cold, well-oxygenated waters. It is found in fast-moving steep slope streams. Wild brook trout are reltively small (6-10”) and stocked brookies can be 10-12”. Best baits for brook trout are worms, flies and small spinners and flashy small lures.
RainbowTrout245x98 Rainbow Trout are one of the most popular freshwater gamefish. They are valued for their fighting ability and high quality flesh. Hatchery fish are 10–14 inches, but larger fish over 20” are not uncommon. These trout can be found in rivers and streams throughout the state but the best fishing for trout can be found in some of the larger MA lakes like Hamilton Reservoir, Lake Chaubunagungamaug, Otis Reservoir, Quabbin Reservoir and Wachusett Reservoir. Rainbow trout can be caught with many different methods such as fly fishing or fishing with live and dead natural baits such as worms and many different spinners or flashing lures.
Brown Bullhead Brown Bullhead Catfish thrive in many ponds and lakes near Boston. They like muddy bottoms and are popular with many fishermen for their pink tasty flesh. They are typically about 8-12 inches long and sometimes larger. They can be caught by many different methods including bread and dough balls, worms, fish pieces and minnows as well as artificial lures and jigs. Be careful with this fish when handling it because it has spines in both fins that can inflict very painful stings.
Bluegill Bluegill are one of the most popular pan fish and can be caught in many ponds, lakes and slow moving streams near Boston. They are perfect fish for adults and children and give a lot of action with very simple gear. Bluegill prefer shallow, weedy, warm-water habitats. They are typically 4–7 inches in length with larger specimens to 10 inches. They can be caught in many ways including, fly fishing, natural baits such as worms and insects, minnows as well as poppers and jigs.
Yellow Perch Yellow Perch are very popular pan fish around Boston. They are active and fun to catch all year long even in winter through the ice. These fish are native to this area and can be found in lakes, ponds and almost any open water. The flesh is flaky and tasty. They are around 8–10 inches but it is possible to catch larger fish. These fish generally live in schools. They will eagerly take any natural bait such as worms, insects, minnows and leaches and artificial lures such as flies, spinners, poppers and spoons.  
Chain Pickerel Chain Pickerel is a cool-water gamefish that is popular with anglers for its energetic fighting abilities. It is considered good eating with mild flesh. It can be found in clear lakes, ponds and rivers and prefers to hide in shallow,vegetated and rocky areas, piers and docks and deep freshwater holes. It generally grows to about 15–20 inches but larger fish are common. Preferred bait are night-crawlers, insects, minnows, spinners, plugs and other bass lures.
Pumpkinseed Pumpkinseed can be found in weedy lakes or ponds with warm water. Most are 4–7 inches, but they can get up to 10 inches. They are considered good eating but it takes a few fish to amount to a full meal. Preferred bait are worms or other live or natural baits as well as flies, spinners or poppers.
BlackCrappie245x127 Black Crappie are fun fish to catch and prefer warm-water and weedy habitat. They are easy to catch and a lot of fun for kids too. They like to hide in schools under submerged trees and other structures. They prefer clean water and sand or muddy bottom. They are around 5-10 inches but larger fish are not uncommon. Best baits are natural baits a such as worms, minnows as well as flies, plugs and spinners.