Massachusetts · North Shore
STRIPED BASS FISHING
IN NEWBURYPORT
Newburyport is an excellent destination for striped bass fishing, with peak season in June, July and good catches in May, August, September. Book a charter and target striped bass with local experts.
About Striped Bass Fishing in Newburyport
The iconic striper is the most sought-after gamefish on the Atlantic coast. These powerful, line-ripping fish migrate from the Chesapeake Bay to New England each spring and fall, creating legendary fishing opportunities from Virginia to Massachusetts.
Striped Bass — called "stripers" or "rockfish" in the Chesapeake — are the most iconic gamefish of the Atlantic coast. Their silver body with bold black horizontal stripes, powerful build, and aggressive feeding make them a favorite from Virginia to Massachusetts. The spring and fall migrations create legendary fishing runs as massive schools move along the coast. Stripers are found in both salt and fresh water, and the Chesapeake Bay serves as the primary nursery for the Atlantic population. They are excellent eating, with firm, white, mildly flavored flesh.
Scientific name: Morone saxatilis
Striped Bass Seasonal Calendar — Newburyport
Month-by-month availability for striped bass in Newburyport, MA.
How to Catch Striped Bass in Newburyport
Techniques & Bait
Live bait (bunker/menhaden, eels, mackerel) fished on a fishfinder rig or chunk rig near structure, rip currents, and drop-offs is the most consistent technique. Trolling umbrella rigs and tube-and-worm behind planer boards covers water during migrations. Casting topwater plugs (Pencil Poppers, Atom Poppers) into blitzing schools on the surface at dawn/dusk is the most exciting striper fishing. Fly fishing with Deceiver, Clouser, and Grocery Fly patterns during the fall run is world-class. Live eels drifted at night around rocky structure is the go-to for trophy fish.
Recommended Tackle
Medium to medium-heavy spinning rod (7-9 ft), 4000-6000 reel, 20-40 lb braid, 30-40 lb fluorocarbon leader. For surf casting: 10-11 ft surf rod, 6000+ reel, 50 lb braid. Fly: 9-10 weight rod with intermediate line.
Best Inshore Fishing Spots in Newburyport
Top spots where local captains target striped bass and other inshore species.
Merrimack River
The Merrimack River is one of New England's premier striper rivers, with massive runs of striped bass entering the tidal lower river from May through October. Anglers fish the river's deep holes, bridge pilings, and rock structure from boats and shore for stripers that can exceed 40 pounds during the peak spring and fall runs. The river also holds shad, herring, and bluefish that migrate upstream on the tidal flow.
Joppa Flats
Joppa Flats is an expansive tidal flat at the mouth of the Merrimack River where shallow water, sand bars, and eelgrass beds create prime feeding habitat for striped bass and bluefish. The flats are accessible by wading at low tide and attract stripers that follow baitfish onto the shallows during the incoming tide. Joppa Flats is part of the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge system, and its healthy ecosystem supports outstanding light-tackle fishing.
Plum Island Basin
Plum Island Basin is a sheltered anchorage and tidal basin on the south side of the Merrimack River mouth, surrounded by marsh and bordered by Plum Island. Striped bass, bluefish, and flounder feed in the basin's deeper channels and around its edges during tidal transitions. The basin's protected waters provide reliable inshore fishing even when ocean conditions are too rough for nearshore trips.
Plum Island River
The Plum Island River flows between Plum Island and the mainland through salt marsh, its winding channels holding striped bass, bluefish, and flounder along the grassy banks and deeper bends. The river's strong tidal currents concentrate baitfish at channel junctions and bridge crossings, creating natural feeding stations for predatory fish. Kayak and small-boat anglers work the river's narrower sections for consistent action on school-sized stripers.
Other Species in Newburyport
More fish you can target while visiting Newburyport.
Striped Bass Fishing in Newburyport — FAQ
The peak months for Striped Bass fishing in Newburyport are June, July. During these months, Striped Bass are most active and abundant in the Newburyport area.
Striped Bass fishing charters in Newburyport are typically inshore trips. Prices vary by trip duration and group size. Most charters include all gear, bait, licenses, and fish cleaning.
Live bait (bunker/menhaden, eels, mackerel) fished on a fishfinder rig or chunk rig near structure, rip currents, and drop-offs is the most consistent technique. Trolling umbrella rigs and tube-and-worm behind planer boards covers water during migrations. Casting topwater plugs (Pencil Poppers, Atom Poppers) into blitzing schools on the surface at dawn/dusk is the most exciting striper fishing. Fly fishing with Deceiver, Clouser, and Grocery Fly patterns during the fall run is world-class. Live eels drifted at night around rocky structure is the go-to for trophy fish.
No — when you book a charter in Newburyport, your captain provides all required Massachusetts fishing licenses as part of the trip.
Striped Bass regulations in Massachusetts include minimum size limits and bag limits that vary by season. Your captain will know the current regulations and ensure compliance.
While targeting Striped Bass in Newburyport, you may also catch Cod, Bluefin Tuna, Bluefish, Tautog, Black Sea Bass. Many charter trips target multiple species for the best action.
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