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Atlantis Canyon

A shelf-edge standby. Atlantis Canyon, cutting into the shelf south of southern New England, is a productive big-game canyon for tuna, billfish and swords when the warm water reaches the edge.

Atlantis Canyon is one of the reliable shelf-edge canyons for the southern New England and Cape fleets, cutting into the continental slope where warm water and bait concentrate the pelagics. It holds the full canyon slate, yellowfin, bigeye, marlin, swordfish and mahi.

The canyon

Fish the edge, tips and fingers of the canyon, keying on the temperature breaks and bait. Its position on the shelf edge makes it a common overnight target when the good water is in the neighborhood.

How to fish it

Troll by day, chunk overnight in a slick, deep-drop for swordfish, and work floating structure for mahi.

Tip Atlantis and its neighbors fish on the water, so compare the canyons before you commit. The warm blue edge might be dialed in on Atlantis one week and on Veatch or Block the next, so run to the temperature, not the name.

Canyon-run safety The canyons are a long run into deep, open ocean, usually an overnight or multi-day trip far beyond help. Go in a capable, well-found boat, watch the weather window closely, carry proper safety and communications gear (EPIRB, life raft, redundant electronics), and file a float plan. This is serious offshore fishing.
Regulations Tuna are federally managed highly migratory species requiring an HMS permit, with category, size and retention rules that change through the season. Confirm current rules with NOAA Fisheries HMS before fishing.

Related in the Library

GamefishBigeye TunaAreaThe Northeast CanyonsAreaVeatch CanyonAreaBlock Canyon
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Note: fishing regulations (size limits, bag limits, seasons, permits) change often. Always confirm current rules with the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (saltwater), MassWildlife (freshwater), or NOAA Fisheries (offshore/HMS) before you keep a fish.