Tuna Ground

Crab Ledge

A bait magnet off the elbow. Crab Ledge, east of Chatham, holds a ton of bait and offers a real shot at a bluefin, especially in the low light of sunrise.

Crab Ledge is one of the key pieces of the east-of-Chatham grounds, a ledge that holds a tremendous amount of bait and gives anglers a dependable shot at a bluefin. It is a longer run for many boats, but the bait it stacks up makes it worth the trip.

The ground

The ledge structure concentrates sand eels and other bait as current sweeps across it. Fish the edges where bait piles up, and pay attention to the low-light window.

How to fish it

Crab Ledge is known as a sunrise spot, so be set up and fishing at first light. Troll the edges to find fish and jig the marks; match the sand eels the bait is made of.

Tip Be on Crab Ledge for first light. The sunrise window is the money time here, so make the run in the dark and have your spread out and your jigs ready before the sun is up.

About the coordinates The coordinates on this page are an approximate reference to orient you, not a navigation waypoint. Fish move, and numbers vary boat to boat, get exact, current marks locally and always run on a plotter with proper charts.
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.
From the page to the water

Learn it here, land it out there

Reading is a great start. The fastest way to get good is a day on the water with someone who does it every day.

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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.