Tuna Ground

Stellwagen Middle Bank

The heart of the bank. The middle of Stellwagen holds bait and bluefin across its central grounds, a big area to search where reading the life is everything.

The Middle Bank is the broad central expanse of Stellwagen, and while the corners get the fame, the middle holds plenty of bait and bluefin when the fish are spread out across the bank. It is a big area, so success comes down to reading the water and finding the life.

The ground

The middle is a large, relatively featureless stretch compared to the sharp corners, so the fish relate to bait, temperature and current more than to a single edge. Cover water and watch for whales, birds and bait to narrow it down.

How to fish it

Because it is a searching game, trolling a spread to cover ground and raise fish is often the best way to start, then work marked or breaking fish with jigs and poppers.

Tip On the open Middle Bank, let the life do the navigating. A troll over dead water is wasted fuel, so keep moving until you find bait, birds or whales, then slow down and fish that concentration hard.

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.