Tuna Ground

Stellwagen NW Corner

The North Shore's corner. The northwest edge of Stellwagen is the natural first stop for boats running out of Gloucester and Cape Ann, a productive bluefin spot where bait stacks on the bank's northwest side.

The northwest corner of Stellwagen is the closest piece of the bank for boats leaving Gloucester and the North Shore, which makes it a heavily fished and productive bluefin spot. Current and bait pile against the bank's northwest edge, and its proximity to the Cape Ann grounds and Jeffreys Ledge makes it a natural staging area.

The ground

Fish the northwest edge and drop, keying on where sand eels and bait hold. Like all the corners, the productive spot moves with conditions, so cover the contour until you find the life.

How to fish it

Troll to find them, then jig or pop marked and breaking fish. This corner also puts you in range to run north to Jeffreys if the bite moves.

Tip Keep your options open from the NW corner. It sits close to both the bank and the North Shore grounds, so if the bite is slow, a short move toward Jeffreys Ledge or along the northern edge can put you back on fish.

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.
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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.