Tuna Ground

Stellwagen SW Corner

The corner closest to home for a lot of boats. The southwest corner of Stellwagen is a classic bluefin spot where the bank's edge and the current stack bait within a short run of the Cape and the South Shore.

The southwest corner of Stellwagen Bank is one of the most popular pieces of the bank, in part because it is a manageable run from the Cape, Plymouth and the South Shore. Where the bank's southwest edge meets the deeper water, current concentrates sand eels and other bait, and bluefin set up to feed.

The ground

Fish the edge and the drop along the southwest side, where the shallower bank falls into deeper water. The exact productive spot shifts with the wind, the tide and where the bait is holding on a given day.

How to fish it

Start by trolling the edge to locate fish and bait, then switch to jigging or popping when you mark or see fish. When they are up on sand eels, small profiles matter.

Tip Work the edge, not just the top of the bank. The tuna often hold where the bottom drops off, so run your spread and your marks along the contour where shallow meets deep, that seam is where the bait gets pinned.

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.