Tuna Ground

the Star

A warm-water mark south of the Vineyard. The Star sits out on the grounds south of Martha's Vineyard, a reference point worth investigating when warmer water pushes up and stacks bait and bluefin.

The Star is another of the local names that dot the tuna grounds on the grounds south of the Vineyard, a reference mark for a piece of water that reliably holds bluefin. Like the Hooter, it marks structure and bait rather than being productive in itself.

The ground

The edge and shoal structure in this zone stacks sand eels, squid and other bait as current sweeps across it, and tuna set up to feed. Search the area around the mark for the concentration of life.

How to fish it

Trolling to cover the edge and find fish, then jigging and popping what you locate, is the standard approach. Match whatever bait is stacked up.

Tip Out on the shoal edges, the tide runs hard and the fish move with it. Fish the moving water, and be ready to reposition often as the bait and the tuna shift along the edge with the current.

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.