Canyon

Veatch Canyon

The Cape and Islands' canyon. Veatch Canyon, south of Nantucket on the shelf edge, is a natural target for the Cape and Islands fleet, holding tuna, billfish, swordfish and mahi in season.

Veatch Canyon sits on the shelf edge south of Nantucket, which makes it a natural big-game destination for the Cape and Islands fleet. Like the other canyons, it holds yellowfin and bigeye, marlin, swordfish and mahi when the warm water reaches the edge.

The canyon

Fish the edge and the fingers, reading the temperature breaks and bait to find the productive water. Its position east of the southern New England canyons puts it in reach of the Cape and Nantucket.

How to fish it

Troll the edge by day, chunk overnight, deep-drop for swords, and cast to mahi on the pots and weed lines.

Tip From the Cape and Nantucket, Veatch and the Georges canyons to the east are often the play. Watch how the warm water is setting up along the whole eastern edge and pick the canyon with the best break and bait.

Canyon-run safety The canyons are a long run into deep, open ocean, usually an overnight or multi-day trip far beyond help. Go in a capable, well-found boat, watch the weather window closely, carry proper safety and communications gear (EPIRB, life raft, redundant electronics), and file a float plan. This is serious offshore fishing.
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.