FishKillFlea Massachusetts packs incredible fishing diversity — from Quabbin Reservoir's pristine 25,000 acres to Cape Cod stripers, Connecticut River bass, and Boston Harbor bluefish. Whether you hold a fishing license in Mass or need a mass saltwater fishing license, the Bay State delivers year-round fishing within an hour of Boston.
Premier Freshwater ($40 license)
| Water | Region | Species | Daily Limit | Why Famous |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quabbin Reservoir | Central MA | Landlocked salmon, lakers, smallmouth | 2 salmon | 25K acres — Boston's water supply — pristine |
| Wachusett Reservoir | Central MA | Lake trout, bass, salmon | 2 lakers | Trophy lakers — shore fishing only |
| Connecticut River | Western MA | Bass, pike, shad, catfish | 5 bass (12″) | New England's longest river |
| Cape Cod ponds | Cape Cod | Bass, stocked trout, pickerel | 3 trout | Hundreds of kettle ponds |
| Walden Pond | Concord | Bass, pickerel, perch | 5 bass | Thoreau fished here! Literary legend |
Saltwater ($10 permit)
| Spot | Species | Daily Limit | Why Famous |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Cod Canal | Stripers, bluefish, fluke | 1 striper (28″) | Premier shore striper spot — world-famous |
| Boston Harbor | Stripers, bluefish, flounder | 1 striper | Urban fishing — skyline backdrop |
| Martha's Vineyard | Stripers, bonito, false albacore | Varies | Surf + sight casting — iconic |
| Stellwagen Bank | Cod, haddock, tuna | 10 cod | Offshore — whale watching + fishing |
| Plum Island | Surf stripers, bluefish | 3 blues | North Shore surf — Parker River NWR |
Seasonal Guide
| Season | Best Targets | Prime Spots | Tips |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (Apr–May) | Trout stocking, shad run, early stripers | Stocked ponds, CT River, Canal | April trout stocking = best pond fishing |
| Summer (Jun–Aug) | Stripers peak, bass, bluefish blitz | Cape Cod Canal, Boston Harbor, ponds | Canal stripers at dawn — world-class! |
| Fall (Sep–Nov) | Fall striper run, false albacore, bass | Vineyard, Cape, Plum Island | False albacore = fly fishing thrill |
| Winter (Dec–Mar) | Ice fishing trout/perch, holdover stripers | Central MA ponds, Wachusett | Ice fishing near Boston! |
Fishing in Neighboring States
Touring New England? Connecticut for Long Island Sound, Rhode Island for Narragansett Bay, New Hampshire for Lake Winnipesaukee, Vermont for Lake Champlain, or New York for Montauk stripers.
Freshwater $40, saltwater $10. See full costs or buy on MassFishHunt.