Mark Timmerman
Recently The Town of Harwich, MA put a project out for bid. The idea was to construct an offshore artificial reef for fishing.
The foundation from the old Harwich High School was thus saved, and intended for use as the main material for the new fishing reef.
Robert B. Our Co., Inc. was the winning bidder to construct the reef project.
Since then the scope of work has been altered a bit, and additional material has been added to create better fish habitat.
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Precast concrete structures were some of the new materials to be mixed in with the foundation rubble.
Tug Lucinda Smith made the voyage down to Norfolk, VA., to pick up a chartered barge to be used on multiple marine construction projects.
She towed back to New Bedford Harbor a 54' x 160' x 9' material barge for loading reef materials.
Reef materials were trucked to New Bedford and loaded on deck over the course of 4 days.
Once the barge was fully loaded the excavator stayed on deck to deploy the reef materials at the Mass Division of Marine Fisheries site.
By the time we arrived on site with the barge and excavator, the required dive work had been completed, and all was clear for deployment of reef materials.
One voyage to the reef site was cancelled due to bad weather. We waited out the forecasted March Nor'easter which did bring wind and big seas but not bring the snow that was originally forecasted.
I’m new to the Cape and new to boating. I told Ryan about my new (1987) Aquasport and asked him to recommend a starter spot for me. He sent me this link and another about Black Bass. I’m psyched about the upcoming outing and thankful that Ryan has put together such a helpful site.
Thanks for the comment Norm. I think you will have a lot of fun this season. Please LMK if I can help with anything else!
I fished the new Harwich school reef numerous times this past summer. Surprisingly not busy, even on beautiful summer weekend day. Very busy fishing, sea bass, scup, and good sized fluke.
I talked to a commercial guy down there,,,Cape…and he said they are not allowed to go near there with any gear what so eva!… Chock one up for the recreational guys.
I spoke with the Mass. Division of Fisheries this week about the new Recreational Fishing Reef off Harwich. They dived on it last week to see how it actually looked and they were pleased with the final outcome and suggested that it will probably draw fish as soon as the water warms up.
Can’t wait to get out there and fish this reef!
It will be Surrounded by Pots and Traps in no time, Happened here in NJ almost could not fish it for the Floats and Abandoned traps and pots. Our reef was finaced bu Sport fishermans donations and taxes on fishing equiptment. COMMs paid nothing
Let’s hope that doesn’t happen at this new reef. I don’t believe there are too many guys fishing lobster traps that close to shore on the south side of the Cape but I’m not sure. Further west at Bishops and Clerks they catch them.
Summer 2017 season no pots or traps anywhere near them – yet.
Nice write up Mark. I wonder how the reef will effect the night time surfcasting in the area.
Thanks @heyblue34. The new reef is off shore about, 2+ miles. Maybe the fish or bait will swim into shore at night ?
Glad to hear you like the MFCC site @skiracer. It’s a great site with lots of great information and up to date intel during the season. Any striper catches on the beaches in NJ yet ? Many fisherman are hoping they make their way to the Cape early this year.
the weather this winter has been warm so we’re expecting the water temps to warm up a bit earlier than usual. If so then the bass will be here earlier than usual. But they usually start showing up around beginning of April to mid April. The the run will start up and be pretty good for 3 / 5 weeks or so.
I’m not a Cape Cod resident or even live in Mass. I live in a town called Toms River in NJ. We’re about 5 mi. in from the coastline at Seaside Heights / Seaside Park, NJ and the Barnegat Bay areas and towns. It’s good striper fishing here during the spring and fall runs/seasons. I ran into your site by accident and was hooked by the writing topics and the dialogue. I’m definitely a striper fisherman from the beaches and surf here in the Seaside Hts / Ortley Beach/ Lavallette south to Seaside Park and Island Beach St. Pk. areas out front and in the bay.