Ryan Collins
One can only imagine how good the fishing must of been in Plymouth Bay when the Pilgrims first arrived in 1620. In fact, General William Bradford even wrote that it was possible to walk across Plymouth Bay on the backs of striped bass.
The early settlers even fed 3-4 foot long lobsters to their pigs. It’s my understanding the Pilgrims would walk the beach after storms and pluck huge lobsters (which would today fetch $36/pound) from the sand and then feed them to livestock.
Fortunately the fishing in Plymouth Bay is still very good. I’m sure the numbers of fish can’t compare to 400 years ago when the Pilgrims arrived, but overall the bay still presents a fantastic fishery with lots to offer the ambitious angler who is up for doing some exploring.
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The action in Plymouth Bay gets going during May, and sometimes lasts right until December. Species commonly caught include striped bass, bluefish, flounder, mackerel and menhaden. It is even possible to catch tuna within just a few miles from the opening of Plymouth Bay.
In this post I will share with you some of the memorable experiences I’ve had over the years fishing in and around Plymouth Bay.
Specifically we’ll discuss some areas worth fishing, techniques worth using, seasonal patterns worth nothing and some other tidbits of information I feel are of value for people interested in exploring and fishing this wonderful area.
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Phenomenal fishing in Plymouth.
So so nice, roaming a desolate beach, as the sun rises in Plymouth.
Doesn’t get any better.
??????
Very interesting! Love all the history about Plymouth.
We rented a cottage there one year on one of those sand spits across from the harbor. 6 kids, No electricity and no running water. There was a water pump on the premises. We switched cars with the owner and used his 4 wheel drive jeep wagoneer for the week! He got to use our big ole Plymouth station wagon (what a trade!) I remember my dad catching lots of flounder and we found tons of sand dollars! It was a beautiful vacation!
6 kids with no electricity and no running water sounds like one heck of an adventure! What a memory!
That was amazing watching tuna jumping just off the Gurnet. If you are boating with your family check out Brown’s Bank. Great sandbars similar to Sandy Neck. Let the kids run, and sight fish.
Good advice. ??
I would also add that the current between Brown’s Bank and Long Beach can be very strong.
Hey Ryan, nice overview, right in my backyard. It takes patience to work around all the structure and flats a the tide ebs and flows.
Thanks for reading Ron. ?
Great write up Ryan! It’s such a unique and challenging place to fish.
It definitely is. I can only imagine what it must of been like when the Pilgrims first arrived!