Species guide · Massachusetts
Atlantic cod fishing in Massachusetts
Gadus morhua, a bottom species also called cod, codfish and scrod. Listed for the New England region. Peak season, about 6 more weeks.
Right now it scores best in Massachusetts Bay and Ipswich Bay at 75, one of 8 Massachusetts bay systems where the Waterlands engine is scoring it.
Season now
Peak seasonSeason by month
From the Waterlands saltwater species research: when the fish are present and biting, not whether retention is open.
New England
Peak season, about 6 more weeks- Jan: Off season
- Feb: Off season
- Mar: Off season
- Apr: Shoulder season
- May: Peak season
- Jun: Peak season
- Jul: Shoulder season
- Aug: Shoulder season
- Sep: Peak season
- Oct: Peak season
- Nov: Shoulder season
- Dec: Off season
Peak: May to Jun, Sep to Oct. In season (shoulder or peak): Apr to Nov.
Research notes, New England region
Western Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank are the core; party and charter boats fish Jeffreys Ledge, Stellwagen Bank and offshore Maine ledges, with spring and fall the most productive. Retention is tight: in fishing year 2026 Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank cod are 1 fish at 23 inches from September 1 to October 31 only, and Southern New England cod are no-retention. Outside that window cod are mostly released while fishing for haddock and pollock.
Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.
Where it's scoring now · 8
Massachusetts bay systems ranked by the Waterlands engine's atlantic cod score this hour.
Best window today 8-9 PM (75) · Best day Thu, Sep 17 at 6 AM (78) · 409 named spots
Best window today 8-9 PM (74) · Best day Wed, Sep 16 at 6 AM (76) · 122 named spots
Best window today 8-10 PM (71) · Best day Wed, Sep 16 at 6 AM (74) · 44 named spots
Best window today 8-10 PM (70) · Best day Wed, Sep 16 at 6 AM (73) · 158 named spots
Best window today 8 PM-12 AM (68) · Best day Fri, Sep 25 at 12 PM (75) · 151 named spots
Best window today 8 PM-12 AM (69) · Best day Wed, Sep 16 at 8 AM (74) · 27 named spots
Best window today 8 PM-12 AM (71) · Best day Wed, Sep 16 at 5 PM (78) · 40 named spots
Best window today 8-9 PM (66) · Best day Wed, Sep 16 at 6 AM (69) · 2 named spots
How and where it feeds
- Water temperature
- Feeds from 34°F to 58°F, best between 38°F and 50°F.
- Water depth
- 60 to 400 ft of water.
- Structure
- Ledge, bank, pinnacle, reef, wreck and shoal, in that order of preference.
- Tide and current
- Prefers moving water, with light current.Boats drift ledges and banks, and heavy current or wind against tide makes it hard to keep jigs on the bottom in 150 to 300 feet. Neap tides and the hours near slack are easier to fish.
- Light
- Little tied to dawn and dusk.
- Pressure
- Little response to pressure changes.
- Wind and sea limits
- 20 kt of wind and 6 ft of sea. The Waterlands engine scores hours down as conditions pass them.
Tackle and technique
Cod hold near coarse, rocky bottom on ledges, banks and wrecks, commonly from 80 to 300 feet in the Gulf of Maine. Drift over the structure with a diamond or cod jig and a teaser fly above it, keeping the jig within a few feet of bottom, or fish clams on a high-low rig. Check the stock area and season before keeping one, because most of the year cod must be released.
- Methods
- jigging, bait fishing, drift fishing
- Lures
- diamond jigs, Norwegian cod jigs, teaser flies, large soft plastic shads
- Bait
- sea clams, skimmer clams, herring, squid
Regulations
Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries. Synced with MassDMF Sep 16, 2026.
No reviewed atlantic cod rule for Massachusetts is on file yet. Check with MassDMF before you keep one.