Nantucket Shoals fishing forecast
Nantucket Shoals is a saltwater fishing spot in Massachusetts, United States. Anglers here target Atlantic Bluefin Tuna, Mahi-Mahi, Striped Bass, Bluefish. The most productive months are typically June, July, August, September, October.
Today’s verdict
Ranks #123 of 437 spots FishRadar scored worldwide today
Trending up — 5 points above this spot’s 7-day average
Score confidence ±4 points, from 8 live signals
The statistical model disagrees with the physics model here today — treat this score with extra caution.
Current conditions
| Sea surface temp | 19.8 °C |
|---|---|
| Wind | 22 km/h from NNW |
| Wave height | 0.6 m at 8 s |
| Current | 0.02 m/s toward S |
| Pressure | 1019 hPa |
| Depth | 10 m |
| Cloud cover | 6% |
| Chlorophyll | 3.72 mg/m³ |
| Salinity | 31.6 PSU |
| Mixed-layer depth | 10 m |
| UV index | 0 |
| Wind sea | 0.3 m at 2 s |
| Ground swell | 0.4 m at 8 s from ENE |
| Current shear (surface vs 50 m) | 0.02 → 0.00 m/s |
The water here is 0.8 °C cooler than the September average of 20.6 °C. Cooler-than-normal water slows the bite for warm-water species and holds cool-water species shallower for longer. The water is mixed to about 26.7 m, with the thermocline below that.
Updated 1 h ago.
What the score means at Nantucket Shoals
Nantucket Shoals currently scores 81 out of 100 (Good). Water temperature is 19.8 °C. 8 forecast signals are active in this score.
- Water temperature +25.0
- how close the water is to this species mix’s comfort band
- Chlorophyll +12.6
- plankton density — the base of the food chain
- Waves +9.0
- swell energy stirring the water column
- Thermal front +7.0
- temperature edges concentrate bait and predators
- Wind +6.9
- surface chop, oxygen and bait drift
- Barometric pressure +3.3
- falling pressure often triggers feeding
What’s biting now
The model expects today: atlantic-bonito, bluefish, striped-bass, bluefin-tuna, atlantic-mackerel, chub-mackerel, swordfish, scup
[object Object] — Protected here — release immediately
Bite windows
Best months for Nantucket Shoals:
Score history at this spot
30 days tracked at this exact location
Best recent day: 2026-08-26, 86/100
24 day(s) at 70+ in the tracked period
5 points below the same day last week
About this spot
Open coastal saltwater — conditions and safety depend heavily on the live wind, wave, and tide forecast, so check them before you head out.
Approximate bottom depth: 10 m
Access & shore
Fishable from shore · offshore-only
What you can catch
-
Thunnus thynnus
-
Coryphaena hippurus
-
Morone saxatilis
-
Pomatomus saltatrix
Best months by species at Nantucket Shoals
| Atlantic Bluefin TunaThunnus thynnus | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mahi-MahiCoryphaena hippurus | ||||||||||||
| Striped BassMorone saxatilis | ||||||||||||
| BluefishPomatomus saltatrix |
Typical months; local seasons and closures apply.
Local regulations
| Species | Bag limit | Min size | Open season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Striped Bass | 1/day | 71.1–78.7 cm slot | Jan 1 – Dec 31 |
| Federal Atlantic EEZ: 1 fish, 28–31" slot limit. State waters have separate rules. | |||
Licensing:
- saltwater-recreational — residents Federal Recreational Fishing License may be required in addition to state license when fishing federal (EEZ) waters., non-residents Same as residents. Many states require their own license even in federal waters.
FishRadar regulations are summaries only. Federal and state waters rules overlap — always verify current federal and state agency rules before fishing.
Check Nantucket Shoals before you go
Live scores update through the day. Get the full forecast, bite windows, and your own saved spots in the FishRadar app.
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Nearby spots
Explore 10 more fishing spots within 256 km of Nantucket Shoals.
-
Marthas Vineyard
Cape Cod Bay
Buzzards Bay Massachusetts
Provincetown Cape Cod
Block Island Sound
Gloucester Stellwagen
Cape Ann Massachusetts
Montauk Point
Eastern Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound
Frequently asked questions
What fish can you catch at Nantucket Shoals?
Anglers at Nantucket Shoals target Atlantic Bluefin Tuna, Mahi-Mahi, Striped Bass and Bluefish.
When is the best time to fish Nantucket Shoals?
The most productive months at Nantucket Shoals are typically June, July, August, September, October.
What is the fishing forecast for Nantucket Shoals right now?
Nantucket Shoals currently scores 81 out of 100, based on live ocean and weather conditions — see the full breakdown on this page.
Can you fish Nantucket Shoals from shore?
Yes — Nantucket Shoals is fishable from shore (offshore-only).
Is the thermocline set up at Nantucket Shoals right now?
Not strongly right now — the water column is fairly mixed, so fish are less depth-locked.
How deep is the water at Nantucket Shoals?
The scored point sits over roughly 10 m of water. Depth shapes which species hold here and how the thermocline forms.
Fishing guides for this spot
- How to Catch Mahi-Mahi / Dorado: Chasing the Electric-Green Ghosts of the BluewaterHow to Catch Striped BassHow to Read Tides for Fishing
Forecasts, not guarantees — check local rules before you fish.