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Bield:Fish
Single-species migration calendar

Bluefish in Massachusetts, Cape Cod & Islands may fishing.

Pomatomus saltatrixMigratoryGood

Spring blues with bunker schools. Snapper blues in back bays.

Year-round calendar

Each month encodes typical migration status. The current month is outlined in gold. Tap a cell for the month-specific note and water temperature.

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JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJan — Absent Wintering offshore South Atlantic. Typical water temp: 40–46°FFeb — Absent Not in northern waters yet. Typical water temp: 42–48°FMar — Absent Spring run not yet up. Typical water temp: 46–52°FApr — Possible Earliest fish in southern part of region. Typical water temp: 52–58°FPossibleMay — Good Spring blues with bunker schools. Snapper blues in back bays. Typical water temp: 58–64°FGoodJun — Peak Peak summer fishing for blues throughout New England Sound. Typical water temp: 64–70°FPeakJul — Peak Same — blitzes off the rocks and beaches. Typical water temp: 68–76°FPeakAug — Peak Big choppers on bunker schools; snappers thick in bays. Typical water temp: 70–78°FPeakSep — Peak Fall run begins — big fish on the move with bait. Typical water temp: 64–72°FPeakOct — Good Fall blues hot — coincident with striper run. Typical water temp: 56–64°FGoodNov — Fair Last of the migration pushing south. Typical water temp: 50–58°FFairDec — Absent Most fish have departed. Typical water temp: 44–52°F

Migration pattern

Spring run begins in May; peak summer fishing through August; fall run on bait migrations September–October. Schools of choppers move with bait and are unpredictable year over year.

Best locations

  • Cape Cod Canal
  • Race Point
  • Monomoy
  • Vineyard Sound rips

Top lures

  • Metal-lipped poppers
  • Diamond jigs
  • Cut bunker chunks (wire leader)
  • Gotcha plugs
  • Surface plugs
Verify with current conditions

Migration timing varies year to year. Cross-reference NOAA marine forecasts and a local source the week of your trip.

Bluefish in other regions

Get a notification when bluefish show up.

Bield: Fish ties NOAA buoy data and water temperature readings to species arrival windows so you're on the water the day they arrive in Massachusetts, Cape Cod & Islands.

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