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Bield:Fish
Single-species migration calendar

Striped Bass in Massachusetts, Cape Cod & Islands may fishing.

Morone saxatilisMigratoryPeak

Peak spring run. Big migratory fish along the beaches and inlets.

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 south of NJ. Typical water temp: 38–44°FFeb — Absent Few fish in northern coastal waters. Typical water temp: 38–44°FMar — Possible First scattered fish arriving in southern part of region. Typical water temp: 42–48°FPossibleApr — Good Spring run building — fish chasing bunker and herring schools. Typical water temp: 48–54°FGoodMay — Peak Peak spring run. Big migratory fish along the beaches and inlets. Typical water temp: 54–60°FPeakJun — Good Spring run dispersing; resident summer fish settling in on structure. Typical water temp: 60–66°FGoodJul — Good Summer pattern — early and late tide windows; fish hold deeper midday. Typical water temp: 64–72°FGoodAug — Good Late summer holdovers on structure. Schoolies in the back bays. Typical water temp: 64–74°FGoodSep — Peak Fall run begins — bait migrations trigger feeding blitzes. Typical water temp: 60–68°FPeakOct — Peak Peak fall fishing — Montauk, Block Island, the Race all hot. Typical water temp: 54–62°FPeakNov — Good Fall run pushing south. Last of the heavy migration along the beaches. Typical water temp: 48–56°FGoodDec — Possible Late stragglers; most fish have moved south. Typical water temp: 40–48°FPossible

Migration pattern

Spring run pushes north through April–May; fall run southbound through September–November. Bait migrations (sand eels, herring, peanut bunker) trigger blitz windows. Resident summer fish stay on structure through the warm months.

Best locations

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

Top lures

  • Live menhaden
  • Soft plastic shads on jigheads
  • Bucktail jigs
  • Topwater pencil poppers
  • Trolled umbrella rigs
Verify with current conditions

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

Striped Bass in other regions

Get a notification when striped bass 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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