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Back Bay Fens

Fishing spots, fishing reports, and regulations in

Massachusetts, United States

2.4·7 catches

Top fish species at Back Bay Fens

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Back Bay Fens fishing reports

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Largemouth bass

14 in · 1 lb 5 oz

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Common carp

length · weight

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Common carp

length · weight

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Largemouth bass

length · weight

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Largemouth bass

length · weight

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General info

Back Bay Fens is a lake located in Suffolk County, Massachusetts, United States. It is most popular for fishing Largemouth bass, Common carp, and American eel.

Location

42°20′27.8″N 71°05′43″W
Directions

Amenities

When are Largemouth Bass biting on Back Bay Fens?

Learn what time of year and day to go fishing at Back Bay Fens. Download Fishbrain today to look for new fishing spots, scout new fishing access, or prep for your next trip.

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Fishing regulations at Back Bay Fens, MA

Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.

Fishing regulations in Massachusetts can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.

Regulations for top species

Season open: year-round
Largemouth bass

Largemouth bass

Regulation boundaryMassachusetts State Waters
Bag limit5

The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.

Min size12" (Total Length)

No person shall harvest any individual fish less than the minimum size limit.

Total length means the straight line distance from the most forward point of the head with the mouth closed, to the farthest tip of the tail with the tail compressed or squeezed, while the fish is lying on its side.

Aggregate limit5

The maximum number of individual fish across an aggregate group of species legally harvested per harvester per day.

Restrictions & requirements

MA Freshwater Prohibitions

Prohibitions while fishingMore than two hooks for fishing open water or more than five hooks when ice fishing. A hook is defined as an angling device attached to a fishing line that is designed to take one fish at a time but is not limited to devices commonly called spinners, spoons, bait harnesses, jigs, or plugs.Lead sinkers, lead weights, and lead jigs weighing less than an ounce. Any sinker or weight made from lead that weighs less than 1 ounce, and any lead jig (meaning any lead-weighted hook) that weighs less than 1 ounce, is prohibited for use in all inland waters of the Commonwealth. The term lead sinker shall not include any other sinkers, weights, fishing lures or fishing tackle including, but not limited to, artificial lures, hooks, weighted flies, and lead-core or other weighted fishing lines.Jug, toggle, or trot line fishing.SnaggingPoisons, explosivesLittering in inland waters.The taking of any fish from the inland waters of the Commonwealth for the purposes of sale.Releasing live fish or spawn into inland waters, except by permit.Transporting live fish (except bait for personal use) without a permit.

MA Freshwater Bait

It is unlawful to take fish from the inland waters of the state to sell as bait. Anglers who trap fish for personal use as bait may use only one trap.Licensed anglers may take bait for personal use at any time by any legal method. These methods include a rectangular net not to exceed 36 square feet in net area, a circular or ring net not to exceed six feet in diameter, or a fish trap with openings not to exceed one inch. Nets designed to catch fish through its gills may no be used. For personal use as bait, dead or alive, licensed anglers may only take these species:Banded killifishFallfishFathead minnowGolden shinerMummichogPumpkinseedRainbow smelt*Yellow perchWhite sucker * Smelt may be taken only by hook and line. Possession or use of smelt as bait in inland waters other than during the smelt season is prohibited.

MA Ice Fishing

Ice fishing: All anglers are allowed up to five hooks in the ice at one time. A hook is defined as an angling device attached to the line of a tip-up or jig stick that is designed to take one fish. This includes plain hooks, treble hooks, spinners, spoons, bait harnesses, jigs, or plugs. The device is not restricted to a single hook – lures with multiple treble hooks count as one hook in the water. Hooks can be on any combination of tip-ups or jig sticks, but no more than five hooks are allowed in total.Anglers must be able to tend their own hooks (tip-ups or jig sticks). Adults may assist kids with cutting holes or removing hooks, but kids must be able to tend tip-ups or jig sticks on their own.

MA Interstate Ponds

Fishing regulations on interstate ponds: Wallum Lake in Douglas: Fishing is permitted by anglers licensed in MA or RI. RI regulations apply.Lake Monomonac and Robbins Pond in Winchendon; Long Pond in Tyngsboro and Dracut; Bent Pond in Warwick; Tuxbury Pond in Amesbury: Fishing is permitted by anglers licensed in MA or NH. NH regulations apply.Colebrook Reservoir in Tolland; Perry Pond in Dudley; Muddy Pond in Southbridge; Breakneck Pond in Sturbridge; Congamond Lake in Southwick; Hamilton Reservoir in Holland: Fishing is permitted by anglers licensed in MA or CT. CT regulations apply to Colebrook Reservoir, Breakneck Pond, Perry Pond and Muddy Pond. MA regulations apply to Congamond Lake and Hamilton Reservoir.Sherman Reservoir in Rowe: MA regulations apply, and MA license is required in MA. VT regulations apply, and VT license required in VT.

Edibility
Very good Catch, Clean, Cook Largemouth Bass by BlueGabe
Synonyms
Micropterus nigricans
Season open: year-round
American eel

American eel

Regulation boundaryMassachusetts State Waters
Bag limit25

The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.

Min size9" (Total Length)

No person shall harvest any individual fish less than the minimum size limit.

Total length means the straight line distance from the most forward point of the head with the mouth closed, to the farthest tip of the tail with the tail compressed or squeezed, while the fish is lying on its side.

Additional information
Subject to regulation by the Mass. Division of Marine Fisheries and the municipality. Please consult municipal regulations.
Edibility
May contain elevated mercury levels.
Synonyms
Anguilla rostrata
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Local laws and licenses

Massachusetts fishing license

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Reviews of Back Bay Fens

2.4
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5 ratings

5
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1
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Cities nearby

Boston

1.6 miles away

Brookline

2.6 miles away

Cambridge

2.7 miles away

Somerville

3.4 miles away

Watertown Town

4.6 miles away

Chelsea

5.0 miles away

Everett

5.0 miles away

Medford

5.7 miles away

Belmont

5.7 miles away

Newton

5.8 miles away

Winthrop

6.1 miles away

Arlington

6.4 miles away

Malden

6.5 miles away

Milton

6.9 miles away

Revere

7.1 miles away

Quincy

7.3 miles away

Dedham

7.8 miles away

Winchester

8.1 miles away

Melrose

8.1 miles away

Waltham

8.2 miles away

Needham

8.5 miles away

Westwood

10.2 miles away

Braintree

10.6 miles away

Randolph

11.5 miles away

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FAQ about Back Bay Fens fishing

📍 Where is Back Bay Fens located?
Back Bay Fens is a lake located in Suffolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Its coordinates are:
42°20′27.8″N 71°05′43″W
.
🎣 Where on Back Bay Fens is it best to fish?
Find the best fishing spots on Back Bay Fens by looking at where other anglers have caught fish. This can easily be done in the where it is also possible to see big fish potential and how good fishing is right now along with Garmin® depth maps.
🐟 What species are in Back Bay Fens?
The most common species in Back Bay Fens are:
📢 What are the latest Back Bay Fens fishing reports?
The latest Back Bay Fens fishing reports are:
🗓️ What species are in season at Back Bay Fens right now?
According to fishing regulations at Back Bay Fens, some of the species in season this November include: Tautog, Atlantic bluefin tuna, Scup, Haddock, and Atlantic rainbow smelt. For full details on other species — including bag limits, minimum and maximum size limits, and seasonal closures — download the .
🪪 Do I need a fishing license to fish at Back Bay Fens?

Fishing in Massachusetts requires a valid state fishing license for anglers. Licenses include resident and non-resident, annual and short-term options, available online or at licensed agents.

In Massachusetts, no fishing license is required for anglers under 15 or residents 65 and older. A few other exceptions worth knowing:

  • Free fishing days — most states designate 1–2 weekends a year where anyone can fish without a license

  • Tribal waters — tribal members fishing on tribal land operate under separate tribal regulations

  • Private ponds — landowners fishing their own water typically don't need a license

Non-residents usually pay more for a license than residents. Some species also require an extra stamp or endorsement on top of your base license.

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