Top fish species at Waban Hill Reservoir

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Waban Hill Reservoir fishing reports

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Atlantic bluefin tuna

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Largemouth bass

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Largemouth bass

length · weight

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General info

Waban Hill Reservoir is a lake located in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. It is most popular for fishing Largemouth bass and Atlantic bluefin tuna.

Location

42°20′17.7″N 71°10′33.3″W
Directions

When are Largemouth Bass biting on Waban Hill Reservoir?

Learn what time of year and day to go fishing at Waban Hill Reservoir. 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 Waban Hill Reservoir, 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: August 13 - August 10
Atlantic bluefin tuna

Atlantic bluefin tuna

Regulation boundaryHighly Migratory Species
Min size27" (Curved Fork Length)

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

Curved fork length means the length of a tuna taken in a line tracing the contour of the body from the tip of the upper jaw to the fork of the tail. The measuring tape must pass over (and touch) the pectoral fin and the caudal keel.

Special gear

HMS Tuna

Anglers with an HMS Angling permit may harvest Bigeye, Albacore, Yellowfin, Skipjack using handline, rod and reel, or speargun. Bluefin tuna may only be harvested using handline or rod and reel (no speargun).

Restrictions & requirements

Gigging

Harvest by gigging prohibited.

Snagging

Harvest of this species by snagging (snatch hooking) is prohibited.

Spears

Harvest of this species by "spearing" is prohibited. Spearing includes the catching or taking of a fish by bow hunting, gigging, spearfishing, or by any device used to capture a fish by piercing the body.

Required licenses
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Angling Permit
Additional information
27" to <73" curved fork length: open 1. Private vessels with Highly Migratory Species Angling permits: 2 bluefin tuna measuring 27 to <73", of which only 1 may be a large school/small medium bluefin tuna (47 to <73") 2. Charter boats with Highly Migratory Species Charter/Headboat permits, when fishing recreationally: 3 bluefin tuna measuring 27 to <73", of which only 1 may be a large school/small medium bluefin tuna (47 to <73") 3. Headboats with Highly Migratory Species Charter/Headboat permits, when fishing recreationally: 6 bluefin tuna measuring 27 to <73", of which only 1 may be a large school/small medium bluefin tuna (47 to <73") > 73" curved fork length: bag limit = 1 per vessel per year provided the "trophy" category subquota in the respective region is available at the time of harvest (see below). 1. Gulf of Maine: closed 2. Southern New England: closed 3. Trophy South: closed 4. Gulf of America: closed Bluefin tuna retention limits may change throughout the season.Regularly updated information can be found on the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Recreational Bag Limits webpage (https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/atlantic-highly-migratory-species/recreational-atlantic-bluefin-tuna-fishery-statuses-and-bag).To confirm current limits, call 1-888-872-8862 or 1-978-281-9260.Anglers must report all recreational bluefin tuna landings. Report all recreational Atlantic bluefin tuna landings to NMFS within 24 hours by calling 1-888-872-8862 or hmspermits.noaa.gov.
Edibility
Excellent
Synonyms
Thunnus thynnus
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Local laws and licenses

Massachusetts fishing license

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Cities nearby

Newton

1.7 miles away

Brookline

2.0 miles away

Watertown Town

2.2 miles away

Cambridge

3.9 miles away

Belmont

4.0 miles away

Boston

4.9 miles away

Waltham

4.9 miles away

Needham

5.1 miles away

Somerville

5.3 miles away

Arlington

5.6 miles away

Wellesley

6.1 miles away

Dedham

6.3 miles away

Weston

6.5 miles away

Medford

6.8 miles away

Everett

7.8 miles away

Lexington

7.9 miles away

Winchester

8.0 miles away

Milton

8.2 miles away

Chelsea

8.3 miles away

Westwood

8.3 miles away

Cochituate

9.3 miles away

Wayland

9.5 miles away

Natick

9.6 miles away

Hanscom AFB

9.8 miles away

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FAQ about Waban Hill Reservoir fishing

📍 Where is Waban Hill Reservoir located?
Waban Hill Reservoir is a lake located in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. Its coordinates are:
42°20′17.7″N 71°10′33.3″W
.
🎣 Where on Waban Hill Reservoir is it best to fish?
Find the best fishing spots on Waban Hill Reservoir 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 Waban Hill Reservoir?
The most common species in Waban Hill Reservoir are:
📢 What are the latest Waban Hill Reservoir fishing reports?
The latest Waban Hill Reservoir fishing reports are:
🗓️ What species are in season at Waban Hill Reservoir right now?
According to fishing regulations at Waban Hill Reservoir, 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 Waban Hill Reservoir?

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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