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Cape Cod Canal

Fishing spots, fishing reports, and regulations in

Massachusetts, United States

4.7·3369 catches

Top fish species at Cape Cod Canal

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Check which species have trophy potential in Cape Cod Canal

Cape Cod Canal fishing reports

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Tautog

length · weight

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Atlantic mackerel

length · weight

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Black sea bass

17 in · 2 lb 5 oz

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Atlantic bonito

length · weight

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Atlantic mackerel

length · weight

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Atlantic bonito

length · weight

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General info

Cape Cod Canal is a canal located in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. It is most popular for fishing Striped bass, Black sea bass, and Atlantic mackerel.

Location

41°45′23.6″N 70°34′27.9″W
Directions

Amenities

When are Striped Bass biting on Cape Cod Canal?

Learn what time of year and day to go fishing at Cape Cod Canal. 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 Cape Cod Canal, 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
Striped bass

Striped bass

Regulation boundaryMassachusetts State Waters
Bag limit1

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 size28" (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.

Max size31" (Total Length)

No person shall harvest any individual fish greater than the maximum size except as permitted.

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.

RequirementKeep intact

In waters where minimum-length or slot-size limits apply, game fish may not be filleted, nor their head or tail fin removed until the angler has completed fishing for the day.

Restrictions & requirements

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.

Keep Intact

In waters where minimum-length or slot-size limits apply, game fish may not be filleted, nor their head or tail fin removed until the angler has completed fishing for the day.

Additional information
No closed season. Striped bass are measured from the tip of the snout or jaw (mouth closed) to the farthest extremity of the tail. The discard of dead legal sized striped bass is unlawful. The practice of high-grading, whereby legal sized striped bass are released in favor of larger fish caught subsequently is unlawful. Accordingly, it is also unlawful to keep a striped bass alive in water by attaching a line or chain to the fish (stringer), or placing it in a live well or holding car. Striped bass must be kept whole, meaning the head, tail, and body remain intact. Only evisceration is allowed. Permitted for-hire vessels may fillet striped bass for their customers. The use non-lethal devices to remove striped bass from the water is required; gaffing striped bass is prohibited. Revised Circle Hook Requirement: All recreational anglers—including those fishing onboard for-hire vessels—who are fishing for striped bass with bait are required to use inline (non-offset) circle hooks. This shall not apply to any artificial lure with bait attached. Bait is defined as any marine or aquatic organism, live or dead, whole or parts thereof. Striped bass caught on an unapproved method of take (while targeting other finfish species)—such as a baited J hook or treble hook—must be returned to the water immediately without unnecessary injury. Please note that this requirement applies to all recreational anglers, whether fishing from shore, a private vessel, or a for-hire charter or party boat. The hook of an artificial lure does not need to be an inline circle hook to have bait attached. This allowance provides for the continued use of tackle such as a tube-and-worm rig, a bucktail jig tipped with a pork rind, and an eel skin plug. Conversely, a rigged eel (a whole dead eel with hooks threaded through its body) cannot be used unless the hooks are inline circle hooks, and a menhaden snagged on a treble hook cannot be used as bait until transferred onto an inline circle hook. An inline circle hook is defined as a fishing hook designed and manufactured so that the point of the hook is not offset from the plane of the shank and bend and is turned perpendicularly back towards the shank to form a circular or oval shape. While it's understandable that striped bass may be inadvertently caught on an unapproved rig when other species are being targeted, such fish must be returned to the water as quickly and gently as possible.
Synonyms
Morone saxatilis
Season closed: October 15 - May 15
Black sea bass

Black sea bass

Regulation boundaryMassachusetts State Waters
Bag limit4

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 size16" (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
Recreational rules (effective via emergency regulation filed April 3, 2026; intended to be finalized for 2026 and 2027 pending the May 28, 2026 MFAC vote):Open season: May 16 – October 14Minimum size: 16 inchesBag limit:4 fish/day from May 16 – August 312 fish/day from September 1 – October 14Measurement: tip of snout/jaw (mouth closed) to the farthest extremity of the tail, not including the tail filamentFilleting at sea: allowed, but not skinning; max 2 fillets per allowed fish
Edibility
Excellent according to Adam L.
Synonyms
Centropristis striata
Season open: year-round
Atlantic mackerel

Atlantic mackerel

Regulation boundaryMassachusetts State Waters
Bag limit20

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.

Additional information
No minimum size.Identification Guide for commonly confused mackerel, including Atlantic Mackerel and similar species.
Edibility
Good
Synonyms
Scomber scombrus
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Local laws and licenses

Massachusetts fishing license

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Reviews of Cape Cod Canal

4.7
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44 ratings

5
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1
Top reviews

Cities nearby

Buzzards Bay

2.0 miles away

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Monument Beach

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White Island Shores

4.2 miles away

Onset

4.8 miles away

Pocasset

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Sandwich

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Forestdale

6.0 miles away

Wareham

6.5 miles away

East Sandwich

7.4 miles away

Wareham Center

7.6 miles away

Weweantic

8.3 miles away

North Falmouth

8.5 miles away

Plymouth

8.9 miles away

West Wareham

9.6 miles away

The Pinehills

9.6 miles away

Marion Center

10.4 miles away

Mashpee

10.5 miles away

West Falmouth

11.2 miles away

Falmouth

11.4 miles away

Mashpee Neck

11.4 miles away

Carver

12.4 miles away

Mattapoisett Center

13.4 miles away

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FAQ about Cape Cod Canal fishing

📍 Where is Cape Cod Canal located?
Cape Cod Canal is a canal located in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. Its coordinates are:
41°45′23.6″N 70°34′27.9″W
.
🎣 Where on Cape Cod Canal is it best to fish?
Find the best fishing spots on Cape Cod Canal 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 Cape Cod Canal?
The most common species in Cape Cod Canal are:
📢 What are the latest Cape Cod Canal fishing reports?
The latest Cape Cod Canal fishing reports are:
🗓️ What species are in season at Cape Cod Canal right now?
According to fishing regulations at Cape Cod Canal, some of the species in season this October include: Atlantic cod, Tautog, Atlantic bluefin tuna, Scup, and Haddock. 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 Cape Cod Canal?

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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