It’s a fishing day

Nantucket fishing conditions · Massachusetts

Tomorrow, 6 pm–12 amStriped bass

The bite peaks at 75. Water is 59°, close to the 62° striped bass like best, and a solunar period lands on the window. Wind builds to 24 mph out of the west by tomorrow at 7:00 am.

Small Craft Advisory until Sunday 7 pm
Log a trip here
Right now: 70 for striped bass, worth the tripTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Striped bass, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 704 pm
  2. 66
  3. 66
  4. 667 pm
  5. 71
  6. 71
  7. 7510 pm
  8. 75
  9. 63Sun
  10. 481 am
  11. 48
  12. 48
  13. 484 am
  14. 48
  15. 52
  16. 487 am
  17. 48
  18. 48
  19. 5210 am
  20. 52
  21. 48
  22. 481 pm
  23. 48
  24. 48
  25. 674 pm
  26. 63
  27. 71
  28. 717 pm
  29. 71
  30. 71
  31. 7110 pm
  32. 75
  33. 67Mon
  34. 631 am
  35. 63
  36. 71
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
59°F

Striped bass range 50–72°

Wind
10 mph

From the west

Light
Twilight

Sunset 4:29 pm

Sky
Patchy Fog

5% chance of rain

Air
60°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Rising

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
5% lit

Waning crescent

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Massachusetts regulations for these waters.

Striped Bass

Striped bass

Morone saxatilis

75Worth the tripTomorrow, 6 pm–12 am

Water

59°
40°50–72° · ideal 62°82°

Why

Right in striped bass's ideal range. Striped bass prefers incoming tide. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 5–35 ft down.

Keep

28" minimum · 31" maximum · 1 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 1 fish at 28" to under 31", open all year. Non-offset circle hooks required when fishing with bait.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Massachusetts

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Oct, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on striped bass

Bluefish

Bluefish

Pomatomus saltatrix

22Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

59°
50°60–80° · ideal 70°90°

Why

Bluefish prefers incoming tide. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Below bluefish's active range (60–80°F). Holds 5–50 ft down.

Keep

5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. No minimum size. 5 fish a day from shore or a private boat, 7 on for-hire vessels. Open all year.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Massachusetts

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Jun–Sep, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on bluefish

The water

  • Water temperature59°F
  • Seas1 ft at the nearest buoy
  • Barometer29.64 inHg, rising

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today4:29 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow6:20 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Major solunarTonight 9:30 pm–11:30 pm
  • Minor solunarTomorrow 5:30 am–6:30 am
  • Major solunarTomorrow 9:50 am–11:50 am

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. Massachusetts MassWildlife has the state’s fishing pages.

Licenses and rules: state fishery agencies · fish-consumption advisories

About this spot

The island 30 miles off Cape Cod — blitzing striped bass and bluefish along miles of surf and the rips off Great Point, with bonito and false albacore in late summer. A classic four-wheel-drive surfcasting destination. Live tide and water temperature from the Nantucket station.

MA: striped bass 28–31" slot, 1/day (inline circle hooks with bait). Great Point is the signature surf spot.

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Sandy Neck Beach Park35 mi · MassachusettsBest tomorrow 4 pm to Monday 4 amSmall Craft Advisory
75Worth the trip
Cape Cod Canal40 mi · MassachusettsBest tomorrow 4 pm to Monday 4 am
100Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Nantucket?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Nantucket you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Nantucket?

Nantucket is listed on this site for 2 commonly-targeted species: Striped Bass, Bluefish. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Nantucket?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Nantucket against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Nantucket have?

Nantucket has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. MA: striped bass 28–31" slot, 1/day (inline circle hooks with bait). Great Point is the signature surf spot.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Nantucket?

state agency regulations apply at Nantucket. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Nantucket tidal water?

Yes. Nantucket sits on tidal water with a NOAA tide station nearby. Today's high/low timing is in the tide chart on this page.