Local Waters
Parker River (Newbury)
Newbury / Byfield, MA · about 45 min from Portsmouth (typical, off-peak)
Named OFBA on the Parker. Different water than Plum Island refuge sand.
Salt River / stream Lake / pond Shop (desk) Guide only Parking Stay State access Private — ask first
- Season
- General-law trout streams are in the main season. Bag limits change after Sep 10. MassWildlife is the source of truth. Official rule
- License
- Massachusetts freshwater license
- Park
- OFBA Parker River cartop in Newbury. Freshwater trout water is upstream in Byfield — use signed town/conservation lots, not the refuge beach.
- Walk in
- Short walk from the OFBA lot. Byfield is a separate signed pull-off.
- Wading
- Small river. Lower lot is tidal. Upper Byfield is a trout wade.
- Usual window
- Spring stocking upriver. Tidewater at the OFBA lot.
- Saturday conditions
-
Skinny water. W 2 mph around dawn. Fine to go.
- Sky
- ☀️ 83° fair
- Sun and moon
- Rise 5:56 · 🌔 Waxing gibbous · Set 7:37
- Wind at dawn
- W 2 mph · Patchy Smoke · 58°F
- Wind later
-
- dawn: W 2 mph
- 10am: W 2 mph
- 2pm: W 2 mph
- dusk: W 13 mph
- Flow
- 0.2 cfs · skinny · -0.37 ft · 6:30 pm · Parker River at Byfield · USGS gauge · wadable band is a sketch, not a safety rating
- Stocking
- Last stocked Apr 16, 2026 · spring water · MassWildlife stocking
- A setup that belongs here
- 4-wt upriver; 8-wt if you are in the tide.
- Notes
- OFBA cartop plus Byfield public access. Refuge beach is the other card. Confirm MassWildlife / DMF.
Tidal at the lower lot. Plum Island refuge rules do not apply here, and these rules do not apply there.
Log this trip
Stays on this phone only. Nobody else sees it.
Shops
Guides
Shop desks, plus a few independents who fish public water. We do not take a cut. Call them.
Concord Outfitters — book a day
Concord, MA · wade / shore · Half or full day — ask the shop
Good for: MetroWest rivers and ponds, first local trout day
Shop desk, not a scraped independent. Call them; they put you with someone they trust.