Local Waters

← Around Portsmouth

River Open, quieter rules

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

Around now

Most likely in this drive this week. Not a guarantee — confirm the official rule.

  • Trout Trout
  • Smallmouth bass Smallmouth bass
  • Chain pickerel Chain pickerel
Season
Many MA streams stay open with a lower trout bag after mid-September. Water and fish care more about temperature than the calendar. Check the official table. 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.
Friday conditions

Skinny water. SW 13 mph.

Sky
🌧️ 67° rain
Sun and moon
Rise 6:56 · 🌒 Waxing crescent · Set 6:01
Wind at dawn
SW 13 mph · Chance Rain Showers · 67°F
Wind later
  • dawn: SW 13 mph
  • 10am: SW 13 mph
  • 2pm: SW 13 mph
  • dusk: SW 13 mph
Flow
4.3 cfs · skinny · 0.15 ft · 6:30 pm · Parker River at Byfield · USGS gauge · wadable band is a sketch, not a safety rating
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.

Maps Call shop

Log this trip

Private. On this phone, and in your test book if you signed in on Journal.

SW 13 mph · Chance Rain Showers · 4.3 cfs · skinny

How did it go

Pictures only — no video.

Opens a map. Locate finds you, then tap to drop or drag the pin. Private — not the public map.

Shops

Concord Outfitters

113 Commonwealth Ave, Concord, MA 01742
Mon–Fri 10am–6pm (confirm before you go)

The MetroWest / Concord River shop. Call before a first trip on the Concord or Sudbury.

Call Website

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.

Call the shop Website

If this isn’t the day