Local Waters
Salem Harbor (Willows & Winter Island)
Salem, MA · about 35 min from Somerville (typical, off-peak)
Two named public Salem lots. Pier if you want easy, Winter Island if you want more room.
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.
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Striped bass
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Bluefish
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False albacore
- Season
- Harvest is year-round on paper (28" to under 31", one fish). Schoolies are the usual fly fish here in season. Confirm current DMF rules. Official rule
- License
- Massachusetts saltwater permit
- Park
- Salem Willows Park fishing pier lot and OFBA Winter Island ramp. Summer park rules.
- Walk in
- Minutes from either lot to pier, riprap, or harbor edge.
- Wading
- Mostly from pier and riprap. Harbor bottom is not a wade.
- Usual window
- Moving harbor water. Night on the pier is a different, more crowded game.
- Monday conditions
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N 5 mph around dawn. Fine to go.
- Sky
- ⛅ 85° partly
- Sun and moon
- Rise 5:59 · 🌔 Waxing gibbous · Set 7:33
- Wind at dawn
- N 5 mph alongshore · Mostly Clear · 58°F
- Wind later
-
- dawn: N 5 mph
- 10am: N 3 mph
- 2pm: N 3 mph
- dusk: NNW 6 mph
- Tide
- Low 3:17 am (1.5 ft) · High 9:32 am (8.1 ft) · Low 3:19 pm (2.1 ft) · High 9:38 pm (9.5 ft) Best moving water is the three hours into 9:32 am high. · Boston (Salem lags — sketch)
- A setup that belongs here
- 8-wt, Clouser, crab along the rocks.
- Notes
- City park pier plus OFBA ramp. DMF rebuilt the Willows pier with permit dollars. Confirm MassWildlife / DMF.
Log this trip
Private. On this phone, and in your test book if you signed in on Journal.
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.