A Surfcaster’s Guide to

Fishing Cuttyhunk Island

Article and Photos by

John D. Silva

Like many passionate northeast anglers, fishing the coastline of Cuttyhunk Island has always

been a wishful bucket-list item of mine. Touring (and having breakfast) at the iconic Cuttyhunk

Fishing Club – destination of past presidents, millionaires and diplomats – was an added thrill.

Recently my wife and I revisited the island and spent time together relaxing, exploring, and

opportunity to talk a little fishing with him, when he wasn’t busy with island business.

I also talked at length with Capt. JP Hunter who runs the Cuttyhunk Water-Taxi Seahorse,

www.cuttyhunkwatertaxi.com, and his sister Michelle, who both grew up on the island and know

the land and sea intimately. I also talked with Bonnie Veeder, who runs the Cuttyhunk Fishing

Club, a very energetic and engaging personality.

The following is a compilation of some of the information they shared with me.

Success while fishing from shore on Cuttyhunk Island relies on three major factors: baitfish, tide,

and wind direction, the latter two having a direct effect on the first. For example, if you have a

prevailing southwest wind, areas to look for include south and west facing shorelines where the

(usually boulders and sandbars) you are targeting, and whether it requires more or less water to

make it “fishy.”

The most ideal areas feature changes in topography where wide sandy areas come in contact with

rock formations and boulder fields, especially when there is a crossing wind. Where tide and

current converge with natural structure, target the resulting swirls, pools and eddy’s where they

form. Chances are it’s a striped bass feeding spot. A good example includes the southeast point of

outgoing tides.

Church’s Beach, on the northeast end of the island, features productive rocky areas on each end

of the cove, east and west. The transition from sand to rocky structure is the key. The easternmost

point is best during a northeast wind. Be sure to target the semi-submerged boulder you will see

southwest wind is ideal. Simply walk to the Cuttyhunk Fishing Club, walk down the ramp to the

shoreline and head west until you see the old striped bass sign on the hill. You may even see

some of the old support stanchions still imbedded in some of the boulders. Walk just a bit further

Continuing further west to the west-end shoreline requires a bit

more effort, as large portions of land are privately owned by

the Spaulding family and posted as no trespassing.

Generally, however, the family is tolerant of fishermen, so long

as everyone remains respectful of land and privacy.

There are public accessible pathways that lead around the

property to the edges of Sow and Pigs Reef, where surf

fishermen can explore a number of very fishy locations.

Heading further west along the shoreline, the Northwest end of the island is situated right along

the edge of Sow and Pigs Reef. This area features scores of boulders and churning surf. During a

southwest wind, bait gets blown along the edge of the reef during the incoming tide and into the

rocky areas where bass hide and ambush unsuspecting baitfish.

The same can be said for the Southwest end of the Island (on the opposite edge of Sow and Pigs

Reef) where it meets with Vineyard Sound. The area can be easily identified by the triangular

shaped (“pyramid like”) concrete structures along the shoreline and is best fished during a true

west wind and incoming tide.

If you’re planning a trip to Cuttyhunk, lodging and dining information, mooring, and all things

Cuttyhunk can be found on the island’s website: http://cuttyhunk.net.

There are several very good charter guides available to take you out on the reef by boat, many of

pleasures to enjoy in the form of hiking, kayaking, and some modest but cozy gift shops and