Sea Kayaking and Kayak Fishing Massachusetts: Town Head, Black Head, Graves Island at Manchester

Fish or Sea Kayak These Areas for Exposure to Large Schools of Striped Bass, Bluefish and Ocean Swell from Offshore Storms

Of the many fishing spots off Manchester, Massachusetts, on CapeAnn and a scant 20 minutes from Gloucester, many stand out for a number of reasons. The sea kayaking and kayak fishing, as well as the powerboating and surf fishing in the area can be quite good. They key is access and, if you're kayak fishing or fishing from a sea kayak, where to concentrate your efforts.

Of equal importance also are where to land for a break while paddling, where to wet a line, and where, if necessary, to duck in out of the weather and wind, especially if thunderstorms are forecast.

To that end, here are some highlights of the Manchester and Magnolia areas, the roughly seven mile-long stretch of coastline which extends from the entrance to Gloucester Harbor to the Misery Islands, off Manchester.

Below you'll find latitude and longitude coordinates for the highlighted areas, notes on each spot, and how each areas is named on the available NOAA nautical charts. Note also that water temperatures in the area are frequently cold, particularly in early and late spring. Wear a wetsuit, carry safety gear such as a VHF radio, and bring along in a drybag a change of clothes both windproof and waterproof.

Black Beach at Kettle Cove

Land here for a break when fishing elsewhere. Troll the cove with tube-and-worm. The head of the cove where it pinches at Coolidge Point is often loaded with large schools of mackerel, with schools of bluefish close by. Watch for boils. Note that beach access is always a debatable issue in Manchester - as long as you're fishing, you have the right to land and walk the sands between the low and highwater marks. Some adjacent landowners tend to insist otherwise.

Latitude: 42°34'44.78"N;

Longitude: 70°43'59.02"W

White Beach at Town Head, Manchester

Troll the cove at high tide with tube-and-worm or chum-and-chunk nearby Kitfield Ledge. Note that beach although access is a debatable issue in Manchester, as long as you're fishing, you have the right to land and walk the sands between the low and highwater marks. Some adjacent landowners tend to insist otherwise. Latitude: 42°34'36.85"N Longitude: 70°44'14.03"W