Guide To Popular Choices For Great Fishing In Massachusetts
All about fishing in the Bay State
The state of Massachusetts has so many lakes and ponds to choose from. Far too many for us to cover here so we are listing the major waters and providing information about MA lake location as well as the major species in each lake. Here, you can fish for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, white catfish, black crappie, white crappie, walleye, rainbow trout, brook trout, brown trout, lake trout, bluegill, white perch, yellow perch, Atlantic salmon, chain pickerel, northern pike and tiger muskie in local lakes, rivers, ponds and/or streams. In winter, ice fishing is popular on many lakes across the state.
Major Massachusetts Lakes & Species

Lake & Fish Chart
This chart shows the major angling destinations, cross referencing these waters with the major species to be found in each of the lakes or impoundments. Many of these lakes offer fishing boats for rent.
For a detailed list of primary fish species in MA, plus state fish records, see the list below.
Fishing lake sizes and locations in the state.
Assawompset Pond is a 2,500-acre lake in the southeast part of the state, at Lakeville.
Cheshire Reservoir is a 400-acre lake in the northwest part of the state, at Cheshire.
Congamond Lake is a 460-acre lake in the southwest part of the state, at Southwick.
Great Herring Pond is a 376-acre lake in the southeast corner of the state, 1 mile northwest of Sagamore.
Hamilton Reservoir is a 410-acre lake in the south-central part of the state, at Holland.
Lake Chaubunagungamaug, aka Webster Lake, is a 1,400-acre lake in the south-central part of the state, at Webster.
Lake Cochituate is a 610-acre lake in the northeast part of the state, at Natick.
Lake Garfield is a 260-acre lake in the west-central part of the state, at Monterey.
Lake Onota is a 617-acre lake in the northwest part of the state, on the northwest outskirts of Pittsfield.
Lake Rohunta is a 380-acre lake in the northeast part of the state, at Orange.
Lake Quinsigamond is a 770-acre lake in the central part of the state, in Worcester.
Long Pond is a 1,700-acre lake in the southeast part of the state, at East Freetown.
Norton Reservoir is a 530-acre lake in the southeast part of the state, at Norton.
Otis Reservoir is a 1,200-acre lake in the southwest corner of the state, 5 miles northeast of Sandisfield.
Quabbin Reservoir is a 25,000-acre lake in the west-central part of the state, at New Salem.
South Watuppa Pond is a 1,450-acre lake in the southeast part of the state, at Fall River.
Wachusett Reservoir is a 4,100-acre lake in the east-central part of the state, at Clinton.
Wallum Lake is a 322-acre lake in the south-central part of the state, 5 miles southwest of Douglas.
Watuppa Ponds are two lakes covering 1,800 acres lake in the southeast part of the state, at Fall River.
Webster Lake is a 1,440-acre lake in the south-central part of the state, at the town of Webster.
Fish Species & State Records in Massachusetts
Bass
Largemouth bass
World record: 22 lbs 4 oz
State Record: 15 lbs 8 oz
Smallmouth bass
World record: 11 lbs 15 oz
State Record: 8 lbs 2 oz
Catfish
Channel catfish
World record: 58 lbs 0 oz
State Record: 26 lbs 8 oz
White catfish
World record: 22 lbs 0 oz
State Record: 9 lbs 3 oz
Crappie
Black crappie
World record: 6 lbs 0 oz
State Record: 4 lbs 10 oz*
White crappie
World record: 5 lbs 3 oz
State Record: 4 lbs 10 oz*
Walleye
Walleye
World record: 25 lbs 0 oz
State Record: 11 lbs 0 oz
Trout
Rainbow trout
World record: 42 lbs 2 oz
State Record: 13 lbs 13 oz
Brook trout
World record: 14 lbs 8 oz
State Record: 10 lbs 0 oz
Brown trout
World record: 40 lbs 4 oz
State Record: 19 lbs 10 oz
Lake trout
World record: 72 lbs 0 oz
State Record: 25 lbs 7 oz
Panfish
Bluegill
World record: 4 lbs 12 oz
State Record: 2 lbs 1 oz
White perch
World record: 4.6 lbs
State Record: 3 lbs 8 oz
Yellow perch
World record: 4 lbs 3 oz
State Record: 2 lbs 12 oz
Salmon
Atlantic salmon
World record: 79 lbs 2 oz
State Record: 10 lbs 12 oz
Other species
Chain pickerel
World record: 9 lbs 6 oz
State Record: 9 lbs 5 oz
Northern pike
World record: 55 lbs 1 oz
State Record: 35 lbs 0 oz
Tiger muskie
World record: 51 lbs 2 oz
State Record: 27 lbs 0 oz
*Unknown.
Click the images and links above for species details.

The Massachusetts Department of Fish & Game has a website filled with regulations and information about fishing in Massachusetts.
Visit AA-Boats-Boating.com to find information about fishing boats in Massachusetts and other boating information.
Acquire a Massachusetts fishing license here.
Visit the section dedicated to activities for kids in MA, including stories, fish photos and tips for where and how to take a kid fishing in MA. Please send us your recommendations and we will be happy to consider them for publication.
State of MA Fishing Guides
You can find a listing of MA fishing guides here. If you are a fishing guide or know of a good resource, please send us information for consideration.

Fish for big bass
Excellent largemouth and smallmouth bass fishing opportunities are available to anglers.
Fishing in all states
MASSACHUSETTS

