Whether it’s the excitement of a big catch or the opportunity to wind down that draws you to this state, Massachusetts has a spot for all types of fishing. The Bay State packs a lot into a small region. You can fish for northern pike in the Berkshires, lake trout and landlocked salmon at Quabbin and Wachusett reservoirs, tournament bass on Long Pond, and bluefish and false albacore off Martha’s Vineyard.
Those waters stretch from the New York line to the islands, and an RV makes it easier to fish more than one region. You can stay at a full-hookup campground a short walk from Pontoosuc Lake, share one central Massachusetts campground between two big reservoirs, and carry freshwater and saltwater gear in the same rig.
Anglers 15 and older need a freshwater fishing license, and anglers 16 and older need a separate saltwater fishing permit.
Best Places for RV Fishing in Massachusetts
| Fishing spot | Best for | RV camping experience | Good to know |
| Pontoosuc Lake | Pike, bass | Full hookups nearby | Ice fishing for pike |
| Chapin Pond | Stocked trout, kids | No camping; day trip | Tiny ramp lot |
| Quabbin Reservoir | Lake trout, salmon | Private campground, full hookups | No pets; boat seal required |
| Wachusett Reservoir | Shore anglers, lake trout | Shares Quabbin base camp | Shore fishing only |
| Norton Reservoir | Wading, bass | Resort campground nearby | Limited parking |
| Long Pond | Tournament bass | State forest, no hookups | Submerged boulders |
| Big Sandy Pond | Stocked trout | State forest, no hookups | Clear, deep water |
| Boston and Massachusetts Bay | Charters, stripers | State park, electric sites | Groundfish seasons |
| Martha’s Vineyard | Shore casting, the Derby | Island campground, full hookups | Ferry reservation required |
Fishing Spots in Massachusetts
Here are some of the best fishing spots in Massachusetts. You can fish for a variety of species, and you’ll enjoy the scenery and history of this amazing state.
Pontoosuc Lake
Head out to Berkshire County, north of Pittsfield, and you will find Pontoosuc Lake. Vacationers and anglers alike flock to this 500-acre lake, which straddles Pittsfield and Lanesborough. You can find a wide variety of fish species, including smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, chain pickerel, northern pike, common carp, white perch, yellow perch, bluegill, black crappie, brown bullhead, and white sucker. Trout are stocked each spring and fall.
The lake’s biggest draw is its large northern pike. They reproduce naturally here, and most are caught through the ice in winter. The lake is drawn down each fall and winter, so depths change seasonally.
RV Trip Snapshot
- Base camp: Bonnie Brae Campground in Pittsfield, a short walk from the lake.
- Hookups: Full-hookup RV sites with 30- and 50-amp service, plus showers, laundry, and a pool.
- Fishing access: A double concrete ramp with parking for about 30 trailers sits at the south end of the lake off Hancock Road, with shore fishing in the adjacent park.
- Second option: Pittsfield State Forest has campsites and a bathhouse with hot showers, but no hookups or dump station.
- Best for: Pike anglers and ice fishing trips.
Chapin Pond
If you hope to catch chain pickerel, largemouth bass, white perch, yellow perch, or bluegill, Chapin Pond, also known as Haviland Pond, is a good spot to cast your line. This 29-acre warm-water pond in Ludlow sits just north of where Route 21 meets the Massachusetts Turnpike. Trout are stocked in spring and fall.
The town manages a small concrete boat ramp off Route 21, with parking for three trailers and six cars. Only electric motors are allowed. You can shore fish from the adjacent town beach until the beach opens for the season around Memorial Day.
RV Trip Snapshot
- Base camp: No campground at the pond. Take a day trip from a central Massachusetts base to fish here.
- RV access: The ramp lot is too small for an RV. Leave the rig at camp and bring a car or tow vehicle.
- Best for: Families after stocked trout, or a quick stop between destinations.
Quabbin Reservoir
Fishing in Massachusetts is a whole new experience when you cast a line at Quabbin Reservoir. The state’s largest body of water covers about 39 square miles and runs 18 miles long, with 181 miles of shoreline. Its visitor center and southern boat launch are in Belchertown.
Quabbin is one of only two Massachusetts waters with naturally reproducing lake trout and landlocked salmon. Shore anglers do best for trout and salmon in spring, when fish cruise the shallows for smelt. By summer, you need a boat to reach them. Smallmouth bass are abundant year-round. You can also catch largemouth bass, black crappie, white perch, yellow perch, bluegill, and stocked rainbow and brown trout.
This is a public water supply, so the rules are strict. Boat fishing runs from the third Saturday in April into mid-October from three launch areas, and every private motorboat needs a Quabbin boat seal. Private canoes and kayaks aren’t allowed on the main reservoir. Shore fishing is allowed at designated gates through December 31. Swimming, camping, and pets are prohibited, and bicycling is limited to designated roads.
RV Trip Snapshot
- Base camp: Pine Acres Family Camping Resort in Oakham, which sits between Quabbin and Wachusett reservoirs.
- Hookups: Big-rig-friendly full-hookup sites, some right on the resort’s 70-acre Lake Dean.
- Fishing access: Drive to the Quabbin boat launch areas or shoreline gates. Rental boats are available at the launch areas.
- Good to know: Dogs aren’t allowed anywhere on Quabbin property. Plan for pets to stay at camp.
- Best for: Boat anglers after lake trout and salmon.
Wachusett Reservoir
Go fishing for smallmouth bass at the Wachusett Reservoir, just north of Worcester. At 4,041 acres, it’s the second-largest body of water in Massachusetts. Like Quabbin, it has naturally reproducing lake trout and landlocked salmon, and its smallmouth bass and white perch grow large. You’ll also find largemouth bass, chain pickerel, yellow perch, black crappie, bluegill, and stocked trout.
Timing matters here. Trout, salmon, and lake trout fishing is best in spring, when these fish roam the shallow edges looking for smelt. As the water warms, they move deep and smallmouth bass and white perch take over.
No boats are allowed, but shore access is excellent. You can fish near a roadside parking area or hike miles into protected land for quieter water. The season opens the first Saturday in April, and fishing is allowed only from designated gates and access areas between dawn and dusk.
RV Trip Snapshot
- Base camp: Pine Acres Family Camping Resort in Oakham.
- Fishing access: Shoreline gates along Routes 70, 140, and 12/110, plus Thomas Basin in West Boylston.
- RV access: Parking at the gates is roadside. Leave the RV at camp and drive a car or tow vehicle.
- Good to know: Pets are prohibited on reservoir property.
- Best for: Shore anglers willing to hike.
Norton Reservoir
Norton Reservoir is located in Norton, between Boston and Providence. This roughly 530-acre reservoir is excellent for shore fishing. Most of it is only a few feet deep with a hard sand bottom, so anglers can wade large sections in chest waders. It’s known for largemouth bass, and you can also land chain pickerel, black crappie, white perch, yellow perch, and bluegill.
Access is informal. The main unimproved sand ramp at the end of Juniper Lane has parking for about six cars, and there’s shore fishing at the dam from pull-offs on Reservoir Street.
RV Trip Snapshot
- Base camp: Normandy Farms Family Camping Resort in nearby Foxborough.
- Hookups: Most of its roughly 400 sites have full hookups.
- RV access: Parking at the reservoir is limited to small lots and pull-offs. Leave the RV at camp.
- Best for: Wading anglers and kayak fishing.
Long Pond
Long Pond is just 30 minutes from Plymouth and 45 miles from downtown Boston. It’s the largest natural pond in Massachusetts. This spot is known for largemouth bass and hosts many bass fishing tournaments. You can catch largemouth bass, chain pickerel, bluegill, white perch, yellow perch, white sucker, pumpkinseed, and brown bullhead here.
The pond is shallow, with an average depth of about 6 feet, and it has submerged boulders, so boat slowly in unfamiliar water. Freetown manages a concrete ramp off Route 18 with parking for trailers. A parking fee may apply on weekends and holidays.
RV Trip Snapshot
- Base camp: Myles Standish State Forest in Plymouth and Carver, which also works for Big Sandy Pond.
- Hookups: None. The campground has a dump station, plus showers and flush toilets in each camping loop.
- Season: May into mid-October. Reservations open four months ahead.
- Best for: Bass boaters.
Big Sandy Pond
Big Sandy Pond, commonly known as Sandy Pond, sits in the southern part of Plymouth. This clear, deep kettle pond provides a great spot away from city life. It covers about 149 acres, and its fish include yellow perch, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, and brown bullhead. Big Sandy Pond is stocked each spring and fall with brook, brown, and rainbow trout.
MassWildlife provides a concrete ramp suitable for trailered boats off Gunning Point Road, a dirt road on the southeast shore. Almost all of the shoreline is private, so plan to fish from a boat or kayak.
RV Trip Snapshot
- Base camp: Myles Standish State Forest
- Fishing access: The state ramp on the southeast shore.
- RV access: The access road is dirt. Leave the RV at camp and bring the tow vehicle.
- Best for: Trout anglers with a small boat or kayak.
Boston and Massachusetts Bay
Boston is one of the top destinations for fishing in Massachusetts. Fishing is a long-standing tradition here, and you can fish everything from the waters of the Atlantic to nearby lakes and streams. Summer brings migrations of bluefin tuna, striped bass, sharks, and more. In the cooler months, offshore trips target haddock and pollock.
Groundfish rules are tight. Gulf of Maine haddock is closed in March, and cod retention is limited to a short fall season. Striped bass can be kept year-round, but only one fish per day between 28 and 31 inches.
RV Trip Snapshot
- Base camp: Wompatuck State Park in Hingham, about 35 minutes from downtown Boston.
- Hookups: About half of the sites have electric. There’s no water or sewer at sites, but the campground has a dump station, water spigots, and showers.
- Season: Early May to mid-October.
- Fishing access: Book a charter or party boat from Boston-area harbors, and leave the RV at camp. Anglers on permitted for-hire boats don’t need their own saltwater permit.
- Best for: Charter trips and groups mixing fishing with sightseeing.
Martha’s Vineyard
Martha’s Vineyard celebrates fishing each year with its Martha’s Vineyard Bluefish and Striped Bass Derby. Despite the name, the Derby now weighs in bluefish, bonito, and false albacore; striped bass are part of a separate catch-and-release program. Located a 45-minute ferry ride from Woods Hole on Cape Cod, the island has numerous harbor towns and plenty of shore and boat fishing. The waters hold striped bass, bluefish, fluke, bonito, and false albacore.
RV Trip Snapshot
- Base camp: Martha’s Vineyard Family Campground in Vineyard Haven, the only campground on the island, about 1.5 miles from the ferry terminal.
- Hookups: All RV sites have water, sewer, and 30/50-amp electric. All RV sites are back-in. The campground has showers, laundry, a store, and a playground.
- Season: May through October; the campground closes before the Derby ends.
- Getting there: Every vehicle on the Woods Hole–Martha’s Vineyard ferry needs an advance reservation. Walk-on passengers don’t need one, and an island bus stops at the campground entrance.
- Best for: Shore casters and Derby anglers.
How to Plan an RV Fishing Trip in Massachusetts
Here are tips for planning an RV fishing trip in Massachusetts.
Choose an RV-Friendly Base Camp
- Expect few hookups at state parks: Myles Standish and Pittsfield State Forest have no hookups, and Wompatuck has electric only. For full hookups, look at private campgrounds like Bonnie Brae, Pine Acres, and Normandy Farms.
- Budget for non-resident rates. State campground fees are much higher for non-residents than for Massachusetts residents.
- Book early. Reservations for state campgrounds open months ahead, and summer weekends fill quickly.
- Share a base. Pine Acres gives you good access to Quabbin and Wachusett. Myles Standish covers Long Pond and Big Sandy Pond.
- Leave the rig at camp. Many ramps and shoreline access points here have small lots or roadside parking. A car or tow vehicle makes day trips easier.
Pack Your RV for a Fishing Trip
Here’s what to bring along for a fishing trip in the area.
- The right tackle for each water: Longer rods for casting to lake trout at Wachusett, pike gear for Pontoosuc, and surf gear for the coast.
- Inline circle hooks: Required when fishing for striped bass with natural bait.
- Lead-free sinkers and jigs: Small lead tackle is restricted in inland waters.
- Rain gear and quick-dry clothes: You could get wet while fishing, especially if you wade or fly fish.
- Waders: For Norton Reservoir’s shallow flats.
- Firewood from the campground: Massachusetts prohibits bringing firewood into or out of state campgrounds.
- A full freshwater tank: For no-hookup and electric-only sites.
Check the weather forecast before you go, since wind and rain can change your fishing plans, especially on the reservoirs and the coast.
Know Before You Go
- Freshwater licenses: Required for anglers 15 and older. Licenses are free for residents ages 15 to 17 and 70 and older. Buy one through MassFishHunt.
- Saltwater permits: Required for anglers 16 and older. A freshwater license doesn’t cover saltwater fishing. Non-residents with a valid New Hampshire, Rhode Island, or Connecticut saltwater permit generally don’t need a Massachusetts permit.
- Reservoir rules: Quabbin and Wachusett have their own seasons, access areas, and boating rules set by DCR, and pets are prohibited on reservoir property.
- Striped bass: One fish per day, at least 28 inches but less than 31 inches.
- Groundfish: Cod and haddock seasons vary by area and change often.
Check the MassWildlife freshwater regulations and the Division of Marine Fisheries saltwater regulations before you go.
Find an RV for Your Massachusetts Fishing Trip
Massachusetts fishing runs from Berkshire lakes to Atlantic islands, and an RV makes a multi-stop trip simple. Plenty of campgrounds allow you to stay close to the water, and you can walk to fishing from Bonnie Brae or Pine Acres. An RV also carries bulky gear like rods, waders, and coolers easily. You can plan a trip to several fishing locations while sleeping in the same bed every night, and you can cook your fish the very evening you catch it. RVing also allows you to travel in a group. Those who love to fish can do that, while others can tour Boston or the Berkshires, or enjoy a local beach.
Find your RV for a Massachusetts fishing trip with RVshare.
