QUINCY FISHING FIELD GUIDE
Dawn Runs to Giants: A Full Day Chasing Bluefin off Quincy
A full-day offshore charter from Marina Bay (Quincy) to Stellwagen Bank targeting 100–1,000 lb Bluefin using live bait; this guide explains what to expect on the run and on the rod.
Dawn Runs to Giants: A Full Day Chasing Bluefin off Quincy.
Set out before dawn from Marina Bay in Quincy and run roughly 25 miles out of Boston Harbor across Massachusetts Bay to Stellwagen Bank—one of the world’s premier Bluefin grounds—where anglers fish for 100–1,000 pound tuna using live bait and a mix of weights and floats depending on depth.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Targeting Giant Bluefin
Stellwagen Bank yields everything from smaller tuna in the 100–250 lb range to true giants as large as 600–1,000 lb; when a giant is landed it becomes the boat's property under NMFS regulations while smaller fish are prepared by the crew for you to take home.
A 25-mile Run into Prime Grounds
The trip runs about 25 miles out of Boston Harbor—passing Graves Lighthouse and across Massachusetts Bay—to reach Stellwagen Bank, with an average transit to the fishing grounds of roughly 1 hour and 20 minutes depending on weather.
Live Bait, Weights and Floats
Most fishing is done with live bait; captains employ weights when tuna are feeding deep and floats when they are on the surface, often using a mix of techniques to cover different depths.
What the day feels like
What the Day Feels Like
The day starts in the small hours—charters leave the dock at 3:00 a.m.—and becomes a long offshore run and patient hunt: roughly an hour and twenty minutes’ transit to the Bank, then a full day of live-bait fishing across surface and deep water, often extending the trip if the bite is slow; expect a true full-day commitment of 8+ hours.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this trip suits—and who should reconsider.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
Fishing is done primarily with live bait; captains will employ weights when fish are deep and floats when tuna are feeding at the surface, and may use both to cover multiple depths.
Charters depart early (typically 3:00 a.m.) and operate as a full day on the water, listed as 8+ hours.
Smaller tuna are cut up by the crew for passengers to take home; giants are subject to NMFS rules and become the boat’s property if landed.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
Where does the charter depart from and what time?
Trips depart from Marina Bay in Quincy; tuna charters typically leave the dock at 3:00 a.m.
How long is the trip and how far is the run to the fishing grounds?
This is a full-day trip listed as 8+ hours; the run to Stellwagen Bank is about 25 miles, with an average transit time to the fishing grounds of roughly 1 hour and 20 minutes depending on weather.
What sizes of tuna can we expect to encounter?
Smaller tuna commonly range from about 100 to 250 pounds; larger fish can be in the 600 to 1,000 pound range, and a 'giant' is considered any fish over 73 inches.
What fishing methods are used?
The charter fishes primarily with live bait, using weights when tuna are deep and floats when they are feeding at the surface, often combining techniques to cover multiple depths.
Can I keep a giant tuna if we catch one?
No—if a giant tuna is landed it automatically becomes the boat's property due to NMFS regulations; smaller fish are typically cut up by the crew for passengers to take home.
How many people can join a charter?
Charters are limited to up to six people.