Public Access and Your Permit Dollars
Did you know that at least 1/3 of the dollars from Recreational Saltwater Permit sales go directly into improving public access to saltwater fishing? Since 2012, this investment has led to dozens of public access improvements large and small. In total, more than 10 million dollars has been spent on saltwater fishing access, over 4 million of which was paid from the Marine Recreational Development Fund. DMF pursues both larger, more expensive projects that are completed on 3-to-5-year time frames and multiple small projects per year through our annual Public Access Small Grant Program. Explore some of the projects we have completed across the shoreline of the Commonwealth below!
Large Public Access Projects
Salem Willows Park Fishing Pier
The original Salem Willows Park Fishing Pier served anglers for over a century and when the old pier needed replacement it was a top priority for DMF. The new pier opened in 2024, and fish were caught from it the very first day. Commonly caught species include striped bass, mackerel, bluefish, winter flounder, and harbor pollock.
Deer Island Fishing Pier
The Deer Island Fishing Pier is located on beautiful Boston Harbor at the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority facility. Opened in 2018, this pier created access at a dynamic fishing location where anglers can catch winter flounder, striped bass, mackerel, bluefish, harbor pollock, and increasingly black sea bass!
Smuggler's Beach Bass River Fishing Pier
Constructed in 2016, the Smuggler's Beach Fishing Pier is situated in Yarmouth at the mouth of Bass River, overlooking Nantucket Sound. This town managed facility is next to a state boat ramp. At DMF’s last fishing clinic at the pier, young anglers caught scup, sea bass, bluefish, smooth dogfish, and northern kingfish!
Oak Bluffs Fishing Pier
The Oak Bluffs Fishing Pier has been called the most photographed spot on Martha’s Vineyard. Since completion in 2014, this beautiful structure has provided consistent fishing opportunities, from scup in the late spring to albies and bonito during the famed ‘derby’ in the fall.
Bass River Fishing Pier
The first large project funded from permit sales, this pier on the Bass River was added to the rebuilding of a state boat ramp in 2012. Anglers regularly catch striped bass, scup, sea bass, and summer flounder from this pier located off High Bank Road in Yarmouth.
Cashman Park Fishing Pier
2015 marked the replacement and improvement of an existing pier at Cashman Park in Newburyport. The rebuilt fishing pier provides access for striped bass, bluefish, harbor pollock, and mackerel. There is also a state boat ramp and town park at this facility.
Harwich Artificial Reef
The Harwich artificial reef is located in Nantucket Sound, 2 miles south of the entrance to Saquatucket Harbor. Constructed in 2016, the 10-acre site utilizes materials recycled from the old Harwich High School, as well as other materials of opportunity, to create structured habitats used by black sea bass, tautog, scup, sand tiger sharks, and other important recreational fish species.
Scusset Fishing Pier
The Scusset Fishing Pier is a state facility operated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation at the east end of the famed Cape Cod Canal. DMF’s Public Access Program aided in the funding to rebuild this pier when it was closed for safety reasons, allowing the pier to reopen in time for the 2014 fishing season. This pier is currently the only ADA-accessible location along the Canal's 13.5 miles of shoreline and provides angling opportunities for those who are unable to navigate the rip rap that defines the rest of the Canal. Fishing opportunities on the Cape Cod Canal include striped bass, bluefish, false albacore, Atlantic bonito, tautog, black sea bass, fluke, cunner, and mackerel.
Small Grants and Other Projects
In addition to the fantastic large projects above, each year DMF issues a Request for Proposals for small public access projects. These funds have been used to make repairs to existing facilities, create angler information and education kiosks, increase safety at public access sites, and everything in between. Explore the table of all the public access projects funded by permit sales below to find a site near you!