Offshore
Great Rip
Offshore · Massachusetts · Nantucket Great Rip / Nantucket Shoals approaches
Location Snapshot
Great Rip is a named offshore rip and shoal-approach fishery east-southeast of Nantucket, distinct from Nantucket Harbor and the broader Nantucket Shoals. Striped bass, bluefish, and summer flounder are principal supported targets, with black sea bass, scup, and Atlantic bluefin tuna adding structure and pelagic variety.
Information Only
StrikeTracks does not currently provide an Offshore fishing-condition rating. Marine Conditions are observations and forecasts for trip planning. They are not an Excellent, Good, Fair, or Poor fishing score.
Marine Conditions
Planning context — not a fishing rating.
Regional Marine Forecast
Today
NE winds 20 to 25 kt, increasing to 25 to 30 kt this afternoon. Gusts up to 40 kt. Seas 6 to 9 ft. Wave Detail: E 9 ft at 10 seconds and N 6 ft at 5 seconds.
Marine Alerts
- Gale Warning · Moderate — Gale Warning issued October 20 at 2:16AM EDT until October 21 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Boston/Norton MA
Nearby fishing destinations
Massachusetts · Cape Cod and Islands · Harbor
Approximately 20.6 miles away
Massachusetts · Cape Cod and Islands · Inlet
Approximately 34.3 miles away
Massachusetts · Cape Cod and Islands · Bay
Approximately 43.8 miles away
Fishery Profile
Fishery Overview
Great Rip offshore fishery
Great Rip is the named rip and shoal water off Nantucket. Striped bass, bluefish, and summer flounder are the rip fish. Great South Channel Habitat Management Area rules may limit commercial mobile bottom-tending gear by longitude. Recreational angling is not the closed activity, and the rip is not a no-fishing closure.
- Habitat and structure
- Named rip · Shoal approaches
Static seasonal guidance · Last reviewed Sep 2, 2026
Not a live bite forecast.
Fishery Targets
Bluefish and scup follow a typical season. Seasons for Striped bass, summer flounder, and black sea bass change with the annual rules. Atlantic cod seasons follow the current regulations.
This reflects typical biological/fishery timing, not a legal open season. Check current regulations before fishing.
Species images are AI-generated illustrations for visual reference and may simplify natural variation. Fishery records are based on the cited agency and editorial sources. About fish illustrations
Striped bass
PrimaryRegulations vary annuallyMorone saxatilis
Typical seasonal opportunity: SPRING — FALL
Pomatomus saltatrix
Typical seasonal opportunity: SUMMER
Summer flounder
PrimaryRegulations vary annuallyParalichthys dentatus
Typical seasonal opportunity: SUMMER
Black sea bass
SecondaryRegulations vary annuallyCentropristis striata
Typical seasonal opportunity: SUMMER
Stenotomus chrysops
Typical seasonal opportunity: SUMMER
Atlantic bluefin tuna
SecondaryThunnus thynnus
Also called Bluefin tuna
No seasonal pulse known
Typical Seasonal Targets
- Striped bass — SPRING — FALL
- Bluefish — SUMMER
- Summer flounder — SUMMER
- Black sea bass — SUMMER
- Scup — SUMMER
Seasonal presence is general guidance and does not indicate current fish activity.
Access, Safety and Regulations
Access
Offshore boat from Nantucket. About 13 nm ESE of Sankaty Head. No shore access on the rip.
Primary hazards
Breaking rips, shifting shoals, and open Atlantic. Harbor tides is not rip-local.
Fishery considerations
- Harbor tide predictions describe the harbor.
- Regional marine forecasts describe the weather around the rip. They are not a fishing rating.
Regulations
Size limits, seasons, and possession rules change. Verify the current official regulations before fishing.
Fishery Sources
Editorial and agency sources supporting this fishery profile. Live and predicted conditions use the separate Data Sources section.
Location and Access
This marker is the mapped fishing area. It is not a boat ramp, a parking area, or a place to drive to.
