Great Marsh Outfitters is a fly and light tackle guide service targeting primarily Striped Bass, mainly in Ipswich Bay and Plum Island Sound.&nbsp; Explore marsh channels tossing flies at eager schoolies, or run out to the bay to fish big flies, live bunker, and big topwater plugs for pelagic Stripers up to 50 inches. Your guide specializes both in teaching new anglers and pursuing trophy fish . Low pressure, high excitement, high reward! You’ll be treated with respect, courtesy, and patience. Success in fishing is 90% confidence, and should always be fun! Trips usually depart around dawn. At this time, you will have the Great Marsh, Plum Island Sound, and Ipswich Bay largely or entirely to yourself. We can usually find feeding fish within minutes of getting on the boat. Return by 9 or 10 am, when the bite slows down, and the weekend crowds are just finishing their coffee. There are unique and action-packed fishing opportunities year round. Feisty schoolies arrive in late April or early May, invading the great marsh. Things heat up in May and into June with slot-sized fish feeding on Herring in the sound and rivers. July brings abundance to Ipswich Bay, with the arrival of the bunker schools, and the cow-sized Stripers, schoolie Bluefin, and even whales that come right up to the beachfront to feed. This is world class Striper fishing! If you’re lucky, you might even get a shot at hooking a Bluefin Tuna. August brings the sand eels in thick on the sandbars and beach fronts of Ipswich Bay. Come September, we take our show on the road and target False Albacore and Bonito. These pint-sized Tunas provide intense action on fly rods and light tackle. Through the end of October, we’ll be chasing Bass as they move south in their fall run.

Striped Bass

Stripe Bass Fishing

Just had an incredible day out on the water with Stripe Bass fishing! The thrill of the chase and the satisfaction of a great catch make it the perfect way to unwind and connect with nature. 

EPSG:4269

Striped bass caught while fishing in Ipswich

Two fishermen caught striped bass in Ipswich

Two striped bass caught by anglers in Ipswich

Striped bass caught in Ipswich during fishing

Three anglers with striped bass in Ipswich, Massachusetts

Image of a striped bass, a big 32-inch fish caught while fishing in Ipswich

A photo of a 29-inch striped bass caught while fishing in Ipswich

Great Marsh Outfitters is a premiere fly and light tackle guide service, fishing the North Shore from Gloucester to Newburyport.

Great Marsh Outfitters is a fly and light tackle guide service specializing in Striped Bass in Ipswich Bay, Plum Island Sound, and the Great Marsh. Whether you want to explore winding marsh channels tossing flies at eager schoolies, sight fish the flats, or run out into Ipswich Bay throwing big flies, live bunker, and topwater plugs for trophy bass, we tailor trips to the season and conditions. We also specialize in night trips targeting trophy Stripers with live eels—one of the most exciting ways to connect with truly big fish. Trips typically depart early, though start times are flexible. One of the best parts of fishing this area is getting on the water before the crowds, often finding active fish shortly after leaving the dock, and returning as everyone else is just pouring their first coffee. The fishery changes dramatically through the season: May–June: Herring runs bring aggressive slot fish into the rivers and sound.July: Ipswich Bay comes alive with bunker schools, big migratory bass, occasional Bluefin activity offshore, and incredible surface feeds.August: Sand eels stack up along beaches and bars, creating excellent light tackle opportunities.September–October: The fall migration is on, with bass feeding hard as they push south.This is a highly seasonal, highly dynamic fishery—and when conditions line up, it can be exceptional. We run a custom 19 foot Aquasport center console which is a purpose built skinny water striper fishing machine. It is equipped with a Yamaha four stroke, trolling motor with spot lock, livewell, and Raymarine electronics with side scan sonar. Flush decks and folding cleats make it a fly anglers dream. We fish top of the line tackle by St Croix, Shimano, Sage, Orvis, and GLoomis. Rods, tackle and flies are covered in the cost of your trip.

About Captain Erik Christiansen:Captain Erik's passion for fishing began in his childhood days, growing up overlooking the bay in Ipswich. Having grown up on the bay, he knows it's waters and shoals like the back of his hand. He acquired his USCG Captains License in 2019 and has been running charters since. Equal measures of experience and skill are needed to run the tidal rivers, shoals, and oceanfront we fish. He is the proud father of two young daughters, who proclaim "When I grow up, I'm going to be a fisher and a boater". Outside of guide season, he works as a mechanical engineer.

The map shows where we fish. The red area is our primary fishing area depending on time of year and fishing conditions. The pins represent guest meeting locations.

Where we fish

Captain Erik Christiansen 

Things To Do

Our Latest News & Updates

Discover Gloucester's best and most unforgettable things to do. Experience the essence of this vibrant city with our curated list of attractions and activities.

Things To Do In Gloucester

Target trophy striped bass in shallow waters using live eels on this expert guided night charter.

Night Eels

Top-Rated Night Trip for Trophy Striped Bass

Join our 4 hour morning inshore charter in Ipswich Bay. Target striped bass with fly or light tackle gear.

Ipswich Fishing

Ipswich Bay Inshore Fly & Light Tackle Charters

Join our renowned 8 hour inshore charter in Ipswich Bay. Target striped bass with fly or light tackle.

Bay Angling

Full Day Inshore Fishing in Ipswich Bay

Great Marsh Outfitters

Come fish with us!

Fishing License Included!

Questions? Call 978-457-6683

Ipswich Bay Guided Fishing

Ipswich Bay Fishing Charters Operate Year-Round

DEPOSIT: A deposit is required for all bookings and will be applied at checkout BALANCE: The remaining balance is due on the trip date as either Credit or Cash.

GUEST CANCELLATION: In the event that you must cancel your booking, you must do so 1 day prior to your trip date to receive a refund on your deposit. Rescheduling is encouraged and dependent on guide availability.

GUIDE CANCELLATION: In the rare event that your guide must cancel due to inclement weather, health, or equipment issues, you will have the option to reschedule your charter for a later date or receive a refund on your deposit.

TIPPING: Tips to your guide are greatly appreciated for your quality trip.

Payment Reminders

MassFishHunt

Gloucester's Premier Fishing Charters: Unleash the Fun!

Affordable Gloucester Fishing Charters: Reel in Savings!

Gloucester Fishing Charter Reviews: Hear from Happy Anglers!

Gloucester Fishing Photos: Capturing the Catch!

Gloucester Fishing Report: Discover the Latest Catches!

Gloucester's Fish Species: Dive into Aquatic Wonders!

Captain Erik Christiansen: Gloucester Fishing Expert

Gloucester Fishing FAQs: Your Essential Guide

Transaction-FAQs | Great Marsh Outfitters 

Contact Us | Great Marsh Outfitters 

Captain

Air Fee

Bait Fee

Divemaster Fee

Mate's Fee

Nitrox Fee

Service Fee

State Taxes

Trimix Fee

Head out after dark for a specialized four-hour hunt designed around the challenge of finding trophy Striped Bass in shallow coastal water. The trip focuses on beachfront areas less than 10 feet deep, where Captain Erik uses sidescan sonar to search for larger fish before presenting live eels as bait. Rather than simply waiting for a bite, anglers get to be part of the process—reading the water, watching the sonar, and working a presentation designed for nighttime bass. The darkness adds another layer of excitement as you stay alert for that first heavy strike. This outing is best suited to experienced anglers who enjoy technical fishing and want to pursue bigger fish in a demanding setting. It’s a focused night on the water where patience, positioning, and timing all matter.

BoonDoggle

4 hrs 

Hunt Trophy Striped Bass Beneath the Night Sky

Start before the day gets busy and spend four focused hours exploring Ipswich Bay for Striped Bass with Captain Erik. The early departure puts you on the water around dawn, when you can work a fly rod or light tackle depending on your preferred approach and what the conditions call for. Instead of being tied to one launch point, the trip can depart from several area locations, allowing the outing to be shaped around where the fishing looks most promising or what works best for your group. Captain Erik provides guidance throughout, whether you’re working a fly along the rocky shoreline or casting light tackle toward active fish. With quality gear available and room for two anglers, this is a hands-on morning built around adapting to the water and enjoying the first bite of the day.

Follow the Dawn Bite Along Ipswich Bay’s Rocky Coast

Set aside a full day to explore Ipswich Bay and let the fishing shape the experience. With eight hours on the water, you can spend more time working the rocky coastline, covering productive areas, and adjusting your approach as conditions change. Captain Erik offers the choice of fly fishing or light tackle, giving you the freedom to pursue Striped Bass with the technique that best suits your style. Departure points can also be adjusted based on where the fishing is strongest or what works best for your group. Whether you enjoy the precision of casting a fly or the versatility of light tackle, the day is built around active fishing rather than following a rigid plan. It’s a flexible, hands-on way to experience the varied shoreline and inshore waters of Ipswich Bay.

Ipswich Bay - Essex, MA Inshore Report on 9th Jan, 2024

AUTHOR

Erik Christiansen

NOTES

Stripe Bass Fishing

Ipswich Bay - Essex, MA

CATCHES

1 Total Catches

Total catch1

Striped Bass

Catch - 1

Great Marsh Outfitters Available Trips

Navigate