Head of Hummock in Nantucket County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Head of Hummock falls in Nantucket County, part of Massachusetts. Salt water lies 1.3 miles off. At 16 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. It lies lower than most water we list in Massachusetts. The nearest town is Nantucket, 1.8 miles away. The nearest city of size is New Bedford, 48 miles away. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Head of Hummock

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Time trips to the tide table rather than the clock here. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Records held for Nantucket County cover American eel, pumpkinseed, striped bass, white perch and chain pickerel. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. The near bank of Head of Hummock is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 32°F and August at about 69°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Neither winter nor summer shuts things down for long. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. On Head of Hummock that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. You can leave the car about half a mile from the water. The water borders Head Of Hummock Pond, so reserve rules are likely to apply. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Maxcy Pond, 0.4 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Confirm access to Head of Hummock locally before you travel.