Plum Island (Parker River National Wildlife Refuge)

The Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, on Plum Island off Newburyport, has what the Fish and Wildlife Service calls some of the area's finest surf fishing: striped bass, bluefish and flounder in season. Fishing here follows the birds. Much of the beach closes from April into August while piping plovers nest, and night fishing opens only in late summer, with a refuge permit.

When to fish

• Daylight, year-round: fishing is allowed on the open beaches from sunrise to sunset.
• Spring and early summer: most of the refuge beach closes from April 1 into August for nesting piping plovers and reopens in stages as the chicks fledge.
• Late summer through October: the refuge's night fishing season (as of 2025 it ran from mid-August to the end of October).
• Summer weekends: the refuge often closes to cars once its lots fill, so come on a weekday or before 10 a.m. or after 3 p.m. on weekends.

Where to fish

• The open ocean beach: fish whichever stretches of beach are open, reached from the refuge's numbered parking lots.
• Plum Island Point: the north tip of the island, at the mouth of the Merrimack, is outside the refuge (see the Merrimack River Mouth page).

Getting there

The refuge entrance is at 6 Plum Island Turnpike in Newburyport; an entrance fee or pass applies. It's open from sunrise to sunset, and night fishing requires a refuge night fishing permit from the gatehouse or the fee station at Lot 1. Stay in designated areas (the dunes are closed), park only in the lots, and leave dogs at home; launching boats from the refuge isn't allowed without permission. Lot 1 has a beach wheelchair on request, and Lots 1, 3 and 7 have accessible beach overlooks. You need a Massachusetts saltwater fishing permit, and striped bass have a slot limit and a circle hook rule for bait.