How Far?

[Bob Parsons]

I've heard of various offshore locations. But was wondering what determines the boundary for offshore. Is it depth or distance? Or the various temperature breaks I've heard discussed?

If you travel 13 miles east of Duxbury you almost aground in P-town.

13 miles east of Hyannis and you can see Nantucket.
13 miles east of Chatham and you can see whales.

[riptide]

I've heard of various offshore locations. But was wondering what determines the boundary for offshore. Is it depth or distance? Or the various temperature breaks I've heard discussed?

If you travel 13 miles east of Duxbury you almost aground in P-town.

13 miles east of Hyannis and you can see Nantucket.
13 miles east of Chatham and you can see whales.

I think it's relative Bob. In your old tin boat the middle of CC bay is offshore. In a 40' SF the Dump might just be starting to get "Offshore". Most that I talk to consider it anything on the south side thats beyond the islands. The Claw is only a few miles off the Vineyard but is a great place for tuna and the odd White. It's not really inshore but it's not very far if you leave from MV. Hopefully this season with the new boat I can find out exactly "how far" offshore is. We are planning at least one or two multi-boat trips that will put us Offshore by anyones definition. For now I can only look at the new chart plotter and wish I was there.

[Reel Pursuit]

In my mind, offshore refers more to the target species than distance. Primarily sharks, billfish and pelagics. Since most of these are bluewater species then you are heading south of the islands. The Claw is about 25 miles south of Menemsha and you can easily find mahi and skipjack tuna there in August. There's also a reasonable chance at a yellowfin there as well. The further south you travel (ie. the Dump, Shipping Lanes or Canyons) the better your chances increase, especially if you're after billfish and/or wahoo.

Best bet is to study a current sea surface temp chart and plan your trip around that, looking for temp breaks that will hold baitfish.

[Pauper Piscator]

About 20 miles due East to the Cove on Jeffries. That is fairly far offshore in IMO. "Halfway Hump" is a nice hump for cod and the odd tuna or shark at about 10 mi (get it?) but on clear day can you see the beach. Am I offshore?

If I Steam East of the Isles of Shoals, am I offshore? Hmmmm a pickle there.

My rule of thumb
If I can't see shore, and the occasional whale, tuna, shark or steaker cod swims by, I gotta call it "offshore."

[SamRiley]

Is 10 miles out in my kayak offshore?

[soundownsam]

IMHO "offshore" has more to do with species than location. Down here in Ft Lauderdale "offshore" can be 2 mile or less off the beach where we target sailfish, dolphin, wahoo and other pelagics. Up in New England I would consider fishing off shore when you are fishing the banks and canyons for tuna, marlin, sharks or just about anything else you now need a MHS permit for.

Sam

[stingray]

Is a 22' cc considered to "small" to take offshore? IE. 25 miles south of the Vineyard to the Dump?

[rhodyflyguy]

you can definitely take that 22' boat 25 miles out. watch the weather and what not. i know a guy who took his 19' flat bottom Carolina skiff out to Block Canyon. I wish i was w/ him ;)