C-MAP Featured Hotspot: Devil's Bridge Shoal

Extending over a mile out from the 130-foot high multicolored clay Gay Head cliffs at the western corner of Martha’s Vineyard, the Devil’s Bridge Shoal is one of the most consistently productive bass and bluefish spots in the area. Strong tidal currents, steep ledges, and huge underwater boulders serve up a veritable banquet of bait but also create tricky boating conditions, especially when there is anything more than a moderate breeze blowing.

The area also lends itself to a variety of fishing techniques. Success can come whether anchored up and fishing with chunks or live eels, trolling deep, working the rips both trolling and jigging.
The main fishing feature is a huge tidal rip that forms when water flowing over Devils Bridge collides with complex tidal flows up and down Vineyard Sound and the adjacent waters to the west of Martha’s Vineyard. A fast-moving tide is almost always necessary to spark the fishing action at Devils Bridge.

In a smaller boat, the rip is best fished from the Vineyard Sound (east) side. It is impossible to miss the edge, especially on a day with light winds. Run into the current on the flat water side, taking an S-shaped course to sweep your trolled lures back and forth across the underwater “wall” of turbulent water that concentrates the bait. Usually, it is best to stay in the areas where the water is between 30 and 40 feet, not approaching too close to the 15- to 20-foot deep shoals or venturing too far east into the 60- or 70-foot troughs. The other option is to run up current and drift back across while dropping a deep jig, either a traditional polished diamond jig or a heavy dressed bucktail jig, and working it a foot or two off the bottom. Given the strength of the current, it may take a jig weighing four ounces or more to get deep enough for the relatively short time of the drift. Plan on bringing a good supply of jigs. There are so many nooks and crannies in the rocky bottom that you’re almost sure to get hung up.

For anchoring up and bait fishing, there are several good spots. A favorite with the commercial striper fishermen is a lump that is about 1/4 mile southeast of the “31 Can” – a big green bell buoy that marks the deepwater channel up Vineyard Sound. There are also good spots due south of this buoy at the edge of the drop off where the water goes from 40 to 60 feet.

Keep an eye out up Vineyard Sound a mile or so to the east of Gay Head as well. Huge schools of smaller stripers and bluefish congregate in the area when the sand eels are thick. The circling terns will point the way to some great light-tackle and fly rod action.