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Cape Cod & the Islands offer plenty of rich shellfish beds for vacation fun

Massachusetts > Cape Cod & The Islands > On the Water > Shellfishing
Eastham Shellfishing & Clamming

Sticker Office at the Department of Public Works, 555 Old Orchard Road Eastham, MA Phone: 508-240-5972

A permit is required for taking eels, sea worms or shellfish from the coastal waters of Eastham. Shellfish Permits are issued at the Sticker Office, Memorial Day to mid-August. Call 508-240-5976.
Permits: Issued to residents and property owners of Eastham or Orleans ($25); residents of Eastham or Orleans over age 64 $12); non-residents of the towns ($75); a one-week license, regardless of residence, ($20). Permits are effective June 1 to May 31. Locations: Most of the Town’s shellfishing areas are open daily from sunrise to sunset, except for Salt Pond (Sundays only) and several tidal creeks.
Tisbury / Vineyard Haven on Martha’s Vineyard

Town Hall, 51 Spring Street Vineyard Haven, MA Phone: 508-696-4200

Permits for non-resident recreational shellfishing are sold at Town Hall, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Fees: Non-resident permit fees are $25 for a week; $75 for a month; and $400 for a year.
Limitations: Quahogs may be caught year-round; scallop season of November 1 to the end of March. The landing places are Tashmoo Pond at the foot of Lake Street, Vineyard Haven Harbor at the Town Pier, and Lagoon Pond at the ramp. Regulations and maps and seasonal limits are distributed when a permit is purchased.
Nantucket Shellfishing & Clamming

Nantucket Marine & Coastal Resource Department, 34 Washington Street (Town Pier) Nantucket, MA Phone: 508-228-7261

Town-issued recreational shellfish licenses are required and issued April 1 through March 31. Anyone over the age of 14 must have a license to take shellfish. Fishers under age 14 must be with a licensed adult.
Purchase licenses at the police department, 4 Fairgrounds Road, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in summer.
Fees: Seasonal fees are resident, $35; resident over age 60, free; non-resident (all ages), $125. Weekly fee is $50.
Rules: License holders will be given information on shellfishing, closures, tide chart and any other information they may need. The species most commonly sought are quahogs, mussels, eels, oysters, scallops, and soft shell clams (steamers).
Falmouth Shellfishing & Clamming

Falmouth Town Hall, 59 Town Hall Square Falmouth, MA Phone: 508-457-2536

Shellfish and herring permits are sold at the tax collector's window in Falmouth Town Hall, 59 Town Hall Square, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Fees: Permits cost $80 for non-residents (cash or money order only); $25 for residents; and $5 for senior residents. Permits are in effect from February 1 to January 31, General regulations may be picked up at the tax collector's window in Falmouth Town Hall.
Information on shellfishing locations; See approved shellfishing locations and phone 508-495-7334 for information on closures.
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Edgartown on Martha’s Vineyard

Shellfish Department, 135 Meetinghouse Way Edgartown, MA, 02539 Phone: 508-627-7570

Shellfish Licenses are available in the Board of Selectmen’s Office during regular business hours. During the summer months they are sold at the front desk of Town Hall, 70 Main Street. Call ahead for hours to buy licenses at 508- 627-6100. Annual Shellfish licenses run from April 1 to March 31.
Fees: Annual cost for residents is $50, fee to residents age 60 and older. Non-resident annual licenses are $250. A weekly license is available for $50. This entitles the purchaser and their family to go out once in a week window and get a limit of shellfish. This license does not apply to scallops. An annual license is required to fish for scallops during the season.
Catch Limits: A family permit holder shall not take more than one-half bushel of shellfish during a week except for bay scallops. The Bay Scallop limit shall be no more than one (1) struck level 10 gallon plastic wash basket per week in season. Bay scalloping is not permitted for one-day license holders.
Wellfleet Shellfishing & Clamming

Wellfleet Town Hall, 300 Main Street Wellfleet, MA, 02667 Phone: 508-349-0300

Recreational shellfishing is permitted with a license, required for fishers age 12 and older. Purchase at the Beach Sticker Office or the Administration Office in Town Hall. The shellfishing season is June 1-Sept 30.
Fees: Annual: resident, $50; senior resident, $10; non-resident, $200. Seasonal: resident, $30; non-resident, $75.
Fishing Locations: Indian Neck is the only area open to recreational shellfishing from June 1 to September 30. Recreational shellfishing is allowed only on Wednesdays and Sundays. The Indian Neck area extends from the breakwater to the jetty just south of the Burton Baker Landing. Indian Neck is regularly stocked with quahogs and small populations of soft shell clams and oysters.
Mashpee Shellfishing & Clamming

Mashpee Town Hall, 16 Great Neck Road North Mashpee, MA Phone: 508-539-1439

To shellfish in Mashpee you must have a Mashpee shellfish permit or Wampanoag Tribal ID card. You may buy a permit if you own land in Mashpee or live in Massachusetts. Permits are issued at the Town Clerk's office.
Fees Family, $25; seniors, $6; non-resident, $80
Hours: Daily, sunrise to sunset.
Shellfishing Locations: Shellfishing is allowed up to the high tide shoreline, except in areas closed because of contamination. Areas for non-commercial shellfishing are in Waquoit Bay, Great River, Hamblin Pond and Popponesset Bay. Refer to the shellfishing maps.
Harvest of quahogs, soft-shell clams, scallops (in season), mussels and razor clams is allowed. The taking of oysters is prohibited . Catch limits are established for each species and can be found in the regulations.
Shellfishing maps. Shellfishing regulations.
Barnstable Shellfishing & Clamming

Barnstable Division of Natural Resources, 1189 Phinney’s Lane Centerville, MA, 02632 Phone: 508-790-6272

Shellfishing licenses may be purchased at the Marine and Environmental Affairs Office, 1189 Phinney’s lane, Barnstable, Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:15 p.m. Licenses may also be obtained by mail (to the address above) with proof of residency and payment in full. Please include a self addressed stamped envelope. Seasonal licenses are in effect June 1through September 1.
The Town of Barnstable includes eight villages; these town regulations apply within these villages: Osterville, Centerville, Marstons Mills, Cotuit, Hyannis, West Hyannisport, Barnstable Village, and West Barnstable
Fees: Resident Family, $30; senior citizen Family, $20; annual non-resident family, $120; seasonal non-resident family, $60