The Jetty & Fishing

The Salisbury Beach jetty is the north jetty at the mouth of the Merrimack River, a stone breakwater that runs 4,118 feet out from the south end of Salisbury Beach State Reservation. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built and maintains it, with a shorter south jetty across the channel at Plum Island Point, to protect the entrance to Newburyport Harbor. DCR lists fishing at the reservation, and the river mouth beside the jetty is where boats, current and anglers meet.

Where the Jetty Is

Follow State Reservation Road to the south end of the reservation, past the campground, to the point where the beach turns the corner into the river. The jetty runs out from there into the ocean along the north side of the harbor channel. Across the water, the south jetty reaches out from Plum Island Point in Newburyport. The Army Corps describes the channel between them as 400 feet wide and 12 feet deep at the entrance.

Fishing at Salisbury Beach

DCR lists fishing among the reservation's activities, and the river side near the boat ramps and the ocean beach both draw anglers. The Army Corps notes that Newburyport Harbor is home base for charter and sport-fishing boats, which run out past the jetties.

You need a saltwater fishing permit. Massachusetts says anyone 16 or older needs a recreational saltwater fishing permit. Buy it online from the state before you go; check the state's rules for size and catch limits, which change by species and year.

Safety on and Around the Jetty

• Stay off the rocks in rough water. The stones are uneven and slick, and waves wash over them.
• Strong current. The whole Merrimack River pours out through the channel beside the jetty, and the current is strongest as the tide changes. Never swim near the jetty or in the channel. See tides.
• Boat traffic. The channel is the harbor's main entrance; stay clear of it when casting or paddling.
• Swim at the beach instead. Lifeguards cover the beach center in season. See the beach.

Parking for the Jetty

Park in DCR's day-use lot inside the reservation. DCR charges $14 for Massachusetts plates and $40 for out-of-state plates from May 23 to October 12; outside that season parking is free. See parking and directions.

Good For / Maybe Skip If

Good for: watching boats come and go through the harbor entrance, a walk to the end of the beach, and fishing the river mouth with a permit.

Maybe skip if: you have small children or want to swim. The beach center, a few minutes north, is the lifeguarded stretch. See the boardwalk and beach center.