Fishing & Shellfishing
Fishing
Fishing charters are available throughout the Cape, with several operating out of Falmouth Harbor. Most are expensive sport-fishing outfits that accommodate between 5 and 10 people at around $75 to $100 per person. For the budget-minded, Patriot Party Boats, 1-800-734-0088, runs bottom-fishing excursions twice daily during the summer for $25 per person and their boat accommodates up to 50. Reservations are essential.
Shellfishing
Falmouth and Woods Hole provide excellent shellfishing throughout the year. Licenses are required and can be purchased at Falmouth Town Hall; $20 resident, $50 non-resident. Permits are good from March 1 until the last day of February. For recorded shellfish information call 508-495-7334.
Surfing
Windsurfing
Woods Hole beaches are popular windsurfing spots. Windsurfing is allowed on public beaches prior to 9:00 and after 17:00. Trunk River Beach and a portion of Chapoquoit Beach are open any time. Which beach sailors head to depends on wind direction and tidal currents. See the beach listings below. Tide information is available online, but the Eldridge Guide, published yearly and available through the WHOI stockroom, offers graphical representations of the tide and is worth picking up anyway if just for the included lore. Both experts and novices should join wind-stalkers@mit.edu for daily traffic during the summer months on who is going sailing and where, and also to inquire about borrowing equipment.
Locations
Stoney Beach (MBL Beach)
NE N NW wind; rocky beach but great NE waves.
Nobska Beach
Between Oyster Pond Rd. and Church St., Woods Hole. Views of the ferries passing and of the lighthouse. Sandier than most other beaches in town and has changing huts. Parking is a nightmare, and there’s nowhere to lock bikes. A short walk from the village or Winding Lane. For windsurfing: SW W wind on a dropping Woods Hole tide. Advanced sailing only because of strong tides and waves.
Surf Drive Beach (Trunk River)
SW S SE E wind; popular windsurfing spot for WHOI locals.
Surf Drive Beach (Jack's Beach)
SW S SE E wind; dirt parking lot off of Surf Drive near Elm Rd.
Chapoquoit Beach
Very popular bathing and windsurfing beach on Buzzards Bay. Rt. 28 North, Brick Kiln Rd. West, Rt 28A north. Left onto Chapoquoit Rd. Large Parking lot near end of road. The pond across the road is warmer and calmer. For windsurfing: N NW W SW wind. Great high wind spot with waves. Pond on the east side of the road for beginners.
Woodneck Beach
N NW W SW wind; great beginner beach and SW high wind sailing.
Equipment
Generally, better deals are available online or at the occasional tag sale. Add yourself to windstalkers@mit.edu if you’re in the market for any large items. Some of the people on that list watch online postings religiously and will alert the list. Eddie from Cape Cod Windsurfing (see listing below) is also a good source for heavily used, ex-rental equipment, particularly beginner stuff. Every summer finds WHOI community members learning to surf, and there are always experts willing to help beginners get started. Again, subscribe to wind-stalkers@mit.edu.
Sail World, Cape Cod
271 Main Street, Buzzards Bay; 508-759-6559, http://www.sailworld.com
Large selection of new boards and new/used sails, plus all the accessories, although generally only one brand of each. Knowledgeable staff. They hold swap meets about 3 times a year; check their website for upcoming meets. They also run clinics and sponsor area races.
Island Sports
86 Aquidneck Avenue, Middletown, RI; 401-846-4421, http://www.islandsports.com. About 3 hours away. Smaller selection of windsurfing equipment that sailworld, but they hold swap meets too, and have a much larger selection of wetsuits. lessons
Cape Cod Windsurfing
350 Quaker Rd., North Falmouth; Beach Location: 508-457-7806, Pro-Shop: 508-801-3329, http://www.capecodwindsurfing.com. Affiliated with the Sea-Crest Hotel. Eddie offers lessons and rentals. The website lists current rates.
Sailing and Yacht Clubs
Spring, summer and fall in provide a wide range of opportunities to get out on the water and sail in and around Woods Hole. MIT students, don’t forget about the MIT Sailing Pavilion for a great opportunity to learn sailing while in Boston.
Boats
If you have your own boat and will require a mooring for it, check with every harbor master you can find soon. It can be a painfully slow process to get a mooring. Beware of the tides in Woods Hole. Check out an Eldridge Guide before heading out, to avoid being flushed through the hole.
Yacht Clubs
There are also many local yacht clubs that host racing fleets during the spring, summer and fall. Joining up as crew can be as easy as putting your name on a bulletin board. Call or stop by the specific clubs for the details.
- Woods Hole Yacht Club, 548-9205 (Dinghy sailing several nights a week)
- Falmouth Yacht Club, http://www.falmouthyachtclub.com (Dinghies, 210’s, J24, Beetle Cats)
- Quissett Yacht Club, http://home.earthlink.net/~alecburt/index.htm (Hereshoff’s and Dinghies)
- Chapoquoit Yacht Club, 508-548-0681 (Beetle Cats)
- Marion/Beverly Yacht Club, www.beverlyyachtclub.org (Wed. night PHRF big boats, J24’s, J105’s, Shields)
For a bigger list check out http://www.cc-waterweb.com/main/clubs.htm
Skating and Rinks
Woods hole is within driving distance of two year-round ice rinks, one of which is right in Falmouth. During the winter some of the ponds freeze. During the particularly cold Winter of 02–03, students and locals played ice hockey on Oyster and Ice House ponds weekly (interested JP students should subscribe to pondhockey@mit.edu).
Falmouth Ice Arena
9 Skating Ln. off Palmer Ave. (Rt. 28) by the Texaco; 508-548-9083 (human), 508-548-0275 (info line), http://www.falmouthicearena.com. Public skating offered Fridays, 19:30–21:00 (the place for your first middle school date), and Sundays, 13:00–14:30. Cost is $4 and rentals are newly available. League and pick-up information on the website.
Gallo Ice Rink
231 Sandwich Rd., Bourne; 508-759-8904. Public skating offered Mon-Fri, noon–14:00, and Sundays 16:00–18:00. Cost is $2 and rentals are available.
Courts & Fields
Softball
- McKee Field is located behind Clark Laboratory.
- Bell Tower Field is located in Woods Hole village on Bell Tower Ln. off Millfield St.
Tennis
- WHOI court is located behind Clark. It can be reserved via a sign-up sheet at the court.
- Public courts are located on Bell Tower Ln. in the village.
Volleyball
- Two sand volleyball courts are located behind Clark. Call Rick Chandler, x2272; or Dana Gerlach, x2596 for access to the nets.
- There is also one court in Bell Tower Park in the village.
Basketball
There is a basketball court (built in 2002) on the NE side of McKee Field.