For January 3, 2025, the fishing scene on Martha's Vineyard is looking promising, despite the chill of winter.

First off, let's look at the tides. For Vineyard Haven, today's high tides are at 1:43 AM and 1:48 PM, with low tides at 7:23 AM and 7:57 PM. In Edgartown, the high tides are at 1:36 AM, 11:00 AM, and 1:16 PM, with low tides at 6:35 AM, 12:24 PM, and 7:22 PM[2][4].

The weather is expected to be mild for this time of year, with sunrise at 7:08 AM and sunset at 4:25 PM. This mild weather has kept some of the fall species lingering in the waters.

For surfcasters, the best spots remain Moshup Beach, Great Rock Bight, Philbin Beach, Chappaquiddick, and West Chop. These areas are known for their rocky outcrops and sandy stretches that attract baitfish, which in turn draw in larger predators like striped bass, bluefish, and even the occasional bonito and false albacore[3].

Yesterday, anglers reported catching holdover striped bass in the salt ponds during the mild weather days. Sea bass, porgies, and some nice cod were also caught on the headboats offshore. In the freshwater ponds, largemouth bass, chain pickerel, and trout are providing plenty of action[1].

For targeting striped bass, using eels, topwater plugs, and epoxy jigs can be highly effective. For sea bass and porgies, clams and squid are good baits. In the freshwater, small to mid-size lipless crankbaits, swimbaits, and finesse soft plastics are working well for bass, while spoons and spinners are good for trout[1][5].

If you're looking to head out today, consider Moshup Beach for its rugged terrain and abundant baitfish, or Chappaquiddick's Gut for its strong tidal currents that concentrate baitfish and attract larger predators. Both spots offer a great chance to land some prized catches despite the winter season.