Boating From Cape Cod to the Weepecket Islands

As you become accustomed to living on Cape Cod, you might begin exploring some surrounding islands in your boat. Heading into Nantucket Sound, Vineyard Sound, and Buzzards Bay offers plenty of opportunities to visit some secluded locations that most East Coast residents can only dream of reaching.

The area south of the Cape features some well-known islands like Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, and the Elizabeth Islands, all of which are close enough to check out on a day trip.

The area just north of the Elizabeth Islands, which are southwest of Woods Hole, is home to the Weepecket Islands, a set of three rocky landmasses that many Cape Cod residents trek to in the summer for a few hours of serenity.

Here's a look at what you'll find on the secluded Weepecket Islands and some information on how to get there by boat.

A History of the Islands

The Weepecket Islands are uninhabited, and there's nothing to suggest they ever featured a permanent settlement. Still, they have some historic notability.

That's because the islands were once known as the Weepecket Bomb Area and used for bomb, rocket, and machine-gun target practice between 1941 and 1957. Members of the American Armed Forced would set up on the islands to prepare for the numerous global conflicts during that period.

Keep in mind there's a chance these islands could be dangerous, primarily because of contaminated soil that the military has yet to clean. However, people have been visiting the island annually for years, so there's little reason to believe that there are undetonated bombs anywhere nearby.

Reaching the Weepecket Islands

Of course, you'll need a boat to reach the Weepecket Islands, although you should know that the ride is a short one. Naushon Island, the closest of the Elizabeth Islands, is only a quarter-of-a-mile from this region, and the Woods Hole Waterfront is about four miles away.

If you're lucky enough to find a mooring at one of Woods Hole's marinas, you can get to the islands in minutes, which could make it one of your favorite destinations this summer.

You can also reach the Weepecket Islands quickly from Falmouth Inner Harbor, Quissett Harbor, Sippican Harbor, Mattapoisett Harbor, the Acushnet River, or anywhere else you find a slip or mooring space near Buzzards Bay.

Once you get to the Weepecket Islands, your ability to reach shore depends on the type of boat you have. Shallow-draft vessels can pull up directly on the sand of the largest island in the chain, while larger ships will have to anchor off-shore. From there, you'll have to swim or take a dinghy ashore.

What You'll Find Once You Get There

As you reach the sandy shore on the main island's East Coast, it'll feel like a scene from a pirate movie because there's very little around. Much of the island is rocky with small amounts of vegetation, but the water off the beach is clean and perfect for swimming or snorkeling.

As for wildlife, seagulls and cormorants nest on the islands, and you're sure to see hundreds of them flying during your travels. There could also be seals sunbathing on the rocks or diving for their next meal in the shallow water off the shore.

The waters off the shore also attract a lot of sea life, including shellfish and striped bass. In fact, the area between the islands is one of New England's top striped bass fishing locations, so make sure you bring a rod and reel if you want in on the action.

Experts suggest that you can catch striped bass and bluefish by casting off the shore of any of the three islands and that the area between the largest island and Naushon Island is the best spot for trolling. It's possible to still-fish from your boat, too, by anchoring near any of the islands.

Finding Your Favorite Spot

The Weepecket Islands are just one location you can check out after buying a Cape Cod home. There are tons of islands, bays, points, and coves in Buzzards Bay, and living in this area gives you all the time in the world to explore them and find one that ends up as your new favorite place.

Cape Cod is known for its abundance of amenities, but residents know that it's the hidden, off-the-beaten-path locations that make this area extraordinary. Once you own a home here, your next job is to figure out which of these destinations will become your special spot.