Cape Cod Fishing Report - June 23, 2011

As the neap tides pass and we get closer to the strong tides of the new moon, the last week of June should really give up some big fish. Reports improved dramatically over last week’s slim pickin’s and it seems like there is outstanding striped bass fishing everywhere except for the Cape Cod Canal.

Cape Cod Canal Fishing Report

This is a sharp contrast to last year when the Canal remained the hotspot from May right through September, but this is the second week straight or tepid reports coming from the Big Ditch.

That’s not to say there aren’t fish to be caught. Last Friday morning a 55- and a 48-pounder were pulled from the canal’s strong currents by anglers fishing deep with jigs. Anglers casting topwaters to breaking fish were met with frustration as the small-bait scarfing stripers showed relatively little interest in artificials.

Word has it there is some bigger bait moving through the canal at the moment. Dylan from Red Top reported schools of adult bunker finally swimming into the Ditch. This bait has been a relative no-show so far this season, but better late than never. Bluefish seemed to be the only thing harassing the bunker this week reported Mike from M and D’s in Wareham.  Mike sounded none too pleased about this, as bluefish tend to scatter and chase off bait, sometimes before the bass have a chance to find it.

Both Mike and Dylan said fishing in the canal has been slow, and the anglers connecting are going natural with their baits, using live eels or eel skin jigs down in the water column.

Chris from Bad Fish Outfitters in Falmouth advised that anglers looking to connect in the Canal shouldn’t bother fishing the daylight hours. It’s been all about the night bite over the past few days.

Dylan said anglers working the shoreline of the canal have been catching black sea bass, scup and fluke as well – giving them an opportunity to bring home a great-tasting dinner.

Buzzards Bay and South Coast Fishing Report

Small baitfish have invaded Buzzards Bay and brought some fishing action back. Bluefish are feeding well at the mouth of a number of Cape-side harbors, and some school-sized stripers are waiting in the wings to gobble up injured baitfish left behind by the blues. Chris Parisi of Bad Fish Outfitters said black sea bass are still abundant in Buzzards Bay, and he reported catching a few of these aggressive bottom fish while trolling deep divers for bluefish. Out along the mainland side of Buzzards Bay, Chris heard of a 35-pound striper that attacked a Slug-Go. The slim bait was a close match to the small sand eels currently invading the Bay.

In Fall River, some bigger stripers are moving in. The crew at Bucko’s reported better bass fishing and an influx of bluefish over the past few days. Fluke fishing has slowed down a bit, but keeper sea bass are being found with increased regularity in the Sakonnet and Tauton Rivers.

Vineyard Sound and Nantucket Sound Fishing Report

Wire-line jigging has been the key to success in Vineyard Sound. Small bait has made the fish picky. Middle Ground is giving up fish, and Chris from Bad Fish Outfitters expects the easterly winds to clean the water a bit and make fishing there easier.

Coop of Coops Bait and Tackle in Edgartown reported that the squid on Middle Ground have brought in the bass and blues. Bluefish are all over the Vineyard according to Coop.  The fish are running in two distinct size classes – 3- to 4-pounders and 10- to 15-pounders. The bass bite has been good at Lobsterville and Menemsha with fish in the 26- to 36-inch range, along with the occasional 40-plus-incher. East Beach, which had bass last week, has slowed. Coop anticipates another wave of fish will move through that area before long.

Live bait fished off Gay Head has taken some big bass of lately reported Mike at Powderhorn in Hyannis.

The good fishing around the Vineyard has been thanks to the big numbers of sand eels present this season. Coop said he hasn’t seen these slim baitfish around in such big numbers for some time.

Fluke fishing is on the upswing on Lucas Shoal and in Quicks Hole according to Coop. These favorite flatfish are taking bucktails and Gulp and strips of squid, bluefish or other cut fish. Black sea bass fishing is tailing off, but the porgy action has been consistent.

Good news to Upper Cape tuna fishermen, Coop reported some fish off the back of the Vineyard in 100 feet of water.

Nantucket Sound is holding some good numbers of bass at the moment. Bishop and Clerks gave up a 48-pounder this week to an angler fishing a legal-sized live scup on the bottom. Bluefish are also in the mix out there reported Dana from Riverview Bait and Tackle.

Bigger bluefish, up to 14 pounds, can be found on Horseshoe Shoal reported Mike at Powderhorn in Hyannis. Mike also reported some quality bass in the 25-pound range at Handkerchief Shoal.

Cape Cod Bay Fishing Report

Barnstable Harbor continues to hold bass, though the fish have become decidedly tougher to fool. Anglers are downsizing their offerings to more closely match the small sand eels that have been so thick they’re “choking the channel” according to one report. Tube-and-worm rigs and small jigs have been the ticket, as well as 7-inch soft-plastic stickbaits like Slug-Gos or Hogys.

Several sources referred to Billingsgate Shoals as the hotspot in the Bay this week, including Paul at Blackbeard’s Bait and Tackle in Eastham. Anglers are dragging jigs on wire line and umbrella rigs on leadcore and catching tons of teen-sized bass. Paul said if you can’t catch a fish on Billingsgate right now, it’s time to give up fishing and sell your boat.

Dan at the Hook Up in Orleans also referenced the red hot action in the Bay.

There’s been some good shore fishing in the Orleans area as well according to Dan. Fish as large as 38 inches have been caught around the creeks dumping into Cape Cod Bay.

Outer Cape Fishing Report

Paul from Blackbeards reported that anglers willing to spike a rod with sand eels are being rewarded with the occasional good-sized bass on the Truro or Wellfleet beaches. The surf bite in that area seems a bit slow however.  Then again, traditionally this is one of the best times of year to walk the sandy shores of the Outer Cape. Most anglers looking for a shore-caught Cape Cod striper these days stop driving when they reach the Canal. The lackluster Outer Cape beach reports are largely due to lack of effort.  Anglers willing to put in a little time will surely find fish and a welcome respite from the shoulder-to-shoulder circus taking place at the canal most mornings.

Boat and kayak anglers are having no problem finding fish off Herring Cove and Race Point. Rich at Nelson’s Bait and Tackle in Provincetown said tube and worms are the hot ticket right now. The bass being caught are ranging from school-sized to 25 pounds.

Trolling diving plugs has also produced in this area. Captain Mike Pierdinock had a nice day trolling up bass last weekend.

Winter flounder continue to bite in P-Town Harbor, Rich said. If the water is cool enough for winter flounder to still be found, then it should come as no surprise that the summer flounder fishing has yet to materialize in that area.

Cape Cod Tuna Report

Tuna are beginning to trickle into the waters east of Stellwagen now, but the real hotspot is the area east of Chatham.  Anglers had multiple fish days this week, including Captain Eric of the Hook Up who went 2 for 3 on Saturday. The tuna have moved a bit east, however, and the best action now is toward the BC Buoy and west of Crab Ledge. Tuna are also cruising along the backside on that 120-foot line. Spreader bars, whether dressed with shell squids or Got Stryper Pintails, are the best bet according to Mike from Powderhorn.

The fish, which as of last week were mostly in the 70- to 80-inch range, have been joined by some tuna in the 27- to 59-inch slot, allowing anglers to take home some fish for the table.

Best Fishing Bets for Cape Cod

Those with boats on the Cape Cod Bay side or on a trailer are going to want to head to Billingsgate this weekend.  Have the trolling gear ready, but don’t be afraid to try a little vertical jigging or casting if dragging wire or umbrella rigs isn’t your cup of tea. If the fish are as thick as the reports have suggested, anglers may not even have to resort to trolling to hook up.

Surfcasters may also want to check the Cape Cod Bay side around Orleans. Small swimming plugs or fresh bait will be the ticket to hooking up around the creek openings.

Angler’s looking for a welcome-mat-sized fluke should head to Lucas Shoal or Quicks Hole as most other areas had very few reports of keeper-sized fish.

The Vineyard is the hot spot for bluefish once again, but Horseshoe Shoal seems to be holding some big ones as well.

If you’re going to fish the Canal, go at night, and consider using bait.  There are some decent fish in the teen to 20-pound range, but the action is far from fast.