June 2, 2011

The “breaking tides” did not disappoint in the Canal this week, but that wasn’t the only place bass fishing was good. Cape Cod Bay, Vineyard Sound and Martha’s Vineyard all gave up plenty of stripers this week with fish well into the 30-pound-class being taken in these locations. Scup are everywhere, big black sea bass are still feeding well, and the first reports of tuna being caught came from Stellwagen Bank.

While the big bites in the Canal came on Tuesday and Wednesday when mackerel made their first significant appearance in the Big Ditch. On Thursday, mackerel were more scarce and sand eels and smaller baitfish took their place. This made for plenty of surface activity, but picky fish for the most part. Anglers who scaled down their lures had much better luck today according to Mike from M and D’s in Wareham. On Wednesday, however, the bass were perfectly content hitting large lures. Mike did well on Left Hook “Pilgrim” Pencil Poppers, which he said cast like a bullet and got to fish breaking way out in the canal.

Stripers aren’t the only species providing action in the canal. Big scup have been hitting sandworms at the Maritime Academy. Mike cautioned that graduation at the academy may make parking a challenge this weekend, however.

The boys at Falmouth Bait and Tackle said that at least a few nice fish were taken from the canal on Thursday. One angler reportedly caught fish between 20 and 35 pounds today. Stripers are still being caught by boat anglers in Woods Hole. Eels have been the bait of choice in these rocky waters.

On the Vineyard, Steve said the fishing season is going well. Squid fishing has been hit or miss in the harbors, but the squid being caught have been giants. Boat fishermen are finding bass to 37 pounds while the shore crowd is catching bass up to 27 pounds. There are big numbers of teen-sized stripers around, making for fun action around the island. In the ponds, school stripers are providing fun light tackle and fly fishing as well.

Bluefish are thick as thieves at Wasque. What size bluefish seems to vary with the day. Steve said one day will bring 3- to 6-pound bluefish while the next day will bring 10-pounders and better. The biggest blue Steve had heard of was a 14-pounder.

Captain Eric at the Hook Up in Orleans said that he found bait, whales and cold water on his trip to the tuna grounds east of Chatham over the weekend. Eric said that water needs to bump up a few degrees before the tuna feeds will really begin. Some friends of his did see some fish working the waters east of Chatham, but they fished over them to no avail, the tuna’s lockjaw likely brought on by the 48- to 52-degree water.

Captain Eric also mentioned that awesome bass fishing has continued on Billingsgate Shoals and Brewster Flats in Cape Cod Bay.

There were two tuna caught on the southwest corner of Stellwagen today by Captain Dom Petrarca, Captain Eric Reported. This is a great sign for the coming weekend – some tuna are here, more are on their way, and there is plenty of bait waiting for them.

Best Bets for the Weekend

Well, it’s been confirmed that tuna have invaded Cape Cod waters, so if you’ve been itching to experience that first sizzling run of the season, now would be your first good chance.

But before you get so before you get “tuna tunnel-vision” you might want to enjoy the peak of the striped bass run. Cape Cod Bay has been brimming with big bass for almost two weeks now, and another “shipment” just came through the canal this week. Find some mackerel, sabiki them up and send them out on a bass-ready rig for the best shot at a big striper this week.

If its bluefish you’re after, Wasque is the place to be.  Don’t forget the metal lures and long-casting topwaters.

Shorebound anglers seeking stripers should still be able to find some in the canal.  Scale down your tackle to match the smaller baitfish, but be sure to have some heavier gear on hand, just in case the big bait reappears.