Cape Cod and Buzzards Bay Fishing Forecast 9-15-2011

Every September, the first northwest winds bring the first cold front of the season, and for the fish that haven’t taken their cue to begin the fall migration by the shortened daylight hours, the dropping temperatures forecasted tonight and through the weekend will surely get them on the move.

Cape Cod Canal and Buzzards Bay

So many bluefish, the fishermen are sick of them, reported Mike from M and D’s on the Buzzards Bay fishing this past week. The blues, which ranged up to 12 pounds are hitting anything and everything the anglers can offer, especially live or chunked menhaden.

Bottom fishermen are finding good tautog fishing at Cleveland Ledge with green crabs. One angler reported connecting with 10 keeper-sized fish. (remember, the Massachussetts limit on blackfish is 3 per person per day).

The Canal fishing has been fair this week. There is no shortage of small fish on the surface in the mornings, but the fish have been so focused on the small baitfish they’re feeding on, catching them has not been easy. Anglers are doing well with Crippled Herring and other metal lures that match butterfish, reported Mike at M and D’s.

Red Top did weigh in a handful of bigger fish up to 44 pounds caught below the schoolies. Alan from the shop reported some big bluefish mixed in with the bass in the Canal as well.

False albacore were spotted in the Canal this week. They were moving quickly and as far as I know, none were hooked, but having a rod rigged with a small metal ready to cast at these fish should they show up is a good idea.

South Side

Speaking of false albacore, the fishing for them has been excellent this week off the Cape’s south side. Better yet, the fish are widely spread out, with schools blitzing along the Elizabeth Islands, in Woods Hole, off Waquoit, at Craigville and around Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. The fish seem to be primarily feeding on spearing, and Deadly Dick’s and Acme Kastmaster XL metal lures are working well as are a number of baitfish-imitation flies.

The false albacore are running big this year. The boat division leader in the Martha’s Vineyard Bass and Bluefish Derby is 14 pounds, and Justin at Coops Bait and Tackle in Edgartown reported that a couple 16 pounders were weighed in before the Derby started.

A few albies are being caught by shorebound anglers on the Vineyard, but not in great numbers just yet reported Justin. Shore fishing on the Vineyard is a little spotty at the moment for all species. Surfcasters using eels on the north side are catching a few bass at night. Dogfish Bar and Menemsha are giving up some fish as well. Fishing on the bottom with bait is producing a few bluefish, but there are no blitzes of the blues like you might expect for this time of year.

Bonito thinned out with the false albacore arrival, though some anglers reported seeing a few mixed schools of hard tails.

Schoolie fishing is still good around Menauhant and Bourne’s Pond, where needlefish plugs have been the hot bait. These lures have been imitating actual needlefish, which are present in many of the south side ponds, and have made a nice snack for the 26- to 32-inch bass said Bob from Falmouth Bait and Tackle.

Vineyard Sound scup fishing is good, and is a good back up plan in case the albies prove elusive.

Boat fishing for stripers has been good at Devils Bridge. Chunked pogies are the bait of choice, and chumming helps. Some good stripers in the 30-pound range have been caught there in recent days.

Snapper bluefish are in every harbor on the South Side right now, terrorizing the local small baitfish. These fish are hitting well on trout spoons and small hooks baited with squid or spearing. They are great bait and excellent eating. Check out a recipe for these little blues in Thursday’s Fishing On The Job post.

Cape Cod Bay

Scorton Ledge is still the tube-and-worm trolling capitol of the Cape and Canal Bait and Tackle weighed in a number of nice fish taken there this week. Word is, Billingsgate Shoal is giving up some nice bass as well. Surfcasters are finding fish in Cape Cod Bay as well. Lee at Riverview Bait and Tackle said that Sesuit Harbor has been good the past few days.

Mid and Outer Cape

Beach fishing in the Outer Cape has been slow, reported John from Nelsons Bait and Tackle in Provincetown. Blues have outnumbered bass on the beaches recently.

Boat fishermen off Race Point have been finding better luck vertical jigging than trolling. The fishing has been picking up a bit in recent days.

The waters off Nauset are still producing good numbers of stripers, just like they have since late June reported Jordan from Goose Hummock in Orleans.

Bluefin Tuna

Bluefin fishing east of Chatham has been good this week. Captain Eric Stewart from the Hook Up in Orleans found a 44-inch tuna trolling in 70 feet of water off Chatham yesterday. Over the weekend, Captain Eric had three tuna between 56 and 58 and one giant in the 400- to 500-pound class that he had to release because he already had a 58-incher on ice.

Peaked Hill had a good bite this week according to Bob at Falmouth Bait and Tackle, and Dan from the Hook Up reported a few giant bluefin spotted in Cape Cod Bay.

Best Bets for the Weekend

The northwest winds gusting to 30 knots forecasted for Thursday night will certainly cool everything off – except the fishing. I’d expect the striper fishing to pick up all over the Cape as this change in the weather gives them a clear signal that it’s time to start fattening up for the migration. Fall stripers are on the move, and you should be too. Hit a number of locations in order to narrow down where the fish are feeding.

This weekend’s best bet, however, would have to be false albacore. This year’s class of fish is very big, and there is the opportunity to catch a teen-sized albie. The Vineyard is the hotspot, but will anglers fishing there will also have to contend with the Derby crowds. Spread out and try to find your own schools of fish around the South Side from Lackeys to Craigville. The fish are all over, and you shouldn’t have to look too long before you see some on top.