Cape Cod & Buzzards Bay Fishing Report: 10-13-11

There’s been way too much gloomy talk regarding the striped bass fishing lately. Truth be told, this fall run hasn’t been spectacular. The bass fishing has been sporadic, and for most this week, it was downright slow. But one of my favorite things about fishing, in particular striped bass fishing, is its capacity to surprise. For every lament about this fall’s horrible fishing and the nearing end of the striper season, I can recall two stories I’ve heard about a late-October dog walker or duck hunter or clammer or commercial dragger who happened across a school of huge striped bass making its way south, totally unbothered by fishermen. For every school of late-season cows that was witnessed sneaking by, I bet there are a dozen more that never passed in front of human eyes. The water is still in the 60s, the baitfish are still here, and reports are still coming in from the north of good striped bass fishing. The best of the fall run may very well be yet to come, just make sure you’re there to meet it.

Cape Cod Canal and Buzzards Bay

Blackfishing couldn’t be better. Anglers are scoring limits of 6- to 10-pound tautog on green crabs on any structure, rocky, wreck or otherwise, throughout Buzzards Bay. Cleveland Ledge is getting the most attention from anglers, which means that the resident big blackfish may be a bit picked over there. I suggest finding some lesser known structure and trying your luck there. Even a single large rock could hold tautog especially now as we approach peak season for the species, so get the sonar going and move away from the crowds.

Big schools of “halfbeaks” moved into the canal on Wednesday afternoon. These slender, silvery baitfish are relatives of the ballyhoo, a southern baitfish with a protruding lower jaw. The bass and bluefish were wreaking havoc on the halfbeaks until some bluefin tuna moved in and threatened to wreak havoc on the bass and blues. The latter two gamefish don’t seem to like to stay in the confines of the Big Ditch when the bluefin are around.

Toward the West End, small bait prevails, which has made the bass and blues in that end a bit picky, Barry at Red Top Sporting Goods in Buzzards Bay said that RonZ lures and small tins have been the best bet lately.

Word of some mid-day surface action in the middle of the canal came on Tuesday from Jim at Bad Fish Outfitters in Falmouth. Jim got the blitz call from Walt of Wally’s Plugs and Walt got the blitz call from a friend on the canal. If only my grammar school’s snow day phone tree was that well-oiled. Though I contemplated doing some reporting from the field for this week’s forecast, I thought it best to continue making calls.

South Side

There has been sporadic fishing for school-sized stripers at the south side outflows according to Bob at Falmouth Bait and Tackle. He said Tsunami Swim Shads have been flying off the shelves, which may be an indicator of just what kind of baitfish are moving along the south side – peanut bunker.

Roy at Riverview Bait and Tackle said Vineyard and Nantucket sounds are full of big bluefish right now. Even the surf guys are getting in on the action. The best method from the beach has been fresh bunker fished on the bottom. Big bluefish are not always as willing to chase down a lure as the younger specimens. Roy has weighed in blues up to 13 pounds.

The albies haven’t quite left yet. Woods Hole had them early this weekend, even a few within range of shore. Craigville still has some blitzing false albacore as well, though Roy reported the fish have been finicky. His recent kayak trip after them yielded no bites despite a few good shots.

Mid and Outer Cape and Cape Cod Bay

Earlier this week, some good reports were coming in from Provincetown. Nice bass were being caught by wire line trolling and by vertical jigging with diamond jigs. Garrett at Goose Hummock said the reports have slowed down, probably due to inclement weather keeping anglers at the dock. Big bluefish have remained on the feed along Outer Cape beaches, however.

Some school stripers set up over Brewster Flats this week, making for some fun light-tackle fishing. More anglers fishing the bay found bluefish, however.

Bluefin Tuna

Captain Eric Stewart has stayed on the bluefin since last week, and had a double-digit day with tuna between 39 and 61 inches beyond the Regal Sword. Dan at the Hook Up in Orleans said it took a three-hour ride to get to the fish, but once they found them, the action was close to nonstop on spreader bars. Eric and Dan are hoping this week’s winds will push the bluefin a little closer.

Big bluefin are feeding in Cape Cod Bay as well. Live baits are the most effective choice right now.

Trolling spreader bars and weightless soft-plastic stickbaits is also catching tuna on Stellwagen Bank and Peaked Hill Bar.

Freshwater

Three-time Massachussett’s Angler of the Year winner,Roy Leyva, who knows a thing or two about freshwater fishing, said this is the time for monster largemouth bass in Cape Cod ponds. The falling water temperatures and the recent trout stocking will put the big bass in a feeding mood. Fish big swimbaits suggested Roy.

Dan from the Hook Up targeted some of the freshly stocked trout the other day and found them surprisingly lock-jawed. The trout refused a number of lures thrown at them, but when Dan switched over to nightcrawlers under a bobber, the action was nonstop with rainbows to 16 inches. The ponds are still a tad on the warm side for trout, and until the fall into the low 50s, the trout probably won’t be too eager to chase down a lure. Shiners, nightcrawlers or the ever-popular Powerbait are much better choices if you are looking for a few trout this weekend.

Best Bets

Don’t give up on the striper fishing just yet. Race Point and the Canal would probably be on my short list of places to fish this weekend, but with peanut bunker starting to spill out of south side harbors, the beaches from Falmouth to Cotuit may be a better bet.

The blackfishing doesn’t get much better than this. Load up on green crabs and head for some rocky structure or wrecks in Vineyard Sound or Buzzards Bay.

Also, it might be a good weekend to hit one of the stocked trout ponds with a trout-sized swimbait for the lunker largemouths Roy talked about. A 5-pound largemouth would still be bigger than a lot of the stripers that are currently being caught.

Lastly, this might be your last chance for albies this season. They are already thinning out, so I would go armed with a bottom-fishing or bluefishing backup plan.