Freshwater is front and center for Cape Cod anglers right now. A few diehards are still chasing – and catching – stripers, but for the most part, anglers have called the 2011 striper season a wrap. Bottom fishing for blackfish and groundfish is looking good, and the bluefin tuna have not yet called it quits.
Trout
The trout fishing couldn’t be much better. Rainbow trout have been very accommodating for anglers fishing Powerbait, spoons and worms in any of the ponds that received a fall stocking. Dan at the Hook Up had a great day at Cliff Pond on Monday where he and a couple friends had 18 of the scrappy ‘bows.
Mashpee-Wakeby has been giving up good numbers of rainbows during the day, according to Christian at Falmouth Bait and Tackle, who has been fishing there lately. Falmouth Bait and Tackle is running their Trout Derby again this year. It started on Halloween and will run until Christmas. The current leader is a 20-inch, 2.2-pound brown weighed in by yours truly this morning. So who’s going to knock me out of the top spot? Stop in or Call Falmouth B&T for details.
Ashumet Pond has been giving up some quality ‘bows for Chris at Bad Fish Outfitters in Falmouth. Ashumet has a reputation for big rainbows. Bad Fish is making the switch over to freshwater, and will be converting the eel tank to a shiner tank this weekend.
Bigger browns have been a little tougher to come by. Anglers have been fishing after dark for a shot at the browns, and hours of waiting with a live bait on the bottom or casting a minnow lure may result in a hit or two. One report from Long Pond in Plymouth described 9 browns to 3 pounds caught on live shiners fished late at night.
Yellow Perch
There are some big yellow perch on the prowl right now. Though these fish can be a nuisance if you are looking for trout or bass, but with the right tackle and mindset, fishing for them can be quite fun. Some bruiser perch have been harassing my live baits, and as I reel one to the boat, there are often a few escorts trying to steal the bait out of its mouth.
Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass
The water is still warm enough that both species of black bass are still feeding heavily. Smallies are especially active, and are hitting stickbaits and tube jigs while largemouth bass are eating jig-and-pig combos and spinnerbaits.
Groundfish
East of Chatham Rich from the Hook Up found a great cod bite and boated a number of 30- to 34-inch codfish. Good numbers of small cod are being caught off Provincetown within state waters, where the limit is 2 fish per person and 75 pounds per boat, reported Jordan at Goose Hummock, and a couple keepers are mixed in. Out on Stellwagen, cod season is closed but pollock are feeding heavily east of the Bank in 350 to 400 feet of water.
Bluefin Tuna
There were a few good reports from the Bay this week of a few giants being caught. Some anglers reported seeing smaller fish breaking off Pamet River, reported Jordan at Goose Hummock.
Out east, a few tuna are still around as well. A few smaller fish in the 100-pound range have been taken in recent days, and Rich from the Hook Up marked a few tuna while cod fishing.
Striped Bass
Bruce at Canal Bait and Tackle reported a 26-pound striper weighed in at his shop this week. The fish was taken in the canal. For the most part, bass action in the Canal has been from the Herring Run, west. The vast majority of fish being caught in the canal have been small.
The guys at Red Top heard reports of bass under birds in Cape Cod Bay. Supposedly, there have been some bigger fish mixed in.
Blackfish
Tog fishing is still strong. Buzzards Bay is the hotspot, but rockpiles out along the Elizabeth Islands that have seen less pressure will provide faster fishing and bigger fish.
Best Bets for the Weekend
Once again, trout are your best bet. Cliff, Schoolhouse, Ashumet and Mashpee-Wakeby would be my top picks for rainbows. Bait is out-producing lures, so bring some shiners, worms and PowerBait.
For stripers, if the rumors of bass under birds in Cape Cod Bay is true, checking the East End of the Canal in the mornings might be a good idea. Working the Herring Run all the Way to the Mud Flats in the Canal may be your best chance at a couple schoolies in the Canal. On the south side, drifting eels at the outflows could still produce a keeper.
If the weather allows, a trip way east of Chatham for cod could be good, as there seem to be some bigger codfish, and be sure to have some tuna gear on board since bluefin have been running around out there as well.