Cape Cod and Buzzards Bay Fishing Report 5-17-2012

The Blues are Back in Town

Even the biggest bluefish detractors can’t help but smile when these fish return in May. The bluefish action, up until this week, was largely spotty – here one day, gone the next – but the lid blew off the fishing this week, and bluefish blitzes have occurred on a daily basis. Much of this is likely due to the screaming south winds we had for a week straight, and though my weathervane was pointing north this morning, I feel somewhat confident we’ll still see some bluefish action through the weekend.

Tyler at Bad Fish Outfitters in Falmouth suggested Oregon Beach and Popponsesset as places to look for the razor-lipped devils from shore. L’Hommedieu Shoal has been the boat-fishing bluefish hotspot. West Dennis beach has had the blues, and the crowds as well, according to Roy Leyva at Riverview Bait and Tackle.

A tremendous amount of bait off the south side has been holding the blues there. Barry from Red Top Sporting Goods said the blues have been upchucking squid. Roy at Riverview added butterfish and herring to the list of baitfish the blues have been devouring.

With all that bait, the blues have been fat. Roy said some of the fish have been in the 10- to 11-pound range, while most have fallen between 3 and 7 pounds.
Buzzards Bay has had some bluefish too. Tyler at Bad Fish said the big blues have been invading Megansett Harbor after sundown.

Out toward New Bedford, bluefishing has been quiet according to Eric at CMS Tackle. Anglers haven’t seemed to notice however, as the striper fishing in that area has been fantastic. Eric said small keepers are spread from Westport to the Canal, and topwaters and soft-plastic stickbaits have been the ticket. Eric couldn’t pin down any one hotspot, saying the action has been pretty steady throughout the entire area.

The Canal cooled off, predictably, after last week’s set of “breaking” tides, but new fish are already filtering in. Barry at Red Top in Buzzard’s Bay said there was a flurry of action Thursday morning, both at the East and West ends of the Canal. There was at least one monster taken from the Big Ditch this week, as a cell phone shot of a 45-pounder caught near the Railroad Bridge circulated through our office this week. The fish fell for a mackerel bait fished at 3:00 in the afternoon.

Barnstable Harbor continues to be hot, both inside the harbor with artificials, and at the mouth with live macks. The live macks holding at the mouth of the harbor are easily jigged and then switched to a live-bait rig for some keeper-size bass. Bass in the 20-pound class are letting anglers hear their drags.

Capt. Rich at the Hook Up said Cape Cod Bay was the best striper spot this week, saying Billingsgate Shoal was full of stripers, as were the outlets and harbor entrances dumping into Cape Cod Bay. Anglers chunking the bayside beaches in Eastham were turning up some good bass according to Rich.

If there was one fishery rivaling the bluefish this week, it was the black sea bass. These knuckle-headed bottom fish are around in big numbers, with an insane average size of 4 pounds, according to Mike at M and D’s in Wareham. Sea bass up to and above 6 pounds have been taken. Eric at CMS said Cleveland Ledge has been the hot spot for sea bass, though I suspect these fish can be found throughout the lower part of Buzzards Bay, down to the Elizabeth Islands. Just remember, the limit on sea bass is still 10 fish per person. Bishop and Clerk’s Reef is also holding sea bass, along with a smattering of 30-inch stripers according to Tyler at Bad Fish.

Scup are running large as well. Barry at Red Top said fish between 2 and 3 pounds have been the norm. Mike at M and D’s reported on the platter-sized scup as well.
Schoolie stripers are still in the rivers and bays. Roy at Riverview said low tide at the Bass River is the best time to extract a larger specimen from amongst the schoolies.

Trout are still biting according to Roy at Riverview. Powerbait on the bottom has been best with the warming waters slowing down the trout activity and sending them to deeper water. Largemouth bass are wrapping up their spawn and moving off the beds. Some more big fish were caught this week, including a 9.1-pounder by swimbait, by bass aficionado David Lynch. Mike at M and D’s expects the bass to move off the beds by the end of the weekend, and start feeding again.

Cape Cod and Buzzards Bay Fishing Forecast

Cape Cod Bay looks to be the striper hot spot again this weekend. Boat anglers would be wise to try Billingsgate Shoal or the mouth of Barnstable Habor with live macks. Shore anglers can toss artificials or flies in Barnstable Harbor, or chunk bait on the Eastham beaches.

But, if I had to choose a target species this weekend, I’d be caught between the two B’s: black sea bass and bluefish. The allure of a topwater bluefish blitz on the sand beaches of the Southside sounds like a great way to spend the weekend. But, some mammoth sea bass, and the delicious dinner that follows is not to be ignored either. For the sea bass, look to Cleveland Ledge or Bishop and Clerks Reef, or even the 20- to 30-foot depths over live bottom on the backside of the Elizabeths.