Cape Cod and Buzzards Bay Fishing Report 6-8-2012

Blitzing Bass and Fast Bottom Fishing

This week had big tides, a big moon, a big Nor’easter and big striped bass. When the weather allowed, the fish was excellent Cape-wide.

The big moon tides brought the big stripers into the Canal in force. As of Thursday morning, fish as large as 40 pounds were being caught, with plenty over 30. Early in the week, much of the action was on topwaters, but anglers fishing deep had more consistent action. For some, the decision to fish the surface or the bottom on the morning tides at the Canal is a difficult one. While breaking fish on the surface represent a tip-of-the-iceberg situation, to some, the thrill of watching a big bass smash a topwater plug is worth letting the subsurface fish slip by. For topwaters in the Canal, generally speaking, smaller is better. Pencil poppers of 6 or 7 inches, with plenty of weight to allow for long casting, are best. But if you want to catch more fish, and it doesn’t matter how, make sure you have some Sebile Stick Shadds, Magic Swimmers, Heavy Swim Shads and Daiwa SP Minnows.

Red Top Sporting Goods had a 37-pounder flopping on the scales when I called Thursday morning. Mike at M and D’s reported most catches between 25 and 30 pounds, with the action still going. In fact, most of the shops I called talked about the good Canal fishing and how it was still happening, right at that very moment. Eventually it became too much, and OTW editor Kevin Blinkoff and I sped to the Big Ditch at lunchtime. Unfortunately, the east tide responsible for the good morning fishing had ended. Fortunately, as soon as the west tide started running, the bite heated right back up. We each caught a half dozen fish into the low 40-inch range on pencil poppers and Daiwa SP Minnows before having to head back to the office.

The big question is, how long will the action last? With 4 good days under our belt, is it really reasonable to expect it to continue through the weekend? Tom at Red Top said things are looking good. The tides aren’t ideal, but with so much bait and fish around, there’s certain to be something happening. Topwater may not get much action on the “off tides,” but jigging and subsurface baits should. Most of the action has been in the mornings, but dusk is producing fish as well.

Bluefish are spread throughout Buzzards Bay and have been moving into the Canal, according to Roy at Riverview Bait and Tackle.

Not much word on the south side this week, though Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket had some good action. Coop at Coop’s Bait and Tackle said as soon as things settle out following the Nor’easter, he expects the bass and bluefish action to pick right back up to where it was before the storm. The pre-storm action was great all around the island. Coop said the fish may move around once things settle out, but there will be plenty of them to catch.

On Nantucket, Cam at Billfisher Tackle reported tons of squid bringing in big stripers to the waters south and east of the island. The north shore and harbor action is steady with a real mixed bag of striped bass between 14 inches and 30 pounds. Bluefish are gorging in the usual spots on the South Shore, and these fish are running 3 to 12 pounds. To the east of Nantucket, huge black sea bass are being caught. Fluke fishing is just starting up, and should improve through the weekend.

Sea bass and scup action is still good in Buzzards Bay, but Mike at M and D’s warned that the action would be slowing down soon as waters warm. Fluke are still mostly being caught by anglers targeting other species.

Bass are still hanging around the tip of the Cape. Kayak anglers and boaters are catching off Herring Cove. Vertical jigging with metals with a green flash have been the best bet, says the boys at Nelsons Tackle in Provincetown. Beach fishing has been fair with some 30 to 35 inch fish regularly being caught in the surf.

Cape Cod Bay action has shifted around a bit. Roy at Riverview said Billingsgate Shoal has slowed, while Scorton Ledge and Provincetown have been good. Schoolie stripers are still feeding throughout Barnstable Harbor.

Freshwater is still fishing well on those days you’re looking for a change of pace or the weather isn’t conducive to launching the boat. Dan at the Hook Up in Orleans said trout fishing has died off with the hot weather, but pickerel, panfish and largemouth bass are still biting well. Riverview Bait and Tackle weighed a 6-pound, 15-ounce largemouth this week.

The Elizabeth Islands are holding fish as well. Quicks and Robinsons all have good numbers of bass, and though there hasn’t been too much reported on this, there might be a big fish waiting for someone to drift along the Islands casting live eels into the rocks after dark.

Best Bets for the Weekend

There are stripers everywhere. The thick schools at Race Point last week have spread out along the backside a bit, but the Race itself still has fish. The Canal, Barnstable Harbor, Nantucket, the Vineyard – all are stacked with bass. The trick will be deciding where to go. Boaters would be wise to look for the squid-chowing bass of Nantucket, as it sounds like there may be some big stripers in there. Fishing from shore would be best at Race Point or the Canal. The tides aren’t ideal for the Xanal, but there just may be enough bait to keep the bass around. Focus on subsurface presentations, but have a pencil popper nearby in case some fish happen by on the surface.

Black sea bass are still biting well, but this won’t last all summer. With a beautiful weekend forecasted some bottom fishing would be a great way to relax on the water. Fluke reports are slow, but the bite should be improving every week. Catch your fill of sea bass before beginning a search for a doormat.