Bluefin and Bonito Red Hot
Though we’re only two days into the month of August, things are looking good for great late summer fishing. Stripers, bonito and bluefin ruled this week’s report, but fluke and sea bass are being caught as well.
Small bluefish are thick as thieves in the east end of the Canal according to Allen at Red Top Sporting Goods. Small stripers are mixing in as well. The early morning has been the best. Mike from M and D’s reported the same, adding that some larger fish are being picked up after dark. Look to live eels for your best shot at night in the Canal. Also in the canal have been fluke, including some big ones. Mike caught a 21-incher this week and saw two more very big ones taken.
Small blues are thick in many areas of Nantucket and Vineyard sounds. Their larger counterparts have headed offshore to spawn, according to Cam at Bill Fisher Tackle on Nantucket. The Hooter, Hedge Fence and the waters surrounding Nantucket are all filthy with the small bluefish. Many of the smaller blues are feeding on tiny sand eels, the same bait that precedes the arrival of false albacore according to Cam. Could this mean an early albie arrival?
Adding some excitement to the South Side of the Cape, bonito are still thick. The Hooter and Bonito Bar have had them for weeks, but the fish are spreading out, with some being caught at Hedge Fence, Middle Ground and Handkerchief Shoal. Cam at Bill Fisher Tackle said the hot bait is the Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnow, but that he’s also had success with 6-inch Slug-Go’s trimmed down to 3 inches and paired with a jighead.
According to Tyler from bad Fish Outfitters, the fluke fishing is slowing down a bit. Anglers are still catching keepers, but short fluke are dominating the catch. Lucas and Hedge Fence have given up some keeper fluke lately. Nantucket Rips are still holding big numbers of keeper flatfish.
Big bluefish are so thick off Race Point that it’s been tough to get through them in order to hook a striper. All over the Cape, striper fishing would be best qualified as tough. Anglers are occasionally finding a school of active fish in Cape Cod Bay, but there’s been very little in the way of consistency. Fishing for stripers from shore is especially slow outside the canal. If you still want to catch some stripers from shore, light tackle and small plugs in the salt ponds and harbors may be your best bet. There was recent a fish kill at Little Pond in Falmouth. Surprisingly enough, among the dead fish were some 40-inch stripers, undoubtedly taking advantage of the abundant small baitfish. Although unfortunate, it does offer some hope of finding good-sized stripers in the backwaters this time of year. I would, however, avoid Little Pond.
The backwaters are alive with life right now. Dan from the Hook Up in Orleans went through 4 dozen seaworms the other day catching a mix of sea bass, scup and small stripers. Snapper bluefish are also around, attacking small metals and pieces of squid.
Bluefin fishing is excellent, as there has been an big influx of small tuna in the waters east of Chatham over the past week. Boats are putting up some impressive numbers from Nauset Inlet down to Crab Ledge. Eric Stewart of the Hook Up had 10 fish on Monday and at least 6 fish on each of his other tuna trips since last Friday. They are hitting all colors of spreader bars but white has been the best. While trolling has been the most productive method, jigging and popping is working as well, especially in the early morning. There has also been a decent troll bite off Peaked Hill Bar in Truro.
Best Bets for the Weekend
If you have a boat, or a friend with a boat, or a kind stranger at the boat dock willing to take you for a ride, get out there for bluefin. Dan from the Hook Up said just about everyone giving it a go for tuna is having their efforts rewarded. Nauset Inlet to Crab Ledge has been very good, but tuna are constantly on the move, so keep your eyes peeled for surface action.
If you’d rather keep the run short, bonito are providing pelagic fun in a smaller package. With more reports of them showing up in the Sound you can find them without making the long run to The Hooter or Bonito Bar. Hedge Fence and Middle Ground both gave up some bonito this week.
For stripers, there weren’t many positive reports. If you’re going to go, Chatham looks like the best bet again, though there are fish off Race Point. The only “problem” is all the 2- to 5-pound bluefish out there, but honestly, catching a bunch of those doesn’t sound so bad either.
Does anyone still have eels at bait shop? Going to hit pier on canal sat or sun eve theough night. Thx
Bill,
Most shops will have a good supply of eels this time of year. Call ahead to make sure as some will sell out if its a busy weekend.
It would be nice if the report for “Cape Cod and Buzzards Bay” actually included some information about Buzzards Bay.
Amen to that brother!!
It Figures…the week Tom and I are not there, the fishing heats up….
Don’t feel too bad. Things are just getting started. There are still a two months of the best bluefin fishing of the year ahead.
I asked a few weeks ago and got no response, why does OTW elect to totally disregard the fresh water scene during the summer months? There are lots of us who do not have the means to fish the salt.
Rick,
The freshwater scene on the Cape isn’t changing too much this time of year, and the reports we get now almost exclusively saltwater. Largemouth bass fishing is steady under the weedmats with frog baits, Senkos are always good for a fish or two in the open water. Trout are holding deep, and are very lethargic in the heat. I haven’t heard any word on smallies, but I imagine some of the deeper lakes are producing a few over deep structure. Topwaters at dusk and into the night is a good bet for largemouths in just about all of the ponds that have them. Jitterbugs, Heddon Torpedos and Buzzbaits will all work. Just remember the bug spray.
There are bass and panfish in lakes and ponds. They can be caught with bait and lures.
Went out last night out of Falmouth Harbor and caught 20-25 bluefish in the 2-5 pound range in less than 2 hours. I never saw so many fish on the surface just outside the harbor in front of surf drive beach out by the red can.
I am new to the fishing seen by boat and am looking for any tips and places to go out of Falmouth harbor.
I visit my sister in Dennis each year – no boat, sometimes I go out of Hyannis on a party boat. I would love to know of a spot where I could fish from shore for blues – even snappers would be Ok as I could take my kids. Any striper/blue/snapper spot advice? I am willing to drive a bit if needed.
Patrick
Growing up going to west dennis for summers I used to fish the bass river mouth over by the Dennis beach. After 5pm the beach opens to the public. I like to fish the jetty but it’s a walk since the road was closed for plovers but you cn walk on the road to the end and then take the jetty. In August I get a lot of snapper blues on an incoming high tide around 5 to 7. There is also sea robins, scup, and fluke. Or you can try te swan river
Use a small kastmaster in blue and silver the smaller the better for snapper blues. Sometimes people but strips of Mac on the hooks for some added smell.
blue’s on the power plant! some nice “slammer’s” being taken on blue/white poppers with a bucktail or blue/ silver castmasters if not on top. Go catc’hem-up! tightlines!
Waleye