Cape Cod and Buzzards Bay Fishing Report 8-31-2012

Big Albies, Bass Action Picking Up on South Side

I’d heard reports of a few false albacore roaming around Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, but figured I was still a few weeks away from getting my first albie of the year when one of our light-tackle trolling outfits started dumping line on an early morning trip to the Hooter on Saturday. Chris Megan took the rod and watched helplessly as the spool got dangerously low. Fortunately, before it could take the last few wraps of line, the fish abruptly changed directions and headed for the boat. At this point, I’d made voiced with conviction that Chris was fast to a small bluefin tuna, not an uncommon occurrence for the Hooter. So imagine my surprise when an albie, easily in the teens, showed its colors next to the boat. Quickly after getting back on the troll, another albie hit, this one just as big. Over the next 20 minutes (most of that time spent subduing monster false albacore) we’d hook two more albies.

This wasn’t unique to us. Andy Nabreski, fishing the same areas on Monday tied into some teen-sized albies, as did Cam from Bill Fisher Tackle on Nantucket. The biggest Cam has caught weighed in at 15 pounds, and the biggest he’s heard of dropped the scales to 18 pounds.

Either way, it’s safe to say the albies are here, and they’re big. They still aren’t in the sounds or bays in any numbers, so if you’re coming from the Cape, it’s a bit of a drive, but worth it. Trolling is working at the Hooter while casting is working on the shoals and rips around Nantucket. Chris at Bad Fish Outfitters in Falmouth said the albies on the troll are showing a clear preference for deeper presentations, while shallower baits are only attracting bonito and bluefish.

Speaking of bonito, the fishing is still good in all the same places as the albies, but there are greater concentrations of bonito toward Nantucket where casting with Deadly Dicks and other slim metal lures or minnow plugs is working.

Anyone looking for bluefish will find all the 1- to 2-pounders they could want between Popponeset and Waquoit bays. The fish can be found by keeping an eye out for diving terns. Break out some freshwater or fly gear to have some fun with these little blues.

Action on bigger blues around the Outer Cape and P-town has been hit or miss. John at Nelson’s Tackle in Provincetown is reporting sporadic action with the blues out there. When the bite is “on” the fishing is pretty good for the blues, from the boat and surf. In fact on the good days, the blues are so thick, getting to the bass has been a challenge.

Though the summer season is winding down, the hot water is putting a damper on the striper fishing, though there have been some signs of improvement. Wire-line jigging on the shoals is producing keeper bass around Martha’s Vineyard reported Justin at Coops Bait and Tackle. Beach anglers are also catching bass after dark on chunks on some of the Vineyard beaches, but they have to contend with a large number of bluefish to catch a few bass. Bass or blues, catching fish on the beach on a late-summer night sounds good to me.

Stripers are moving back inshore around Nantucket Cam reported. The bass have no doubt been drawn back in by the recent influx of bait—squid, peanuts, spearing, you name it, the islands and their respective sounds are loaded with baitfish right now.

Surfcasters plying their trade on the back beaches are sniffing out a few bass, though relatively few anglers are out there trying. Most are stopping at the canal, which is producing big numbers of small fish for anglers working the nighttime and early morning hours according to Alan at Red Top in Buzzards Bay. The fish are mostly a few inches shy of keeper-size, but the occasional fish up to 36 inches are being caught.

There’s been some blitz action in Cape Cod Bay according to Alan at Red Top. Bass, bait and birds can be found making a mess of the surface from Manomet to Cedarville. The fish are mainly hanging offshore a bit, but surfcasters are occasionally getting a shot. The baitfish seem to be on the small side, either spearing or small peanut bunker. Be sure to have some small lures on hand to “match the hatch.” Trolling tube-and-worm rigs is also producing the occasional larger Cape Cod Bay striper.

There was little word of fluke fishing this week, other than keepers being caught in the Canal. Alan at Red Top heard of a few keeper fluke hauled onto the rocks near the Bourne Scenic Park by an angler using cut mackerel as bait. The Canal has all the makings of a fluke haven—good structure, plenty of bait and, of course, lots of moving water. Trying for these flatfish during some of the slower tide stages might just provide you with some nice white fillets for your Labor Day BBQ.

Tuna fishing is still going strong off Chatham. Dan from the Hook Up said Captain Eric Stewart is still on the fish, landing 7 or 12 on Thursday. It seems like a body of larger fish may have moved in.

Buzzards Bay water has been uncharacteristically murky this week, and the dirty water has been sweeping into the canal. Nevertheless, the school stripers and bluefish present throughout the bay don’t seem to mind, and are still hitting small artificial offerings.

Best Bets for the Weekend

Big false albacore top my list for the top target this weekend. The incredible average size of the albies makes them worth pursuing. If you’re on the Hooter, get your trolling gear ready and think deep. If casting is more your style, look to the shoals east of the Vineyard and around Nantucket.

And if you’re in Chatham, don’t go swimming. Several Cape beaches have been closed due to an increased number of shark sightings this week.