Cape Cod and Buzzards Bay Fishing Report 9-13-2012

False Albacore Frenzy

False albacore action exploded this week.  Boats made double-digit catches as these miniature tuna invaded the south side of the Cape. The bluefish bite was outstanding this week, and stripers are schooling up and beginning to feed heavily. With these three species feeding in big numbers, it’s safe to say that the fall run of 2012 is underway.

Buzzards Bay and the Elizabeth Islands

Much of Buzzards Bay is still warm and filthy from the heat-induced algae bloom. There hasn’t been much life in the dirty water, though anglers are picking some smaller stripers and bluefish. Down toward the Elizabeth Islands, where the water is significantly cleaner, schools of big stripers are popping up now and again. Chris at Bad Fish Outfitters received word of a school of 25- to 35-pound stripers feeding around Pasque this week. Anglers fishing live eels had their hands full with these fish. Big bluefish are also abundant along the Elizabeths. Trolling is turning up double-digit catches of 8- to 15-pound blues around Cuttyhunk.

There was no word of albie action in Upper Buzzards Bay, but reports of schools of breaking false albacore continue to come in from Westport, where the water is somewhat cleaner.

Though no one was doling out specifics, a couple shops told me they are selling green crabs once again, suggesting that there is some tog fishing taking place. With most anglers focused on the “glamour” species, blackfish are flying under the radar. Cleveland Ledge would be my pick if you are looking to do a blackfish mission this weekend.

 

South Side of Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard &Nantucket

Almost every day this week, I heard of massive albie blitzes taking place off the south side of the Cape. The fish have been moving around a bit, but they are feeding in big numbers on the surface, and it seems like most boat and kayak fishermen getting after them are at least hooking up with a couple. The albies have been showing up somewhere between Falmouth Harbor and Hyannis on a daily basis. This is no problem for boaters who can easily cover this stretch while keeping their eyes on the water. Kayak fishermen hoping to connect with an albie should focus on areas with outflows so they aren’t paddling all over creation.

The albies have been on small bait—likely small bay anchovies and silversides—but they have still been receptive to lures. Metal lures are drawing strikes, but soft-plastics are drawing more strikes. One promising bait has been the Lunkerhunt Bento. This small plastic is a dead ringer for the tiny, almost transparent bait the albies are keyed in on. Flies are getting the job done as well. If you’ve always wanted to get an albie on the fly, now is the time. The fish are popping up frequently close to the boat or kayak, allowing even novice fly casters to get in front of the fish.

Shore anglers are getting a crack at the albies on Martha’s Vineyard reported Justin at Coop’s Bait and Tackle. More false albacore have been moving within range of the beach in recent days, making for some very fun surfcasting.

Unfortunately, striper surfcasting on the Vineyard isn’t too hot just yet. Some fish are being taken on bait, but Justin had yet to hear of anything larger than 20 pounds.
Bonito and albies can still be caught at the Hooter. Trolling deep-diving plugs is the best approach..

The sounds are still warm, so there’s no sign of migrating stripers just yet. But resident fish have been feeding at outflows and in rivers and salt ponds all along the south side. Sunset and into the dark is a great time to catch some schoolies on light tackle. Small soft plastics will do the trick, but for topwater action, small walk-the-dog style baits will attract some exciting surface strikes. The Rebel Jumpin’ Minnow is a long time favorite for this type of fishing.

Fishing is very good for bluefish off Oregon Beach and Popponesset. Small metal lures and topwaters are the best bet at the moment, but cut mackerel and bunker fished on the bottom is working as well.

Cape Cod Canal

Canal action hit a fever pitch early this week as a big school of migrating stripers moved in to feed on the abundant bait. Action has cooled off substantially since, but giant bluefish have replaced some of the stripers. Alan at Red Top said the blues ranged from 10 to 12 pounds and were attacking every lure in sight. The bluefish were drawn into the canal by schools of adult bunker.

There are still some stripers being caught. Mornings and evenings are best, though some fish are being caught overnight as well. Soft plastics fished deep are one of the best bets reported Alan, but the bluefish are making fishing soft baits a challenge. Anglers fishing eels are running into the same problem in the Canal.

Cape Cod Bay

Barnstable Harbor is loaded with school and small keeper stripers feeding on spearing in the mornings and evenings, and even during the day. Most fish are around 20 inches, but the action is fast and fun on light tackle. Anglers sticking it out are generally pulling a keeper out of all the shorts. To find them, simply look for the birds and breaks. Shore anglers are catching them as well, as the fish are often pushing the small baits right onto the beach.

Similar action is happening on the other side of the canal. Fish into the 30-inch range are feeding under birds from Ellisville down to Scusset. Alan from Red Top has been enjoying catching them on his fly rod, but light spinning gear and tiny jigs will work just as well.

Tube-and-worm trolling is doing well in Cape Cod Bay. Fish into the 40-pound range are being caught using this technique. Looking for these trophies, you’ll want to cover ground. Dan at the Hook Up in Orleans said the deeper water spots have been best. No one area has been the hotspot, but Billinsgate, the Fingers and Scorton Ledge are all worth a look. With a wind change to a more northerly direction in the forecast for the weekend, Scorton Ledge and the waters off the Sandy Neck Parking Lot should load up with big bass.

Anglers looking for monster bluefish need look no farther than Wellfleet Harbor where big schools of bunker are drawing in the choppers. These are likely the fish that were on Race Point early in the week. The big blues and bunker are making for fun, exciting fishing. Live or chunked bunker and topwater poppers are all working. I wouldn’t be surprised if some plus-size stripers were lurking somewhere near these bluefish and bunker schools.

Lower Cape Cod

Striper action is improving a bit off Race Point. Jim at Nelson’s Tackle in Provincetown said kayak anglers are starting to catch bass once again, and some have been keeper sized.

The better bite in Provincetown has been for bluefish. Massive schools of blues blitzed the beaches last week and into this week, but the heavy northwest wind cooled the water and shut off the bite. The weather looks like it could settle out a bit this week (though there is some north wind forecasted), so Jim thinks the bluefish will return after a few days of south wind.

There was no word on the fishing on the backside beaches this week, but the calendar says it’s go time. The swell from the passing hurricane has diminished and the winds have cleaned out any mung and weed from the surf. A big school of stripers could be moving down the beach without another fisherman out there. And even if there isn’t, the Outer Cape beaches are one of the most picturesque places you can fish in the Northeast. Seals or no seals, big stripers still move down those beaches in the fall. Pack along eels for the best bet at hooking up.

Bluefin Tuna
There are incredible numbers of 40- to 55-inch bluefin being caught reported, said Dan at The Hook Up in Orleans. On Wednesday, one boat landed 20 tuna! Provincetown seems to be the hotspot, with Peaked Hill, Stellwagen and the waters off Race Point producing tuna. Trolling has been best.
Several giant tuna have been caught this week as well. Dan said the Whiting Grounds inside Cape Cod Bay produced a number of giants this week—maybe as many as a dozen.

Cape Cod Fishing Forecast
Chase false albacore. If you’re on the Vineyard or on the Cape, this weekend, put albies in your crosshairs. The albie fishing doesn’t get much better than this. Expect some company, and resist the urge to run and gun. The fish have been thick enough that drifting in a likely area will produce more shots than motoring full throttle at every breaking school you see.

A switch to winds out of the north could turn on the big bass bite on the Cape Cod Bay side, where boat anglers trolling tube and worm rigs have been reporting schools of 30- and 40-pound bass. The new moon will be causing stronger tides this weekend and early next week, so surfcasters should keep an eye on the Cape Cod Canal.