Cape Cod and Buzzards Bay Fishing Report 10-11-2012

Who turned on the fan? Since Tuesday, Cape Cod fishermen have been dealing with more wind than they can handle. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like it will be letting up for the weekend either. Nonetheless, if you fight the wind, there are fish to be caught

Cape Cod Canal

The mornings are producing good numbers of stripers in the canal. This week saw an influx of small stripers into the canal. Some better fish have mixed in as well. Stan at Red Top reported a few 40-inch fish taken from the railroad bridge this week. Thursday morning also had a big school of keeper-sized bass in the East End. Having an assortment of lures on hand is a must. Metal lures have been good, as have soft plastics on leadheads. Have some poppers handy too, in case the fish show up on top.

Cape Cod Bay

Strong winds have been keeping many anglers off the Cape Cod Bay Beaches, but Tyler at Bad Fish reported some good striper action off Dennis. Small stripers are still being caught along the beachfronts, but there has been no word of the big school of 30- to 40-pound stripers that were around for all of September for almost two weeks.

Outer Cape Cod

Bluefish are being regularly caught off the beaches, but bass have been relatively scarce. Rich at Nelsons said fishermen would have an easier time hooking a tuna than a striper right now. The tuna bite on Peaked Hill continues to be strong, with anglers hooking up throughout the morning, when weather permits a trip.

Nauset Beach has had some bluefish every morning, as has just about every beach right up to the Race. Though the bass might be absent, it’s always great fun to battle big bluefish from the surf.

South Side and Islands

Striper fishing in Vineyard Sound has been consistent for anglers dunking bait, be it cut bunker or eels. Fish are ranging from 24 inches to 44 inches, with most hovering just above keeper size.

Bluefish are also around in good numbers, trimming eel tails at night and lashing out at topwater plugs during the day. Andy Nabreski has been catching bluefish to 8 pounds on Vineyard Sound beaches this week.

False albacore have thinned out substantially over the past week. A few are still being caught, but it’s safe to say the best is over. If you chase albies this weekend, have a good back-up plan.

Martha’s Vineyard has seen a slowdown in the albie action as well. Bonito are still slow also, though a new shore leader in the Marta’s Vineyard Bass and Bluefish Derby was caught today.

The bluefish bite on the Vineyard is hot, but the striper bite is still slow. Coop at Coop’s Bait and Tackle did report some decent striper fishing at Chappy and Gay Head, however.

Black sea bass fishing is still going strong, with keepers still hanging on structure in Vineyard and Nantucket sounds.

Buzzards Bay and Elizabeth Islands

The OTW Crew was out on Cuttyhunk last weekend, and though the weather was beautiful and a great time was had by all, the fishing was slow, with most returning to the Cape fishless. Henry O of Gaelic Wake Sportfishing still managed a couple 20-pound-class fish on eels along the Elizabeth Islands.

Tog fishing was excellent around the Elizabeth Islands and into Buzzards Bay, but conditions lately have not been conducive to anchoring up and fishing for blackfish. When the seas level out, the tog fishing should still be hot, and there should be some big fish in the mix. Check out the October Issue of On The Water for more information on October tog fishing.

Bluefin Tuna

The tuna bite is still hot. Peaked Hill continues to produce action for jigging and trolling fishermen. The BB Buoy area is loaded with bluefin as well. Eric Stewart at the Hook Up had 9 tuna from 29 to 83 inches on Monday. Unfortunately, weather has kept most Cape Cod bluefin boats at the dock for most of the week.

Freshwater

The trout have been stocked and anglers are doing well with rainbows ranging from 10 to 18 inches. I watched a huge school of trout doing laps in Peters Pond over the weekend. They were a bit picky, but I still managed two, along with a bunch of tiny smallmouth bass and perch.

Bigger smallies are increasing their activity as well, same with their big-mouthed cousins. With the trout recently stocked, it may be time to consult your October Issue of On The Water once again for tips on fishing big swimbaits for trout-eating lunker largemouths. October is one of the best times to catch a trophy bass.

Best Bets for the Weekend

The South Side of the Cape seems to be the hotspot for stripers and blues from the beach, though the Outer Cape has its share of beach-running blues as well. Boat fishing may have to wait for next week, but freshwater doesn’t. Trout fishing is very good right now. Try spoons and small stickbaits for lures, and live minnows or PowerBait for bait. Newly stocked trout are usually suckers for PowerBait.

Check the Canal as well. You can hide from the wind in the confines of the Big Ditch, and there have been good catches coming from there the past several days.