Cape Cod and Buzzards Bay Fishing Report 11-1-2012

Post-Sandy Schoolie Stripers

While Cape Cod was, for the most part, spared by Monday’s storm, Rhode Island, New York and New Jersey suffered severe damage from the powerful winds, exceptionally high storm surge and fires. Fishing wasn’t at the front of anyone’s mind this week, but that’s not to say a few anglers didn’t wet a line around the Cape and find some feeding fish.

Cape Cod Inshore Fishing Report

Alan at Red Top reported that as winds subsided, anglers returned to the canal where schoolies have been staging day-long blitzes. The fish have ranged to 30 inches, though I swear I saw a few bigger breaks in there this morning. Small metal jigs are working, so are small soft plastics. I had the best luck today with a 1-ounce bucktail with the barb pinched down. Action has been spread throughout the canal, as I found birds and breaking stripers east of the Sagamore, and Chris at Bad Fish Outfitters heard of blitzes taking place in the West End. Mixing in with the schoolies in the West End have been some slammer blues reported Chris. One of the smaller fish I caught this morning looked as though it had narrowly escaped a run in with one of those blues as it was sporting a fresh, semi-circular wound on each flank.

Some birdplays with small bass and big blues under them have been spotted in Buzzards Bay since the storm passed. Most anglers firing up the boat have their sights set on blackfish, however. Red Top has been selling plenty of crabs and Eric at CMS in New Bedford said he’s had more customers talking about tog than anything else. Blackfishing bounced back relatively quick following the storm, and it sounds like they can be found at the wrecks and rockpiles in 30 to 40 feet of water. Eric at CMS said until water temperatures drop below 53 degrees or so, the tog will stay in the shallower water. Water temperatures in Buzzards Bay are still hovering near 60 degrees.

Dirty water plagued anglers early in the week on the South Side of the Cape. Conditions are clearing now, but there haven’t been many reports of fish, according to Chris at Bad Fish Outfitters. Andy Nabreski tried some of the outflows on the South Side this week and reported no action at all.

While the fishing on the South Side is slow, the scavenging is good. Chris said scallops have been washing up along with other debris from the large storm surge.

No word on the Outer Cape fishing, or on the Islands.

Bluefin Tuna

Eric Stewart at the Hook Up in Orleans said the tuna fleet is waiting things out, and that he hasn’t heard about anyone fishing yet this week.  It will be interesting to see if there is any tuna fishing left following this storm. Some anglers were venturing out as of Thursday morning.

Freshwater

Trout fishing didn’t miss a beat after Irene. Anglers are still connecting with good size rainbows on PowerBait, shiners and small spoons. It doesn’t seem like the big browns are very active yet, but as things cool off, 3- to 6-pound brown trout will begin cruising the shorelines.

Largemouth bass fishing is still strong. Shiners are close to a sure thing, but lures are producing as well.

Best Bets for the Weekend

It’s forecasted to cool off over the weekend, but the winds won’t be bad enough to keep you at the dock. Tog are the best bet for catching a fish to bring home for dinner, but the schoolie action in the canal has been reliable and fun. It might be time to switch over to freshwater fishing while the big largemouths are still chowing.

Also, the Hook Up in Orleans is having their customer appreciation day on Saturday. Good food and drinks, lots of fishing talk and great discounts on items throughout the store.