After weeks of sweltering heat and humidity on Cape Cod, a wind shift and cooler temperatures brought some relief. The late-July fishing is great, and fishermen all over the Cape have plenty of reasons to get excited about fishing this weekend.

Cape Cod Canal

The big tides brought mackerel into the Canal, and with them some good stripers early this week. Mike at M and D’s in Wareham weighed fish to 48 pounds after a good bite early on Tuesday morning. Things fizzled on Wednesday, but Todd at Falmouth Bait and Tackle reported that the fishing was good again Thursday morning, with some quality fish caught in the Canal. The fish seem to be pretty well spread out in the Canal, with anglers reporting good catches from the Railroad Bridge to Scusset, though many anglers also reported having slow mornings on the Canal despite there being good fishing a mile or two away.

Cape Cod Bay

Cape Cod Bay has been on the slow side for this time of year. Boats have had a tough time finding consistent action, but the fish being caught have been quality. Shore fishermen using small plugs and working the beaches from Sandwich to Barnstable have been catching some school stripers and an occasional keeper-sized fish.

Buzzards Bay

While Buzzards Bay water is too warm for stripers, other species have been filling in the gap. Mike at M and D’s said fluke fishing in 25 to 28 feet of water has been good—as long as you have sand eels for bait. Outside the Westport River has been good for fluke as well reported the crew at Bucko’s Bait and Tackle. Expect to catch eight or nine shorts for every keeper.

Bluefish and snapper blues are also hanging around Buzzards Bay in big numbers right now. Some anglers have even taken the live snapper blues and used them to catch keeper fluke.

The few stripers being caught have been coming from boats, but shore anglers have been doing well with blackfish from the causeway leading to Gooseberry Neck.

Scup are another good option right now. Nice-sized porgies, from 10 to 14 inches, have been hitting well from Stone Bridge to Sakonnet.

The Elizabeth Islands are reportedly holding some quality bass, especially for fishermen willing to venture out at night with live eels.

Fluke fishing in some of the deeper holes (70 feet or deeper) around the Elizabeths has been very good as well. Anglers fishing these deeper waters have a very good shot at hooking a doormat.

South Side

Striper fishing on the Vineyard is slowing down for the shore fishermen, but a few bass are still being caught at Menemsha reported Dan at Coop’s Bait and Tackle. Boats are doing better, when the weather allows them to get out. Bonito are starting up, and should start moving to some of the shoals and rips a bit closer than the Hooter. Speaking of the Hooter, there have been rumors of a couple 20-pound bluefin grabbing lures intended for bonito, so make sure you have a full spool of line in case one of these fish finds your trolling spread.

Fluke fishing has been good at Succonnesset Shoal, reported Forestdale Bait and Tackle. The On The Water office hit Lucas Shoal on Wednesday and put together a good catch of keeper fluke to 21 inches, with some sea bass and scup mixed in.

Snapper bluefish have been hot and heavy in some of the South Side ponds. Fishermen using small spoons, like the ones used for trout, are catching big numbers of the little blues.

Lower Cape

After a little slowdown, the striper fishing in Chatham has picked right back up. Anglers fishing diamond jigs 1 to 2 miles offshore are catching good numbers of teen-sized bass. Don’t let the big commercial striper fishing fleet scare you off, there have been plenty of bass for everyone out there—and with many commercial boats catching and selling their 30-fish-per-day limits, who knows how long the good fishing will hold up, so get out there while it’s good.

Bluefin and Offshore

The bluefin bite is picking up. Some 48- to 55-inch fish have joing the 65-inch and up fish at the BC Buoy and on Crab Ledge. As more of these “smaller” fish arrive, anglers should start getting more bites each day. At the moment, trolling is the best bet, but if more fish show, jigging and plugging could improve as well.

An influx of warm water at The Dump south of Martha’s Vineyard has brought some tuna and mahi within striking distance of Cape Cod boats. The dolphin have been 10 to 15 pounds and the yellowfin have been 30 pounds and up.

Best Bets for the Weekend

With commercial fishing for stripers closed on Saturdays there should be a lot more elbow room in Chatham over the weekend. This should be the top pick for boat fishermen. Fish diamond jigs for the best results. Most fish are 10 to 20 pounds, but there are some bigger fish in the mix.

For fluke, the deep holes along the Elizabeths will offer the best shot at a doormat, but Lucas or Succonesset shoals have the best shot at action, but expect a larger number of short fish at the latter locales.

For shore fishermen, the canal is worth a look in the early mornings. Pack along some poppers and some swimming plugs like the Sebile Magic Swimmer, and a few jigs as well. If there is no action where you are, move around. Don’t stay in one area and then suffer through the “shoulda-been-there” reports like one Cape Cod Fishing Forecast writer did this Tuesday (and Thursday!).

Other shore fishing options include the blackfish and scup in Westport, and, though it wasn’t mentioned in the reports, fishing for brown sharks. Brown sharks patrol beaches on the South Side of the Cape after dark this time of year. Fish some dead eels or cut fish on the bottom and maybe you’ll be able to make a “shark-wrestler” video of your own.