Once the calendar turns to August, the summer really starts to slip by quickly. August brings a number of new species into Cape waters, like the false albacore and the Spanish mackerel, and while we haven’t heard any reports of these hard-fighting colorful fish just yet, you can bet it won’t be long.

Cape Cod Canal

Canal fishing has been okay, according to Barry at Red Top Sporting Goods in Buzzards Bay. There have been some fish breaking in the mornings, and eel fishing after dark has produce stripers up to 30 pounds. With the new moon coming up on August 6 and good tides over the weekend, Canal fishing should continue to improve.

Fishing had been slow early in the week, and Todd from Falmouth Bait and Tackle reported that some anglers described their canal trips as “morning bike rides.”

Cape Cod Bay

Barnstable Harbor, Billingsgate Shoals and other Cape Cod Bay structures have good numbers of 28- to 34-inch stripers reported Barry at Red Top. The fish are hitting eels, small minnow plugs and tube-and-worm rigs. Barry reported most fish are just over the keeper mark, but there have been the occasional 40-inch fish taken.

Buzzards Bay

Fluke fishing is still great in Buzzards Bay. Anglers can expect lots of action, and a few keepers as well. Bucktail jigs tipped with Berkley Gulp or top-and-bottom rigs fished with squid or cut fish will be your best bet with the fluke. Todd at Falmouth Bait and Tackle had good action this week drifting a bucktail without any bait at all.

Warm water temperatures have pushed most of the sea bass out of Buzzards Bay, but have brought in more bluefish. The blues, both snappers and 3- to 8-pound fish, are being taken on metal lures and topwaters.

South Side

Bluefish are everywhere on the South Side of Cape Cod. Middle Ground is loaded with hungry blues reported Todd at Falmouth Bait and Tackle.

Fluke fishing is also looking good at all of the South Side shoals, like Hedge Fence and Middle Ground. Lucas Shoal is also producing good numbers of the flatfish.

Black sea bass are still numerous in Nantucket Sound, reported Barry at Red Top. There are a lot of undersized sea bass in the mix, but fishermen can still put together a nice catch of keepers.

There has been no sign of false albacore yet, but bonito are becoming more abundant each week. The Hooter is still the top spot. The bonito fishing isn’t lights out just yet, but that could change any day.

Lower Cape

Chatham still has good numbers of stripers, but unlike a few weeks ago, diamond jigs are no longer the most effective way to target them. Wire line trolling had been more effective recently. Fish have ranged from 30 inches to 44 inches, giving anglers the opportunity to tangle with some large fish. Dan from The Hook-Up in Orleans caught several bass in Chatham between 40 and 42 inches, along with a few bluefish.

After having great fishing for almost two months, the waters around Provincetown have quieted down. Boat and shore anglers have been having a tough time finding fish.

Bluefin Tuna

The tuna bit has improved once again with anglers having daily encounters with off Chatham and around Crab Ledge. Once again, most of the fish taken this week were large, ranging from 68 to 92 inches long. Captain Eric Stewart caught a 76-incher this week and had several other knockdowns. The 76-inch fell for a black squid spreader bar.

Freshwater

Ian at Red Top said the freshwater fishing has been excellent. Just this week, Ian caught a pair of 5-pound largemouth bass. Nighttime has been the right time, with both smallmouths and largemouths feeding heavily after the sun goes down. With the new moon coming up, Ian expects the clear water lakes to have some good fishing.

Panfish have been biting well also. Perch and crappies both are hitting small jigs.

Trout are biting well, Ian said, but you need to get your offering to the fish, which are holding in 20 to 40 feet of water.

Best Bets for the Weekend

With good tides for the Cape Cod Canal this weekend spending sunrise on the big ditch might not be a bad idea. Have a mix of topwater and swimming plugs, and also some jigs to fish on the bottom.

For striped bass boat fishing, Chatham remains the hot spot, as long as anglers are willing to mix up their techniques. In addition to diamond jigs, bring some trolling outfits as well.

Middle ground offers boat anglers the chance at both fluke and bluefish, and anglers venturing out to the Hooter have a chance at big blues, bonito and even football bluefin.

If you are looking to spice up your nights, try freshwater fishing. Topwater lures are often best for nighttime largemouths and smallmouths.