Cape Cod and Buzzards Bay Fishing Report for 5-15-2014

Slowly but surely, the saltwater fishing around Cape Cod and Southeastern Massachusetts is improving. Small stripers are being caught all around the Cape, including a few just over 28 inches.

The biggest news is the massive run of squid happening in Nantucket Sound. Christian at Falmouth Bait and Tackle said the hotspot has been 18 to 27 feet of water from Popponesset to Osterville. Most action has been for boaters, but squid have been moving into the docks around Hyannis.  No word on squid being caught from shore anywhere else on the Cape.

Not only are the squid numerous, they are large, some sporting mantles as long as 18 inches reported Eric at CMS.

On Thursday, the first bluefish blitz of the year was reported on Martha’s Vineyard. Jeff at Forestdale Bait & Tackle hopes the fish will move across the sound soon. The south-facing beaches, like South Cape, Popponesset, Oregon and Loop will be the best spots to look for your first blue.

To catch these blues, heavy-duty, single-hook topwaters like the Line Stretcher Surface Tension or the Roberts Ranger are perennial favorites. Sometimes the bluefish refuse to come to the surface, so be sure to have some long-casting metal lures on hand as well.

The tog fishing is going well in the west end of the Cape Cod Canal according to Tom at Red Top. Cleveland Ledge is producing a few fish reported Christian at Falmouth Bait and Tackle, but the action is just “okay,” he said. Closer to New Bedford, the tog fishing is going great reported Eric at CMS Tackle. Anglers are having no problem catching keepers off the jetties, as long as they have enough crabs to weed through the shorts.

Scup fishing is pretty good. A few giant scup have been taken recently reported Jeff at Forestdale. Mike at M and D’s in Wareham is excited about the opening of black sea bass season on Saturday.  There have been good numbers of sea bass taken by anglers fishing for scup, so the season should get off to a great start.

Of course, the news everyone is waiting to hear is about the striped bass. There are small stripers all around the Cape, though the fishing has been hit or miss according to Jeff at Forestdale Bait and Tackle. Dan at The Hook Up Cape Cod reported schoolies in Bass River and on Brewster Flats, Mike at M and D’s reported schoolies in the back rivers of Wareham, Jeff at Forestdale heard of short bass along the south side of the Cape and in Cotuit, and Tom at Red Top reported a few small stripers in the Canal.  Most fish have had sea lice, suggesting they are migratory stripers, recently arriving from southern waters.

Keeper stripers have been caught as well. Tom at Red Top Tackle had heard of four just-keeper bass in the Canal and Jeff from Forestdale heard of a keeper caught in Dennis. So far all of the legal striper have been just above the 28-inch minimum size.

When larger bass do show up, they’ll find plenty of bait waiting for them in Southeastern Mass. Eric at CMS said the bunker have showed up in New Bedford in decent numbers. The herring continue to run well on the Cape.  The herring run at the Canal is finally seeing some good numbers of fish pass through. Mackerel are loading up off Plymouth and at the east end of the Canal.

Freshwater fishing is great.  This week there were good reports from Fearings, Long and Peter’s ponds. Dan from the Hook Up said the trout fishing was very good in these waters, and that he even spied a few jumbo largemouths cruising the shoreline.  Mike at M and D’s said the largemouths are just starting to look for spawning beds, and smallies are already on the beds and preparing to spawn. Spawning bass present a unique sight-fishing opportunity, but anglers have mixed feelings about targeting the fish as they try to procreate.

Big brown trout have also been taken this week, thanks to a recent stocking of 2-pound-plus browns.

Buzzards Bay & Cape Cod Fishing Report

You’ll want to get some good rain gear ready, because Friday and Saturday have lots of rain in the forecast. The wind and rain may keep boats at the dock, but shore fishermen will still be able to find some schoolie stripers in backwater areas, and maybe even a keeper or two.  If the saltwater proves to be too difficult to fish in the nasty conditions, consider checking a freshwater pond.  The trout fishing is great, and the bigger browns have made things more interesting in a few venues. Between striper and trout fishing, some scouting for bluefish on a south-facing beach might bear fruit.

You could also check out the Red Brook Harbor Boat Show taking place at the Kingman Yacht Center this weekend.