Cape Cod Bay Report (Riptide Charters)

This weekend brought the first trip for the Cape Cod Salties 3rd annual Riptide club tournament. First up was Dick “Season Ender” Nicholson, Nick and Pete. Dick was with me last year when we ran into an incredible bite with Bass tearing up Mackerel for hours in Cape Cod bay. To be honest, I was a bit nervous for this one because I knew it would be very hard to top last year’s trip especially with a slow start to the spring this year. After a pickup in Welfleet we made out way out. Pulled up to a dropoff holding lots of bait and fish. With good sonar, there is nothing more frustrating that seeing Bass stacked up 10-20ft thick and not being able to get them to eat. We ran the gammet of 4″ Hogy Lures to 10″ Hogies. Diamond Jigs, Deep Divers etc. Fast, slow, didn’t matter. We just couldn’t get them to eat and the growing crowds made things tougher. Crowds give me anxiety so we decided to make a move some 10 miles away at near slack tide. When we got there the water seemed quiet but as soon as the water started to move the fish came.

The first hookups of the day was a triple, and would continue for several hours. We switched over entirely to 6.6 and 7″ Hogy Sand Eels on 4/0 weighted swim hooks. We kept at least one rod, if not all 3 rods tight through several miles of drift. Avg fish was 37″ 15-20# or better, several pushing 40 and a few over the 40″ 30# mark with a few smaller 30″ fish mixed in. The harder the tide pulls, the better the bite with wave after wave of Bass moving through. Towards the end of the drift the bait switched to herring. Large schools broke up to target individual fish batting 10″ herring out of the water. We switched up to spooks and spent an hour or so ringing boils to target individuals in greasy calm conditions with topwater. Nick was the high stick for the day with a fish that sits on top of the Salties Leaderboard at 44″ approx 30#. Both Pete and Dick are tied for second at 37″. As the tide slacked off so did the action and we made our way back tired and happy. I didn’t think it was possible to top last year but Dick brought the luck and didn’t disappoint! If you are thinking of getting out, now is the time!

Capt. Shaun Ruge
Riptide Charters