Cape Cod and Buzzards Bay Fishing Report for 7-10-2014

As Arthur approached the Cape last week, fishing improved in many locations, including the Cape Cod Canal, where a 51-pound striper and a number of 40-pound-plus stripers were caught in the days leading up to the storm. The gale-force winds following the storm scattered the baitfish and moved the stripers around the Cape. Fortunately with the weather stabilizing this week, the fishing is improving, and in a few new locations as well.

Cape Cod Canal and Buzzards Bay

After some great middle-of-the-day blitz fishing in the Canal last week, the action has quieted down once again, and both Christian at Falmouth Bait and Tackle and the crew at Red Top said Canal fishing has been poor this week. Even the boat fishing, which had been excellent of the East End, has tapered off as the bait and bass moved to parts unknown after the storm. With big tides and a full moon coming this weekend, there is reason to hope that the Canal fishing will improve over the next few days.

Sea bass and scup are still biting well throughout Buzzards Bay, and more fluke are beginning to mix in. Anglers specifically targeting fluke in Buzzards Bay are doing well working depth changes with strips of squid or bucktails and Berkley Gulp according to the folks at Red Top.

There was no word of striper fishing in Buzzards Bay or along the Elizabeth Islands, but it’s fair to say that anglers fishing these areas with live bunker or live eels stand a good chance at connecting with a big striper, like young Oliver Pope who caught his first striper, a 42-pounder, while live-lining bunker near Padanaram Harbor.

South Side and Islands

The Spit at Popponesset is still producing keeper stripers. The bass are feeding on dropback herring, and can be caught on poppers or swim shads reported Ben at Forestdale Bait and Tackle.

The bluefish on the South Side are holding a quarter to a half-mile offshore, creating fast action for boat anglers, but tough fishing for surfcasters.

Shore fishermen are finding luck at Douses Beach where scup are biting strips of squid or seaworms. Small stripers are also mixing in with the scup.

For more reliable action with schoolies, fish in the bays at first and last light. You’ll see schoolies popping on the surface as they eat spearing and other small baitfish. Small soft plastics like a Slug-Go or Zoom Super Fluke will get the most bites.

To catch stripers in the sounds, fishermen are turning to wire-line jigging and live-lining scup. The fishing isn’t red hot, but fishermen putting in enough time can count on catching a good-sized striper or too.

Striper fishing is improving on Martha’s Vineyard reported Coop at Coop’s Bait and Tackle. Stripers up to 47 inches were caught this week, and most fish were of good size, weighing between 12 and 18 pounds. Chappy, the North Shore and Gay Head were the best spots to find bass, Coop said.

Tons of sand eels have small stripers in a feeding frenzy around Martha’s Vineyard reported Steve at Larry’s Bait and Tackle. The east end of the island in particular has a lot of bait reported Steve.

Cape Cod Bay and Outer Cape

The water temperature off Race Point dropped to 46 degrees after Arthur reported Jim at Nelson’s Bait and Tackle, and the stripers moved elsewhere. Jim believes the bass moved down to Billingsgate Shoals, but thinks they will return to the Race when conditions improve.

The beaches on the Outer Cape are still a bit slow, but fishermen casting needlefish and small swimmers after dark are catching fish, sometimes good sized ones.

Bluefishing is good off Wellfleet reported Jim at Nelsons, but none of the big blues have made their way to the Race…yet.

Dan at the Hook Up said striper action off Nauset improved dramatically this week. Boat fishermen found good numbers of 40-inch-plus fish willing to take diamond jigs and other vertical jigs.

Closer to Chatham, the fishing is picking up as well, with stripers in the 28- to 36-inch range hitting diamond jigs and umbrella rigs.

Freshwater

There were several 5- and 6-pound bass caught in Cape Cod ponds this week. Senkos, swimbaits and Jitterbugs after dark all took lunker bass this week.

Trout are still being taken in Nickerson State Park according to Dan at the Hook Up.

Bluefin

Still no word of bluefin off Chatham or Stellwagen, though to be fair, no one has been looking since Arthur. Many fishermen have made plans to hit the tuna grounds this weekend to see if all that southwest wind finally sent some bluefin our way.

Best Bets for the Weekend

The hot spot for boat action this week is the waters off Nauset. Stripers up to 35 pounds were caught there this week on diamond jigs. Just be sure to watch your distance from shore. The bass have been skirting the three-mile-line, and any fishing for striped bass, even catch and release, is illegal more than three miles from shore.

Shore fishermen who stick it out in the Canal may be rewarded with some good fishing as the tides pick up strength during the full moon. Otherwise, walking the Spit at Popponesset or working the backside beaches after dark may be the best way to catch a keeper.