Cape Cod and Buzzards Bay Fishing Report for 7-3-2014

Hurricane Arthur is catching much of the headlines this week, but after some wind and rain Saturday, Sunday should salvage the fishing on this holiday weekend.

Buzzards Bay and Cape Cod Canal

Canal fishermen finally got a dose of easy fishing this week as schools of stripers moved in to feed on herring and mackerel. Anglers of all experience levels who found themselves in the right place at the right time enjoyed good action with big bass. The right place was a moving target, the East End one day, the Herring Run the next, but the right time seemed to be later in the morning. The work crowd was out of luck, as some mornings this week, the action didn’t get going until after 8:00. Topwater lures, swimming plugs and jigs accounted for bass up and larger than 40 pounds.

Big black sea bass are still biting in Buzzards Bay reported AJ at Red Top Sporting Goods. Scup are still running large as well.

South Side and Islands

All the south wind this week helped perk up the South Side bluefish bite according to Todd at Falmouth Bait and Tackle. The blues even blitzed at times, and Jeff at Forestdale Bait and Tackle hear reports of fishing breaking at the Popponesset Spit.

Schoolie stripers are in the South Side bays of Popponesset, Cotuit and Waquoit in good numbers. Keeper fish are mixed in, but are few and far between says Jeff at Forestdale.

Fluke fishing is improving reported Todd at Falmouth Bait and Tackle. Lucas Shoal is the perennial hotspot for Cape Cod flatfish, and it is producing numbers of fish, and enough keepers to make it worth the run. The deeper you fish, the greater your odds of encountering a doormat.

Outer Cape and Cape Cod Bay

Stripers are moving into the Monomoy Rips reported Chris from Black Eel Outfitters in Dennis. Fish to 44 pounds have been caught using squid imitations. Fly-fishermen have even been hooking up with big fish reported Chris.

There has been some topwater action on Billingsgate Shoals in the afternoon according to Chris. The 6-inch Hogy has been the hot lure.

There have been mixed reports coming from Race Point. Some boats are hammering fish, while others are catching only a few. Jim at Nelson’s Bait and Tackle said that while the boat action is still great most days, the beach bite has yet to materialize.

Fish are beginning to move into Chatham, following the summer pattern of the past few years, according to Shylee at the Hook Up in Orleans.

Offshore

The yellowfin bite at the Dump and in the Canyons has been great. Though the tuna aren’t very big, they are plentiful, and some captains are having as many as 30 knockdowns a day.

The bluefin bite east of Chatham is still slow to get started.  Fishermen are reporting seeing fish breaking, but few have been caught.

Best Bets for the Weekend

Arthur should be out of here by late Saturday, leaving fishermen free to enjoy the rest of the weekend. Boat fishermen have lots of options including Race Point, Billingsgate Shoals and the Monomoy Rips. Shore fishermen may find luck at the Canal, but they will definitely find crowds. Expect the Canal to be elbow-to-elbow this weekend, regardless of the weather. The fishing has stayed good late into the day, so giving the morning crowds a chance to disperse could be a good idea. Other options from shore include the South Side bluefish and scattered bass along the Outer Beaches.