Cape Cod and Buzzards Bay Fishing Report for 7-31-2014

This was a killer week for striper fishing around Cape Cod. Lots of bass were caught from the Canal to the Race, with some big ones mixed in.

Cape Cod Canal and Buzzards Bay

For shore fishermen, the Canal was the place to be this week. The fishing doesn’t get much easier than it’s been the past few days. Anglers didn’t even have to wake up early to cash in on the bite. Big bass were smashing mackerel right against the rocks and eating anything thrown their way. Mornings have been good, but afternoons have been even better some days.

While poppers were catching fish, fishing subsurface lures drew even more action, especially with bigger fish. Magic Swimmers, SP Minnows and Sebile Stick Shadds have been the hot baits.  Jigging with soft plastics like the Savage Sand Eel is also working, even when fish aren’t showing on the surface. Several fish of 40 pounds or better were caught according to Bull at Red Top and Mike at M and D’s.

The fishing remained strong through Thursday morning, when fish into the high 30-pound range were taken.

Word is out, so you’ll have company along the Canal, but there are plenty of fish to go around.

The Elizabeth Islands are also producing some big stripers. Tube-and-worm trolling is working well, but fresh chunks are even better.

Cape Cod Bay and Outer Cape

It’s slow in Cape Cod Bay according to Dan at The Hook Up. The little action he’d heard of was coming from Billingsgate Shoal with umbrella rigs. Even the flats and the usually reliable schoolie action has been off according to Dan.

Barnstable Harbor has been pretty good, however, reported Jeff at Forestdale Bait and Tackle. Keeper fish are striking trolled umbrella rigs and tube and worms. Bass to 30 pounds have even been taken in the harbor in the evenings.

Fishing the rips and shoals off Chatham is producing good striper and bluefish action. Chris from Black Eel Outfitters took fish to 25 pounds at Handkerchief Shoal. He said the larger bass were replaced by schoolies, which were replaced by bluefish later in the day. Diamond jigs and umbrella rigs were the weapons of choice.

Blues hit the beach at the Race Point this week. Surf fishermen hooked up with metal lures and swimming plugs. Boat fishermen also enjoyed the fast bluefish action reported Jim at Nelsons Bait & Tackle in Provincetown.

Striper fishing picked up around Provincetown after a slowdown over the weekend. Fish of 36 inches and up showed up on the incoming tide Thursday morning, and hit diamond jigs and plugs. Beach fishing for stripers is producing a few short fish, but Jim from Nelsons lost of big one on the Race Point beaches over the weekend.

East of Chatham, the bluefin bite is still slow reported Dan at the Hook Up.

South Side and Islands

Big stripers have been caught around Martha’s Vineyard on eels in recent days reported Jeff at Forestdale Bait and Tackle.

Schoolie and keeper-sized fish are hanging around many South Side beaches such as South Cape and Popponesset.

Snapper bluefish numbers are on the rise, and more fishermen are taking trout tackle into the bays and harboes and catching the small but feisty fish. Some fishermen have even been putting the blues in a livewell and taking them out to fish for fluke.

Fluke fishing has been spotty, at least for keepers. Todd at Falmouth Bait and Tackle said Lucas Shoal is holding lots of fish, but the vast majority are too small to take home.

South of Martha’s Vineyard is still producing bluefin tuna, and the waters of The Dump are giving up big numbers of small mahi. Keep that in mind when heading south. A small spinning rod and some bits of bait could save the day if the bluefin are no-shows.

Best Bets for the Weekend

Stripers just about have the Cape surrounded this week. Boat fishermen can hunt big fish in Chatham, on Billingsgate Shoal, off Marthas Vineyard, along the Elizabeths or at Race Point. Tailor your technique to the location—eels off the Vineyard, jigs of the Race and Chatham, chunks at the Elizabeths and umbrella rigs on Billingsgate.

Shore fishermen will find their best shot in the Canal, as long as the fish stick around. Fish around a tide change, whether it’s in the afternoon, morning or evening. Start with poppers and switch to swimmers or jigs if nothing is coming to the surface.

For some variety, hit the waters south of the Vineyard to hunt mahi and bluefin, and maybe even white marlin. For the whites, a bucket of eels or a livewell of legal scup will improve your chances.