Cape Cod & Buzzards Bay Fishing Report 8-28-14

A few sightings of topwater feeds in Vineyard Sound and Buzzards Bay are causing fishermen to break out the light tackle and slim metal lures because rumor has it, the false albacore have hit the Cape.

Cape Cod Canal and Buzzards Bay

Small baitfish and finicky stripers have frustrated Canal fishermen this week. The morning tides have brought fish to the surface throughout the Canal reported the crew at Red Top, but getting the bass to bite has been difficult. Smaller metal lures have been taking some of the bass. Jigs fished deep are also catching. A few anglers are doing well fishing at night with eels.

Bonito have moved into Buzzards Bay, and fishermen trolling off Westport and other areas are connecting with these striped green fish. One fisherman caught more than 10 bonito on Saturday and Sunday by trolling Yo-Zuri Mag Darters. Bluefish are feeding on peanut bunker along the Cape side of the bay, and there have been reports of albies in the area as well.

South Side and Islands

On Monday, the bonito bite at the Hooter was red hot. A number of boats trolled up double-digits of these fish, along with a big number of 5- to 8-pound blues. The sand eels were so thick that plugs would stop swimming correctly because they hooks were getting fouled by all the baitfish. The bite was slower on Tuesday and Wednesday, but there were still some bonito taken.

Bonito Bar has also been good according to Kyle at Falmouth Bait and Tackle.

Striper fishing has picked up off the South Side of the Cape, with fishermen reporting good action on keeper fish to 32 inches. According to Jeff at Forestdale Bait and Tackle, South Cape Beach, Popponesset and Cotuit have been some of the striper hot spots. One fisherman, casting squid off South Cape Beach, caught a 32-inch striper and a 20-inch fluke, said Jeff.

Poppers have been catching the South Side stripers at dawn and dusk, and eels are working in the dark.

Also in the sounds have been bluefish. Small 1- to 3-pounders have been feeding close to shore at South Cape Beach and larger fish have been terrorizing scup at Horseshoe Shoal.

Now for the albies. Several fishermen reported seeing schools of breaking fish in Vineyard Sound. Most were dismissed as bluefish, but with albies confirmed in Buzzards Bay it seems likely they are showing up in Vineyard Sound as well.

Striper fishing around the Vineyard is still good reported Julian at Larry’s Tackle Shop. Boat fishermen are doing well with chunks and surfcasters are catching fish to 30 pounds on plugs and live eels.

Outer Cape and Cape Cod Bay

The boat hotspot for stripers this week has been Handkerchief Shoal. The bulk of the commercial fleet has relocated there after the Race Point and Cape Cod Bay stripers disappeared (or were fished out). Eels have been the bait of choice according to Dan at The Hook Up.

Provincetown is still the place to be for big blues according to Jim at Nelson’s Bait & Tackle in Provincetown. The blues have even been blitzing baitfish on the surface occasionally. Some bass are beginning to move back into the P-town waters, but they aren’t hot and heavy yet. Tough winds and lots of mung have made the backside fishing tough this week, but a few days of southwest should clear things ups.

Cape Cod Bay is still spotty off Barnstable Harbor and West to the Canal. Fishermen are picking up the occasional bass on a tube and worm or live eel, but for the best shot at bass, head elsewhere.

Best Bets for the Weekend

For the long weekend, you need have a Plan A (albies) and a Plan B (bonito).  Start out looking for blitzing albies along the South Side beaches or the Vineyard, and if they don’t show, head for the Hooter, Buzzards Bay or Bonito Bar to troll up some bones—if sea conditions allow.

For stripers, the Canal is a good bet, but bring some smaller lures to match the small baitfish. Handkerchief Shoal is the top spot for boaters, but don’t forget the eels.

Don’t overlook the big blues feeding at Race Point or over Horseshoe Shoal. They’ll provide great action even if the stripers, albies and bones are no-shows.