Cape Cod & Buzzards Bay Fishing Report | September 25, 2014

The presence of a lot of different species of baitfish is crucial to a productive and prolonged fall run, and if this week’s reports are any indication, we have a great fall ahead of us.

Cape Cod Canal and Buzzards Bay

AJ at Red Top in Buzzards Bay was the first to report on the vast schools of baitfish. Peanut bunker and silversides are in the Canal in big numbers, and the stripers are just starting to take notice. School-sized fish can be heard devouring the silversides throughout the night, and the peanuts have brought on some diving-bird and jumping bass blitzes.

Still, the best canal action is happening after dark, though fishermen lingering into the late-morning hours are getting a shot at some nice-sized daytime bass, AJ said. Eels and jigs are working best at night. The catches have been primarily short stripers, but some larger fish are in the mix.

Buzzards Bay striper fishing is still slow.  It appears the false albacore have cleared out as well. Blackfish, however, appear to be moving in according to Christian at Falmouth Bait and Tackle, who has been selling green crabs to fishermen hitting Buzzards Bay.

The Elizabeth Islands are giving up some stripers to boat fishermen casting eels into the rocks.

South Side and Islands

The South Side of the Cape is setting up to have some excellent fishing this fall. The ponds are loaded with baitfish including mullet, peanut bunker, silversides and even adult bunker. The striper fishing in the sounds is a little slow right now, reported Jeff at Forestdale Bait and Tackle. He’s hoping some of the fish still holding in the Monomoy Rips make their way through the sound once all the baitfish start exiting the ponds.

Handkerchief Shoal  is still producing good bass. Fish to 44 inches were taken there this week according to Amy at Sports Port in Hyannis.

The outflows of the South Side are producing keeper stripers on eels reported Christian at Falmouth Bait and Tackle. Herring River is producing schoolies reported Dan at The Hook Up in Orleans.  He also used sandworms to catch scup and a surprise northern kingfish.

Albie fishing in the sound has been sporadic, but Monday was a great day reported Amy.  Jeff at Forestdale had also heard of a good albie bite on Monday off New Seabury.  No word since on the albie fishing on the Cape side of the sounds.

The Vineyard is also loaded with bait. Silversides, butterfish, sand eels and peanut bunker are keeping the Vineyard’s gamefish well fed and happy. Stripers up to 20 pounds are still biting well in the surf at spots like Chappaquiddick and Gay Head.  In fact, in recent days, the surf fishermen are out fishing the boat fishermen. False albacore fishing is still good, but at times the albies are finicky. Steve at Larry’s Tackle said some of the baitfish are dumping out of the ponds and fueling all-out false albacore blitzes around Menemsha and Edgartown.

Steve also reported that the Hooter is fishing well on the east tides, but the west tides have been slow.

Surprisingly, bluefish action on the Vineyard is slow.

Outer Cape Cod and Cape Cod Bay

All of the Vineyard’s bluefish may be off Provincetown, where Rich at Nelson’s Tackle said the waters are full of blues. Blues are showing up within reach of shore anglers at high tide on the jetty off the Provincetown Inn. Boat fishermen are catching them off Pamet and Corn Hill.

The Provincetown breakwater is producing some good bottom fishing action with tautog and winter flounder. Both fish will take sea worms, but to exclusively target the tog, use green crabs.

Striper fishing off Provincetown has been slow lately, but that could change on any tide as schools of bass move down from the north.

Cape Cod Bay has mostly school sized fish, but good numbers of them.  Short stripers have been pushing schools of peanut bunker to the surface. Fishermen can find them by looking for flocks of diving gulls. Small soft plastics and swim shads will work best. Fly fishermen have especially been enjoying the action.  Most fish are less than 24 inches, but the occasional keeper is mixed in.

Bluefin

Giant tuna are still biting on Peaked Hill. East of Chatham is still a good bet with large tuna hanging around the BC Buoy and smaller fish feeding over Crab Ledge. Dan from the Hook Up heard of a 55-incher taken this week. No word of football tuna on Stellwagen or in Cape Cod Bay.

Best Bet for the Weekend

First and foremost, you’ll want to carve out some time this weekend to attend StriperFest. There will be great music, hot food, cold beer, and the largest gathering of fanatical striper fishermen anywhere in the Northeast.

Before and after StriperFest, you may want to head to Martha’s Vineyard if it’s albies or surf stripers you’re after.  For a shot at a trophy bass, motor down to the Elizabeths with a bucket full of eels.  You may not hook many fish, but any bite you get has the potential to be from a monster. Provincetown is the top spot for blues, both shore and boat. Bring some sandworms and hit the breakwater to add some winter flounder and tog to your catch.