Cape Cod and Buzzards Bay Fishing Report | September 18, 2014

Cape Cod Canal and Buzzards Bay

The Cape Cod Canal has been slow in the daytime, but some bass are being caught around slack tide at night on live eels. The bite should pick up as we get closer to the new moon, predicted Red Top Sporting Goods.

Albies are scattered throughout upper Buzzards Bay, from the Marion and Mattapoisett area to Wings Neck, and have been most likely to show themselves around slack, reported Maco’s in Buzzards Bay. That’s also when they’ve been poking into the west end of the Canal to feed and shore anglers at Mass Maritime and Bell Road are likely to get a few shots.

Fluke are hitting well on the Mashnee Flats; good news for anglers looking for something to take home now that black sea bass is closed. Fluke season is open until September 30, and there are plenty of large scup out there as well.

Albies are also popping up along the Elizabeth Islands, and there are good numbers of schoolie striped bass feeding on small baitfish.

South Side and Islands

The albies have been scattered this week, with some reports of fish off Nobska and on Hedge Fence, but fewer reports from Falmouth to Craigville Beach, reported SportsPort in Hyannis. More consistent albie fishing is being reported to the east around Monomoy and Chatham. Bass fishing has been good at night for surfcasters targeting the outflows along the south side with live eels.

Over on the Vineyard, Larry’s Bait and Tackle reported good albie fishing off Chappy, Menemsha and Lobsterville. Steve from Larrys was chunking for stripers off Gay Head and found bass bust most were too small for the Derby weigh-in. Big bluefish have been providing good action, and several in the 15-pound range have been weighed for the Derby.

The tautog bite is very good. Rock piles and wrecks are producing keeper fish on green crabs.

Lower Cape and Cape Cod Bay

Many bluefin (and boats) are off Chatham, said Captain Eric Stewart at The Hook Up. The fish are a mix of sizes and have been caught trolling and casting stickbaits.

The waters are Provincetown are thick with bait, Rich at Nelson’s Tackle reported, but the striper fishing has been slow. Until the bass show back up, a better bet would be flounder and blackfish in Provincetown Harbor.

Fishing Forecast

Top your tank with fuel and head out in search of albies this weekend. If the weather allows, get in on the bluefin bite off Chatham. If you’re fishing from shore, live eels at night are your best shot at a big striped bass.