Cape Cod Fishing Report - June 4, 2015

With the full moon in June this week, it’s no surprise that the big bass arrived on Cape Cod. While the Canal attracted the largest crowds and got the most attention on Facebook, big stripers were caught all over the Cape this week, and things are look even better for this weekend.

AJ at Red Top weighed in Canal stripers to 41 pounds this week. The fish were being caught on everything from pencil poppers on the surface to jigs on the bottom. Large numbers of 10- to 25-pound fish were taken with several fish 30 pounds and larger mixing in as well. AJ recommended fishing from the Herring Run to the East End, as that’s where most of the larger fish were taken Thursday morning. White was the hot color for pencil poppers and swimming plugs, AJ said.

The Canal didn’t have a monopoly on big fish this week. The South Side saw a surprisingly good run of 40-inch-plus stripers. OTW’s Andy Nabreski escaped the Canal crowds Thursday morning and found a 25-pounder on a quiet South Side beach. The fish apparently fed through the morning as Andy returned at lunch and caught several more quality bass on siwmming plugs. Bass to 30 pounds were caught at Popponesset this week reported Jeff at Forestdale Bait and Tackle.

Ben from Black Eel Outfitters had more reports of South Side cows. He reported solid in the past week thanks to the cold front mixed with some wet weather. Herring River in Harwich was on fire said Ben. Multiple keeper sized fish have been caught, including a 30-incher with a photo attached. Ben heard reports of large bunker in Cotuit Bay, and very large stripers  harrassing them through the night, pushing the baitfish right onto the beach. There were fish to 40 inches caught.

On the Cape Cod Bay side, Ben reported large fish prowling the flats on Saturday, including a 38-incher was caught from the Brewster Flats. Most of the fish on the bay side have been smaller. Jeff at Forestdale reported schoolies feeding along the beaches from Sandwich to Dennis. That’s poised to change, however, as the big schools of mackerel off Barnstable are bound to be on the hit list of the big stripers currently making their way through the Canal. Live-lining mackerel in Cape Cod Bay could be a very hot ticket this weekend. Simeon at Goose Hummock reported consistent action on stripers from Race Point to Barnstable Harbor.

The more exciting news from Simeon was the great bite happening off the backside of the Cape, around the Golf Balls. There, Simeon said, captains are vertical jigging for quality stripers.

The Elizabeth Islands are producing some large fish, especially Cuttyhunk reported the crew at CMS. Trolling has been the best ticket right now, but anglers who are able to locate some live bunker and bring them to the islands are having great success as well. On the mainland side of Buzzards Bay, the report from CMS was good numbers of smaller bass in the rivers at spots like Little River Bridge.

Bluefish continue to be sporadic. There have been a few caught along the South Coast in Buzzards Bay. They are occasionally showing up on the South Side of the Cape, but unlike most years, where this bite happens pretty reliably in the evening, it seems like the one or two good nights have been followed by nearly a week of slow fishing.

The one exception is the Vineyard, where Peter from Larry’s Tackle reported that anglers enjoyed a “just like the old days” bluefish blitz on Chappy over the weekend.  From Wasque to Cape Poge, 6- to 12-pound bluefish were being caught on every cast.  Yellow-colored top water lures were the primary choice of fishermen.   For those who had enough energy after fighting with all those blues, the night bite for stripers was very good with fish up to 20 pounds in the mix.   Up Island, anglers were doing well with topwater action for stripers with the largest fish in the 25-pound range.

Bottom fishing has been excellent for black sea bass, both off the South Side and in Buzzards Bay. Sea bass of 4 and 5 pounds are being caught on most trips. Scup fishing is improving quickly, and fish to almost 3 pounds have been caught this week. By all accounts, fluke fishing is slow right now.

A few fishermen have made scouting missions for tuna, and found lots of bait and whales. The table is set for tuna to arrive, and it won’t be long before we hear of bluefin back on Cape Cod.

Best Bets for the Weekend

It’s the peak of the spring striper run. The Canal has promising tides through the weekend, but the shoulder-to-shoulder crowds may be a deterrent for some anglers. If you don’t mind a little company, fill the plug bag with white pencil poppers, mackerel-colored SP Minnows and some Savage Sand Eels. On the South Side, poppers, Red Fins and Bombers are a good choice for fooling stripers on the sand beaches. If you’re looking to take out the boat, bring some Sabiki rigs to Barnstable Harbor, jig up some macks and live-line them for a shot at a monster striper.

When the sun gets high and the stripers thin out, break out the bottom fishing gear and enjoy the excellent black sea bass fishing off the South Side and in Buzzards Bay.

If you’re looking to add some competition to your bottom fishing this weekend, the Bad Daddy Buzzards Bay Fishing Tournament is happening this Saturday. Visit HERE for details.