Cape Cod Fishing Report - July 16, 2015

Even though it’s mid-summer, the striper fishing is still fired up–fishermen just need to adjust where they’re looking for them.

Provincetown, which has been the hotspot since late May, is finally slowing down. The schools of 15- to 30-pound bass that have been feeding on mackerel and sand eels have begun to dissipate, with some moving offshore (and off limits) to Stellwagen, and some moving down along the backside beaches.

The Canal is fishing well, according to Mike at Red Top. Mike reported that anglers are catching fish up to 25 pounds in the Canal. Pencil poppers are working at first light, and once the sun gets high, sub-surface plugs and jigs are working best.

The crew at Macos heard of fish to 30 pounds coming from the Canal. They also reported some topwater action happening in the middle of the Canal in the afternoons.

The biggest surf striper reported this week came from Martha’s Vineyard, where Larry’s Tackle Shop weighed in a 42-pound, shore-caught striper.

Schoolie stripers have been reported from south side beaches, including the Popponesset Spit reported Jeff at Forestdale Bait and Tackle. Live-lining scup is working on Bishops and Clerks reef.

Monomoy Rips have been spotty reported Amy at Sports Port, but a few fish have been caught by fishermen casting eels.

Some large bass have been reported from the beaches between Nauset Light and the Coast Guard Beach. Bass between 20 and 30 pounds have been hitting the sand in recent days reported the crew at Goose Hummock.  If you see seals, keep walking, they said, but in the seal-free water, bass are biting well.

The Cape Cod Bay beaches are producing some small schoolies during the day. At night, Sandy Neck has produced the occasional big bass for anglers fishing bait on the bottom.

Trolling umbrella rigs has been the key to hooking keeper bass in Buzzards Bay reported the crew at Maco’s.

Fishermen at Cuttyhunk and the Elizabeth Islands have reported catching quality stripers this week. This is good news after a relatively slow spring run along the islands. Woods Hole remains slow, except for a few school-size stripers taken on small topwaters and soft plastics.

For bluefish, the top spot has been Horseshoe Shoal, where catching 8- to 9-pound blues has been as simple as casting or trolling a big baitfish imitation.

Blues have also made their way into the Canal, where fishermen have had their soft-plastic jigs shortened by the yellow-eyed demons.

Black sea bass fishing is good in Nantucket Sound, but has slowed in Buzzards Bay. Bottom fishermen in Buzzards Bay are catching many sea bass that are just shy of keeper size, with a few just over the legal limit. The big sea bass have mostly moved off to deeper water.

Picking up the slack in Buzzards Bay has been the scup, which are feeding over the hard bottoms in big numbers.

Keeper fluke are also being caught in Buzzards Bay around Cleveland Ledge. More fluke are coming from the Sound, especially Succonesset Shoal, reported Amy from Sports Port.

Though the striper fishing has slowed down at Race Point, the tuna fishing seems to be picking up. A recent report from Goose Hummock said tuna have been spotted feeding on the surface off Provincetown. Small tuna are still being caught south of Martha’s Vineyard. East of Chatham, a mixed bag of tuna are being caught, with 50- t0 150-pound-plus tuna being caught by fishermen trolling in those waters.

Best Bets for the Weekend

For stripers, its time to shift gears and look toward summer spots. The backside beaches are the best bet for surf fishermen who are willing to walk to avoid the seals. The Canal is fishing well, day and night. The Elizabeths have been giving up fish in the dark for fishermen casting eels into the rocks.

For bottom fishing, fluke is the best bet in Buzzards Bay and the sounds, but keeper black sea bass can still be picked up all around the Cape.