Cape Cod Fishing Report - September 3, 2015

With a three day weekend ahead, Cape Cod fishermen have their pick of species and locations for some great farewell-to-summer fishing.

Many fishermen claimed the false albacore action on Tuesday was the best they’ve ever seen on Cape Cod. Huge schools of albies hit the surface as they ripped through schools of peanut bunker. Catches of more than a dozen albies were common for boat anglers Tuesday. The hot spot has been moving daily however. While the fireworks this week took place off Woods Hole, it seems the most consistent action is around Centerville and to the east reported Bill at Sports Port. That said, fishermen launching anywhere from Falmouth to Chatham have a good chance of finding feeding albies. Captain Drew of Down East Charters said there have been 8- to 11-pound albies all over west of Monomoy.

When the albies aren’t around bluefish are keeping rods bent. Big schools of blues have been blitzing on peanut bunker off the South Side of Cape Cod. In Buzzards Bay, where no albies have been reported yet, as of Thursday, there are bluefish galore blitzing on peanuts. The albies could show up in Buzzards Bay any day, if they haven’t already. With all the bait there, it’s only a matter of time.

Striper fishing on the South Side is improving as well reported Jeff at Forestdale Bait and Tackle. Keeper-sized stripers are feeding inside Popponesset, on the Spit and in Cotuit. Small soft plastics will be the best bet for catching these stripers, which are locked in on the peanut bunker.

The striper bite off Monomoy and Chatham continues to run hot and cold. Last weekend, there was an incredible run of bass off Chatham. A massive school of 20- to 30-pound stripers moved through, providing some of the best fishing of the year. Fish were holding in depths of about 75 feet off Nauset and Chatham and, according to Bill at Sports Port, the fish were stacked up from the bottom to 25 feet below the surface. The big school of stripers seems to have moved on, either heading south or offshore, but Captain Drew of Downeast Charters continues to catch fish up to 35 inches in the area. Captain John from Fish Chatham Charters reported that the fishing in the rips has improved with stripers from school size to 20-plus pounds.

Bluefish are thick from Long Point to Wood End to Race Point and down around the backside reported Rich from Nelsons. The blues are big and aggressive, making for fantastic light-tackle fishing. The blues have mostly been over 12 pounds, Rich said, making it difficult for giant tuna fishermen to find a bluefish suitable for use as live bait. Nevertheless, a few fishermen are using the big blues to catch massive 500-pound and up bluefin tuna. Stripers, however, have been scarce in the waters around Provincetown.

In Cape Cod Bay, fishermen continue to catch stripers by casting live eels at night. In addition to good numbers of 10- to 25-pound bass, there has been the occasional fish of 35 pounds or better caught.

The Cape Cod Canal held some good fishing during the morning tides this week. Stripers of all sizes moved through feeding on peanut bunker and mackerel. This followed a surprisingly slow weekend in the Canal during the full moon. It seems like just about everything is working, from pencil poppers on the surface to heavy jigs on the bottom. Sub-surface plugs like the SP Minnow and the Sebile Magic Swimmer are also working very well.

With black sea bass season closed, scup and fluke are left as the best options for bottom fishing—at least until tog fishing picks up. Bill at Sports Port said the 70-foot depths in Nantucket Sound are producing keeper flatfish, and Jeff at Forestdale said the area outside Popponesset is producing fluke as well. Some fishermen are even catching them from shore.

Several of the shops noted a lack of snapper blues. I’ve seen a few very small snappers, but not the schools of 5- to 8-inchers we usually see this time of year.

Captain John of Fish Chatham Charters has a good week of tuna fishing east of Chatham. The highlight was Monday when he boated a 66-inch bluefish and an 84-inch mako shark. Both fish ate a trolled Joe Shutes Lure with ballyhoo.

Albies are all around the Vineyard, reported the crew at Coops. Fish are being caught from Chappy to Menemsha. Bonito are still around, but have thinned out some since the albies arrived. Bluefish are blitzing on peanut bunker around the island as well.  Bass fishing is on the slow side, but it should be improving soon with fall right around the corner.

Freshwater fishing is still very good reported Jeff at Forestdale Bait and Tackle. Trout fishing seems to be turning on a bit, and big smallmouth bass are feeding as well.  Jeff heard of a 4 ½-pound smallie coming from Peter’s Pond this week.

Best Bets for the Weekend

The first big Northeast blow we’ve had in weeks is coming on Friday, and that may shake things up a little on the fishing front as it moves bait and fish around. The weather calms back down Saturday and through the rest of the three day weekend. The albie fishing is great right now, and who knows how long this fast fish will stick around, so you should make them priority number 1 this weekend. The most consistent fishing seems to be from Centerville to Chatham, but schools are popping up all over on the South Side and around Martha’s Vineyard. If you don’t mind rolling the dice, take a cruise through Buzzards Bay and you may find a school of albies all to yourself—even if you don’t you will still be able to catch all the 3- to 5-pound bluefish you can handle.

If it’s bigger blues you’re after, head to Provincetown. Most of the blues are being caught in the boats, but some are hitting the beaches.

For stripers, the rips off Monomoy are a good bet. Hopefully that big school just moved offshore and this weekend’s onshore winds will push them right back in.