The new moon and the long weekend should make for some great fishing opportunities on Cape Cod.
Cape Cod Canal, Cape Cod Bay and the Outer Cape
From Provincetown down along the back side continues to be the hot spot for catching stripers. Schools of bass are chasing sand eels on the surface, hitting topwater lures, minnow plugs, and swim shads. The fish are good size, ranging from 10- to 30-plus pounds. Fishermen have been looking for flocks of birds to lead them to the striper schools, although lately, the huge fleet of boats has been a positive indicator of where the fish are feeding. Scott at Sports Port said live mackerel has been working well also.
Shops from around the Cape commented on the bite out there. “Provincetown is loaded with bass,” reported the Red Top crew. “Tons of fish in P-town,” said Bill at Maco’s. “Guys have been doing well at ‘The Golf Ball.’” Reported Christian at Falmouth Bait and Tackle.
Bill at Maco’s also noted that the waters off Plymouth are holding good numbers of bass and mackerel. That’s good news for Canal fishermen who have been suffering through a dry spell throughout most of the month. The extreme tides brought on by the upcoming new moon should suck those mackerel into the Canal, bringing big stripers with them. There’s good potential for surface action in the Canal this weekend, but the past few set of “breaking tides” have been disappointing.
Fishermen are having some success fishing the lower half of the water column in the Canal reported the crew at Red Top. Jigs such as the Savage Sand Eel and Al Gags Whip-It Fish have been working. Bluefish are popping up in the West End, most often taking a chunk out of soft-plastic baits, but occasionally hitting a popper.
The Monomoy rips have been heating up reported Captain John at Fish Chatham Charters. He’s been catching good numbers of bass there this week, and had an unforgettable encounter with a great white shark that made a meal of one of the stripers his client was fighting to the boat. John said the fishing slowed after the shark attack as the stripers scattered.
Buzzards Bay and Elizabeth Islands
The best of the black sea bass fishing seems to have shifted toward Rhode Island as the keeper-sized sea bass seek out deeper, cooler waters.
Lots of fluke are being taken in Buzzards Bay just outside the Canal channel. Many are short, but keepers are being caught regularly. Use long strip baits if you’re hoping to weed out the undersized fish.
The harbors along Buzzards Bay are full of small stripers, and heading out at dusk with a light spinning rod and a some small jigs is a good way to get a few schoolies. Just remember the bug spray. When the wind lays down, the no-see-ums have been ravenous around the Cape marshes.
Some good reports came from Cuttyhunk early in the week when boat fishermen caught good numbers of stripers to 30 pounds by trolling plugs. Live-lining bunker accounted for fewer but larger fish, including a 48-pounder taken along the islands on a live bunker by Nate Corwin.
Christian at Falmouth Bait and Tackle said eeling along the islands has been okay as some more stripers migrate into the area from the south.
South Side and Martha’s Vineyard
The shoals in Vineyard and Nantucket sounds are producing good fishing for stripers and blues. Rips such as Middle Ground is producing a mix of bass and bluefish, along with bottom fishing opportunities for fluke.
Captain Mort of Fish Tales Charters has been catching lots of schoolies in Nantucket Sound, with some good fish mixed in. Rubber squids have been the lure of choice, outproducing standbys like the Slug-Go. Mort reported tons of bluefish around the corner of Nantucket.
The black sea bass fishing in Nantucket Sound is getting picky, as the larger males move off to deeper water, leaving the smaller females. Many fishermen are switching their bottom fishing efforts over to fluke, which have been biting well. The tops of shoals are loaded with flatfish, but keepers have been tough to come by in the shallow water. Target deeper holes outside the shoals for larger fish. I fished off Falmouth last weekend, focusing our efforts on Halfway Shoal. We were a couple fish shy of our three-man limit, but had fluke up to 23 inches.
The Wasque Rips are producing bass and blues reported Peter at Larry’s Tackle. Bass action is good at Middle Ground. Peter said it’s been no problem picking up a limit of fluke fishing between Middle Ground and Lucas Shoal.
Fishermen are finding fun action in Edgartown Harbor with scup and small black sea bass biting right off the docks. Surf fishermen are finding decent action with 15- to 20-pound stripers off the North Shore of the island, and there’s a good bluefish bite off East Beach with 3- to 5-pound blues.
Tuna and Offshore
Captain John of Fish Chatham Charters reported that the tuna bite has been slow. A few fish were taken last weekend during the Hyannis Tunafest Tournament, including a couple north of 73 inches.
Anglers venturing out for sharks have been having no problem finding some blue sharks to battle, but more desirable species like makos and threshers have been tougher to come by.
The best offshore news this week came from Chaser Offshore Fishing. Steve called me on his way back from Hydrographer Canyon where he fished a good temperature break, catching several quality yellowfin on the warm side, and a 200-pound bluefin on the cold side, with a gaffer mahi as well.
Best Bets for the Weekend
Fluke and stripers are the top targets this weekend. Race Point and along the backside is the best bet for bass. Get there early, and don’t be afraid to venture away from the fleet.
For fluke, target the deeper holes and troughs near the shoals in Vineyard Sound. It’s prime time to take a doormat. Bring a mix of bucktail jigs and bait rigs, and switch back and forth until the keepers let you know what they want.
The fishing sounds great, but there are still lots of guys who cast from shore who might like more insight as to where they might have more luck. It’s fairly simple enough to follow the current and hope for some stripers if you could put out some info on hotspots for fluke, seabass etc. from shore it would be appreciated.
Thanks for all the excellent info on freshwater fishing, definitely could up anyones game.
Steve
You read my mind Steve.
For wasque you want the high tide and first few hours off the drop. Right at point. For rest of my look for miles of white water along the entire coat facing south and toward block island.