Cape Cod Fishing Report - April 19, 2018

Wet, windy, and cold. That about sums up the past week here on the Cape. The fishing conditions haven’t been pleasant, but the fishing reports, at least in freshwater, have been pretty good.

Tom at Red Top Sporting Goods weighed in some trout this week, including a rainbow trout of 2 pounds, 8 ounces and a brown trout of 3-plus pounds. As nice as a 3-pound brown is, that fish has nothing on the hook-jawed behemoth caught by Pete McManus. That fish, pictured below, hit a Yo-Zuri Pins Minnow in the rainbow trout color – and it’s still out there swimming for another lucky angler to catch.

By far the biggest brown trout I have caught. #capecodfishing #trout #browntrout #catchphotorelease

A post shared by Pete (@pete_mcmanus_) on Apr 15, 2018 at 12:10pm PDT

Tom said the bass fishing, largemouth bass, that is, has been going well for anglers willing to swim a live shiner. The bass have been running hot and cold with the weather, but at least one monster was landed this week, an estimated 9-pounder that Tom said was on its way to the shop to hit the scale when we spoke on Thursday afternoon. He promised to share a photo with me when he got one, and I’ll post it here when he does. UPDATE 4/20/18: Photo posted above. Dylan Towne with a 9-pound, 2-ounce largemouth taken on a shiner. Fish was released after the weigh in. 

Saltwater fishing is yet to start, according to most reports. Fishermen are plucking holdover stripers from the Weweantic River, and other holdover hotspots around southeast Massachusetts.

A few dandelions have been spotted around the Cape, a sign that there should be some tog lurking around the rocky ledges of Buzzards Bay and Vineyard and Nantucket sounds, but according to the report from Macos Bait and Tackle, there have been no blackfish reported yet. But according to Tom from Red Top, that could come down to a lack of effort. High winds aren’t conducive to anchoring over small pieces of structure.

Slightly warmer air and water temps made for a hot #browntrout bite this afternoon! Caught 10 and lost 5, all browns! #capecod #catchandrelease #thetugisthedrug #livetofish #tightlines #myfishingcapecod #onthewatermagazine

A post shared by Jordan B (@striper_swiper) on Apr 17, 2018 at 4:37pm PDT

Macos did report some tinker mackerel at the East End of the Canal for fishermen willing to sling small metals on light gear. Unless you have a taste for mackerel, your efforts would probably be best spent in freshwater where the fish have been larger and the action more consistent.

Squid are slow to show reported the staff at Sports Port Bait and Tackle in Hyannis.

Fishing Forecast for Cape Cod

Freshwater fishing is still your best bet for good action—for at least one more week. There have been rumblings of a striper caught bearing a single sea louse during last week’s brief warm spell, so if you’re willing to take a swing at the saltwater, check your favorite early-season spots with small soft plastics.

Otherwise, enjoy what’s sure to be a great weekend of freshwater fishing both for bass and trout.