Cape Cod Fishing Report - May 10, 2018

Bunker and blackfish, schoolies and scup, and…keeper stripers. It’s all coming together on Cape Cod as we approach Mid-May.

By all accounts, the schoolie fishing hasn’t broken wide open just yet. There are fish around, but the onslaught of sea-lice laden small stripers isn’t quite here yet, with one exception.

Jeff at Canal Bait and Tackle reported big numbers of small stripers smashing baitfish throughout the Canal this week. There’s bait all over, with bunker in the West End and mackerel just off the East End at the green can. Jeff hasn’t heard of any keepers in the Canal, but he did hear of some in Buzzards Bay. He expects the new moon coming after this weekend to light the fuse on the 2018 spring run of stripers through the Canal.

More keeper bass were reported by Peter at Larry’s Tackle, who said surfcaster working the south side of Martha’s Vineyard have been catching 28- to 32-inchers. He also said that the schoolies have moved into the ponds, and are active enough to strike topwaters.

Also happening on the Vineyard, large scup and squid have moved into Edgartown Harbor.

Boat fishermen working Nantucket Sound around Collier’s Ledge have been cleaning lots of ink off their hulls following squid trips this week. The squid run is going strong, reported Scott at Sports Port Bait and Tackle. There are even some being caught from shore in Hyannis, he said.

The striper fishing on the South Side of the Cape is off to a slower start. Scott reported that he’s only been hearing of schoolies in Bass River, while John at Eastman’s Sport and Tackle said the stripers seem to be moving around a lot, not setting up in any one area in large numbers.

John has heard of a few worm spawns happening in the afternoons this week, well inside the harbors and ponds. Small stripers have been taking advantage of the easy meals, by slurping the cinder worms off the surface.

Scup fishing is on fire in Nantucket Sound, with customers aboard the Patriot finding easy limits. Buzzards Bay also has scup, and tog, at Cleveland Ledge according to Jill at Red Top Sporting Goods.

Jill also mentioned that the freshwater fishing is red hot for bass and trout. Although, the bass fishing is cooling off as the largemouth get on their spawning beds and take a break from feeding. Trout stocking carried on around the Cape this week, with rainbows and browns going in, so don’t forget about those freshwater opportunities as you dust off the saltwater gear.

Fishing Forecast for Cape Cod

Bigger stripers are on the way, and you should be able to find that first keeper right after Mother’s Day Brunch on Sunday. Small swim shads or swimming plugs are a good bet, and herring colors like blue/silver, black/silver, and blue/pink are a great choice. But, have some mackerel pattern plugs nearby in case those macks staging outside the East End make a run into the Canal on next week’s breaking tides.