Cape Cod Fishing Report – July 12, 2018

Pictured above: Striper Cup members Lorenzo Tillman and Johathan Pumphrey doubling up on The Canal

Cape Cod Canal and Cape Cod Bay Fishing Report

It happens every year. In mid-July, a crew from On The Water heads south to Orlando to look at the latest and greatest in fishing tackle at the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades (ICAST). And every year, in mid-July, the fishing lights up.

This past Tuesday, I was getting ready to switch my phone into airplane mode for my flight to Florida when a text message came in about a 48-pound striper taken in the Canal. In the following days, many fish larger than 20 pounds were taken, reported Jeff at Canal Bait and Tackle. “If you can’t catch a big fish in the Canal right now,” Jeff said, “it’s time to give up fishing.”

The familiar baits are working, reported the crew at Red Top, recommending Sebile Stick Shadds, Sebile Magic Swimmers, Savage Sand Eels, and pencil poppers. Green mackerel, white, and yellow have been the best colors according to Jeff.

Fishing on the South Side has cooled a big, reported John at Eastman’s Sport and Tackle. While it was a good run in the rips in Vineyard Sound, John said one hard-fishing customer reported this season has been the worst in recent memory in Woods Hole and along the Elizabeths. The good news is, there are plenty of stripers elsewhere.

Monomoy Rips are on fire with quality fish, reported Amy from Sports Port Bait and Tackle, although they have been very crowded with boats at times.

Cape Cod Bay is fishing well with keeper-sized bass and a few fish eclipsing 40 inches said Captain Dan of Salt Shaker Charters. The fish are spread out in the Bay, Dan said, which has also spread out the boat traffic.

Stripers to 30 pounds are being taken in the surf on Martha’s Vineyard reported Julian from Larry’s Tackle Shop. The best fishing has been up island, Julian said, but fishermen looking to catch bluefish can do so at Wasque.

Those were the only blues I heard of this week—both John at Eastman’s and Amy at Sports Port mentioned the unusual absence of the blues.

Fluke fishing is going well off the South Side and even around Monomoy. Julian reported fish to 11 pounds, with plenty of 8- and 9-pounders, taken in the deep waters around Martha’s Vineyard lately. Sea bass are still around in Nantucket Sound, but the fishing is definitely on the downswing, at least for the larger, “knucklehead” sea bass.

For tuna, the canyons are still the main game, and Steve of Chaser Offshore Fishing reported excellent action this week. There are “insane numbers” of yellowfin Steve reported, and plenty of bigeye too. The yellowfin have been a range of sizes, from tiny nerf-football sized to 50- and 60-pounders. The bigeye have been in the low-100-pound range, with a few 200-plus-pounders reported. There have also been white and blue marlin, and swordfish taken.

School bluefin haven’t moved in just yet, but there are some giants around, both south of Martha’s Vineyard and on Stellwagen.

Fishing Forecast for Cape Cod Fishing Forecast

The approaching new moon has moved a fresh school of big bass into Cape Cod waters, so those or you not in Florida should take full advantage. An early start is recommended, but the fish have been feeding well into the day.