Fresh intel is getting tough to come by around the Cape as many fishermen rack the rods, or at least the saltwater rods. There are still schoolies, tog, and bluefin around, not to mention the on-fire freshwater fishing happening all over the Cape.
Fishing report For Cape Cod
Starting with freshwater, trout are feeding heavily at first and last night on the ponds. Rainbows are sipping bugs off the surface and can be caught with dry flies and emergers. Browns are looking for a meatier meal, and are hunting juvenile perch and minnows close to shore. Gold spoons, spinners, small jigs, and stickbaits are working on both species as well as the occasional brook trout or tiger. Fall brookies can be tough to come by as most either get caught or succumb to the summer heat, but there will be a few still swimming around Peter’s, Cliff, Sheep’s, and the other large, deep ponds.
Pickerel are ravenous, with water temperatures smack in the middle of their comfort zone. Fishermen are catching them on jerkbaits, jigs, soft-plastic swimbaits, and flies. When it comes to fly selection for pickerel, the uglier the better—just make sure it has plenty of movement and sinks slowly.
Largemouths are also feeding heavily. In kettle ponds, the biggest of the big bass will be chowing down on trout, while in smaller bog ponds, large golden shiners are the bait of choice. A bucket of shiners will provide plenty of action, but if you’d rather throw lures, lipless crankbaits are always a late-fall favorite as the largemouths tend to school up in open water to hunt down baitfish this time of year.
Afternoons and evenings are a great time to hit the bass ponds this time of year. Along with the lipless crankbaits, shallow-diving crankbaits and swim jigs are two more of my favorites.
Even though intel from the tackle shops was a little sparse this week, one good thing about living on Cape Cod is that there are so many other fishermen around, that you’re bound to get some fresh information somewhere. I was getting my hair cut at Andy’s Barber Shop in Falmouth on Thursday, and Billy told me that morning, he’d see a flock of gulls diving over breaking fish in Falmouth Heights. The fish were out of range of the lone caster trying desperately to reach them, but it was a sure sign that the striper season still has some life left.
Dan at Red Top said the Canal had good action on Tuesday with some fish as large as 32 inches caught. There’s still big baitfish around, but this time of year, many fishermen start targeting the bait, throwing Sabiki rigs and small metals on light gear to catch the mackerel.
Tog fishing is still very good, but finding bait is getting a little tougher. Many shops have stopped stocking green crabs, but Red Top still has them. Be sure to call your local shop ahead of time to make sure they have the bait for you. Even if they don’t you can hit the shoreline on these extreme tides and start flipping rocks to catch the crabs yourself.
On the Vineyard, things are winding down, but there are still schoolie bass and squid to be caught. Peter at Larry’s Tackle Shop said a pond opening last week brought 20-pounders into the surf, and that schoolies are still being caught in good numbers around Oak Bluffs. The squid fishing in Edgartown Harbor has been good on the incoming tide, but the mackerel, which usually show up this time of year, have been absent.
Fishing Forecast for Cape Cod
Fresh is best, but if you’re longing for your last taste of salt, this is the weekend to do it. Grab some green crabs and hit some Buzzards Bay structure for tog, or take some small plugs and jigs and have fun with some schoolies.