Cape Cod Fishing Report - July 25, 2019

Fishing at the start of the week was pretty good until Tuesday’s storms scattered the fish somewhat. Of course, the storm and tornado that touched down did damage to far more than just the fishing. Mid-Cape residents are still dealing with downed trees, power outages and storm-damaged property. For that reason, many boats didn’t sail mid-week, but with a promising forecast this weekend, fishermen can expect to find bass, blues, and bluefin around the Cape.

Sunday and Monday brought blitzing bass to the Canal reported Jeff from Canal Bait and Tackle. The storm killed the bite, according to Jeff, who said that fishermen fishing bait and fishing deep, especially in the dark, have the best shot at catching right now.

AJ at Red Top Sporting Goods recommended jigging after dark to scratch up some fish in the Canal. He was encouraged by the recent topwater action in the East End, as there hadn’t been much of that this season.

Ben at Forestdale had heard the same story on the Canal—good before the storm, slow after. He’d heard good news from fishermen walking the Cape Cod Bay beaches, who had been catching 24- to 27-inch stripers. Small swimming plugs are productive on these bayside beaches, and the nighttime hours are generally the best shot.

On Monday, Captain Mel of FishNet Charters found huge numbers of 30- to 33-inch stripers on the Monomoy Rips, but hasn’t been back since the storms. Captain Mort of FishTale Sportfishing has continued to catch good numbers of fish around the rips, but larger bass have been scarce. Similar story from Captain John of Fish Chatham Charters who said you have to weed through large numbers of small bass to get to the larger fish. Captain Mort suggested a very early departure improves the odds of catching larger fish.

Cape Cod Bay is still producing some fish for Captain David of Stripers-R-Us. He had a father and son duo out when I called, and both were fighting fish while David was giving the report. Trolling tube-and-worm rigs has been producing bass to 38 inches for David this week. Following the storms, the water temperature dropped 7 degrees, David said, which has shaken up the fishing a bit, but he’s continued to catch.

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Overall, the striper fishing in the bay has slowed down, but Captain Ross of Cape Cod Charter Guys has been having good luck with keeper-sized bass off the East End of the Canal.

Captain Mike of Cee Jay Fishing said there’s plenty of smaller bass around P-Town, but the blues have really camped in. He’s been catching the blues almost every day from Wood End around to the Backside. Most are in the 2- to 4-pound range, but Mike says, there are flurries of action with larger fish.

Bluefish have been snipping paddle tails in the Canal, usually just behind the hook. There have been some large blues taken in the Canal over the past couple weeks, but their presence is sporadic, and they seem to exclusively be interested in striking live eels or soft plastics.

Off the South Side, small blues are popping up around the sounds, but Horseshoe Shoal has been producing more consistent action, with larger fish reported Jim at Eastman’s Sport and Tackle. Beyond that, the fishing off the South Side has been a struggle, Jim said. There are a few small bass around, and a couple better fish for the anglers working the Elizabeth Islands at night. Jim also heard of a few bass being chunked off Gay Head, but that fishing is a shadow of what it was 10 years ago, when a big fleet would set up there and catch large bass on fresh bunker.

Bonito haven’t moved into the sound yet, by most accounts. The Hooter and Squibnocket are the best bet, reported Jim. Even those have been spotty said the report from Larry’s Tackle in Oak Bluffs. Inshore fishing around Martha’s Vineyard has been tough, the fluke are small, the stripers are scarce, and the only reasonably consistent action is with the bluefish, according to the Larry’s crew.

Warm waters are bringing some more exotic species to Nantucket. Captain Marc of the Just Do It Too caught a triggerfish on the island this week. Triggers, while a common catch in New York and New Jersey, are rare inshore on Cape Cod. They are hard fighters and great eating, and have habits and a diet similar to tautog. Marc also caught a bonito this week, so at least a few are working their way over from the Hooter, and possibly setting up in Bonito Bar. Marc also caught plenty of blues and scup this week.

Captain Jay of Starrfish Charters has been catching stripers around Nantucket on shell squids and swimming plugs. The bluefish, however, have been sporadic.

The black sea bass continue to move deeper, reported AJ at Red Top. Captain Mel of FishNet Charters was off Cuttyhunk trying to locate the sea bass when we spoke on Thursday. There are still some big ones being caught. Captain Ross of Cape Cod Charter Guys had a 24-inch sea bass this week. He’s also had good luck culling keeper-sized fluke out of the shorts off the South Side.

While the inshore report this week was lukewarm, the tuna fishing has been hotter than our weather last weekend.

East of Chatham, Captain John of Fish Chatham Charters has been tallying a tuna on nearly every trip. When I spoke to him Thursday, he was headed to port with an 81-incher. The tuna east of Chatham have been almost all on the large side, with bait being the best way to get a bite. John said the few “smaller” tuna he’s been hearing of (55- to 70-inchers), have come on spreader bars.

The canyons are fishing very well according to Captain Steve of Chaser Offshore Fishing. While historically productive spots like the Dump and the surrounding areas have been devoid of life, fishermen able to make it all the way to the edge are being rewarded by good numbers of yellowfin and bigeye, with shots at billfish. Steve even took a wahoo this week. The tuna, he said, have been in the deep water, not along the shelf, but that’s also where the best water has been. As the water moves onto the shelf, the tuna should follow, and Steve says the action may improve at the South of the Vineyard spots. But for the moment, if you’re looking for a shorter run to tuna, Steve suggests running east of Chatham.

Fun fishing for all ages can be had at Dowses Beach where, according to Frank from Sports Port, the scup are in thick. Northern kingfish are also mixing in at Dowses, and are delicious when pan fried.

Largemouth bass fishing has been excellent for anglers casting hollow-body frogs around vegetation. Throwing hard-body topwaters, like Jitterbugs or buzzbaits is a good strategy for after dark.

Fishing Forecast for Cape Cod

The approaching new moon (July 31) should help the bass fishing bounce back. The storms and warming waters are likely to have moved them around, so the bass may set up in different areas. With larger fish slowing down around Monomoy, it may be a good idea to look off Nauset or Chatham.

The reports of big bass to our north are so good, but it’s likely that the big bass followed the bunker along the South Shore, past Boston, and onto the North Shore. If you can make it to the tuna grounds, either east or south, go. But, if running south, go all the way to the canyons. The tuna may move up onto the shelf and into the dump, but they haven’t yet.

Want to get in on the bite? Find an OTW-approved Charter Fishing Captain for Cape Cod.