Cape Cod Fishing Report - August 15, 2019

Bonito were the talk of the shops this week, as, toward the end of last week and over the weekend, big numbers of bonito moved in close to the Vineyard where shore and boat fishermen caught them by casting small soft plastics, flies, and metals into frothing feeds around Tashmoo and Oak Bluffs. Strong southwest winds Monday afternoon scattered the bait and the bonito. When the weather became fishable again on Wednesday morning, the nearshore bite had cooled, but trolling around the shoals and the Hooter had fired up.

The Vineyard wasn’t the only place bonito showed this week, reported Evan from Eastman’s Sport and Tackle. There were some taken on Hedge Fence, in Buzzards Bay, and even in the Cape Cod Canal.
 
Any bonito nosing into the Canal on Wednesday would have been lucky to escape with their lives. Stripers into the 30-pound class blitzed from morning to evening, reported Mike at Red Top Sporting Goods, devouring mackerel, along with the usual Canal favorite lures like paddle-tail jigs, Magic Swimmers, and pencil poppers. I was part of a massive crowd to descend on the Ditch Thursday morning, only to hear “Shoulda been here yesterday,” from the lucky few anglers who’d fished the day before.

There were still fish caught Thursday, reported Jeff at Canal Bait and Tackle, but they were smaller and fewer in number than the fish on Wednesday. Jeff suggests the fishing could pick up again at any time, though.

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

There have been a few blues in the Canal, though more are snipping soft plastics than are actually being caught reported the crew at Maco’s Tackle.

Bluefishing has been better in the Sounds, where Captain Ross of Cape Cod Charter Guys has been picking off blues between filling his limit of black sea bass.

Ben at Forestdale Bait and Tackle reported big packs of blues roving the sounds, in addition to some 26- to 28-inch stripers being taken from the south-facing beaches after dark.

Bluefishing continues to be excellent in Provincetown, where Captain Mike of Cee Jay Fishing said blues in a wide range of sizes from snapper to slammer are being caught between Race Point and Wood End. His customers have also been treated to a few tuna shows as well, as the big bluefin smash through schools of bunker.

There have been some stripers, with a few approaching 30 inches, in with the blues around Provincetown.

Schoolie stripers to about 30 inches have been taken along the South Side reported Evan at Eastman’s. Fishermen catching stripers closer to 30 inches have been fishing eels in the outflows after dark. The Elizabeths are also holding good numbers of stripers, though once again, many are small.

In addition to the bonito, bluefish and bass are spread around Martha’s Vineyard reported Don at Larry’s Tackle. Stripers as large as 20 pounds have been caught up island recently.

The canyons continue to fish well, reported Captain Steve from Chaser Offshore Fishing. The bigeye have been scarce, but large yellowfin have been plentiful. Tuna are few and farther between in the area between the canyons and the Vineyard, but white marlin have followed the warm water onto the shelf, and are feeding in the shipping lanes in good numbers.

Fishing Forecast for Cape Cod

While bonito and stripers are getting most of the attention, the improving fishing for bluefish is worth a shot this weekend. Whether out at P-Town, or in the sound, blues will provide some fun fishing on diamond jigs and topwaters.

Sea bass are still around, for anyone looking to secure some tasty fillets. Fish deeper water for a shot at larger fish, and if you’re willing to make the run, the waters around Noman’s Island are holding the largest numbers of large sea bass right now.

Bonito seem to be spreading into more areas, after concentrating on the Hooter and certain parts of the Vineyard. Keep a rod rigged and ready to cast at time whenever fishing the South Side or Buzzards Bay right now. There have also been a couple king mackerel reported, but not as many as last year. Still, that bite could happen, as the fishing didn’t really fire up until closer to September, both in 2018 and 2017.

For stripers, you could try your luck with the crowds, or trade the shot at a large fish for some elbow room by fishing the South Side or Cape Cod Bay beaches. Lighter rods with small swimming plugs or topwaters will provide a fun evening or morning of schoolie fishing, with a decent shot at a 30-inch or better fish.

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