Cape Cod Fishing Report - September 26, 2019

It’s StriperFest weekend here on the Cape, and we’d love to have you join us after your morning fishing at Falmouth Marine Park from 12pm to 6pm on Saturday. Events kick off at 10am, with a Shimano casting demo and #kickplastic cleanup at Surf Drive, and Yamaha demo rides. Below, you’ll find a coupon for $5 off general admission to the event.

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And now that you have Saturday afternoon booked, let’s talk about where to find the fish before and after StriperFest.

Reports from the Canal have been mixed. AJ at Red Top Sporting Goods reported good fishing after dark with live eels. The crew from Maco’s Bait and Tackle said daytime has most had small stripers. There had been albies in the Canal in good numbers, but it seems like they’ve retreated into Buzzards Bay. Bluefish from 2- to 6-pounds have been feeding in the Canal as well, snipping eels and soft plastics, but also taking topwater plugs. According to the report from Forestdale Bait and Tackle, there’s been good striper fishing in the East End of the Canal.

Tog fishing is improving in Buzzards Bay. According to Maco’s, there are a ton of blackfish around right now – but most of them are small. The challenge of early-fall tog fishing is the massive amount of small bait-stealers still around in the warm water. I tried tog fishing on Tuesday, and ended up feeding large scup, small bergalls, and a couple undersize tog. As the water cools, the “nuisance” fish will clear out, leaving the larger tog behind. Amy at Sports Port said she’s been hearing of more fishermen chasing tog in Nantucket Sound recently as well.

Amy said most fishermen in her area have been reporting large numbers of small blues, but that a few persistent fishermen have been able to pluck a few albies out of the bluefish feeds. Spanish mackerel also continue to lurk outside the bluefish schools, reported AJ from Red Top. It’s been an amazing month for catching Spanish on Cape Cod.

Albie fishing was a little funky this week. Some fishermen had good days, but overall, the report was picky and scattered. Jim at Eastman’s Sport and Tackle heard of a big school of albies off Nobska Point on Wednesday that had vanished by Thursday. Albies have been popping up sporadically through Buzzards Bay and along the Elizabeths as well.

The Elizabeth Islands are holding some good striper fishing for the fishermen willing to put in some time with eels, said Jim. He said day or night didn’t matter, but hours put in was the key to success. Fish to 25 pounds have been taken on eels in recent days.

Captain Ross of Cape Cod Charter Guys was dealing with the albie slowdown this week as well, and is ready to switch back to striper and tuna hunting in October.

Tuna fishing is very good, with fishermen catching more recreational size tuna in recent days. Captain Matt from Fishy Business jigged up a 71 incher on Thursday, and Captain John from Fish Chatham Charters was heading back in with a fish when we spoke Thursday around lunchtime. He’d had three bites, including one on spinning gear. John’s been catching fish from 55 to 72 inches.

In Cape Cod Bay, boat fishermen have been catching some big bluefish and good-sized stripers reported Amy at Sports Port. Fishermen waling the beaches have been catching plenty of smaller stripers, as the schoolies feast on the peanut bunker schools running along the beaches.

That’s been a common theme all around the Cape, with harbors and salt ponds packed with peanut bunker getting ready to make their move. Small stripers and blues are feeding well on the peanut schools, and when those fish start to move, they should draw the attention of some larger bass and bluefish as well.

There have even been reports of albies, bonito, and Spanish mackerel running deep into harbors get in on the peanut buffet.

Amy from Sports Port said some of the South Side bays have schools of adult bunker, with mid-size bluefish  harrying them. As things cool off,  keep an eye on these schools as some larger blues and stripers make a pit stop on their migrations to feed on the big baits.

Fishing Forecast for Cape Cod
Besides the tuna fishing, nothing is really red hot right now, but with massive tides from the new moon on Saturday fish will definitely be moving around. I’d look for the albie fishing to pick back up, and for some better stripers to move through on their way south. Be sure to swing by StriperFest this Saturday for live music, great food, and good times.