Fresh stripers are now being caught on the Vineyard, in Buzzards Bay, and along the South Side of the Cape. Most of the fish are small, 12 to 16 inches, but 20-plus-inchers are around. Red Top could even confirm reports of 28- to 32-inch bass, though whether those were fresh arrivals or larger holdovers is open to debate. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter. The migration has reached Cape Cod, and it will be gaining steam every day.
Red Top suggested looking in the “usual spots” for the schoolies, which means inside rivers and salt ponds, and even along the South Side beaches. The mornings and water are still cold, so seeking the locations and conditions that will have warmer water. That often means fishing the outgoing tide in the afternoon or evening. The sun warms the water in the shallow backwaters and it is at its warmest on the falling tide, before a rush of cold water from the ocean floods in during the incoming.
Small soft-plastic paddle tails are working best for the stripers, but fishermen are catching on swimming plugs, like the small size Daiwa SP Minnow as well.
Tog fishing is getting started, but the fish are predominantly shorts. The windy weather hasn’t been very conducive to tog fishing either, so we won’t have a clear picture of how that fishing is shaping up until the weather improves. Same for the haddock fishing on Stellwagen. The fish are there, but the weather has kept fishermen from reaching them.
Freshwater continues to be excellent according to Bruce at Canal Bait and Tackle. Trout, bass, and pickerel are all biting well. My own freshwater fishing this week including a couple fat pickerel and a pair of 3-, maybe 4-pound bass on large golden shiners. My swimbaits continued to swim mostly unbothered except for a super-sized follower I had over the weekend.
Fishing Forecast for Cape Cod
The striper fishing is on. Grab some small jigs, crush your barbs, and enjoy some fun fishing for scrappy schoolies. When the wind lays down, there should be some tog, haddock, and even scup available for fishermen looking for some good eats. And the prespawn largemouth bass bite is still on, with small fishing firing up as well. Fresh or salt, you can’t go wrong on the Cape right now.
Now is not the time to be bragging about fish arriving in massachusetts.
Shame you on the water & I’m a yearly attendee to your event.
Hopefully we dont get shut down because of you guys highlighting every good spot to fish from shore in massachusetts during these bad times.
I hope you can think past the money to help ensure us all of a good saltwater season.
Btw do you really think we will all gather for our 2020 striper cup???
Jesus christ????
I thought you guys were striped bass conservationists???
Why dont you guys just do a socisl distancing video for tourists???????
Joey
For one year, please don’t lure unquarantined out of staters to our waters.
I enjoy the different faces exploring our south shore waters but now is not the time.
Jimmy we have to protect our locals and we are not sure about the 2020 striper cup???
Lets think of the future,whats better for us all during these ruff times.
For better or for worse ??? Entirely up to you guys, with all your internet followers…
Protect our locals? I thought we were all Americans. What happened to we are all in this together. Apparently not you.
Please! lighten up, haven’t we spent enough time on the corona virus, let’s look a head to spring and summer fishing
I appreciate accurate fishing reports. If you’re worried about social distancing, you have the choice to stay home. When shore fishing, I won’t stand withing 100 ft of another angler during normal times. What’s the problem?
Absolutely. Guessing the locals are afraid the rest of us who come down and spend our money in the local economy might be taking over or something. Shit, we can just stay home. As quint said in Jaws, “But you’ve gotta make up your minds. If you want to stay alive, then ante up. If you want to play it cheap, be on welfare the whole winter.”
Marco! Good point, huh?
I dont understand the negative reactions here – they post fishing reports every week for a bunch of regions, and have since the earliest stages of the pandemic.
My thoughts exactly.
Agreed!
This is a fishing report. Nothing to be mad about. All the issues with social distancing is on every other website and news channel. Most people read the reports anyway just for excitement about fishing. Guys know their holes and spots. Guys who go up or down to the Cape know that the fish are all over the cape. I do wonder if charters and party boats are even going out…
Wait till the bass hit the canal…. Virus or not fish will come. Be safe.
Holy cow! What a bunch of uptight whimps. Go hug your teddy bear and leave us fisherman to our peaceful pastime.
I agree with Doug 100%
seriously
keyboard warriors
For Pete sake! Shoppers are playing “bumper bodies” in Walmart and at the super market and you’re worried about being too close for safety while fishing where you are at least fifty feet from one another? Take a breath and be glad you’re not in NYC!
For Pete sake! Shoppers are playing “bumper bodies” in Walmart and at the super market and you’re worried about being too close for safety while fishing where you are at least fifty feet from one another? Take a breath and be glad you’re not in NYC!
Joe deep breath buddy ! will leave some fish for ya !
Everyone please just stay home and be safe . I will go fishing at canal and update report for your guy every day. You can run but you hide forever. lol
As Steven Wright said, “There is a fine line between fishing and standing on the shore like an idiot.” I prefer to fish at a safe distance. Where’s the harm in that?
Thank god for on the water. Giving us reports on coastal waters we all own and enjoy.
I don’t stand near other people, ever. I can’t see why anyone would get upset about someone fishing alone on a riverbank. Some people have really lost their ability to think for themselves, my God..
I think its funny because the reports is yesterdays and last week news and the hot spots are usually not hot by the time you read the reports ! I read up to entertain myself and thank on the water for getting me wild up to go / love you guys and love the reports .
You know what guys (and ladies)? You don’t have to believe anything you read. That is up to you. The only person that believes everything they hear is a fool, the only people that do not make a mistake are people that do nothing! Go fishing for God’s sake. No hook, no fish. How simple can it be??
Please stop with the covid 19 baloney lets go fishing life goes on and we fish period thank you for the reports and the waters are for all americans not only for the state you live in. I just got back from upstate New York and was welcomed by everyone. No matter what state we live in we are all americans just buy your license and obey state rules tight lines to all
Does anyone have any good spots around Newburyport?
red top is palace where you go and pay $30 for a .50 cents peice wood not a good place to buy tackle , unless you have very deep pockets, it use to be a good place to stop back in day, you have refinance your house now to buy a lure. sorry for the bad review …everybody knows all those tackle stores down there,, gouging you to death…..
Joey might watch a lot of CNN …..?
Joey MUST watch lots of CNN. Like the rest of them, he’s all for anybody that wants to oppose controlled borders until any new-comer affects HIM, even if it’s just his fishing spots!
Joe; the once who owe the Canal ? He would love Trump build him a wall for his favor spot. 🙂
Joey probably was the guy with 2 flags on each window of his truck after 9-11. Now wants to hide under his bed and call Police on someone fishing. Joey if you choose to live your life in fear that is your call. But do not dictate to anyone else how they should live there’s. It’s fishing. Wake up