This week, I have a dash of salt to add to the freshwater reports. Besides the holdover stripers that have been stirring, Rhode Island has seen its first sea lice laden fish. The next week or so is usually when fresh fish hit the south side of Martha’s Vineyard. No word of that yet, but there have been reports of keeper-sized blackfish in Buzzards Bay.
Unfortunately, the fan is turning back on, after giving us a brief respite and a couple beautifully calm days. We have a windy weekend, and early part of next week. The good news is, a lot of that wind is from the south and southwest, which typically sends some warmer water, and the first stripers of the season, our way. By next Thursday, I bet someone on the Vineyard will have broken the ice on the Cape Cod striper season.
Freshwater fishing remains very good. My outings brought me many small bass late last week and into the weekend, and some big pickerel this week. I filmed the fishing in last Friday’s wind and rainstorm, and I had a fun quantity over quality outing in the lousy weather. You can see the video here.
Trout fishing continues on. The fish are settling in at their new homes, so you will have to venture beyond the stocking sites to find the action now. Don’t limit your fishing to the daylight hours. OTW’s Andrew Burke caught a couple big browns during a middle-of-the-night mission.
And it’s not just the trout that are biting at night. I took a cue from Nick Caparell, who’s had excellent luck on after-dark largemouths lately, and fished live shiners at night on Monday, and connected with my biggest bass of the week (pictured above).
Pickerel are ravenous right now. I caught a few gators this week, and heard from several anglers reporting the same. My big pickerel have come on shiners, but soft plastics and jigs are also a good bet. Spinnerbaits and inline spinners are an excellent choice as well.
Fishing Forecast for Cape Cod
Don’t let the weather stop you from freshwater fishing. Get out on the hunt for bass and pickerel and trout, and enjoy the spring peak of the pond fishing here on the Cape. And when you’ve had enough of that, grab some small soft plastics and head to your favorite early-season striper spot. It’s won’t be long now!
Ahhh another nice fish succumbs to the lunker light lol nice fish
Had to fish freshwater on saturday because of the wind. Caught a 6 and 7 pound brownie at Hamblin pond.the fish were hanging at the same area so i told my brother
He came over and also caught a trophy brownie.
I called the sandwich hatchery and he told me they released all the breeders.4 to 10lbs wow