Above: Chris Megan with a sunset schoolie from the South Side of the Cape on Tuesday.
On one of our Instagram posts this week, someone commented that the schoolie fishing around the Cape right now reminded them of the HeyDay of the late 90s, early 00s. Not only are there great numbers of school bass around the Cape, these fish are mostly 22- to 26-inchers, which put up a fun battle on fly and light tackle.
Still, it’s very important to release these fish in good condition. Leave them in the water, if you can, while unhooking, and if not, try to avoid letting them thrash around on the rocks or the deck of your boat. These fish are the future cows, that we’d love to have return to the Cape in similar numbers.
Jeff at Canal Bait and Tackle reported a lot of anglers fishing the Canal recently. There are lots of the schoolies around, but he did hear of a 43-incher this week.
Red Top had word of a 46-incher this week as well. So, there are some larger stripers around, but at the moment, they are big fish needles in a small fish haystack. Just a reminder, and fish 35 inches or larger must be released this season, under the new regulations.
The rips off the South Side are filling up with fish from 20 to 30 inches according to the report from Evan at Eastman’s. Topwaters are working well, as are soft plastics. The fish appear to be feeding on very small baitfish, but can still be tempted with larger artificials.
Some “slot-sized” stripers have been taken off the South Side beaches after dark reported Amy at Sports Port. She said a larger bait, like a live eel, has been helpful in tempting the larger fish.
Bluefish are mixed with the bass in Buzzards Bay and off the South Side. The seem to be in the 3- to 8-pound range. On the Vineyard, Peter at Larry’s Tackle said the bluefish invaded Wasque for just a single tide before disappearing. The schoolies, squid, sea bass, and tog, have made up for the lacking blues on MV, however.
Peter said the squid bite in Edgartown Harbor is insane. People are filling buckets from the docks in the evenings and mornings. The wrecks around the island are producing “donkey” sea bass, Peter said, and before the sea bass moved in and pushed them out, some large tog were biting.
The tog are most likely headed inside the bays to spawn. Evan at Eastman’s heard of some jetty fishermen doing well pitching crab-baited rigs from the rocks. You may find some keepers fishing the rocks, but the female tog will be heavy with eggs, and while not required, it would be wise to release them to spawn. The males, easily identified by their protruding white chins are fair game. The tog limit drops from three fish to one on June 1.
Black sea bass fishing is improving, with more larger fish arriving. There are many smaller fish to pick through, but if you find the right wreck or rockpile, you can get your five keepers in short order. I had my dad out kayak fishing for the sea bass this week, and he took the fish of the trip, a 4.5-pounder. Cleaning the sea bass later, I found rock crabs and mantis shrimp in their bellies. Metal jigs have been working for me, but jigs with Gulp or high-low rigs with squid are working as well.
Captain Brian Coombs of Get Tight Sportfishing reported fish into the teens moving into Buzzards Bay, but said these fish haven’t been on the surface, and are going undetected by many anglers. Brian, who splits time between the Cape and Boston Harbor, reported that the Harbor is “infested” with schoolies. More than he ever remembers seeing, blitzing on the surface day and night. While I don’t like to think of big numbers of fish already passing us by, the big numbers of small bass is a great sign for the future.
Chatham, the Outer Beaches, and Cape Cod Bay all have numbers of the same size 22- to 26-inch schoolies. Fly fishermen are having a blast with these fish.
In freshwater, the bass are on their beds now. I haven’t heard much on trout fishing, likely due to a lack of effort. Trout will be heading deep in the ponds as the water temperatures increase.
Fishing Forecast for Cape Cod
I think this will be the third week in a row that I “forecast” the arrival of the big bass this week, but I feel really confident about it this time. Before the full moon on June 5, we’ll see that first wave of big ones, but where they show is anyone’s guess. If they appeared off the Outer Cape and in Cape Cod Bay first, it wouldn’t be the first time that happened in recent memory. Captain Bobby Rice of Reel Deal Charters has been catching good numbers of schoolies off the tip of the Cape, and it wouldn’t surprise me if the larger fish showed up there in numbers first. We’ll just have to wait and see.
In the meantime, stock up on some sea bass fillets, jig some squid, and have fun with the schoolies. We have lots of southwest wind coming on Friday and Saturday, but with schoolies all over, you can easily hide from the wind and still catch fish. Start with topwaters early in the morning, and switch to jigs later in the day.
Hopefully all the larger bass will go around the seven mile slum and stay away from the meat heads that love to kill fish there.
It won’t happen, but it would be smart to raise the 28 inch minimum to 32 next year in order to keep the current ‘below slot’ range of fish swimming. The rebound would assuredly happen quicker as most 28-inch fish haven’t even spawned once.
Hopefully the managers get smart and raise the 28-inch minimum to 32 next year to keep these fish swimming around another couple years. The stocks will replenish more quickly that way.
Another way to keep the stocks in good condition would be for all the bass to go around the seven mile slum and the meat heads that fish there. Don’t think that the consistent slaughters that have occurred there the last few years didn’t do real harm to the fishery.
not a very nice comment ronson p i have been fishing the canal for 25 years not everyone there is a your words MEAT HEAD
Well said, Bruce. I was fishing (and releasing) for black seabass the day before the season opened on Cleveland Ledge. A guy anchored right next to the lighthouse was pulling in one fish after another, and not releasing any. Boat guys can be meat heads too! The main point is that the striper stocks do have to be aggressively managed or our favorite fish will be largely a thing of the past, and every fisherman has to do his part to help.
This is true. Some of us actually respect the fish and the fact that this is one of the safest places to fish at night. Don’t label us all that way
Jimmy fee can you give me an adress of were to launch my hobie for some sea bass.
Btw great article
You can peddle out to the reefs off of Harwich or Yarmouth from a Hobie kayak… just keep track of the wind forecast so your return is safe. I’ve done this a few times and you can launch from the Bass River Yarmouth ramp pretty easily.
In general I agree with most people
Yes we need to conserve our gamefish first future generations
Yes there are stupid and irresponsible people out there hurting the stocks
But
Can’t this weekly forum be a place for people to report their fishing successes or failures, rather than a weekly rant fest?
(I realize the irony in my statement, but it had to be said)
Good luck out there fishing.
We saw a lot people keeping short stripe bass at Railroad Cape Cod Canal at night.
then you shouldve called and reported it …epo should be on the ole contact list of every fisherman or woman ..if they dont show atleast you did your part by calling it in
By the time EPO show up they already gone. Happen last night again; One guy took two schoolies. Those guy there every night in west tide at rail road . Sad
any news on bluefin tuna spottings?