Storm’s a comin’.
Friday looks like it will be a good day to catch up on your reading in the July Issue of On The Water Magazine or some of our latest videos, but according to Dickie at Maco’s Bait and Tackle, you better be ready to fish on Saturday.
The big seas and winds brought about by big storms move around baitfish, often into areas where stripers can trap them, creating blitz conditions.
Ahead of this storm, the striper fishing around the Cape had been decent. The Canal showed signs of life on Thursday, reported AJ at Red Top Sporting Goods, who said fishermen had good action with jigs during the morning tide. There have been schools of bass and blues on the surface in Cape Cod Bay, according to Captain Ross of Cape Cod Charter Guys. His Thursday morning trip saw breaking fish for almost the whole morning, with many bass in the 28- to 35-inch slot, and a few overs.
Peter at Larry’s Tackle is optimistic about the striper fishing on the Vineyard with the coming New Moon. Peter says in his experience, the July new moon brings some of the biggest bass of the season to the Martha’s Vineyard surf. This week, he’d already heard of a few 40- to 44-inch fish taken around the boulders on the north side of the island.
Jim at Eastman’s Sport and Tackle has heard of good action with slot-size bass around Squibnocket, with chunked bunker working best. He also mentioned good action for stripers along the Elizabeth Islands.
There’s slot-size fish in the rips at Monomoy, and some slot-size and larger fish off the Outer Cape, where Captain Bobby Rice of Reel Deal has been doing very well over the past week.
The good bluefish action continues. The Vineyard is definitely the hot spot for surf-bound blues, as Peter at Larry’s has been seeing blues as big as 14 pounds at Wasque over the past week. The action has been coming in a narrow window of about an hour during the falling tide. Earlier in the summer, the good fishing would last most of the tide.
Handkerchief Shoal is holding good blues, reported Gary at Sports Port Bait and Tackle, and there are still some bluefish being caught off the South Side beaches.
The good fishing for smaller tuna south of the Vineyard is entering its fourth week. Fishermen continue to catch the 30- to 40-inch fish on the troll, though I haven’t heard as much about the jigging and casting in recent days. Then again, the wind hasn’t been kind to tuna hopefuls, with inds switching from strong southwest to strong Northeast last weekend, and a big storm on the way. As things settle down next week, we’ll have a clearer picture on that tuna bite.
East of Chatham, the action has been good for giant tuna on live bait, with fish from 70 to 100 inches being caught.
The canyon bite has been good for bigeye tuna reported Jim at Eastman’s. These big, strong tuna have been found from West Atlantis to Fishtails.
Jim also heard of bonito showing up at the Hooter. There were some caught around Nantucket last week, and over this week, fishermen found a few while trolling at the Hooter. There have also been a couple king mackerel caught.
Fluke fishing has been good along the edges of the Canal channel reported the crew at Maco’s. Deeper water around Martha’s Vineyard is also producing keepers. There’s a big fluke tournament on the Vineyard this weekend, Fluke for Luke, a memorial tournament for Luke Gurney, which includes some awesome prizes.
Fishing Forecast for Cape Cod
Batten down the hatches on Friday, but get your gear ready for the rest of the weekend for the post-storm blitz. Stripers and blues are holding down the inshore action, and it sounds like Cape Cod Bay or Martha’s Vineyard are the two hotspots, if you’re looking for the classic bass and blue combo. There are lots of options for fishermen looking to pull on a tuna, depending on how far you’re willing to run, and how you’d like to catch them. Live bait east of Chatham, trolling in the Canyons, and jigging, casting, or trolling South of the Vineyard. Tuna options should only continue to increase as warmer waters bring yellowfin into our canyons and even up onto the flats. And, it’s not too early to venture to the Hooter to look for bonito and some fun light-tackle trolling action.
Nice work posting a fish covered in Sand- While it happens to us all at somepoint the promotion of it by choosing to place it in your report is significant in two ways: Your a conservation minded magazine which this is contrary to and secondly for those who do not know any better learning from photos is the way they set their fishing style. Pretty confident you can do better then a post of a bluefish covered in sand.
Hey Laurie. Stop being a Karen and shut up. It’s a god damn bluefish that’s gonna get eaten. I do not see a problem
First off,
It’s “You’re,” and not “Your.”
Secondly, how do you expect something wet not to get sand on it on the beach? He may have rested it down while removing the hook. Would it be better if he billy clubbed it to death but washed it off before the photo?
Lastly, conservation is important! I’m sure you’re using solar panels that were created without any fossil fuel inputs on a device that doesn’t utilize any lithium.
Hey please don’t bash the guys who work effortlessly to give you a solid fishing report like clock work every week. I am sure that they would rather hear thank you for sharing the latest fishing news and information freely with anyone who would like to have some knowledge from the entire northeast sea cost. Thank You On the Water and sorry that you guys are getting bashed by that person.
Another “all’s normal with the stripers” report. Will OTW ever address how much tougher the bass fishing is? Or just admit there are not a lot of fish around the last few years. That’s a truthful report we could all appreciate
Don’t be a Laurie
Hi
I am heading down to Dennis tonight with a 20 foot key west. I’m am going to launch out of Susuit harbor (not sure of spelling) I was wondering if anyone could tell me if I can find black bass, fluke or skip. I’m trying to introduce two boys to fishing and want to get into some action. Not looking for any trophy fish , just action so they fall in love with the sport. These are my friends kids and will be taking them out a few times this year if they like it.
Thanks
Ed
Nice job HT! What was working for ya, were you targeting a herring run?
-Ron
Hey Ron
Been throwing 12 inch pre rigged sluggos in boulderfields that have a salt pond dumping out into them. Finding lots of juvenile baitfish dumping out on the outgoing and big fish waiting in ambush. The later at night, the better.
Tight Lines
Hopefully next time he’ll put a nice shirt and a pair of dockers on the fish. And maybe a Gucci handbag
Hey lady, it’s a FISH.
Hey guys I am 17 looking to get into some salt water fishing, I am planning on going to the cape cod canal hoping to catch a striper. Only problem is I’m not sure what lures or bait to use, can anyone point me in the right direction? Thanks
Tyler,
This post should have some info to get you started: http://www.onthewater.com/capecodcanal
Hahahaha sand on the fish.. you’re an ass.