Cape Cod Fishing Report
Participation may be low and the bite may be slow, but the saltwater season is underway on Cape Cod. It’s a good time to start rigging up for tautog and winter flounder, which will hold us over until the first migratory stripers arrive later this month. The only issue for anglers so far has been securing bait. Green crabs are in high demand and the shops from Buzzards Bay to outer Cape are working on getting them as quickly as possible, but it looks like we’ll have to wait another week at least until they’re available in our neighborhood. That said, there are a few shops off Cape where they may be available. Otherwise, flipping rocks is the best bet for crabs right now.
Clams are an overlooked bait for early spring tautog and they are in stock at Red Top Sporting Goods and Sports Port Bait and Tackle. Down in New York and New Jersey, a lot of early-bird tog fishermen actually prefer clams over crabs to start the season. For whatever reason, tautog seem to favor soft baits when they first move in from offshore wreck and reef structure. So, even if you can’t get your hands on greenies this weekend, clams are a good fallback plan.
Water temperatures are not exactly warm, but I find that tog start to chew when temps reach roughly 45 degrees and, at the time of this writing, NOAA Station BZBM3 in Woods Hole is showing 45 degrees on the nose. Don’t wait for the first tog reports (or for the dandelions to sprout) if you’re itching to wet a line in salt water. The jetties and inlets from Buzzards Bay to the south side will soon have short and keeper blackfish hanging around. I plan to do a little togging this weekend and while I’m going into it with low expectations, there’s a good chance that a few fish are already in shallow. A simple single-hook rig tipped with clams or halved crabs (if you can get them) is all you need to get started. I recommend a medium-heavy power, fast action inshore rod with a 3000- or 4000-size spinning reel spooled with 10- to 20-pound braid and a nearly locked drag to quickly muscle those fish away from the rocks. A falling tide is typically more productive, especially if you’re fishing a jetty near a salt pond, harbor, or back bay where outgoing water will be warmer. But don’t count out the incoming either. Moving water is perhaps the most important factor. Just try to avoid the peak tide windows to keep your rig (or jig) sitting as still as possible on bottom.
While the saltwater scene remains quiet for the time being, the freshwater scene is a different story. Despite the chilly weather, bass and trout anglers across the Cape are catching nice fish—it just requires putting in some time and covering water. A cold snap and high barometric pressure earlier this week shut down the largemouth bite for a couple days, but it should rebound with warmer weather this weekend. Before the temps dropped, OTW’s Anthony DeiCicchi stuck a 4-pound, 9-ounce bass while hopping a jig along bottom in an upper Cape pond that receives a herring run. My guess is he’ll be revisiting that spot quite a bit over the next few weeks as more river herring move in and water temperatures climb, only he’ll leave the jigs at home and break out swimbaits, glidebaits, and wakebaits.
Trout are the other popular option for freshwater anglers, but even freshly stocked fish have been a bit slower to chew in these cold temperatures. All the ponds on Cape have been stocked at this point, so if tog and largemouth aren’t on your radar this week, trout are the next logical option. Spinners, spoons, micro plastics, hair jigs and occasionally, jerkbaits, are catching rainbows and browns. Browns have been especially active after dark. Jointed Rapalas are excellent producers of big brown trout. Creep them slowly across the surface, just as you would a wake bait for bass, and there’s a good chance the silence of the night will be interrupted by an explosive eat. Rainbows, on the other hand, are plenty active during the day and are chasing down just about anything flashy or noisy. My buddy Jack Renfrew said that the trout fishing has definitely been slower for him this week, but he’s still managed a few fish when he’s gotten out.
We’re just a few warm days away from the tog bite picking up, largemouth bass are looking for bigger baits as herring numbers rise, the kettle ponds are loaded with trout, and striped bass should begin to show up in about 2 weeks. Get in your freshwater fishing now because it won’t be long before our spring saltwater season is underway.
-
Want to get in on the bite? Find an OTW-approved Charter Fishing Captain on Cape Cod
Here’s this week’s rundown from a few of our local tackle shops:
AJ Coots at Red Top Sporting Goods in Buzzards Bay said they haven’t had any tog reports at the shop yet because they haven’t been able to get green crabs. They are planning to get them soon—hopefully sometime next week—but until then, they have clams in stock, which are a solid option for early spring tog. When tautog first come in from offshore, they seem to prefer softer baits over hard-shelled crabs, and clams fit the bill. Sea worms are also a good choice, but AJ said it’ll be a longer wait for those than green crabs. Not only are clams a sleeper tog bait in the spring, but they also make great bait for winter flounder, which is another option for saltwater enthusiasts who have had enough of stocked trout. Flounder are usually moving out of shallower backwaters like salt ponds this time of year, and it’s pretty laid back fishing with a chance to put some fresh fillets on the table. Consider giving it a try this weekend. Otherwise, take advantage of the excellent trout and bass fishing in the upper Cape ponds. Herring are showing up and bass will be looking for bigger baits, especially with some warmer nighttime weather ahead. The shop has a good selection of swimbaits and wakebaits, along with all the classic trout lures, so swing by for your freshwater (or saltwater) needs.
Christian at Sports Port Bait and Tackle in Hyannis told me they’ve had a couple folks in the shop asking for green crabs which, he said, they should have in stock sometime next week. Sea worms, he added, will probably not be available until early May. He noted that they did sell some clams to a few anglers who went out trying for winter flounder, but have not heard back about their results. The weather has been poor lately, but Christian mentioned that the trout bite is really good when conditions are a bit warmer and less windy. One of their regulars has been on a steady bite of quality stockers, another guy just came in showing off pics of a 4-pound smallmouth, and a tight-lipped fisherman visited today after having a good night with holdover stripers in the backwaters yesterday. That said, with the herring-run ponds filling in, largemouth bass fishing has been the main attraction. Most of their customers are catching on jerkbaits, crankbaits, and jigs with crawfish-style trailers. Pickerel are also on the feed—a group of kids were catching some nice ones on gold spoons right by the shop this week. It may still be cold, but there are plenty of solid fishing options heading into the weekend.
Frank at Goose Hummock Shop in Orleans said now that the trout ponds are all stocked, the fishing has been great in the kettle ponds. Largemouth bass, he added, are waking up as well, and the pre-spawn bite is taking shape. There have been quite a few solid bass caught locally over the past week. Freshwater fishing will continue to be the main draw for at least the next two weeks, which is usually when striper fishing starts to garner more interest as the first migrators begin to trickle in. Frank also mentioned Goose’s Kids Fishing Derby, which will take place in Nickerson State Park on Saturday, April 25th. There are already about 600 kids signed up, and there will be prizes, games, and food and refreshments for all in attendance.
Captain Ray Jarvis of Salt of the Earth Sportfishing out of Westport said his start date for the striper season is May 2. He’ll be out and about scouting in the weeks leading up to early May. Give him a call to inquire about availability and secure a prime date before the good ones are all booked up.
Captain Elena Rice of Reel Deal Fishing Charters out of Truro told me that they are getting the boats fully serviced and ready to go. Reel Deal plans to start their charter season on May 11, so give them a shout to get a prime early season date on the books!
Captain Matthew Dempsey of Salt Reaper Charters out of Dennis shared that he will most likely start running trips in the first week of May, but it all depends on water temperatures. The warmer the weather over the next few weeks, the better the chance that migratory stripers arrive in force come early May. Give him a ring to inquire about early season availability.
Cape Cod Fishing Forecast
It’s a good weekend to gear up and hit your local bass or trout pond, and by the middle of next week, I’d imagine the freshwater fishing will be even better. The forecast calls for temps in the low 60s—can you believe it?! 60 and sunny is going to feel like summer after the winter and spring we’ve had. The best bet for a bent rod this week still lies with bass and trout, but once our local shops have green crabs in stock, shallow water togging from jetties or kayaks will be an excellent option. By the time green crabs are available, water temps will have risen a few more degrees and we may be able to put a few keepers on the dinner table. But don’t let the lack of crabs keep you from trying clams for tog. If I can’t locate crabs this weekend, clams will be my bait of choice.
Night fishing for largemouth or brown trout is a fun option too. Grab a few surface-swimmers like wakebaits, crawlers, Jitterbugs, and jointed Rapalas, and cast them over shallow vegetation for bass or around coves and points for roving brown trout.