Cape Cod Fishing Report
One would think that a late-May noreaster followed by a full moon would kill some of the better bites going around Cape Cod, but those weekend conditions did just the opposite.
A wave of 40-inch-class stripers pushed through the Canal late last week. Then there was a brief lull over the weekend, followed by another wave of quality over-slot bass, which led to some good jig fishing in the ditch followed by a good mackerel bite in Cape Cod Bay. There are loads of small sand eels on the bayside beaches from the east end out to Sandy Neck, which has brought mackerel slightly closer to shore and created a live bait bite in open water for striped bass in the low-40-inch class.
On top of that, bonito are in. Yes, you read that right. Bones have been spotted blitzing off Falmouth over the past few days and local angler Mike Stewart, who shared the photo below in the Cape Cod Fishing ‘n Surfcasting group on Facebook, landed one from his kayak on an epoxy jig yesterday.
For the past 3 years, bonito have been showing up in June and hanging around through the late fall. With the amount of rain bait around from Buzzards Bay to Cape Cod Bay, it seems like we’re in for another banner bonito season (knock on wood).
Down on the south side, stripers to 40-inches-plus are piling into the rips of Vineyard Sound to feed on squid, and the action is trickling out to Monomoy, where bunker and herring are in the mix as well. XL Albie Snax and Super Snax are crushing for the rips fishermen, as are bubblegum-colored Z-Man HeroZ, and squid-pattern flies. Stephen D’Angelo at Kismet Outfitters on the Vineyard said Wednesday was the best day of striper fishing so far this season.
Sea bass fishing is still not great in Buzzards Bay. It’s much better in Nantucket Sound and Vineyard Sound, where the fish seem to be stacked in 50 to 60 feet of water or more. High-low rigs tipped with squid or Gulp, as well as epoxy and slow-pitch jigs, are producing steady results with some hubcap scup in the mix.
Meanwhile, up in Cape Cod Bay, the flounder bite continues to impress. Last weekend’s weather hardly hampered the bite, and clams and sea worms are still pulling nice-sized blackbacks in 35 to 40 feet of water.
Here’s this week’s local rundown:
AJ Coots at Red Top Sporting Goods in Buzzards Bay said there are a whole lot of finicky stripers around in upper Buzzards and the Canal right now, and they’re keyed in on small sand eels, which has been frustrating for the ditch fishermen. Earlier this week though, following a short topwater window, the west end of the Canal was fishing really well for mid- to high-40-inch fish on jigs. They’re still seeing flurries of action on jigs but it has definitely slowed down since the moon. Buzzards Bay has been very windy, he added, but folks that are ducking into the coves and harbors are scratching a few bass on glide baits here and there. If you’re looking for sea bass, he said, keepers can be found in deep water, from the lower bay off the Elizabeths into Vineyard Sound. Bluefish reports have gone quiet, which is unfortunate, but they are hopeful that strong southwest winds will carry more fish into Buzzards Bay and the south side. Speaking of the south side, just about all of the rips are loaded right now. There are bass ranging from the mid-20-inch class to 40-inches busting on small squid. Albie Snax and small poppers are doing the heavy lifting.
Evan at Eastman’s Sport and Tackle in Falmouth told me the rips in Vineyard and Nantucket sounds are fishing insanely well this week. He had an excellent morning of fishing with consistent action from stripers that were anywhere from slot size to roughly 40 inches. Amber-colored poppers with inline single hooks sealed the deal for him, but it’s wise to keep Albie Snax on hand as well since the fish are super keyed in on squid. A week or so ago, there were a lot of smaller 5-inch squid in the rips, but today, Evan witnessed some that were roughly 9-inches going airborne with 40-inch stripers in hot pursuit. The bass are super aggressive right now and it is leading to some very visual fishing, which is great news for spin and fly fishermen alike. The bite won’t last forever, so get out there while the action is hot.
From Martha’s Vineyard, Stephen D’Angelo at Kismet Outfitters in Edgartown reported: “Striped bass numbers steadily increased throughout the month of May, with fish now spread across beaches, salt ponds, inlets, and the rips. While the lack of schoolies remains somewhat concerning, larger fish have begun to show consistently, particularly during the late mornings and early afternoons as water temperatures climb. With conditions still on the cooler side, anglers can afford to sleep in a bit—a luxury we’ll surely be missing in another month or so.
The squid run remains strong in many areas, and bass are actively feeding on them. We’re having the most success with orange and red/purple Red Can Squids, along with dark tan and red Semper Squids. Even when bass aren’t actively crashing squid on the surface, fishing these patterns around current seams, structure, and rip lines continues to produce. Matching the hatch has been key, especially when fish become selective.
Our flats fishing trips have improved dramatically this week, and we’re finding large schools of happy fish when weather conditions cooperate in the ponds. With vast amounts of sand eels around and water temperatures nearing perfection, I expect the next two weeks to provide some of the best sight-fishing opportunities of the season. Don’t leave home without plenty of olive-over-white Clousers in sizes 2 and 4.”
- Want to get in on the bite? Find an OTW-approved Charter Fishing Captain on Cape Cod & the Islands
Captain Ben Sussman of In The Net Sportfishing out of Osterville has been bouncing around from the rips on the south side to Cape Cod Bay. Prior to last weekend’s storm, there were good numbers of bass in the 30- to low-40-inch class on small squid in Nantucket Sound, but he had them on Fish Snax Super Snax. The bay side has been slower, but he did hear of some quality bass to 42 inches taken on live mackerel in open water not far from shore. There are loads of tiny sand eels up in CCB which have brought in the mackerel, and the bass have taken notice. Give him a ring to inquire about open dates coming up.
Tyler Huckemeyer of the Helen H Fleet out of Hyannis reported that the bottom fishing scene is great right now. The flounder bite in Cape Cod Bay held strong after last weekend’s heavy northeast wind and foul weather, and seaworms and clams are still the top-producing baits. Meanwhile, on the south side in Nantucket Sound, fishing for porgies and sea bass is on fire across a range of depths. They’ve had to look around a bit to find the piles, but once they’re marking fish, the action is steady and there are plenty of keeper sea biscuits in addition to some very large scup to round out the catch. Head to their website to book your trip today.
View this post on Instagram
Amy at Sports Port Bait and Tackle in Hyannis said the bay is fishing well for over-slot fish recently. Anglers using chunked and/or live mackerel are catching bass in the 40-inch range while in the harbors and marshes, SP Minnows and Yo-Zuri pencils are pulling low-30-inch fish. The rips have really picked up on south side since the full moon, with fish ranging from 22- to 40-inches chasing squid in Nantucket Sound. Monomoy has also seen a slight uptick in action, but the bite has been tough; there are some slot and over-slot fish beneath birds and wolf packs of bass along certain edges, but the fish haven’t fully set up in the rips just yet. Bluefish, she said, have kind of disappeared. A lot of customers are out there plying the beaches but the blues have been mostly MIA since a couple weeks ago. On the bottom fishing front, the winter flounder bite remains steady in 35 feet of water over in Cape Cod Bay. Down on the south side, it’s all about black sea bass and scup. The keeper sea bass are chewing in deep water for the most part—60 feet plus—while short sea bass and big scup are more abundant in 25 to 30 feet of water. As far as freshwater, bass and pickerel are chewing, and the big fish are deep. Tony from the shop has been trolling sinking Rapalas to cover water and it has yielded him some quality bass. The largemouth are in a post-spawn funk, so it’s been difficult to fool them even on jigs.
Captain Matthew Dempsey of Salt Reaper Charters out of Dennis reported that he’s been sticking to the winter flounder program in Cape Cod Bay. Double headers of large flatties continue to come in regularly. He had just one bass trip this week, but relayed that the bay is fishing well for stripers in terms of quality and quantity. That said, the bass are kind of all over the place. Look for diving birds, use your electronics, and if you can, load up on macks to deploy some live baits once you start marking fish. Be ready for surface action too, because the bass are on the move and could push bait to the top at any time.
Captain Drew Downing of Down East Charters out of Chatham reported: “Monomoy is beginning to fish with some consistency. Water temps are 48-52° on most tides and a variety of bait is coming through. I’m seeing bunker, herring, and butterfish with this cold water and it’s very cool to have that mix down there. Squid and squid imitations continue to work as well. Widespread birds and edges should have anglers spread out with plenty of real estate—no need to jump right in to someone’s pocket while stemming the rip. It’s not wide open, so having patience for pulses of fish and bait are key, and don’t be afraid to burn some gas and check out new areas. The transiting fish will reward that.”
Captain Elena Rice of Reel Deal Fishing Charters out of Truro reported: “Team Reel Deal continues to find large schools of big striped bass milling around off outer Cape Cod. While live bait was the primary ticket to success, more recently, the topwater bite has been going off. If you still have an RD Bomb in your tackle arsenal—use it! Hogy’s Charter Grade Dog Walker in bone has also been doing well. The early June fishing is truly holding to its reputation so far as the premier opportunity for well-above-average striped bass fishing on Cape Cod. We have openings starting tomorrow and you don’t want to miss this bite, so book while we’re available!”
Cape Cod Fishing Forecast
Bottom fishing is a great option this weekend, with keeper sea bass in deep water off the Elizabeths and in Nantucket Sound. Get out there and drop jigs and rigs for sea biscuits and scup, and keep some squid imitations rigged on medium-heavy spinning gear for a pit stop at the rips on the ride home. There are stripers to 40 inches from Vineyard Sound to Monomoy, and they’re keyed in on squid that can range from 5 to 9 inches.
Winter flounder is a great fallback plan for striper anglers in Cape Cod Bay. Mackerel are much more plentiful as of late due to an influx of tiny sand eels, so keep a mix of live bait and large topwater plugs handy.
If you’re poking around in lower Buzzards Bay or Vineyard Sound, maybe keep one rod rigged up with an epoxy jig. You can drop it down for sea bass and scup, or cast it if you encounter a pod of bonito.