Race Point Stripers

So far this season, Race Point has provided consistent striped bass action for boat anglers on Cape Cod. Just off the beach, stripers push sand eels and other small bait up into the sharp shelfs that rise from 180 to 10 feet in under a hundred yards. This concentration of bait and structure creates a great opportunity for run-and-gun topwater stripers.

Positive reports in mid June encouraged Chris Megan and Neal Larsson to launch the On The Water Contender out of Barnstable Harbor and join the crowds chasing after topwater bass at the Race.

After a 45 minute steam in calm seas across Cape Cod Bay, Chris and Neal spotted the fleet, broke out the spinning gear and began to look for diving birds. A quick look into the water revealed hundreds of sand eels squirming furiously only a few feet below the surface. A few casts later, Chris hooked into one of the many mid-teens fish taken throughout the day.

The key to fishing Race Point in June is finding the sand eels. When you can find them, its a safe bet that big schools of stripers and blues aren’t too far away. Anything that imitates sand eels will usually get them to bite, including soft plastics and small diamond jigs. Trolling parachute jigs with wire is also a popular technique among charter captains in the area.

The crowds of boats can create a chaotic scene, but the chance at topwater stripers in the 15 to 20-pound range is certainly worth it. This year, try to avoid Mondays and Thursdays as those are the designated commercial striped bass days.