New England - Cape Cod and the Islands Fishing Reports

Capt. Sebastian of Fish Linked Charters is filling dates for early season tautog fishing in 2026 so give him a call to get aboard for some of the earliest tog and striper fishing of the season.

We spoke with Larry at Maco’s Bait & Tackle where green crabs were being shoveled into buckets which were on their way to Western Buzzards Bay. While only a few diehards have fished the canal with any regularity and only one of them caught a slot fish on a topwater, that being a pencil. The wind has killed a lot of effort but there were numerous customers talking about fishing for tog as long as they remain in the bay. One of them said his last resort was the area around Woods Hole on the south side of the Elizabeths.

Bull from Red Top Sporting Goods said the wind and rain cut down on canal effort but he and a friend took a few fish on plugs by changing from the mainland and Cape sides of the canal depending on the wind direction. They are selling a load of green crabs as the tog bite has been good in the west end of the canal, along the West Falmouth shore to Woods Hole and the numerous rockpiles inside of Buzzards Bay. During the past week there has been a noticeable shift to the nearby ponds for trout, bass and panfish.

We spoke with Doug from Dick’s Bait and Tackle who finally got into some tuna last week compliments of Captain Lee and his skipper. They headed east from the Vineyard and got into school and larger tuna right away, Doug hooking one on a big surface plug and fighting it for about 15 minutes before it pulled the hook. Doug said the ocean was alive with whales, dolphins and loads of bait. Locally the Menemsha docks gave up some bones and small blues with fish taking most offerings, Doug has his largest bone of the season, a 7-pounder at the Vineyard Haven draw bridge. A friend of his caught 20 bones and four small blues just west of Menemsha, it seems as though the fish are being very cooperative on their way home. They will be open for the finale.

Jeff from Canal Bait & Tackle said the fishing was slow and perhaps it was the lack of effort in the windy and cold weather. There are still some fish off to the north along the Boston south shore and they should be providing canal action over the next two weeks.

Christian from Falmouth Bait & Tackle said he would be happy to take your offshore reels in for cleaning and or repairs as this is a good time to invest in maintenance for your expensive tuna gear. The shop will be open but call ahead as they have plans for Black Friday and Christmas giving. While there are some bass working out of the Sound rivers very few people are after them.

We spoke with Garrett from the Sports Port who said saltwater fishing was slow except for a few customers who were working the outlets of Sound harbors and rivers and finding a few schoolies. A few people are taking legal tog from Bishops and the freshwater fishing has really picked up in nearby ponds all the way to Nickerson State Park where trout are taking lures and Berkley Gulp. Stop in for your bait and gear.

We finally caught up with our friend Danny from the Goose Hummock Shop who said the striper fishing was about over, but there were tog around and Captain Phil and his son were about to explore a local hotspot at the tip of the Cape. They are taking in reels and tackle for cleaning and repair and beginning to get ready for the boat and tackle shows which are just over the horizon. Stop in and ask Danny to show you the tuna gear, particularly the deadly tuna bars he makes in their offshore department. Now is the time to get the chemicals and hardware you need to winterize your engines or have their marine department do it for you.

When he can get out of the harbor, Capt. Jason of Little Sister Charters has been catching tog and the occasional cod, the latter have to be admired and released. A few nice black sea bass are also being caught and released on his favorite rockpiles. If you are looking for a bass trip give Jason a call and he can put you onto the stripers.