New England - Cape Cod and the Islands Fishing Reports

Bobby was at Maco’s Bait & Tackle and said there has been good bass fishing in the canal all week long with some big fish being released and a few slots taken. There were also reports of schoolies breaking from the east to west ends. With big mackerel in the ditch they have the Sabiki rigs with the larger hooks that will not tear out so easily. The tog and sea bass fishing has been great and more people are now heading to the ponds for trout.

The word from AJ at Red Top Sporting Goods was of sustained action from Cape Cod Bay the canal and all through Buzzards Bay and the islands. The canal has been generous with her bounty since just after the storm passed with action on jigs and on top at any time of the day. There have fish from 35-inches to 35-pounds with some schoolies breaking on bait at various locations along the ditch. Fish Labs fat green ghost and shad lures are taking fish as well as the Tsunami shads. One customer reported taking some albies around Cleveland Ledge light. There have been some cocktail blues here and there with some larger choppers reported from boats in upper Buzzards Bay and along the Marion and Mattapoisett shorelines. The bottom fishing continues to please with some nice tog and sea bass. They had a visit from a junior angler, who landed a 19-inch seas bass and was told about the Mass State Derby. The youngster and his grandfather brought that fish into the shop to be entered into that contest. We hope he enjoys wearing his pin.

We spoke with Steve from Dick’s Bait and Tackle who said the bluefishing finally lit up with fish from 5 to 19 pounds from the Chappy surf. It was an awesome bite and the patient surfcasters finally received their hard won rewards. Steve lost a nice bone from the jetty which he estimated to be around 7 pounds as a 9-pounder leads the Derby surf. Stripers are still hitting cut bait on the night tides and Doug lost two baits and rigs to sharks late last week. A few people are picking away at some tog off the north shore and more people are showing interest in freshwater fishing.

Cape Cod Bay and the Canal are red hot spots with fish of all sizes taking a variety of their proprietary jigs and plugs. Jeff from Canal Bait & Tackle said the bass fishing was producing numerous fish in the 30-pound class in the east end and the entire length of the canal. Most of the harbors and creeks along Cape Cod Bay are loaded with bait and fish. Stop in and check out their line of canal lures and jigs.

Jeremy from Falmouth Bait & Tackle said there were bones being taken from the area around Craigville and offshore in the area of the windmills. Other customers were taking stripers on eels while fishing along the Elizabeths. Nearby rockpiles and around Nobska Point are areas giving up tog although there are a lot of sublegal tog along with some husky keepers. At least one boat headed offshore on Saturday morning looking for fish after a spell of turbulent weather.

We spoke with Chris from the Sports Port who said the fishing had been spotty unless he mentioned those customers heading to the canal to partake in a good striper bite. Boats working off Brewster were into some good sized bones and one angler caught a 24-inch tog from the canal rip rap. Monomoy has been giving up a mix of bass, bones and a few blues. With trout stocking beginning many people are heading to the ponds for mixed bag action.

Capt. Rich Antonio from Black Rose Fishing Charters is ready to take you on an end of season adventure in his 25 Parker with your choice of bottom fishing or casting or trolling for stripers. He is most familiar with all the hot spots. Give him a call.

It was a busy week for Ian at the Goose Hummock Shop who spent a great deal of time chasing and catching albies along the ocean side and bass in the harbors and inlets on a loaded Cape Cod Bay. The new moon is providing some great action all along the sound side as well as the Bay and there have been reports from Provincetown and Race point of bass moving by. Their customers are taking advantage of the fall trout stocking and while out there Ian has run into trout, bass and pickerel. It’s an exciting time of the season.

Limits of tog and sea bass in the first hour caused Capt. Jason of Little Sister Charters to begin fishing more selectively at the end the end of the trip. There are schools of stripers on the move outside the harbor and into upper Buzzards Bay making for numerous multi species trips. Call him to get on his mailing list.

Capt. Carl with Westport River Outfitters has been finding good numbers of black sea bass and he is never shy about travelling for a bite. He has been catching tog and black sea bass and his daughter caught a nice albie on one of his wife’s suggested grocery runs. His daughter also broke in her new rod with a 33-inch bass on her second cast. Give him a call and finish your season with some fall action.