New England - Cape Cod and the Islands Fishing Reports

Tony at Maco’s Bait & Tackle said the weather really knocked off the fishing in the canal although the few guys who were trying caught a few schoolies and one of them I know caught some schoolies and a very few small bonito that he almost misidentified as chub mackerel. There are still tog in Buzzards Bay and up towards Fairhaven and Westport with the occasional sightings of schoolies or small bones breaking on surface bait. The freshwater fishing has taken over with trout and bass being caught in local ponds. Stop in and say hello to the crew for the holidays.

AJ at Red Top Sporting Goods said it was wet and windy on the Cape but the customers were coming in the door and buying crabs, jigs and trout fishing gear. The canal has been giving up a few schoolies and there are still little bones working the rips and a few guys also reported catching some mackerel. There are still a few sharpies working the tog holes in the canal and they still have a good supply of green crabs. Alex, one of AJ’s tackle salesmen fished the canal and had 9 tog with one keeper. Not bad for fishing from shore this time of the year. With the trout stocking for the fall now finished, many people are switching over to the freshwater ponds. Stop in a say hello.

We spoke with Steve from Dick’s Bait and Tackle who said the weather and fish have not been as cooperative as they would like. They still have a good supply of crabs and many of the customers who have been trying are catching tog on the north side rockpiles. Call ahead and Steve will set up an appointment to meet you and address your needs.

Jeff from Canal Bait & Tackle said it was slowing down but there are still mackerel, small pollock and a few schoolies being caught in the east end. Some guys even caught a few squid near the Power Plant. His son Clarke is now an old hand at Halloween and loves to visit the shop when his grandfather is working. There was one report we had of schoolies and bait showing up on the beaches of Cape Cod Bay and some bait washing up along the shore in the northeast blow. Jeff said some of that bait were Atlantic soiree along with a mix of other bait some dog walkers found in the wrack line.

The word from Falmouth Bait & Tackle was of schoolies and bait moving out of the rivers along the Sound side as wind and rain pounded the Cape this week. Christian has a collection of offshore gear, both new and used and can put an outfit together that is affordable. Give him a call.

While the weather put a damper on the salt our friends from the Sports Port have been busy catering to the freshwater fishermen from the area who have been scoring on trout, black bass and pickerel. There were a few schoolies taken outside of Bass River and Cotuit but that action is not reliable. I do recall a Thanksgiving weekend as we returned from a wreck fishing trip for cod with Captain Roger Jarvis when we ran into breaking bass outside of Duxbury Harbor and caught a few on the cod jigs we had on our rods. It’s never too late in many such instances.

Capt. Rich Antonio of Black Rose Fishing Charters has a trailerable boat rigged and ready to take you to one of his favorite fishing holes. Give him a call and get on his mailing list.

Our friend Ian at the Goose Hummock Shop was taking care of freshwater anglers who were purchasing trout and largemouth lures and baits. The freshwater action has been very good in numerous ponds and some of those bass are heavyweights. Ian said there are a few bass on either side of the cape that are moving out of rivers with the baitfish and this is taking place along the Sound side from Chatham to the Hyannis and Falmouth areas. Captain Phil was back onboard working on their Outdoor Center. On his last saltwater trips Ian had run into some soiree that had washed up onto the beaches. Some people mistake them for halfbeaks but they do not have a beak or any teeth. The fish still eat them.

Capt. Jason of Little Sister Charters said he has fished up until Thanksgiving for many years and has seldom had any trouble finding fish for his charters. Give him a call to get aboard and ask him about his spring flounder trips in the Cape Cod area. You should also get on his web page and regular discussion list.

Capt. Carl with Westport River Outfitters said the tautog fishing has been very good with lots of black sea bass bycatch that are making their way home after a quick release. He treated his wife and daughter to some great togging and he is still seeing some stripers under birds working their way west. He would love to guide you to your last tautog trip of the season.