New England - Cape Cod and the Islands Fishing Reports

It was a busy weekend for Tony and the crew at Maco’s Bait & Tackle with both sides of the canal erupting in furious action as bass pushed loads of squid up onto the rip rap and sand in an all-day blitz. The fish were taking just about anything that made a splash in the water. Fish labs, Savages and Al Gags were also hooking up with frequent regularity. Other sources reported whiting and mackerel from the west to east end where bass from 49-plus inches and fish under 20 inches moved in. Still no word of any keeper fluke in the Mashnee Flats area although the sea bass bite has improved in the deeper holes and the big scup are in heavy from Fairhaven to the west end.

AJ at Red Top Sporting Goods said it was a week to remember in the canal with the rocks and sand littered with squid that stripers drove up out of the water. This action took place all along the canal and in the west end there were mackerel and some of the few blues that were landed and filleted showed they had also been feeding on whiting. There were fish of all sizes as the schoolies and bass just under slots made their appearance in the ditch and many if not most of the anglers were happy to finally witness a showing of younger fish. The shop has been running a weekend showcase of various products which this week featured Pure Fishing, and in the coming weekends they will feature Daiwa and numerous other brands. Please check out their social media and website for more details.

We spoke with Doug from Dick’s Bait and Tackle who confirmed a great squid run in the islands harbors and beaches is the real thing. He again filled a third of a bucket of squid while bottom fishing for stripers off the State Beach while the Edgartown docks are also producing good numbers of squid. The bluefish run has still not materialized and only a very few blues in the 4- to 6-pound class have been caught so far. The night fishing for stripers has been very good with fresh squid fished on the bottom accounting for numerous bass including quite a few slots. Doug caught his first sand shark of the season and that is not a good omen for bottom fishermen. Middle Ground and Lucas Shoal has been giving up a few blues on top for people putting a lot of effort to catching a legal fluke which has been quite difficult. Stop in and say hello and check out their new digs.

Bruce from Canal Bait & Tackle was in a jocular mood. He said people, even canal regulars, cannot believe what has transpired in the ditch over the past week. He has seen and heard it all but this level of excellent fishing and the abundance of bait that includes an invasion of squid, mackerel and whiting at the same time takes the cake. The stripers are driving bait up onto the dry land and rocks and the fish are taking almost anything you toss at them. Their Crippled Herring in the green and mackerel shades as well as plugs of all types are catching bass and the aggressive squid are charging the crippled herring. Those squid should remain until the blues show up, if they eventually do. The striper bite is not confined to the ditch but runs all the way up Cape Cod Bay to P-Town where the squid are running aground on the sandy beaches.

Christian from Falmouth Bait & Tackle said the bass fishing in the canal was red hot and the action along the Falmouth shore and the outside rips were producing stripers and some bluefish. He has restocked his sale table and he is preparing for their famous and extremely popular Big Game tourney which runs from July 11 to the 17th with big prizes and cash awards. It’s one of the few tourneys of its kind and has a great following from all over the coastline. There have been blues caught off Oregon Beach and Cotuit and bass moving up the sound to the ocean beaches. One of his New Jersey contacts made an offshore trip and hooked up to 71 small bluefin tuna. One of his customers fished in upper Buzzards Bay and caught his limit of black sea bass in the deepest water in the bay. Stop in and say hello.

We spoke with Amy from the Sports Port who said some of her customers took part in the fantastic canal fishing this past week where bait was being driven ashore. The scup have finally moved in and they are big and here in good numbers. The black sea bass are out a bit further in deeper water which is where the keepers are holding. The shop also issues licenses and has a complete line of fresh and saltwater gear in stock.

We spoke with Captain Rich Antonio of Black Rose Fishing Charters who has been into light tackle striper fishing all week long and he reports the giant scup and black sea bass fishing has been outstanding. Give him a call for all species and enjoy a day on the water that often results in a bag of fillets for the family and friends.

Ian at the Goose Hummock Shop said the fishing in Cape Cod Bay has been outstanding with stripers of all sizes in residence. He has been fishing from his kayak and from the beach and he detailed the squid being driven up onto the Provincetown beaches where a young girls stepped into the water and picked up a squid. She began to study it when it sprayed her face with a discharge of ink. No little lady they are not dead yet, Captain Phil has once again donated his boat and time for the Wounded Warrior fishing for the vets on his 42-foot sports fisherman and showing them a good time for this special event run out of Falmouth Harbor. Ian said the black and silver Yo-Zuri Hydro Minnow has proved to be a killer from Barnstable to the Brewster Flats out to the tip of P-Town. The shop is loaded with specialized gear for inshore and offshore species and their marine department is fully stocked with everything you need for your boats or kayaks. It’s definitely worth the trip.

It was full limits for all aboard for Capt. Jason of Little Sister Charters who put his fares onto legal sea bass with some over the 20-inch mark. There were some large scup in the catches and in a week or so his fluke charters in deeper water begin to produce keepers and some slabs. He also offers striper fishing in the river and the ocean reefs. Give him a call to get on his mailing list.

This week produced some large sea bass for Capt. Carl with Westport River Outfitters who had knuckleheads in the plus 20-inch range. Leslie Kalinoski of Brewster took a large knucklehead that had the biggest knot we have seen so far this year. The skipper has been finding plenty of stripers both below and over the slot size and numerous bass within the slot limit. Give him a call at the number in his ad and get aboard to arrange a charter and get details of his services and experience.