Cape Cod has hit full stride. The Canal is producing trophy-class stripers, the outer beaches are loaded, fluke season just opened, and the mackerel are starting to show on the bay side.
Cape Cod Canal — Trophy Time
The Canal is fishing like it should this time of year — big stripers crashing bait on the east-running tides at first and last light. Topwater pencil poppers (Cotton Cordell, Tactical Anglers) at sunrise have been crushing fish in the 30–45 inch range, with bigger fish in the 50-plus range getting caught daily. Soft plastics on a 1.5–2 oz jighead through the middle of the tide. Watch the schedule and fish the breaking water.
Outer Beaches and Race Point
The outer beaches from Nauset down through Race Point are loaded with school stripers and a steady mix of bigger fish in the surf. Bunker chunks fished on a fishfinder rig, or live eels at night, are the proven plays. The Race Point rip is producing fish in the 35–45 inch range to anglers casting big plugs and SPs.
Fluke Season Open
Fluke season opened over the weekend and Buzzards Bay is the hot spot. Drift with squid and a flounder rig in 30–60 feet — most boats are limiting on schoolies with the occasional doormat in the 6-pound range. Cape Cod Bay flatties are starting to show as well.
Mackerel and Bluefish
Mackerel are arriving on the bay side — small Sabiki rigs in the bays and around the Cape Cod Bay buoys. First bluefish of the year should show any day now.
Specific Spots This Week
The Cape Cod Canal east-running tide at sunrise is THE bite this week — work the rip from Bell Buoy 1 east through Mass Maritime. Cotton Cordell Pencil Poppers in chrome and bone, then drop to jigs through the middle of the tide. The Race Point rip at the north end of the outer beach is producing 30–45 inch fish on big plugs casted into the white water. Surfcasters working Nauset Beach at night with bunker chunks have been getting steady fish. Fluke season is open — Buzzards Bay around the Cleveland Ledge area is producing schoolies in 30–50 feet on Spro bucktails. Mackerel are scattered through Cape Cod Bay; small sabikis on the bait pods will get you a full bucket fast for fresh striper bait.
Conditions and Outlook
Water temp 55–58°F. New moon Saturday — strong Canal tides midweek, softer this weekend. SW winds Wednesday/Thursday, NE Saturday. Canal at dawn is the move.
Local Intel This Week
The Cape Cod Canal east-running tide at dawn is producing the biggest fish — pencil poppers and big SP swimmers, get there before 4:30 AM for a spot. Race Point on the outer beaches holds quality fish for anglers willing to walk. Buzzards Bay drifts with squid and bucktails are loading boats with fluke. Plum Island and the North Shore tributaries for spawning herring action that will draw stripers. Massachusetts saltwater license required, stripers slot 28-31 inches. Tight lines.