The striped bass run has arrived in force on Cape Cod, and the fishing has been excellent this week. The Cape Cod Canal has produced strong breaking-fish action on the moving tides, with the dawn current changes drawing the best blitzes. Jigs, pencil poppers, and big swimbaits worked through the current have all connected on quality fish.
Along the flats and the backside beaches, sight-casters are finding cruising bass in the skinny water on the morning tides, and the south-side estuaries are holding schoolie and slot fish on soft plastics and flies. Bluefish have shown up to crash bait and offer fast, toothy action — wire or heavy leader recommended.
Summer flounder (fluke) are filling in over the sandy bottom in Nantucket and Vineyard sounds, taking Gulp and bucktail-teaser rigs drifted along the channel edges. Black sea bass are stacked on the structure and reefs and provide steady action and good eating.
Offshore, the first bluefin tuna are being marked and hooked on the troll and jig out toward the deeper water, an encouraging early sign for the season. Scup (porgies) are thick around the reefs and rock piles for anglers looking for fast bottom action.
The striper bite is the clear headline and should continue building through June. Fish the Canal around the tide changes, work the flats at first light, and keep the bluefish gear ready for the blitzes.