Salty Cape Podcast:
Catch this week’s episode of The Dave and Mike Show! Dave and Mike discuss fishing reports & dive into techniques, tips, fishing etiquette, walks down memory lane, and a fair amount of chop-busting!
Cape Cod Weekly Fishing Reports July 6 – 12
The Canal
Windy conditions, high humidity, and suspended sand and weed in the water made fishing in the Canal challenging during the week of July 5th to July 11th. Heavy surf warnings were also in effect. Despite the adverse conditions, anglers adapted by using sabiki rigs to jig mackerel at the east end. Fresh or frozen mackerel yielded the most catches, while some opted for jigs like paddletails and bucktails. Bait fishing proved effective around slack current times, with mackerel, pogies, and squid being the top choices. Night fishing with live eels was also productive, providing a longer window for successful catches.
Recommended Video: How To: Fishing Rips with Big Plugs
- Reason: This video provides tips on using big plugs in rips, which can be effective in the Canal’s strong currents and varying conditions.
Nantucket and Vineyard Sounds
In Nantucket and Vineyard Sounds, wind and fog limited boating activities, especially for those without radar. Water temperatures were in the low 70s. Middle Ground, Hedge Fence, Nobska, and Halfway Shoal experienced limited striped bass activity with larger striped bass but the week ended with an influx of schoolies in the sounds. However, fluke fishing improved in the sounds, with shore anglers catching summer flatties around Falmouth Harbor. Shore fishing for bass was more productive at night, and there were some bluefish reports. The Elizabeth Islands saw schools of actively feeding bass, mostly small with the largest at 29 inches.
Recommended Video: How-To: No Bait Fluke Fishing
- Reason: This video focuses on fluke fishing in Nantucket Sound, providing techniques relevant to the region’s improved fluke fishing conditions.
Woods Hole and The Elizabeths
In Woods Hole and the Elizabeths, fog and heavy air combined with increasing water temperatures marked the week. Middle Ground was quiet, prompting anglers to move to Tarpaulin Cove, where schools of feeding bass were found. Smaller baits like sand eels or silversides proved effective, with Hogy Epoxy Jigs and Hogy Surface Erasers being particularly productive. Small bass were abundant, with a few larger ones mixed in, providing some action despite the challenging conditions.
Recommended Video: Filmed Last Week: Monomoy | Topwater Rips | Micro Topwaters
- Reason: This video demonstrates effective topwater techniques in rips, which can be useful for targeting bass in similar conditions at Woods Hole and the Elizabeths.
Buzzards Bay
Buzzards Bay remained overall quiet for bass during the week. Although schools of bunker were present, they did not attract significant bass activity. However, fluke fishing was very good around Mashnee Flats, with shore anglers reporting good catches of fluke and sea bass. Larger sea bass were moving into deeper water, but some quality sea bass were still being caught, indicating a decent fishing opportunity for those targeting these species.
Recommended Video: How-To: Jigging for Black Sea Bass | Hogy Squinnow Jig + Jig-Biki Rig
- Reason: This video covers techniques for jigging black sea bass, relevant to the quality sea bass catches reported in Buzzards Bay.
Tuna/Offshore
Offshore, dense fog and challenging visibility conditions marked the week, with limited success in trolling. Some white marlin and dolphin were mixed with school bluefin tuna, but no significant catches were reported. Despite attempts, only a white marlin was hooked and then dropped. Overall, no tuna bites were reported, making it a tough week for offshore anglers.
Recommended Video: How-To: East of Chatham Bluefin Tuna | Jigging
- Reason: This video provides insights into jigging for bluefin tuna east of Chatham, which is relevant to offshore tuna fishing conditions.
Cape Cod Bay
In Cape Cod Bay, windy conditions and moving bait schools defined the week. Despite these challenges, there was consistent action on mackerel and pogy schools. Shore anglers reported good catches of bass, especially around Sandy Neck, where mackerel-pattern plugs and soft plastics proved effective. The presence of bluefish was noted, adding some variety to the catches in the bay.
Recommended Video: How To: Open Water Trolling for Striped Bass | Deep Diving Plugs
- Reason: This video covers trolling for striped bass with deep diving plugs, which can be useful for targeting bass in the conditions described for Cape Cod Bay.
The Vineyard
Fishing on the Vineyard experienced inconsistent bass and bluefish action from both boat and shore, with strong winds further limiting fishing activities. Scup fishing was good, with many anglers targeting them due to the unpredictable bass and bluefish bites. Boat bass action was slowing around Middle Ground and other rips, making it a challenging week. Shore fishing proved more successful during low light periods, with bucktail jigs and larger soft plastics being the most effective choices.
Recommended Video: How-To Clinic: Tips Shore Fishing Jetties for Striped Bass
- Reason: This video highlights fishing from shore, showcasing techniques that can be adapted for targeting species in similar conditions.
Additional Notes
Overall, fishing conditions were influenced significantly by weather patterns, including wind and fog, which impacted visibility and accessibility. Anglers adapted to these conditions by altering their techniques and target species. The presence of bait schools played a critical role in determining fishing success across all regions.
TL;DR
Fishing across the regions faced challenges due to wind, fog, and high humidity. The Canal had limited success with mackerel and night fishing with live eels. Nantucket and Vineyard Sounds saw better fluke fishing and some striped bass activity. Woods Hole and the Elizabeths had small bass biting, especially on smaller baits. Buzzards Bay was quiet for bass but good for fluke and sea bass. Offshore fishing was tough with dense fog and no significant tuna catches. Cape Cod Bay had consistent action on mackerel and pogies, with good shore catches of bass and some bluefish. The Vineyard experienced inconsistent bass and bluefish action, with scup fishing being a reliable alternative. Weather and bait presence were key factors affecting fishing success.
Recommended Hogy Lure Products
- Hogy Charter Grade Popper – Ideal for topwater action and effective in areas like the Canal and Nantucket Sounds where anglers experienced success with surface lures. Charter Grade Popper
- Hogy Epoxy Jig – Perfect for targeting small baitfish like sand eels and silversides, which were effective in Woods Hole and The Elizabeths. Epoxy Jig
- Hogy Protail Paddle – Versatile softbait suitable for jigging and casting, useful in areas with fluke and sea bass like Buzzards Bay. Protail Paddle
- Hogy Sand Eel Jig – Mimics sand eels effectively, a key baitfish in regions like the Elizabeth Islands and Cape Cod Bay. Sand Eel Jig
- Hogy Squinnow Jig – Designed for groundfish like scup and sea bass, relevant for the productive fluke and sea bass fishing in Buzzards Bay. Squinnow Jig
- Hogy Tuna Epoxy Jig – Ideal for offshore tuna fishing, which was challenging this week but a key target for anglers. Tuna Epoxy Jig
