Cape Cod Boater’s Guide: Wind
The waters surrounding Cape Cod are some of the most productive in U.S. for the recreational angler. Regardless of your level of fishing experience it’s likely you will return to the dock with either fish in the cooler or great stories – or both. However, as with all boating adventures it’s important to anticipate the conditions you’ll encounter and make the necessary preparations.
Wind direction and force (and how weather affects those things) along with tide should be your first considerations. In the summer, southwest breezes are almost always the rule. Typically, many days start out with a light breeze but force increases as the day progresses. This is important to take into account if you’re planning to fish anywhere on the south side of the Cape. Nantucket and Vineyard Sounds along with Buzzards Bay can become quite uncomfortable in smaller boats with confused, short chop of three or four feet or even bigger when the tide runs against the wind direction. On the Cape Cod Bay side this is primarily an offshore breeze though and boating there can be a more comfortable experience.
In the spring and fall (and in the summer after a storm blows through) the wind direction is usually north or northwest, which is generally less productive from a fishing perspective even though those Sound waters will be flatter. On the Cape Cod Bay side, just the opposite is the case. Any sort of easterly breeze (northeast, southeast, due East) usually follows or precedes storms and if you have a small boat – anything less than at least 18 feet – you should probably reconsider your plan if you’re intending to head out for a day of fishing. You may be able to find some spots inside larger enclosures such as Pleasant Bay or Waquoit Bay, or perhaps in tight along the Buzzards Bay shore however.