Salty Cape Podcast:
Catch this weeks 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!
Chatham/Monomoy
The fishing conditions off Chatham and Monomoy remained productive throughout the week despite challenging winds. Anglers found success trolling a variety of plugs and soft plastics, particularly around the Handkerchief and Stonehorse rips. The size of the bass varied significantly, with many fish in the mid-20 to high-20 inch range, and occasional larger fish up to 36 inches. Smaller bass were more common, but the occasional larger fish were caught using lead core line and jigging techniques. Bob Lewis and his crew, including Olivia Dinkelacker, conducted catch-and-release studies focusing on the behavior and recovery of striped bass, noting fluctuating sizes which suggest different schools moving through the area.
Relevant Video: How-To: Casting Big Topwater Plugs for Striped Bass
- This video provides tips and tricks for catching striped bass in the rips, a technique that was productive this week in the Chatham/Monomoy area.
Nantucket
The bass fishing around Nantucket was consistently good, with new smaller stripers showing up. Squid in the rips near Tuckernuck and Muskeget provided excellent topwater action. However, the numbers of bluefish were lower than expected. Great Point was productive for bonito, with consistent catches of two to four fish per trip. These were typically small, but any bone is a good bone. When bass became less interested in surface action, switching to subsurface presentations like lightly weighted swimbait hooks proved effective.
Relevant Video: How-To: Combo Trip | Jig Seabass | Topwater Stripers
- This video highlights techniques for both jigging for sea bass and targeting stripers on topwater, which align with the successful methods used this week around Nantucket.
Vineyard Sound
The holiday weekend brought heavy boat traffic to Vineyard Sound, making it challenging to employ some traditional casting techniques. As a result, many anglers switched to trolling or bottom fishing to avoid the crowds. Jim Young’s bottom fishing strategy outside of heavily trafficked areas yielded good results with sea bass and fluke. The key to success was using Hogy Jig Biki Rigs and various weighted jigs, which produced reliable catches even in crowded conditions. Bass and blues were the main targets, but a notable number of sea bass and fluke were also caught. The bass were often found in cooler waters, emphasizing the need for early morning or late evening fishing.
Relevant Video: How-To: No Bait Fluke Fishing
- This video walks through targeting fluke in Nantucket Sound without bait, which was a successful method reported in Vineyard Sound this week.
Buzzards Bay
In Buzzards Bay, Mark Tenerowicz reported active bass fishing from Wareham to Westport. The bass ranged widely in size, from micro schoolies to just under 30 inches. Amber soft plastics on unweighted swimbait hooks were particularly effective. Cooler water temperatures kept the fish more active. The best results were found by casting to waking fish in shallow waters rather than blind casting. Fishing in skinny water and targeting specific current/tide stages were crucial for success. The ratio of casts to strikes was high, with many takes being subtle slurps rather than explosive hits.
Relevant Video: How-To: Target Bigger Stripers Under The Smaller Ones
- This video focuses on targeting larger stripers beneath smaller ones, which could help anglers improve their catch in Buzzards Bay.
The Canal
In the Canal, first light produced the best results with large four-ounce white pencil poppers. The presence of pogy schools was a significant factor in locating bass. White paddletails were preferred for subsurface fishing, with a notable increase in the use of white bucktail jigs. Timing and positioning were critical as bait moved quickly through the Canal. High winds created difficult conditions for jigging, making it hard to feel pick-ups and affecting overall success.
Relevant Video: How-To: Open Water Trolling for Striped Bass | Deep Diving Plugs
- This video covers effective trolling techniques for striped bass using deep diving plugs, relevant for the subsurface fishing success in the Canal.
Offshore/Tuna
Offshore tuna fishing was inconsistent east of the Cape, with large biomasses of sand eels present but the bite varying daily. Trolling bars were commonly used to locate fish. Howie Baker reported seeing giants but opted not to fish for them due to lighter tackle. Tuna remained south of the Vineyard, likely due to abundant bait in those areas. Consistent water temperatures across areas east of the Cape and south of Montauk influenced the distribution and behavior of tuna.
Relevant Video: How-To: School Tuna Trolling | Simple 4-Rod Spread
- This video provides a simple trolling setup for targeting school tuna, aligning with the methods used in the offshore tuna fishing report.
Woods Hole and The Elizabeths
Bass fishing around Woods Hole and the Elizabeth Islands saw concentrated pockets of fish, particularly near Robinson’s. Seven-inch Hogy Originals in bone and amber were effective. Increased bird activity and surface splashes suggested a good presence of baitfish, giving hope for a promising season for bonito.
Relevant Video: How-To: Nobska Point Striped Bass Fishing
- This video highlights techniques for fishing striped bass at Nobska Point, which is relevant for anglers targeting similar conditions around Woods Hole and the Elizabeths.
Nantucket Sound
Fluke and sea bass fishing in Nantucket Sound was productive, with larger fluke found on the deeper edges of Mashnee Flats. Shore anglers also caught fluke off Onset, with pink being a particularly effective color. Early signs of summer conditions were evident, with dispersing pogies and increased use of methods like tube-and-worm, umbrella rigs, and deep-running plugs to reach deeper fish. Charter and recreational anglers employed a variety of techniques, from live-lining eels at night to trolling and jigging, with larger fish found in deeper waters.
Relevant Video: How-To: Jigging for Black Sea Bass | Hogy Squinnow Jig + Jig-Biki Rig
- This video demonstrates effective jigging techniques for sea bass, relevant for the productive sea bass fishing reported in Nantucket Sound.
Chatham/Monomoy
Catch-and-release studies continued in the Chatham/Monomoy region, with Olivia Dinkelacker concluding the field segment of her doctoral research. Inconsistent boat handling and lack of fishing etiquette created challenges, but experienced captains navigated these issues to find success.
Relevant Video: Salty Tips: Healthy Catch and Release Big Striped Bass on Plugs
- This video provides best practices for catch and release, aligning with the ongoing catch-and-release studies in the Chatham/Monomoy area.
Tuna/Offshore
Tuna action offshore was variable, with some boats marking large concentrations of bait but inconsistent catches. Trolling bars remained a primary technique for locating tuna. Some anglers, like Howie Baker, chose not to target giant tuna to avoid overwhelming their tackle, focusing instead on manageable-sized fish. Offshore fishing was affected by consistent water temperatures, emphasizing the need for locating temperature breaks and bait concentrations.
Relevant Video: How-To: East of Chatham Bluefin Tuna | Jigging
- This video covers jigging techniques for bluefin tuna east of Chatham, which aligns with the methods used in the offshore tuna fishing report.
Vineyard Sound
The Ladies’ Shoal Troll, an annual event, saw high participation and productive fishing around Monomoy. Lots of slot-sized bass and some larger fish were caught, with techniques ranging from casting plugs to streaming lead core lines. Changing tactics from casting to trolling or bottom fishing helped avoid crowded spots and increased catch rates.
Relevant Video: Fishing Block Island | Topwater & Jigging for Big Striped Bass
- This video shows topwater and jigging techniques for big striped bass, which were effective during the Ladies’ Shoal Troll event.
TL;DR
The fishing around Cape Cod, Nantucket, and Vineyard Sounds was productive despite challenging conditions. Bass fishing was strong across all regions, with notable catches around Chatham/Monomoy and Nantucket. The Canal saw good topwater action, while Buzzards Bay had active bass fishing in cooler waters. Offshore tuna fishing was inconsistent, with tuna remaining south of the Vineyard. Bottom fishing for sea bass and fluke was successful in Vineyard Sound, and the Ladies’ Shoal Troll event saw high participation and great results.
Product Recommendations
1. Hogy Charter Grade Popper
Why: The Charter Grade Popper was effective in the Chatham/Monomoy region for catching bass. Its versatility in different water conditions makes it a reliable choice.
2. Hogy Protail Paddle
Why: Effective for both bass and bluefish, the Protail Paddle works well in the subsurface presentations described in the Nantucket and Vineyard Sounds.
3. Hogy Groundfish Biki Jig
Why: Ideal for bottom fishing, which was successful in Vineyard Sound for sea bass and fluke. This rig helps in areas with high boat traffic where traditional casting is challenging.
4. Hogy Epoxy Jig Lure
Why: The Epoxy Jig Lure is perfect for surface blitzes and was highlighted for use in Buzzards Bay and the Canal for targeting striped bass.
5. Hogy Sand Eel Jig
Why: With the presence of sand eels as a primary bait in the offshore tuna and inshore bass fisheries, the Sand Eel Jig is crucial for imitating this prolific baitfish.
6. Hogy Squinnow Jig
Why: Effective for groundfish like sea bass and fluke, the Squinnow Jig was mentioned as a productive tool in Woods Hole and the Elizabeths.
