Cape Cod and the Islands
Region

July 20, 2007

Buzzards Bay

Joe LeClair of North Eastern Anglers reports:

Bass fishing is outta sight. I was out on Cape Cod this week and there were schools of Striped Bass from 30-45" everywhere. I also had some good tuna fishing but for the most part it is very hard with the fly rod right now.

Martha's Vineyard

Phil Cronin reported:

Martha’s Vineyard Fishing Report for July 11 – July 17, 2007: Last week I commented on the bass fishing as "it couldn’t get any better" and that description was dead on. The top water bass fishing in the rips has slowed down considerably. The primary reason is the water has warmed and the squid have thinned out. The bass are still there but the tactic has changed to depth charge fly lines or deep diving stick baits. Jigs are effective, as are live baits but the fact of the matter is the action has slowed. The last good day I had on the rips was Wednesday, July 11 when an experienced bluewater, big game fisherman from Miami along with his son hired me to fish for some good sized "Vineyard stripers". They scored well with 10 to 15 lbers and had a ball. In fact, on the way in he said it was one of the best days fishing he had ever had.

On Friday, July 13 four of us ventured off to the waters off Chatham to hunt down tuna. What a beautiful sight to see all that marine life in a fairly small area. Whales, dolphin, tuna, birds, and more made the run from the Vineyard a real pleasure. The run home was an entirely different story as we faced stiffening SW winds and snotty seas. Although we didn’t land any tuna’s we did have one hook-up and a bunch of 15lb bluefish. I look forward to my next trip there and am confident we will score next time.

Bass are heavily feeding on krill up island and can be caught with the right lures or flies. We went up on Sunday evening July 15 and witnessed thousands of bass lazily slurping up the little creatures. A white jumping minnow did the trick occasionally, as did a small chug bug with mylar tail. The fly of choice was a white bunny stripped clouser style. No big ones but many in the 20" to 26" class. Sluggos were effective after dark.all over lobster gear east of the island with most fish being around five pounds. Small flashy flies and jigs are getting plenty of attention. It's tuna time and I can't wait for these fish to show in larger numbers. Until then the bass and blues are still keeping us tight out on Block Island.

Jeff Sayre of Fly Fishing the Vineyard reports:

The beach is still fishing real well. My buddy Doug and I were out 'til 1 this AM and were nailing fish left and right. It probably would have got better if we had stayed the rest of the night but our backs were killing us. We had spent the early evening casting to bass that were feeding on krill but getting a hit was like pulling hen's teeth. It's frustrating when you see such large schools of bass and you can only draw a strike every so often. Some days when they're on krill they'll eat good and other days they won't. We almost went home it was so tough. The 12 cold Beck's in the fridge were calling us. But we stuck around and waited for dark and when it came the fish began to cooperate. The water was very weedy and when using the fly rod we were gathering so much of it we went to light spin gear instead. Armed with 6 inch Sluggos we were able to get beyond the weed and we had a good night. Doug landed this 39 inch bass on his third cast with the Sluggo. What a battle on a 7 foot rod with 12 lb test. That was the biggest of the night but we did get a number of fish in the just "keeper" size.

The night fishing should continue to be good with the dark sky we have now and the hazy and conditions. As I've said before, it is so nice to be on the beach late at night when no one is around. We only saw one car go by us on the way home this morning. You would think there was nobody else on the Island. The complete antithesis of dowtown Edgartown.

As everyone has heard there has been a few bonito caught. At this time there are no big numbers that you can target but that'll change as we approach the end of the month. Bonito fever will set in and the inshore craziness will start.

Speaking of Wasque, Steve said it is so full of blues, you can't catch much else, but tha bass are there if you can get a fly through the bluefish.

Offshore, there have been some reports of bluefin at the claw. On a recent shark trip, Steve said that a couple miles past the hooter, near Gordon's Gulley at the 20 fathom edge, there were lots of the right kind of birds, and bait, as well some marks which he took to be tuna. He will be exploring that on Sunday.

Page Rogers writes:

Normally in SE CT but have been on the Vineyard for amonth and the fishing is outta sight. The island is surrounded by thousands of small - large 3- 10 lb bluefish. The recent moon tides have led to just awesome blitzes in Menemsha, Wasque, Little and Big Bridges and along the north shore. Bass fishing remains consistently wonderful just about everywhere because the water temps are still relatively cool. Bass are in the ponds on the flats on the flood tides inn the daytime. Bait is abundant: sandeels, juvie silversides and 1/4" shrimp are on the menu. This is one of the best Julys in recent memory, for me.

-Page Rogers

Nantucket

Capt. Bill Toelstedt of Nantucket Outfitters reports:

Nantucket Outfitters report for 7/17/07:
Fishing continues to hold strong here on ...and around Nantucket. Bass fishing remains strong going into the 3rd week of July... especially for those willing to get an early start and venture a bit further out. Bluefish continue to eat us up in many of the rips holding bass... but if your arms can hold out your bound to catch your share of stripes.

For the midday trips we've been concentrating on BIG blues off both the north and south sides with great results. For many of those who have'nt had much saltwater fly fishing experience... its a good way to get introduced to the game without having to cast very far.
We have also done a bit of bottom bouncing this week ...scoring nice numbers of fluke on the east side. Bruce Turner's son nailed a nice 4.44 lb'er a few days back on the "Tashima"... and Capt. Shawn Bristow fishing the "Squaretail" has been producing consistantly out east on Tuna!
Capt. Bill

Capt. Lynne Heyer of Cross Rip Outfitters reports:

Good morning! The sun is shining and the day is starting off with a nice warm and fuzzy feeling. The weather has been nice for a few days and everyone has been enjoying it. I have been out fishing and that helps me keep my sanity too.

To the fishing, Captain Shawn has been cranking on the Tuna's this past week with the Madoff brothers hooking, I think, 5 Bluefins and landing 4. Even had a shot or two on light tackle, spin and fly. Shawn and Dick Dupont had a good trip to to the Tuna grounds getting two on Thursday. Captain Jeff is having good luck up on the flats for Stripers, he fished my Mom and her friend Linda on Thursday and I know they landed at least one. I saw the evidence in the frig. I also have been finding Stripers in some spots and giant Blues on the South Shore of the Island. I had a trip with John and John Letherland on Thursday and we went down that way to get some bruiser on fly and light tackle and the! Blues were very obliging. I had a few on the Boga Grip and had several 10# ers. It is a lot of fun sightfishing to the Blues when they fin on top.

We are all awaiting the appearance of the Bonito but for me nothing yet. Can't wait though the little neon speedsters are a lot of fun.

Chatham, Monomoy and the Outer Beaches

Cope Filoon writes in about fishing the shoals off of Chatham and Nantucket:

I have actually contributed in the past and thought I would forward along some more pictures. We set a few family records this weekend. The first is of my father, Fred Filoon, who caught this 37" striper on a fly rod to set a personal record on Fly. The second is my cousin Ashley Robertson. She had never caught a Striped Bass before and she landed this 39" and 19.8lb Striper as her first one.

It was a great day last Saturday, July 14th out at Great Round shoal off of Monomoy. There was a big squid run going and perfect weather conditions. We landed lots of blues and even more Striped Bass. The boats name is "Loonasea" and we are out of Hyannisport.

It was actually Saturday morning when there was absolutely no wind whatsoever and getting from Hyannisport to Great Round was an easy shot. We actually got out there for about an hour and half of rip before the tide changed, waited for the tide to turn and then picked up some more fish as the rips reformed. It was a fantastic day. I cleaned up a couple of them and you would have been amazed at how many squid were in their stomachs. We were participating in the Hyannisport fishing derby, which is a real small derby (mainly for kids who fish off the dock and go out to horseshoe shoal, adults can go out further) put together by Larry Singmaster, who I think you may know as he guides a bit down there.

Thanks for including us in your report!

Best,

Cope

Randy Jones - http://www.yankeeangler.com - Fishing Reports of Yankee Angler reports:

Hello everyone,
I managed a day out on the flats wading while sight fishing by myself recently and as soon as my feet touched the water I saw my first 10lb'r, 50 feet, moving left. I was surprised at the large number of bass I was seeing consistently over the sand during this part of the tide after my last trip recently to this exact same area, but at a different part of the tide. I guess you never know!

It was 1 hour before the low and the sand was teaming with bass in the schoolie to 20 lb. size. They stayed on the sand all the way through the low and until I left on the com'n tide. (I left the flats prematurely due to the heavy fog bank I could see miles away closing in on me fast. (Tip) - All of the birds were facing into the wind. And it just so happened that the correct direction for me to travel back to safety was straight onto the wind. So all I did from time to time was look at what direction the birds were facing in the heavy fog and just followed their beak direction :) Some fish were lazily moving about while others were actively feeding on the surface creating boils, (tip) - flashing from time to time while feeding, which helped me to zero in on them and see them. Singles up to schools of 10.

The snapper Blues were a stones throw away crashing bait on the surface over the hole. After I happily gave the Blues a couple of my flies I went back to sight fishing.
Bluebird sky, light sea breeze and not another person in sight?

I stood in one spot and let them come to me. This tech. is the best, most productive way to flats fish. You decrease the amount of noise you can accidentally make if moving about. I also moved sloooowly around while sight fishing which also worked. (Tip) You know what they say, if you're walking a flat while sight fishing you are walking to fast. When walking on a flat while sight fishing you should not be making any type of splashing noise with your legs moving through the water. You normally are creeping along, almost not even moving when sight fishing.

You all will be very happy to hear that these flats were LOADED with millions of Sand lances all schooled up! ye-haa! (Approx. 1-1/2 inch's long) Thats one of the major reason's for all of these fish. Now, add in the fact that close by was a flats river (what I call them) or creek. On both the dropping and com'n tide the water is compressed and or concentrated through these flats rivers with holes in them for the fish to use as prime hiding places. This is "exactly" like a fresh water river or creek that you fish for Bass, Trout, Steelhead or any other species of fish. Sometimes the current moves sooo fast that it can actually knock you off your feet. Enough current that is being compressed that puts the bait at a major disadvantage and for larger predator fish, its about as good of a habitat scenario that you could ask for being a proficient hunter.
-
If you remember this "equation" then you will always be catching fish as long as there are:
1. No predators
2. The water is not to warm or cold.
3. There is food.

If you stop and think about it, these fish are just like us. We need the same thing's as they do to live. The fish have to be proficient hunters (use the least amount of energy to get their food) or they would surely die, as we would. That's why moving water is like a feeding light switch to them.

Current + Structure from below or side = a compressed or concentrated water flow. (Ever heard of a rip?)
Bait + current = fish. Rarely will this equation not work.

The rest of the flats were probably looking about the same as this one. Look for the flats and beaches up in the northern part of the Cape to start to load up with Peanut Bunker. Tip: If I don't have a P.B. fly handy, then I will cut a small to medium sized deceiver in half. Works like a charm!

I sincerely hope you all get a chance to explore and experience this incredible world class sight fishing wade spin/fly flats area.
May all of your door knobs smell of grossly over sized Bass :)
Randy

Inshore, I did terribly exploring new flats in northeastern Pleasant Bay. The tide rises extremely fast, and few flats have the perfect orientation towards the tide in my opinion. I saw a small number of fish, and hooked nothing alas, but enjoyed the exploration of the distant parts of Pleasant Bay with my mother.

North Side

Capt. Mike Mathews of Offshore Angler Charters reports:

For me, it has been like clockwork over the past 2 years. Give me a dying NW wind in CCB and Beyond and I can't get out there fast enough. Tuesday morning had a dying NW 5-10 and in the late morning/afternoon it went off! Great topwater action to 50-60lb Tuna. The CCB & Beyond continues to have horsepower for great fishing. Even some newer bait fish The Ocean Lures Tinker Mac Popper may come in handy. Give us a call if you would like to get out.

Reel-Time Moderator Bob Parsons reports:

Barnstable Harbor has been fishing well this week on the incoming tide. Fish have been chasing bait in the outer channel and then on to the flats as they flood. The action has continued late into the tide with continueing on the inner flats. I did well on Chartreuse over white but did even better on olive over white in the 4" length. Length and whiteness I think were the key factors, these fish were feeding aggressively.
Bob Parsons