Never Go Home Skunked: MFCC Members on the Power of a Plan B

MFCC members share their strategies for staying flexible on the water—from moving locations and switching species to embracing freshwater fishing—so you never have to go home empty-handed.

We often spend time planning the perfect fishing trip: the exact time to head out and make a first cast; location; lure/bait; targeted species.

But the reality is that the first cast rarely leads to catching a fish. For that matter, the first location might not work. Sometimes having a Plan B means moving to a new location and/or targeting an entirely different species.

In this post, we'll explore how having a Plan B has saved fellow MFCC members from the dreaded skunk — and how you can start developing your own flexible strategies to ensure a great day on the water.

Learning from Monomoy's Seasoned Anglers

In 2025, the rips and shoals of Monomoy provided perhaps the most consistent fishing action in our waters. But even Eddie Kooyomjian Jr., who has been fishing Monomoy for more than a decade, knows that there are times, particularly early season, when it's challenging to find a striper at Monomoy.

Eddie urges fellow anglers to "have a Plan B for the trip and go black sea bass or fluke fishing." Most years Eddie is itching to get his boat in the water as early as possible, but mid-May trips for stripers can be challenging depending on the water temperature.

On those quieter early season days, Eddie will turn toward Hyannis and target black sea bass. In late June into July, Eddie will seek fluke up to 28", admitting that finding fish that size can mean moving around quite a bit.

Even seasoned MFCC anglers targeting tuna sometimes have a Plan B.

In August, Daniel Rice posted in the Monomoy Fishing 2025 thread that after unsuccessfully chasing tuna, he stopped by Monomoy on his way back into port and caught a couple of quality-sized stripers. "That ends a long day on the water with a smile that's for sure," said Daniel.

Strategies for Shore-Based Anglers

For shore-based anglers, Plan B can mean a variety of things. AJ Coots, co-owner of Red Top Sporting Goods in Buzzards Bay, recommends a 20-cast rule: if you haven't got a hit after making 20 casts, start walking. "The fish are moving, you've got to move too," says AJ.

Longtime surf and freshwater angler Mike Marcus starts an outing by giving his first targeted spot 15 to 30 minutes at most, and then he starts moving. Mike says moving just 50 yards can result in locating a bite. "If I stayed where I was I might not have found the fish."

Calvin-Toran Sandlin, whose images of large stripers and brown sharks on MFCC are legendary, is a student of his craft, noting locations, tides, and moon phases to dial in the fish in the boulder fields he targets. But even he goes through stretches when it becomes difficult to locate striped bass.

Calvin recalls sitting in a parking lot discouraged after fishing eight days straight in May 2025 and only having one schoolie to show for it. He decided to change locations, targeting a beach on the other side of the Cape and ended up catching a 40-pound class striper.

Freshwater Options as Your Plan B

For freshwater anglers, Plan B can mean moving to a different location—perhaps looking first in the shallows and then finding deeper holes. For Cape-based freshwater anglers, a Plan B can mean taking advantage of the wide variety of ponds, which number in the hundreds, scattered throughout the Cape, making changing locations quick and easy.

Among other species, Cape Ponds are home to trout, largemouth and smallmouth bass, pickerel, white and yellow perch, and a variety of panfish. So your Plan B can be a different location or species in sweet water as well.

Expert Advice on Staying Flexible

Noting "they are either there or they aren't," Ian McPartland of the Goose Hummock Shops in Orleans says that anglers should be ready to move to different locations to find fish. Ian recommends having several locations in mind when planning your next outing, hitting each location hard for 15-30 minutes, but absent of visible signs of fish or bird activity, get ready to move.

Ian is one of those anglers that once the weather warms, spends more days fishing than not, but even he moved from chasing fish in the surf in 2025 to freshwater fishing when conditions in saltwater were difficult. "I did more freshwater fishing than I have in 20 years and it was a savior," says Ian about his 2025 season.

Planning Your 2026 Strategy

So when thinking about your first 2026 fishing outings, what's your Plan B? Start by choosing the location that may be your favorite, often because it results in catching fish. How will you attack the location?

What lure/bait will you start with, and how long until you try something different, perhaps exploring a different part of the water column? Then how long until you move? And do you have a plan for chasing several different species?

Having a Plan B isn't admitting defeat, it's simply being able to more quickly respond to fishing conditions that may not be what you anticipate. It can mean the difference between simply fishing and catching.

Share Your Story

So here's your chance to tell your story, and perhaps help your fellow MFCC anglers to sharpen their skills. Simply reply below with how you prepare for an outing, and how you respond to different conditions.

How do you decide where you will head first? What lures/baits are your favorites? Leave a comment below and tell us your stories about your Plan B, or even your Plan C, D, or E, that resulted in catching fish, and perhaps finding a new location or technique that has improved your overall catch rate.

With winter winds howling, now's a great time to learn from your fellow MFCC members how to make your 2026 fishing season even more successful.

Tight lines! 

Dan Nahorney