Cape Cod fishing report May 3
The cool thing about Cape Cod (which I alluded to in the last report) is that you can fish one environment one day and then fish a completely different environment the next. Striped bass are amazingly versatile creatures that regularly feed in a variety of different environments.
Two days ago I found some fish in tight to the beach on the southside of the Cape. These fish had very small bait fish pinned up against a long, sandy, almost featureless beach front.
Yesterday's trip was basically on the complete opposite end of the spectrum. I chose to fish an area in Buzzard's Bay that I have been frequenting for the past decade or so. It's hands down one of my favorite places to fish from shore.
This area is unique because it features an incredibly rocky, boulder strewn coast. A rocky shoal of sorts jets out towards a navigation channel that leads into a calm bay. It's basically like combining 3 awesome spots into 1.
Each spring the bass infiltrate the shallow water in amongst the boulders. Because the water is so shallow I usually choose top water or floating swimmers. It's not unusual to skip a popper off the top of a rock or around a boulder.
My #1 favorite tide for fishing this area is the outgoing, because it is possible to wade out to one of the rocky points and actually cast into the navigation channel. You can whip a cast right by the red nun buoy, which is pretty unusual when fishing from shore. I can only think of a handful of shore bound areas on Cape Cod where you can cast into a deep navigation channel.
When the bay to the north of the boulder field empties out during the ebb tide, all sorts of marine life gets swept into the channel. Awell positioned cast will put your lure or bait right into the action.
Yesterday however I opted to give the incoming tide a try, and concentrate my efforts on fishing in amongst the boulders. I donned my waders and started exploring the boulder field, casting as I went. The majority of my casts were into water that was probably just barely over my head.
It took a little bit but an hour into the incoming tide I had my first real good WHACK! Unfortunately I missed the fish, but at least I knew there was some life in the area.
A few more casts later and I noticed a swirl behind the plug. I picked up the retrieve pace just a tad and the bass responded by smacking the pencil popper. Fish on!
This was not a big fish, only about 25 inches but it still felt nice to put a bend in the rod. You'll have to take my word for it because as I took my smart phone out for a picture (while wading in water-not terribly smart) the bass gave a good kick and swam away. Maybe I should invest in one of those "Go Pro" cameras.
With renewed hope and energy I began casting once again in and around the rocks. I tried bombing the pencil popper out far but to be completely honest, the only action I got came within 30 feet of shore.
Throughout the next hour numerous bass rolled on the plug, swirled on it and chased the plug right up to my waders. A tad bit frustrating but still really cool - especially considering its only May 3rd.
A few of the swirls looked like they were produced by slightly larger bass. It's always tough to gauge the size of the fish that created a splash or swirl but a few of these fish were definitely keeper size which kept me casting - despite it being obnoxiously cold out.
Then just as my phone started ringing my green little pencil popper got absolutely hammered by a fish that I would estimate (emphasis on estimate!) to be 36 or so inches. Just like the night before, this bass came hurdling out of the water, exposing 75% of his body.
Of course I missed that fish, and the phone call. However that was, by far, the biggest bass I have seen so far this season.
Right now there are definitely some bigger fish moving up through Buzzard's Bay towards the Canal. I would bet a beer or two that the fishing in the Big Ditch could...click to continue reading
