The Cape Cod Canal has finally awakened from its summer slumber, delivering the kind of explosive top water action that makes it legendary. After weeks of spotty fishing with bass holding deeper in the water column, the July full moon has ignited the bite.
The Moon's Magic Touch
The timing couldn't be better. AJ from Red Top Sporting Goods explains, the canal has "gone off" in recent days with massive top water blitzes featuring much larger fish than anglers have seen over the past month. The full moon on July 10th has created the perfect storm of conditions, with breaking tides and strong water movement bringing quality striped bass to the surface in feeding frenzies that haven't been seen since early June.
What makes this particularly exciting is the size of the fish. While previous weeks saw smaller, scattered activity, recent catches include bass in the 25+ pound range, with one angler reporting a fish that "bottomed out his 30-pound scale". These are the quality fish that make the Cape Cod Canal famous!
Prime Fishing Locations
The canal remains the focal point, with the east end emerging as the most productive location. The traditional pattern of east end dominance during moon tides is holding true, though there's potential for fish to push into the west end as these strong tides continue through early next week.
For anglers planning their attack, the strategy is clear: arrive early at the east end, secure a good spot, and be prepared for both jigging and top water opportunities. The best approach involves starting with jigging before gray light, then keeping a sharp eye out for breaking fish once dawn arrives. When the surface erupts, it's time to switch to top water lures immediately.
Cape Cod Bay: Diverse Opportunities
Cape Cod Bay is showing excellent diversity in fishing opportunities. The Fishing Ledge in the middle of the bay has been producing consistently for boat anglers using tube and worm rigs, as well as umbrella rigs. These fish are holding deeper, requiring different tactics than the canal's surface action.
Plymouth offers an early morning bite that's relatively close to the boat ramp, though it tends to peter out as the day progresses. This makes it perfect for anglers looking for quick action without a long run.
Moving north, Duxbury, Scituate, and Boston all harbor significant fish populations, though they're scattered in different pods rather than concentrated in one area. This distribution actually provides more opportunities for anglers willing to move around and locate active fish.
Provincetown continues to fish well, though it requires a more finesse approach. The fish here are keyed in on sand eels and can be finicky, demanding smaller presentations and more subtle techniques.
Buzzards Bay: An Unexpected Gem
Perhaps the most surprising development is the continued productivity of Buzzards Bay. Typically, this area becomes a "hot tub" by mid-July, with water temperatures too warm to sustain quality fishing. However, the unusual weather patterns and frequent rain have kept temperatures manageable, allowing for excellent fishing to continue.
The Hog Island area has been particularly productive, with high 30 to low 40-inch striped bass actively feeding on squid. This squid-focused diet has made the fish more aggressive and less discriminating, creating excellent opportunities for anglers using appropriate presentations.
Essential Lures and Baits
Top Water Arsenal
When it comes to top water fishing in the canal, AJ recommends a two-pronged approach that has proven successful over years of canal fishing:
Floating Top Water Lures: These provide decent casting distance while allowing for slower, more controlled presentations. The ability to work these lures methodically often triggers strikes from fish that might otherwise ignore faster-moving baits.
Distance Casting Pencils: When fish are feeding just beyond the reach of standard top water lures, long-casting pencils become essential. While they sacrifice some action compared to floating lures, they provide the distance needed to reach active fish.
The key is carrying both styles and being prepared to switch based on where the fish are positioned. Sometimes the difference between success and failure comes down to those extra few yards of casting distance.
Subsurface Options
For deeper water applications, particularly in Cape Cod Bay, several techniques are proving effective:
Tube and Worm: These continue to be reliable producers in the middle of Cape Cod Bay, particularly around the Fishing Ledge area.
Umbrella Rigs: Both surface and subsurface umbrella rigs are working well for boat anglers, especially when trolled in the bay's deeper sections.
Wireline Jigs: For the deepest spots, wireline jigs allow anglers to reach fish holding in the lower portions of the water column.
Finesse Presentations
In areas like Provincetown, where fish are feeding on sand eels, smaller, more natural presentations are crucial:
Small Paddle Tails: These mimic the profile and action of sand eels effectively.
Sand Eel Imitations: Specific sand eel patterns work well when fish are keyed in on this bait.
Joe Bags and Miracle Minnows: These lures offer the right profile, color, and weight for finicky fish, with multiple sizes available to match different rod setups.
The Bait Situation
The canal currently hosts a diverse buffet of natural baits that's keeping striped bass interested and active. This "all you can eat" approach includes:
- Squid: Present throughout the area and triggering aggressive feeding
- Mackerel: Scattered throughout the canal
- Sea Herring: Not just fry, but full-sized sea herring resembling silversides
- Herring Fry: Smaller bait fish that have been present for weeks
This variety can be both a blessing and a curse. While it keeps fish in the area longer, it can also make them more selective, as they have multiple food sources to choose from.
Timing and Tides
The current tide cycle represents peak conditions for Cape Cod Canal fishing. The strong tides running through early next week, with minus tides continuing through Tuesday morning, provide the kind of water movement that triggers the best fishing of the year.
The pattern of fish moving from the west end through the east end and into Cape Cod Bay suggests that this migration is slightly later than in recent years, but the quality and quantity of fish make up for the delayed timing.
Additional Opportunities
Beyond striped bass, other species are providing action for anglers willing to diversify:
Fluke: Mashnee Flats has been producing keeper-sized fluke for anglers targeting this species.
Bluefin Tuna: The recreational and commercial tuna bite has picked up significantly, with recent catches including fish over 110 inches. Live bait has been most effective for giants with trolling bars the correct idea to target recreational fish.
Looking Ahead
This resurgence in canal fishing represents exactly what Cape Cod anglers have been waiting for all season. The combination of proper tides, diverse bait, and migrating fish has created conditions reminiscent of the canal's glory days. While the fishing started later than in recent years, the quality of the current action suggests that patience has been rewarded.
The next week represents a prime opportunity for both shore and boat anglers to experience some of the best fishing Cape Cod has to offer. Whether you're casting top water lures into canal blitzes or trolling umbrella rigs in Cape Cod Bay, the fish are finally cooperating in the way that makes Cape Cod world-famous!
Tight lines, take care, and thank you for listening!
Great info, thanks