The next 3 weeks ought to be great for surfcasting Cape Cod Bay, as well as many other areas on Cape. Stripers are running close to shore and they are biting, even during mid-day.
As Danya Mahota mentioned in yesterday's report, fishing the beaches at night is really the best way of going about it, and by late June nearly 100% of my surfcasting will take place after dark.
But right now I am having fun catching fish during the day. I figure I may as well enjoy my regular sleep schedule while I still can!
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Fishing With The Girlfriend
On this trip I would once again have Lauren as first mate. Someday soon she might have a fishing rod in hand, but for now her camera will work just fine.
30 minutes into the hike we both noticed how immaculately green the landscape was. Eel grass has been growing quick the past few days.
The area was healthy and abundant with life. Sections of the marsh were littered with fiddler crabs and horseshoe crabs.
Baitfish scattered as I waded through the water. Sea gulls were sitting fat and happy on the beach shoreline.
The bright hot sun made it feel like summer. After all it was two in the afternoon, which is not traditionally a very productive hour to be fishing.
Nevertheless the life was here and the stage was set. We had caught the last of the outgoing tide, and water was rushing over a nearshore bar which extended a good 50 yards out into the bay.
I waded into the water and cast my plug out in the current. The tide swung the plug over the bar and into slightly deeper water.
My first cast produced nothing, but on my second I had a hit! I set the hook and was on with my first fish of the afternoon.
Not too bad for two in the afternoon!
The fish was not large but I wasn't complaining one bit.
I will enjoy catching fish during the middle of the day for as long as I can, because soon I will be doing most of my fishing between the hours of 9PM - 5AM.
Current + Sandbars
Sandbars were the main piece of structure during this trip. These bars also had a strong current pushing water over and next to the shallow spots.
I would simply cast my plug all over creation, and watch as small packs of schoolie stripers chased it all the way to my feet. Every so often the dumbest fish out of the school would charge forward, smash the plug and get hooked.
These were small fish, but the abundance of them made me think that fishing here during the night could produce keepers.
For the most part the bass stayed near the bar and right in the current.
All of the fish appeared bright and looked healthy.
The fish were also covered in sea lice, which could mean that these fish just arrived from the open ocean.
Eventually Lauren and I continued our hike towards another sandbar which extended out into more current.
This bar resembled more of a point, and actually hand standing waves forming in the shallowest spots. This is bass heaven, and I get excited anytime I see structure such as this.
My plug got walloped several times while fishing this point, and I had several more fish chase the lure right to my feet.
However I wasn't able to hook any of the fish. Eventually Lauren and I decided to make the walk back, and call it a trip.
Final tally was several schoolie stripers, several chases and several missed hits. On top of that we got to explore a pretty impressive area and enjoy a summer-like afternoon.
MFCC members can click below to download an additional 9 HD photos taken during this trip. You will also see 2 Google Earth images of the bars I fished during this trip.
I don't reveal the exact location, but if you know Cape Cod Bay well, you might be able to figure out where we were fishing.
Member Downloads
An additional 9 HD photos
taken during this trip
2 Google Earth images of the areas fished
What do you think? Let me know by commenting below.
I don’t think this site is recruiting people off of the street to kill bass. People on this site are already into the game and probably come away with a healthy respect for our resources. With that said perhaps a video showing the proper handling and release of fish is in order. I know a lot has already been said regarding treble hooks, stainless hooks etc. there are any people out there whoabusethefishery but they are not on this site.
Ryan if you care so much about our depleting fishery why are you telling the world when where and how to harvest egg laden stripers???????
Think about how many bass have died because of you.
You must be filling your pockets with $$$$$.
Why spill your guts when you can just give advice??
If I ever see you I would like to talk to you personally.
Please please please please please stop killing these poor migratory fish with your blogs,please. You are telling people secrets that take others years of fishing the canal what exactly to do, why??????? $$$$$$$$$
Yes Kyle, MFCC certainly does make it easier for some people to catch fish. Probably similar to the impact sonar, cell phones and social media sites like Facebook have had on the sport.
The members on this site really appreciate and care about the future of the Striped Bass population and are not out there to kill fish. The majority of the members are mostly C&R. This is just a site to talk about and learn more about a passion for fishing that we all have. It is a great community and a place where you can learn a lot.
Looks like fun.is the beach fishing better on bay side
Great fun Steve! Both sides can be very productive.