As mid-May arrives on Cape Cod, multiple species are becoming active across the region's diverse fishing grounds. From striped bass pushing through the Cape Cod Canal to bottom fishing opportunities in Buzzards Bay including tautog, black sea bass, and GIANT scup, the 2025 spring season is delivering excellent action.
Striped Bass: The Spring Migration Heats Up
The past week has seen a significant uptick in striped bass activity throughout the Canal and surrounding waters. Following the recent full moon on Monday, the bite has intensified considerably, particularly in the mid-Canal and at both the east and west ends.
Current Locations:
- Mid-Canal areas have been productive, especially for fish feeding on herring
- The west end of the Canal showed excellent activity on Friday the 16th
- Plymouth beaches are seeing good pushes of fish
- Duxbury beaches have reported bass up to 48 inches feeding on pogies
According to AJ, there might actually be two different biomasses of striped bass moving through the region: "It does also seem that maybe a pod of fish went around Cape Cod because Plymouth already has a good push of fish. There's 48+ inch fish off the beaches in Duxbury as well feeding on pogies. It's possible they went through the canal and turned, but it's very likely that they went all the way around."
This pattern is very promising for the early summer striped bass season ahead. The quality of the striped bass has been improving daily. Over the past three days, anglers have been encountering increasingly larger fish, with Thursday and Friday producing fish in the 30+ pound class. While these trophy-class stripers aren't hitting on every cast, their presence signals the slightly earlier than usual arrival of larger fish that anglers wait all winter to target.
Striped Bass Tactics and Gear
Depth Considerations: While there have been patches of surface activity in the Canal, AJ notes that the larger stripers have predominantly been holding deeper in the water column: "The bigger fish have definitely seemed to be on the bottom recently." This pattern is consistent with reports from elsewhere in Cape Cod Bay, where anglers are finding success using techniques that work 10 feet down or deeper.
Recommended Lures: For anglers heading to the Canal this weekend, AJ recommends having the following in your tackle box:
- Fish Lab Jigs - These have been popular in the Canal for several years. Red Top carries them in two sizes and multiple colors, making them versatile options for targeting the deeper-holding stripers.
- Topwater Options - Even though most fish are deeper, always have a topwater lure rigged and ready. AJ suggests two distinct types:
- Floating Topwater's like three-ounce Wally's that offer excellent action despite more moderate casting distance
- Distance-style pencil poppers weighing in the high three to mid-four ounce range for reaching fish holding in the middle of the Canal
"I like to have two different kinds of topwater's," AJ explains. "I like to have a floating topwater, something like the three-ounce Wally's. They cast pretty well, but the action is a lot better on a floating lure. And then I like to have more of a distance style pencil, which is loaded up to high threes, even mid-fours."
- Herring and Pogie Patterns - With these baitfish present in the ecosystem, lures that mimic them have been particularly effective. "Going forward you're going to want to target either herring patterns or Pogie patterns," advises AJ.
Other effective options mentioned include bucktail jigs and savage lures for working the deeper water where the larger fish are holding.
Bait Presence in the Canal
Understanding what's on the striped bass menu is crucial for selecting the right presentations. Current bait in the waters surrounding Cape Cod includes:
- Herring (with runs now emptying out)
- Pogies (especially around Duxbury)
- Some tinker mackerel (though they've scattered in recent days)
- Whiting (spotted midweek in the Canal)
This mixed bag of forage provides opportunities for anglers to match the hatch with a wide variety of appropriate lure selections depending on where exactly they are fishing.
Cape Cod Canal Weekend Outlook
AJ notes an interesting pattern regarding moon phases and fishing productivity in the Canal: "Historically speaking, usually one to three days after the moon, the fishing really starts to peak. However, if you look at that at a shorter term perspective and just account for last year, last year in the canal was really weird. It seems almost like between the moon phases there was more fish in the canal than right after the moon phases."
With the full moon having occurred on Monday, May 12th and fishing picking up by Friday, May 16th, it appears the 2025 pattern could be following last year's trend, suggesting this weekend should offer excellent opportunities.
Buzzards Bay Bottom Fishing Bonanza
While striped bass in the Cape Cod Canal are generating excitement, Buzzards Bay is offering outstanding bottom fishing opportunities that shouldn't be overlooked.
Scup (Porgy): The scup fishing has been exceptional, with these tasty panfish present in thick schools. Red Top recently weighed in a monster 18-inch scup that tipped the scales at 2 pounds, 15 ounces—just shy of the 3-pound mark and a potential gold pin derby winner for the state of Massachusetts.
Tautog (Blackfish): Tautog fishing has been solid, though AJ notes a slight change in pattern: "Earlier in the spring, the tog were definitely hanging out in deeper water, so that would be something to keep in mind if you're not getting them in your traditional spots, maybe try to find some rock piles in the 40 to 50-foot range."
Winter Flounder: Perhaps the most surprising development has been the excellent winter flounder fishing outside Sesuit Harbor: AJ notes, "It's been an incredible year from what I gather on the winter flounder out there, which is really nice because traditionally speaking, and especially on the south side in Buzzards Bay, we don't typically have a great winter flounder fishery."
The flounder action has been so good that one of AJ's customers at Red Top Sporting Goods reported a remarkable 50-fish day recently. This represents a notable shift, as winter flounder are typically more associated with the inside of Cape Cod Bay near Orleans and Dennis.
Black Sea Bass: With the season opening on May 17th, many anglers are gearing up for what promises to be excellent black sea bass fishing. These popular gamefish offer both sporting action and excellent table fare. Early reports are indicating anglers having success in Buzzards Bay catching and releasing keeper size sea bass this week.
Bottom Fishing Tactics and Gear
For Tautog:
- Green crabs are the bait of choice
- Focus on structure, especially rock piles
- Consider exploring deeper structure (40-50 foot range) if traditional spots aren't producing
- Remember that tog are inactive at night
For Winter Flounder:
- Use specialized small hooks with very long shanks
- Target clean sandy or muddy bottom
- These fish can be caught from both shore and boat
For Black Sea Bass (opening May 17th):
- Green crabs work well (allowing anglers to "double dip" for both tog and sea bass)
- Local fresh squid is preferred when available (frozen squid is a good alternative)
- Sea worms work but are a more expensive option
- Artificial options include 3-4 inch Gulp Swimming Mullets rigged on high-low rigs or bucktail jigs
Final Thoughts
The diversity of fishing opportunities across Cape Cod in mid-May is truly impressive. From big striped bass in the Canal to abundant bottom fish in Buzzards Bay, anglers have numerous options to pursue. As the season progresses toward Memorial Day, these fisheries should only improve.
Whether you're targeting stripers pushing through the Canal or filling a cooler with tasty bottom fish, Cape Cod's spring fishing season is in full swing!
Tight lines, take care, and thank you for listening!