Here’s The Gear You Need For Spring Fishing On Cape Cod

I think the first episode of My Fishing Cape Cod TV got a lot of people excited for spring saltwater fishing on Cape Cod, because the emails and messages about what gear I most recommend for spring-time fishing keep on coming in! This is excellent and I am really happy that people are so excited about the upcoming 2014 saltwater fishing season, which is really right around the corner.

This post is going to contain zero fluff and I am only going to recommend the exact gear that I feel is best to use during the spring on Cape Cod.

So to help me and other readers, I ask that you please tell us about any gear that you think is important to mention, by leaving a comment at the bottom of this post. Especially if you fly fish because I zero experience fly fishing!

Sound good? Alright lets dive in!

Schoolie Stripers & Togs

The first migratory striped bass that show up on Cape Cod during the spring are small, young schoolie stripers. You want to match your gear to the size of the fish, because it will make the entire fishing experience much more fun and enjoyable.

Tautog also make an appearance close to shore on Cape Cod during the early spring, and you can use the same, relatively small reel for targeting them as well.

Reels For Schoolies & Tautog

I need a new schoolie striper fishing reel for this season, and so far I have my mind set on one of the smaller models of the Penn Conflict spinning reel.  Depending on how light you want to go I feel like the Penn Conflict CFT2000, CFT2500 or CFT3000 would be good selections for a super light tackle reel ideal for schoolie stripers.

I wasn't sure which reel I was going to purchase until I read this review posted by Jeff in our forum about his new Penn Conflict. According to Jeff's review the reel casts well, is super smooth and affordable - which is really all I care about with regards to schoolie striper fishing.

Rods For Schoolies & Tautog

I don't think you need to over-think rod selection when targeting these small fish during the early spring.

I like a 6-7 foot medium action spinning rod that is light enough to make fighting schoolies fun, but has enough back-bone to land that first surprise keeper of the season. I don't have a favorite rod for schoolie striper fishing.

I would recommend going out and picking up a few 6-7 foot medium action rods, holding them in your hands and just see what rod feels best to you. Envision how it would feel casting and fighting a fish and just go with what feels best. That is just how I have always done it!

A Simple Choice For Lure & Bait

Small lures work best for spring-time schoolies. I also really prefer to use lures with single hooks as opposed to treble hooks. In my opinion there is no need to use a plug or lure that is chock full of treble hooks when targeting these very young and easily injured animals.

When using a small lure with a single hook, it is a good idea to crimp down the barb of the hook using a pair of needle nose pliers. You won't be bringing these small stripers home for dinner, so removing the barb will make for a quick and easy release.

There are many small lures that work great for springtime schoolies and everyone has their personal favorites. If you are going to choose 1 lure to use then I think the small versions of the Storm Swimbaits are a good of choice as any.

For tautog it is hard to beat the effectivness of green crabs.

Holy Mackerel!

Odds are there are probably Atlantic mackerel off the coast of Cape Cod right now. Yet most folks will wait for spring to arrive before targeting them.

Mackerel are good eating when prepared properly and are a blast to catch, especially for kids because it's possible to catch multiple mackerel at the same time and the action can be fast and furious.

Rods and Reels For Mack Fishing

Light tackle rods and reels will make mackerel fishing a lot of fun. I would recommend using the same tackle you would use for schoolie stripers, or just any old "beat up" setup, or Sabiki rod will do - if you are fishing from a boat.

If you want to catch mackerel from shore then I recommend using a larger surfcasting setup like the one mentioned later on in this post for fishing the Cape Cod Canal.

The Most Effective Lure For Mackerel

It's hard to beat the effectiveness of a diamond jig tied to the end of a Hyabusa Sabiki rig made of at least 20 pound test line. Double check that you are buying the rig made of the heavier pound test, and not the real light 2-10 pound test versions.

These work well for fishing from a boat, pier and casting from shore.  In the below video, in which I am in dire need of a shave, I talk more about mackerel fishing with sabiki rigs during the spring on Cape Cod.

For more on how to catch mackerel check out this post

It's Almost Time To Splash The Boat

I usually wait to splash the boat until larger fish begin to arrive. So this means I will have slightly heavier tackle on board, contrasted to the real light setups mentioned above.

Trolling Rod & Reel

I'm not a huge fan of spending all day snapping wire so if I am going to troll for striped bass and bluefish I will usually at least first start with the tube and worm. Trolling tubes is more of a summertime striped bass fishing technique here on Cape Cod, but it works just as well during the spring.

I really like the Penn 113 conventional reel loaded with 45 pound lead core line for trolling tubes. That reel coupled with the Ugly Stick Tiger 6'6'' medium action, 7' medium action rod works really well. This rod has solid backbone and forgiving rod tip which I feel is ideal for trolling tubes.

Spinning Reel & Rod For The Boat

I decided to do a quick screen capture video of the spinning rod and reel I most like to use when fishing from a boat.

I also really like to use this spinning rod and reel in 90% of the surfcasting situations I encounter when targeting large stripers.  It's a great all-around setup and the only places I would not use the rod and reel are when fishing the Canal, or a place like Outer Cape Cod when a real long cast is needed.

Lures & Baits For The Boat

If you can find them live mackerel can be very effective on striped bass during the spring. As mentioned above the tube and worm also works.

However I prefer to focus more on topwater at the start of the striper season. During the spring you are more apt to find bass feeding on the surface then you are during the depths of the summer. Often times the bass will be quite aggressive, so I figure I might as well catch them using top water plugs while I can.

My favorite topwater plug to use is the classic pencil popper. I don't care too much about the color, and any plug 6 inches or larger is sufficient to match the big bait that is often present off Cape Cod during the spring.

The most important thing is to give the plug the right "walk the dog" type action that drives predatory fish crazy.

Fishing The Cape Cod Canal

Unfortunately my good ole Daiwa Emblem Pro 5500 spinning reel has seen its last day of fishing 🙁

So like many of you, I will be purchasing a new reel this spring for fishing the Cape Cod Canal. Here's another screen capture of one reel in particular that I think is a good choice for fishing the Big Ditch.

Now if you are brand spanking new to fishing the Cape Cod Canal I really recommend you take a minute to learn some of the Canal's unwritten rules of common courtesy. Doing so will really help you fit in better among the Canal crowd, so I have put these unwritten rules into a Free Report which you can download by clicking below.

Click here to download the "Must Know Cape Cod Canal Etiquette" report

In Conclusion

It's been a crazy week for me and I can't thank you enough for all your support surrounding the 1st episode of MFCC T.V. I really appreciate it and I am very happy that people seem to be be enjoying the show.

In the mean time I think we are all chomping at the bit with regards to spring! Don't worry it will be here before we know it.

Now with regards to gear what do you recommend?

What fly fishing gear should we be talking about right now?

Let me know what you think by commenting below.

Tight lines and take care,

Ryan