Recommended Gear & Tackle for Fishing Cape Cod

Fishing with a smaller 7' rod and VR50 reel is an absolute blast. Catching schoolies is more fun, plus this rod and reel can also handle big fish. The smaller setup is also much easier for beginners to use.

There is an endless flow of lures that work well, and new plugs and jigs are being released at the most rapid pace off all-time. Check out the equipment forum for the latest lures that our members are casting.

This is my "long casting" setup, and I certainly get some really nice distance with aerodynamic topwater plugs and metals. I've also used this setup for jigging with lures of up to 6 ounces. However, the members in our canal forum are much more up-to-speed with the latest canal rods and reels. If you're looking for the latest and greatest, then definitely check out the forum.

There is an endless flow of lures that work well at the canal, and new plugs and jigs are being released at the most rapid pace off all-time. Check out the canal and the equipment forum for the latest lures that our members are casting.

I have used this setup to catch jacks as large as 25 pounds, however that was really pushing it. This setup really excels when fishing for spanish mackerel, bonita and small jacks.

I personally find fishing for tautog using crabs and jigs to be easier and more fun than using a traditional hook and sinker. During the spring I've done very well on sea bass using the Flukies tipped with Bottom Dweller Grubs or squid.

This setup is ideal for casting lures to tunas that are less than 73 inches in length. I once hooked a 500lb tuna on spinning gear and fought it for 4hrs before losing it, so choose wisely the size of fish you cast at.

It's "easy" to overpower big tuna using the setup above. This is a great option for vertical jigging to tuna that are holding deep in the water column. You can get much better leverage than you can with a spinning rod.

I have used the Avid setup with great success for albies and bonito. It casts light lures wonderfully. For heavier lures I use the Teramar rod. The Teramar setup is also good for casting to stripers and bluefish. 

I primarily use epoxy jigs and Albie Snax whenever I go fishing for bonito, albies or Spanish macks. However, albies in particular will hit an assortment of different lures, including Kastmasters and even pencil poppers. Continue reading below for more ideas.

I have used this setup to catch jacks as large as 25 pounds, however that was really pushing it. This setup really excels when fishing for spanish mackerel, bonita and small jacks.

The St. Croix rod is a joy to use for roosterfish and other big inshore species. However, during my 2020 Costa Rica trip, my St. Croix rod snapped mid-cast. For this purpose I always recommend carrying  a backup rod, or purchasing a backup rod at a tackle shop once you arrive in Costa Rica.

Where I fish in Costa Rica I prefer to use a 7'6" when fishing from shore, because I like to wade out into chest deep water. However, some areas are too dangerous to enter the water, and require a long cast. I like the above setups for rocky areas, beaches with a dangerous swell, or in any other spot where a long cast is required.