The Cape Cod Canal

The Cape Cod Canal has some of the strongest tides on all of Cape Cod. The strong current is the result of differences in water table levels between Cape Cod Bay and Buzzard’s Bay. If the water level is lower in Buzzard’s Bay, then the Canal’s current will move westward. If the water level is lower in Cape Cod Bay, then the Canal’s current will move eastward. Having a firm understanding of the tides will help you locate more stripers, fish areas with more efficiency and ultimately catch a lot more fish.

Effectively fishing the canal requires "beefier" gear and tackle then what most people use when fishing the beach.

It makes sense to use heavier gear because of the canal's great depths, powerful current, big fish and long casting distances that are sometimes required in order to reach the fish.

In this lesson we'll discuss recommended gear and tackle for fishing at the canal, and how you can use properly use this gear to catch big fish.

A lot of folks, myself included, have lost tons of gear to the Canal's bottom. In some areas the bottom of the Canal is a jumbled mess of rocks, marine vegetation and who knows what else. I've seen pictures of entire tug boats sinking in the Canal, so one can only imagine the strange things that are down there.

The largest striped bass I've caught from the canal (so far) was 45 pounds, and countless 50 pounders have been caught over the years by anglers. My friend's dad even caught a 60 pounder on Halloween back in 1990!

There's no doubt that if you're looking to catch the bass of your dreams, then the canal is a good place to do it.  In today's lesson, I'll share my thoughts on catching 40+ pound bass at the canal, and a few ways you can increase your odds of making it happen.