Want to hook a tuna from shore? As ridiculous as that may be, now is your best chance to do it. Is there are a 60 pound striper in your future? If there is, then October is probably when it will happen. Looking to encounter a big shark, see a whale close to shore or watch a 500 pound ocean sunfish jump straight clear of the water? Right now's the time.
Anything can happen during October and you truly never know what you may see.
Close to Shore Bluefin Tuna
4 years ago I stood in awe as I watched 150-200 pound bluefin tuna propel themselves from the water a mere 500 yards from the shoreline of Sagamore and Scusset Beach. The fish stuck around for 3 days, feeding on half beaks each afternoon. If it wasn't so windy I could of pursued those tuna from a row boat.
For the most part this season folks who have been catching tuna with any regularity have been heading way east of Chatham, to the Regal Sword and beyond. This is a long ride, especially for us small boat guys.
Making such a run during October can be dicey, because the accuracy of wind forecasts diminishes rapidly throughout this month.
October is an exciting month for tuna fishing in the Cape Cod area, because it's often possible to stumble across tuna much closer to shore. Bait fish like half beaks and mackerel start showing up just a few miles (sometimes much less) from the beach.
Look for near shore tuna off Chatham, Plymouth, Provincetown and even inside the Cape Cod Canal. If they are feeding on half beaks you'll see them flying straight clear from the water. A grown tuna going completely air born is about as exciting as it gets.
I have had limited success over the years fooling tuna that were feeding on half beaks. We did hook up once trolling a ballyhoo on the surface, and another time we doubled up on topwater plugs when the fish happened to pop up next to the boat.
Expect the tuna to be moving at a high rate of speed. Intercepting them is inherently difficult, but they are there at this time of the season.
Monster Bass in the Canal
Last week  I published a post about a friend who caught a 60 pound striped bass at the Canal during October of 1998. While encountering these massive bass is always extremely rare, I think October is by far your best bet.
"Elephants eat peanuts" which means it is possible to entice one of these massive bass using a lure like a Savage Sand eel. However I think your odds will be better if you use a big fresh chunk of menhaden, or an oversize live eel.
If you decide to try chunking a big piece of menhaden/pogie, I'd recommend first fishing a night time slack tide. Typically night time is the right time for big bass.
In addition slack tide will make it possible to fish a chunk with a 6 or 8 ounce bank sinker rigged on a fish-finder without worrying about the current sweeping the entire rig into the rocks-resulting in a snag.
For huge live eels Maco's Bait and Tackle in Buzzard's Bay will occasionally sell "select" live eels at a premium price. Paying a a little extra for a two foot long eel could be the ticket for catching one of these rare huge bass.
A big strong eel usually won't need any assistance swimming straight to the bottom. When the eel gets sluggish a rubber core sinker attached a foot in front of the eel can help get it down.
Looking to fish the Canal this week? Click here to read a more in-depth Cape Cod Canal fishing report.
Odd Creatures Close to Shore
In addition to tuna and monster bass, other marine creatures will occasionally make a rare appearance close to shore during October.
Ocean sunfish (also known as mola-molas) are often mistaken for bluefin tuna. These typically lethargic fish show up close to shore on Cape Cod during the early fall.
On occasion they will launch themselves straight clear of the water and come crashing down in impressive fashion. The huge splash often tricks anglers into thinking they have just seen a giant bluefin tuna.
I'm not sure why they do this, but I have a feeling it may be to shake off parasites and other organisms that may be crawling on their skin. Whatever the reason, a 500 pound mola-mola jumping out of the water is a sight not soon forgotten.
Big blue sharks can also be found and caught within sight of shore throughout Cape Cod Bay this month. A piece of bait, live mackerel, pogie or bluefish under a balloon in 80 or more feet of water will give you a good chance at these sharks, which can reach 10 feet in length.
In Conclusion
October is an exciting month for anyone who enjoys saltwater fishing. The above mentioned rare sights are truly just the tip of the iceberg. There is no telling what you may find when you head to the beach, Canal or out on the water during this special month.
In the short term, the NE winds that we are predicted to get this week/weekend may keep most boaters off the water. However those winds will probably blow even more life in closer to shore.
I know I will be keeping my eyes wide open this week. You just never know what you may find during October on Cape Cod.
Tight lines and take care,
Ryan
What do you think? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
