An idea that crossed my mind during the 2014 season was to catch a 40 + pound striped bass from the beach. I wanted to catch a huge fish with my feet firmly planted in the sand.
Sometimes an idea requires a great deal of time to come to fruition. For example, it took me 5 years to catch my first holdover striped bass on Cape Cod, and virtually my entire life to catch a tuna.
So I was happily surprised when one of the largest stripers I have ever seen, lay at my feet in the wash of a wave, on a cool August evening, not long in my pursuit of a 40 + pound striped bass from shore.
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How it happened for me, and how it can happen for you too
Today I figured I would recount the story of this particular trip and share it with you in an effort to:
- Help us deal with cabin fever and cope with the cold weather!
- Help you increase your own odds of catching a huge striped bass from shore on Cape Cod during 2015
Nothing beats catching a big striped bass from the beach, especially when fishing under a bright full moon with no one else in sight.
Photo by MFCC Team Member Andrew Massard
I don't plan my surfcasting trips around moon phases. I more or less fish the beach whenever I am able.
I will say that surfcasting is "easier" under the bright white light of a full moon. The moonlight was so bright during this trip, that I was able to tie a knot without turning on my headlamp!
I recall thinking at that very moment about how I would soon dream of this surfcasting trip (and many others like these trips here), during a cold and dark winter evening in January or February.
And here I now am, dreaming of a moment like this...​
Photo by MFCC Team Member Andrew Massard
Earlier in the evening I had enjoyed a warm sunset over a soft sea.
The temperature cooled off as night fell, and for the first few hours of this expedition, nothing at all happened.
However I remained confident because I knew there was a very good chance of at least one or two large striped bass eventually appearing. Instead of remaining in constant motion, I had "placed a bet" that the fish would arrive along a specific stretch of beach.
I had been tracking these fish all week long and had even connected with a rogue 28 pounder earlier in the week (pictured below).
I figured my best odds of connecting with a big fish would happen around midnight, during the last part of the incoming tide.
A huge bite from out of nowhere
After dozens upon dozens of fruitless casts, I decided to take a break, and sit my butt on the beach. I sat on a big rock and watched for shooting stars.
It was now 1AM and most of Cape Cod was sound asleep. After another 15 minutes of relaxation I decided it was time to start casting again.
I cast my offering out into the darkness and began a slow retrieve. I could feel my bait on the line as I brought it through the water, slowly but surely back towards shore.
30 feet from the beach and I got slammed. Instantly I knew this was a very large fish. I set the hook and my drag began to scream!
The weight I felt on the rod was nothing short of remarkable. The bass shot off towards deeper water, stripping yards of 40lb braid from my Shimano Stradic 6000.
With the big bass still on the line I loosened the drag and ran back to the beach to get my GoPro camera going. I turned on the lights and camera, tightened the drag back up to around 8 pounds, and made my way back into the water to continue the fight.
This fish took me all over creation, as large ones typically do. Fortunately conditions were calm and big surf wasn't an issue.
For a while the fish went parallel to the shoreline.​ This might of been inconvenient had I hooked this fish on a busy "shoulder-to-shoulder" morning at the Cape Cod Canal, but at 1AM on a dark beach I don't often have much company.
Eventually the fish tired and I eased her into shore. She was a whopper!
I estimated the bass to be right around 40 pounds. I didn't have a scale so I'll never know for sure, but the bass sure felt like a 40 pounder.
This bass was too big for me to keep. I prefer to eat much smaller and younger fish in the 28-34 inch range, so I set this big girl free.
I spent a minute or two with the bass, reviving her and letting water rush through her gills, before letting her swim away.
Finally the bass clamped down on my thumb (a sure sign she's ready to go) and with one big tail kick disappeared back into the dark ocean.
That was enough excitement for me! I called it a trip and was home in bed before 3AM.
How I caught this fish
I find nature to be mysterious! Striped bass in particular are puzzling creatures.
​Today I found myself watching video of this special trip, and thinking about the many variables and conditions which all came together so well, to help me catch a striper of this size from shore.
- I thought about the reason I chose to fish this specific beach.
- I thought about the reasons why this big bass was hanging out in such shallow water​.
- I pondered the idea I had discovered a pattern, which will help me catch a 50 lb bass from shore during 2015.
I discuss the above ideas and more in the below video.
MFCC members can click here or on the image above to view the video. I hope you find it helpful!
There is always a real chance of catching the fish of your life when fishing Cape Cod's beaches, especially at night.
Tight lines and take care,
Ryan​
What do you think? Let me know by commenting below!​
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You sick f**k!!
Yes! lol
Hi Ryan,
I’m sitting at home with a Siatica condition salivating at your pictures of the 40 pounder. It’s most impressive! Have you ever fished between the breakwaters on Sagamore Beach? My Daughter’s house is on Holland Rd. across from Phillips Road and I’ve tried casting everything off the end of these stone projections. I’m still waiting for my first striper. Maybe this year!
Capt. Dave
Hey Dave, I hope your back pain alleviates very soon and you can get back on your feet. Coincidentally I am experiencing a bit of the same right now…lower back and pain shooting down my right leg. I am trying yoga and stretching so we’ll see if that helps.
I have fished between the breakwaters many times on Sagamore Beach. Most of the fish I have caught there have been schoolies to small keepers.
2 hours before and after high tide. Best at night, sunrise or sunset.
What sort of lures have you been using there?
Hey Ryan, good winter read. Yep that was a forty alright. My biggest was a mere 34# and your fish could kick its ass lol. Agreed, full moons are easier due to the light. Personally I would lose sleep and miss work for a good s.w. Wind and new moon.(for the darkness alone) actually 1or 2days either side of it seems better. I’m also impressed by the fact that you were able to get that fish in front of the go pro after being taken on tour of the beach by the beast. Not to mention a successful release. As to the excellent late summer bite last year, do you see a pattern there or just a couple of rare summer bites at the ditch?
Hey Art, always good to hear from you and I can relate about losing sleep and missing work to hit a tide, moon or good bite. We’ll be back it again before we know it, spring is coming…
I think most Canal regulars would agree that last summer’s terrific mid-summer bite at the Ditch was a bit of a curveball. I would not “expect” day time blitzes during July/August to happen again with such regularity, but with climate change and all that, who really knows I suppose?
I will be very interested to see what unfolds during 2015.
Hi Ryan, thank you for sharing your fishing story I like you have many fishing stories as well I was first introduced to striped bass fishing in the early 90s when all I had was freshwater gear to work with however I caught a striper bass after striped bass on every trip including my first trip , my new fishing friends were blown away by my success, I was convinced it was the introduction of freshwater experience to the saltwater environment by modified plugs that were built for freshwater and I am convinced it was the size and realisticness of my offerings that where the keys to my success,over many years of freshwater fishing I developed a ninja like stealth and my casting accuracy was impeccable.my first saltwater outing was in a 16 foot boat in the north river in Cohasset I felt as though I was fishing a freshwater river , to me the edges of the riverbed reminded me of reads and other such structure you would find in a freshwater river so I resorted to my flipping technique into the backwaters as deep as I could go and work my offerings out to the edge of the dropbox and hammered bass after bass I was a static I was blown away by the striped bass in the aggressiveness!after another year my freshwater friends did not believe that I was catching fish over 20 pounds with light tackle and using freshwater techniqueswhich leads me to my question Without any intent of insulting you but I have to ask, where was your scale you indicated you were on a quest to catch a 40 pound fish ,without a scale???
On another note I now keep a 26 foot Wellcraft coastal in onset Bay Marina one of the most incredible fishing spots in the spring if you are interested I would love to fish with you we have rips Shoals channels drop off’s ,bait galore it’s a great spot until the water warms up!
I also have some great stories of fishing from shore at night places like Scorton Creek sandwich Creek etc.
Tight lines!
Adam Pizzi
Plymouth ma
Hey Adam, great comment! I also caught my first ever striper on a freshwater rod and reel. Lots of fun on light tackle. I like how you view fishing an estuary/tidal creek in the same light as fishing a river. Makes good sense to me.
No offense taken and I’ll never know for sure the exact weight of the fish. Fortunately I’ve been able to catch many 40lb fish from my boat and at the Canal, so I’m confident it was 40..and if not very close.
Keep in touch this season and perhaps we’ll meet and fish one day. Bring on spring!
Ryan great article as usual can’t wait for the spring. I will be joining your site once more. This July I will be in Truro for my annual weeks vacation. I will your tips on night fishing. I have gone to the following beachs with little luck during July head of the medow race pt and hearing cove. This year I hope to catch my 1 st 40″. Not pounds from the beach or the canal. Came close a few time with 39″. Talk to you later. Glenn
That all sounds great to me Glenn. Last year I caught some decent fish in the Wellfleet to Ptown area during late May and June. The seals were tough on the ocean side, but they weren’t too bad on the bay side.
40 inches sounds like a fair goal to me. Very doable!