This past Monday September 21st started like most of my mornings do: coffee, a few hours of work, getting our two-year-old up, breakfast with my wife. Then the house emptied out, and I stood at the window watching the trees bend under a northeast wind that had been building all night.
It was day one of the nor’easter that's currently blowing across Cape Cod & the Islands. Most people see that forecast and pour another cup of coffee. I reached for my waders.
Day one of the nor’easter. Not beach weather, unless you’re a surfcaster!
Why Midday, Why This Wind
I’m not usually excited to fish the beach in late morning. But a hard onshore wind changes everything this time of year. The fall run is on, and stripers are pushing south and feeding hard along the way.
When a northeast wind stacks waves against a beach, it shoves peanut bunker and other baitfish into the shallows. If a school of bass can pin that bait against the sand in the chaos, it’s a buffet. The plan was simple: hit a stretch that’s been good to me before, and look for gulls. The birds will point you to the action.
First Cast
At 9:30 I spotted birds way down the shoreline and started power walking. The storm had torn loose piles of mussels, and gulls will pick at those all day, so I needed to see real feeding behavior. These birds were diving with purpose. Then I saw splashes, and stripers cutting through the faces of the waves.
I tied on a 3-ounce Guppy pencil popper with the tail hooks clipped, leaving just the belly treble. One heads-up: gulls will sometimes grab a topwater plug in a blitz, so watch them. Two pops and the plug got crushed!
On my first cast I had a high-30-inch bass fighting me through the wind and waves. I looked up and down that beach and saw no other anglers, not even a dog walker. Big wind, big surf, daytime bass. On Cape Cod, it doesn't get better!
Want the full story?
Members get the general area of Cape Cod where I found this blitz, the precise tide window that triggered it, and the simple strategy I used to track it down. You'll also get the full report on the 45+ inch striper I caught, plus many others over 40 inches. Speaking of which: we're giving away a kit of Monomoy Tackle Paddletails to members this week, including the same exact paddletail that caught that huge fish. Join today and you're in!
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About the author
Great story, I’m in thanky ou
Count me in, have not tried fishing paddle tails before.
Thanks Ryan!
Hello! Haven’t had a chance yet to get out there, but hopefully soon! Thanks
Count me in!!! Love monomoy
Giddy-up!
Great read, this motivated me to get out surfcasting today. No fish but had a great evening by the water!
That looks like an awesome day. I’d love to win some paddle tails. Count me in
Thanks
What a day!
Great write u sounds like it was a tide to remember.
Great story,
He’s hooked for life.
Count me in for the drawing please
Great story! Inspired me to get out each day! Count me in for tackle!
Never thrown a lure from the beach, but I bet that box would catch some fish from a boat too. I’m a few years from retirement, but when it comes I’ll be fishing Cape waters in the fall. Good luck all!
That was a great bedtime story, Ryan. I’m probably too late for the paddle tail kit but I’m inspired to fish the Eastham Bay beaches this October. Thanks!
Larry Weisman
(Of course I’d love to win the kit!).
On Tuesday afternoon it was crazy town with fish to 25-30# bass and a few blues mixed in.When the tide turned east at the East end of the canal.Paddletails on the bottom.The group all fished in total control working together.Great afternoon.
Count me in also please.
Nice Bass! Yes please to Monomoy tackle.
Nice fish and great story!
I got my biggest of the season monday night, on a joe baggs swarter in brewster. Fun stuff.
Thanks for the opportunity on these paddletails! Id love to try these out!
Congrats Ryan that was a monster! Please count me in.
Best, Neville
Great report Ryan, your experience paid off. Isn’t it great when you look up and down the beach and no one is there? I had a similar experience years ago on Brewster flats with smaller fish. Rain, wind onshore, no one there.
Regulars at Bell Road worked me in the rotation of fisherman casting. Caught a decent bass with their experienced help. Hauled in a decent bass with their help . I’ll remember their kindness long after the fish. Sportsmans of the old school I will respect always.
Love it, MAN! Full moon and noreastah’
I need those to improve my fishing this fall.
Count me in. I love Monomoy tackle. Good times
Nice fish, please count me it.
Nice fish Ryan. Please count me in.
Count me in Thank you
That’s great! Thanks, Ryan.
Great fishing from a pro!
Huge bass!
Always excited to read your stories and view awesome photos/videos!
Been a member for a lot of years!
Awesome value!!!!
Another great read. Count me in for the paddle tails.
Sounds like a great pre storm outing. Eddy’s creations hard at work. Managed a nice schoolie out at Monomoy last weekend on one of Eddys slim sand eel jigs.
Nothing ventured. Nothing gained, count me in please!
He wanted to fish a Nor’easter after I told him a little about it. After toughing out some big gusts of wind over slippery and rocky terrain, he reeled in a schoolie. We couldn’t stay out long but after working hard to get to the spot, we got rewarded. Core memory made!
Got me all excited for the fall. Thanks Ryan. I can only hope for your kind of results.
Great post. I envy you. I’m in Maine for a few weeks, so I’ll miss the Oct trips and most of the fall run. Consolation would be a bunch of paddle tail. Go get em.
Hell of a fish. Those paddletails looks awesome, count me in.
HI Ryan,
Great story, I too was fishing Monday morning at Scorton Creek but was not using the Monomoy paddle tail. Count me in.
Thank you,
Paul
This is awesome! Such a cool post.
good job putting in the time.
Nice cow! Count me in!
Great fish Ryan, Congrats!! Please include me in the give away, Thanks, John
Amazing. I can’t wait for my week fishing trip.
Great Post, please count me in on the paddle tail kit!!!
I was showing people around the area and am pretty sure that was you we were watching from the observation deck. I would love to be down there with some paddles.
Great work Ryan! Please add me to the list.
What an awesome write up! And great catch. Count me in,those paddle tails look sweet
Thanks for the post Ryan! You put a lot on energy in your stories, great reading!
great write up. congrats on the stripers.
Great fishing Ryan! Please count me in.
Wow! That’s awesome! Please count me in for the MT Paddletail. Thanks Ryan
great story – been skunked from shore this year but have been blessed to have caught more stripers from the boat (2nd year with one) this summer than I have in the last 5 years.
I’m in for the paddle tail box!
Nicely done @admin please count me in as well!!
Hi Ryan – great story!
Great catch Ryan, congrats!! Love hearing that the fall run has seemed to start. count me in for prizes, thanks.
Truely inspiring and your smile holding that monster says it all. Question? Did you have weighted head on the super snax?
Looks like a great day of fishing! I’m in too
Ryan, What an awesome experience and nice of you to share part of it with a visitor! Count me in with a chance for the giveway.
Great kit and report!
Nice fish! Count me in.
Nothing like a Nor’easter. I’m in
Count me in please Tight lines
Paddle tails look amazing! Count me in!
What a cool experience for you and Darren…count me in!
Great trip! Count me in
Looks like a blast Ryan. Believe it or not I’m heading down this weekend and hope to wet a line even in the bad weather.
Count me in please.
Great fish! Count me in for some new tackle!
Great fish on a great lure ! Love those.
Beautiful fish Ryan. Love that you got it on a Monomoy Tackle paddle tail! I’m always in for any MT giveaways!
Loved this Ryan. And Darren probably won’t forget that Fall day either. Count me in.
Got to love the full run in Big surf. Beautiful fish glad it got off strong.
Please include me in the contest!
Great write up! Count me in for the drawing. Thanks!
Nice fish Ryan. Count me in.
Count me in – thank you!
Awesome session @admin
Count me in Ryan! I too am really a big fan of the Monomoy gear. Def the other night was my best trip so far this year. Went back to the well last night and got one slot about :30 mins after sunset then no other taps, but the water clarity was gone, super murky.
Nice work please count me in
Awesome day Ryan … I can only dream. Nice give-away too … count me in
Thank God for Northeasters that cause big surf, great shore fishing, and hopefully no damage!
Very cool paddle tails look sweet
Great write up Ryan . Love those days, but you have to be in it to win it, as they say!
Love reading your stories from the beach ~ best story is being able to catch fish with friends, count me in on those great looking paddletails!!!
Awesome read, hardcore fishing for a hungry fisherman. Great job. I am in.
great post Ryan, beautiful fish! Paddle tails look great, thanks for doing the contest.
Stay safe on our beautiful beaches.
Nice fish!
What a great story, Ryan. Sounds like Darren got a lot out of it, too. Despite the hole in his finger.