Ryan Collins
There's typically not much happening fishing-wise at the Cape Cod Canal during April. Years ago though this was not the case.
When I was a kid growing up one mile from the canal, I heard many stories about cod and pollock being caught at the during the early spring.
Most people don't think these fish come into the canal anymore, and they may be right-however there aren't many people out there trying!
You never know unless you go, and yesterday evening I gave into an urge to take some casts at the Scusset breakwater, at the east end of the canal.
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Fishing The Jetty
It was pleasant out yesterday around 5:00PM as I made my way out onto the jetty, but I will admit the northwest wind put a serious chill in the air! I was very happy I wore my winter jacket.
I figured I might have a chance at catching an Atlantic mackerel or two. These fish usually show up around this time of the year, often well before any striped bass arrive.
I began tossing this Hyabusa sabiki rig which I weighted with an A47 diamond jig-a proven mackerel killer. It felt good to be casting into the canal again, and it was not long until I had some entertainment pass by, in the form of a tug and barge.
My plan was to take a few casts and then walk a few yards, take a few casts and then walk a few more yards, all the way out to the tip of the Scusset breakwater. There was not a soul around except for one or two people walking the service road, and I was definitely the only person fishing.
I could not help but think about how much this scene will change in just a few short weeks, once the striped bass migration reaches the canal, and once word gets out on social media.
But yesterday evening around 6:00PM I found myself all alone at the very tip of the Scusset breakwater, if you don't include the loons, ducks and two young seals. Even if the mackerel did not show up, it was still good to once again be casting into the "Big Ditch."
You know Ryan in the early 80s i would get my license for herring on the last week of april and it was good until last friday of May and i remember the lines of people starting late April to fill their bucket in which then we all got a 2 dozen live herrings and quickly run over to the canal and live line herring and the big stripers i caught and the people around me getting em it was so much fun. Now i see that some stripers are here but the herring are getting more scarce in the last few years and im concerned . The license was rumored only to be for a few years and looks its been 25 years or longer . I love the fact we have persons cleaning the pathways but i wish there could be a better investigation to why its not making a comeback ?
Hey Mark,
I also remember seeing those lines of people at the Bournedale Herring Run, waiting for their bucket of herring, and then running as fast as they could back to their spot along the rocks of the canal, to live-line them to big stripers.
I think the herring are making a comeback. I would have to check the data, but just today I probably saw several thousand herring swarming the Bournedale run. There were thousands in the run last night as well. Again I am not herring expert, but it might be worth looking into. I am under the impression that the herring are returning in better numbers than a decade ago.
On another note I hope you are able to get out fishing quite a bit this spring! There are schoolies on the Vineyard, so it won’t be too much longer until they show up on Cape in strong numbers.
Tight lines ?
Hi Ryan
I am new to Sandwich and you web site. I need to learn about salt water fishing as I have been a fresh water bass fisherman all of my life. I believe this site will help shorten the learning curve. Do you know where I can catch mud minnows (chubs) for bait?
Thx Steve
Hey Steve ??
Good to have you onboard the site.
You can catch chubs in most of the estuaries in Sandwich. Try Scorton and Old Harbor (the boardwalk).
Tight lines ?
Really interesting history..as it’s been said many times, just getting out on the water is relaxing, even if you don’t catch a single fish. It will not be long before you can do both.
That’s right Ron! Beautiful day out there today. Flat calm and nice and sunny this morning. I think it might finally be time to start getting the boat ready.
I want to get an early start too. How may the winter flounder be about now ?
I think you’d have a chance Rick. I was just chatting with a guy who used to catch flounder and cod this time of year at the east end. I don’t hear about anyone catching right now, but it could be due to lack of effort. I think it might be worth a shot. ??