Mid-June On Cape Cod
The fireworks of late May and early June have settled down at the Cape Cod Canal, but according to AJ Coots of Red Top Sporting Goods in Buzzards Bay, that doesn't mean the fishing has shut off — it just means you have to earn it. The migratory fish have all arrived by now and the fish are setting up in their usual summertime patterns as we end the spring and start the summer season. AJ covers everything from canal tactics to the booming Cape Cod Bay striper bite, a quieter Buzzards Bay, and an offshore tuna run that's arriving right on schedule.
Cape Cod Canal: Slower, But Still Producing
A few weeks ago, the Canal was red-hot — some of the best fishing in years, with AJ comparing the stretch to a banner year like 2017. That intensity has faded, but AJ was clear that the fish haven't disappeared. Anglers willing to put in the time are still connecting with quality striped bass, just without the nonstop action of a few weeks back.
One trend AJ has noticed quietly building this season has been chunking mackerel. It's not the canal's most traditional technique, but it's become a legitimate option, especially for anglers who don't want to fish the classic dawn or after-dark windows. AJ outlined two approaches:
- Bottom rig style — Use a fish-finder rig to anchor your chunk bait near the bottom while it drifts naturally in the current.
- Modified eel-style drift — Rig a chunk with a small amount of weight (similar to fishing a live eel with light rubber-core or split shot), cast up-current, and let the tide carry it through the water column — not pinned to the bottom, not floating on top.
For shore-bound anglers planning a Canal trip around the weekend's blustery forecast, AJ's approach is simple: check a wind app (he personally relies on Windy for its interactive, location-specific forecasting) and fish the side the wind is blowing onto your back. With a west wind expected, that means favoring the mainland side — it keeps your line from bowing out in the current and gives jig fishermen extra casting distance.
Where the fish are holding: The West End around the railroad bridge continues to hold fish, however, the fish are more spread out than past weeks meaning the east end inside Cape Cod Bay is also very active. This tracks with the broader picture — striped bass are spread thick from Plymouth through the East End, across to Barnstable, and up off Provincetown. As that massive body of water empties through the Canal on the tide, it's pushing bait and fish through both ends.
Bait: It's a mixed bag right now. AJ is seeing what could be sand eels, juvenile sand eels, or bay anchovies, along with lingering squid — mostly showing at night on the East End, though some squid have shown at the West End too. Mackerel are also in the mix and tend to become the Canal's dominant forage as summer progresses. Interestingly, pogies — which had become a primary canal bait in recent seasons — have been notably absent so far. AJ's advice: carry a range of colors and profiles in your plug bag to match whatever's actually present that day, rather than betting on one bait type.
Cape Cod Bay: The Star of the Spring
If one fishery has carried the spring season, it's Cape Cod Bay. Reports of quality striped bass have been strong since mid-May and show no signs of slowing. AJ pointed to several hot zones:
- Provincetown — a popular trolling area
- Barnstable — great for trolling or top water this time of year
- Plymouth — a newer but increasingly reliable spot for striped bass over the past few seasons
Recent reports from Plymouth and Duxbury this week denote large schools of striped bass in deeper water off the power plant up toward Gurnet Point, with anglers trolling the mid-water column in around 50 feet and finding consistent success. The takeaway: the same large biomass of fish appears to be holding in familiar areas, just feeding a bit deeper than before.
Lures producing in the Bay: Red Top has been moving a lot of Nomad and X-Rap deep divers in the 20–40 size range — both built to get down into that mid-water zone where the bass are feeding. AJ's personal game plan when running out of the East End of the Canal: grab live mackerel first and either bump-troll or fish them live. If live mackerel aren't available, X-Raps or umbrella rigs are the backup.
Buzzards Bay
Buzzards Bay, by contrast, has been notably different this spring according to AJ. With the commercial fishery open this week, much of the fishing pressure has shifted toward Cape Cod Bay's larger biomass. Striped bass and bluefish reports out of Buzzards Bay have been sparse from AJ's customers with just a few here and there — and black sea bass fishing has been similarly quiet, though slowly improving.
The bright spot in Buzzards Bay over the past week has actually been scup fishing, which AJ says has been excellent — even if it's not the species that gets Red Top's customers fired up the way bass or tuna do.
Offshore: Tuna Season
The canyon scene has been heating up, and AJ reports anglers chasing temperature breaks have found yellowfin, bluefin, and bigeye tuna over the past couple of weeks. One standout data point: around June 5th, anglers found a striking 20-degree temperature break across just four miles at Veatch Canyon. AJ's advice for anyone heading offshore is straightforward — study surface temperature charts and lean on your boat's electronics to locate those breaks, because that's reliably where the fish are stacking up.
The early canyon success has AJ excited about the bluefin tuna fishery as it moves closer to shore as June progresses. The exciting early June action well offshore could be a promising indicator for inshore recreational tuna anglers.
Showcase Saturday at Red Top
Beyond the fishing report, Red Top Sporting Goods is hosting one of its Saturday Showcase events tomorrow, running from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The vendors on-site will include 24/7 Lures, with the company's owner in the shop offering non-standard colors, new and limited releases, and exclusive options not normally carried at Red Top — all available at showcase pricing. FishLab and Stormr gear will also be featured.
Tomorrow will also feature Bull Bay Rods — a well-regarded Florida-based rod builder making its way up the East Coast. They will be on hand to talk through how the lineup fits New England fishing conditions. Red Top is among the first Cape Cod shops to carry the brand, and several local anglers are already fishing them.
Bottom Line
The Canal has cooled from its early-June peak but is still rewarding patient anglers, especially those willing to experiment with chunking techniques during daylight hours. Cape Cod Bay remains the most consistent striper fishery on the Cape right now, with deep-running plugs like Nomad and X-Rap divers doing the heavy lifting. Buzzards Bay is quieter on bass and blues but worth a look for scup. The offshore canyons bite is off to a strong, slightly early start — one that could set the tone for bluefin season.
Tight Lines & Take Care!🎣