Without a doubt, September is one of the best months for fishing Cape Cod. There's plenty of reasons why this is the case. For starters, striped bass show up in greater numbers. They are also usually much more aggressive. The air is cooler, giant tuna are around, and summer crows have dissapated.
September weather is also usually pretty nice. Again for starters, the humidity and the predominant southwest wind have eased a bit. Often times the waters around Cape Cod are as flat as a pond. Its days like this that make you forget that you are fishing on the ocean. And then there will be those breezy days and nights. However in September, a big wind is not always a bad thing. A brisk onshore breeze often lights up the fishing in spots that are surprisingly close to shore.
The best aspect of fishing during September is that the behavior of bass in Cape Cod Bay begins to change. Many of the stripers that you could not entice a single bite from during July will now hop all over a tossed offering. The bass become noticeably more aggressive as October approaches. Odds are that if you find the fish, you will be able to catch them.
Finding the fish in the first place also becomes easier as September inches its way towards October. As October approaches, big schools of bass move closer to the beachfront. Of course bass are found throughout the year in close to shore, however greater numbers of fish seem to move closer to the beach throughout this month. The days of trolling and cruising around in 60-70 feet of water are now (hopefully!) over. Spending time fishing and searching in 15-40 feet of water is the protocol during this time of the year.
Towards the end of the month, the bass will really put the feedbag on as they prepare for their southerly migration. I'm getting a little ahead of myself here, but I can not help but remember the great fishing we had during late September 2010. Of course, who knows what will happen in 2011. However the odds are in our favor that we will be able to at least put a few seriously large bass and giant tuna in the boat.
Just seeing a giant tuna crashing on the surface is a sight to remember. Hooking up and landing one is a completely different story!
Big blues and snapper blues invade Cape Cod during September. Pefect tuna bait size bluefish (20 inches or so) will often be around in full force. If 10 plus pound bluefish are your target, than look no further than Cape Cod Bay. Race Point, Sandy Neck and Billingsgate Shoal all produce big bluefish during September.
Snappers on the other hand, infiltrate the estuaries and harbors on the south-side of the Cape. Ultra light tackle is the way to go. Small lures or minnows fished on micro sized spinning reels is a blast. Kids usually love catching snappers. The action can be fast and furious at times. These small bluefish taste great and also make good live bait for tuna.
This is the time of the year when we hear stories of more exotic fish entering the water around Cape Cod. Even more exotic fish like Spanish Mackerel are caught off the southside of the Cape. These fish are usually taken by anglers fishing for bonito and false albies. So far this season I have heard some very positive reports of mahi-mahi being caught with regularity around the high flyers south of the Vineyard.
Cape Cod has many fantastic fishing opportunities. The fishing will only improve as September inches its way towards October. There will be many big fish taken whenever the weather allows. Now is the time to go fishing before the cold, windy days of November arrive!
Areas to Check Out
The nearly 604 square miles that constitute Cape Cod Bay can make it difficult for the average angler to locate an area holding big tuna. The tuna are out there for certain, however without the aid of a spotter pilot it can be difficult to locate a spot that will produce some action. Cape Cod Bay is surrounded by the outer Cape to the east and the Massachusetts' South Shore to the west. Waves can still build to great heights inside the Bay, howevver being surrounded by land on three sides does help to make the area more fishable, especially if you are fishing from a small boat. Giant bluefin tuna can be found roaming throughout the Bay during the spring, summer and fall months. Big tuna will prove challenging to find inside the Bay. Yet there area few general areas that for whatever reason seem to yield a greater number of tuna sightings each season. Give these areas a check on your next Cape Cod Bay fishing trip and you may get a surprise from a 500 plus pound behemoth.
In the tuna fishing world, long distances through rough seas are often just part of doing business. However inside Cape Cod Bay, there are areas closer to shore that will prove better suited for small boats. The Fishing Ledge is one such location. The Ledge sits roughly 10 miles outside the east end of the Cape Cod Canal. The Fishing Ledge is located just about smack dab in the middle of the Bay. When the wind is light and variable, we can easily access the Ledge in our 21 foot Hydra Sport. Unfortunately, if the seas begin to kick up, it is a smart decision for us to think about heading for the dock. However if the seas are glass calm, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for giant tuna cruising just beneath the water's surface.
Giant tuna will often create a large V-wake as they cruise just inches below the water's surface. Giants are spotted each year doing just this in the area of the Fishing Ledge, and in other areas around the Bay by folks fishing Cape Cod. If you plan on targeting smaller tuna on spinning gear, it may be smart to gauge the size of the tuna before casting. The problem is that this is very difficult to do, especially when you have been searching all day for fish. Add in the pumping adrenaline and it is hard to resist casting to tuna that will undoubtedly destroy your gear.
During the summer of 2010, tuna in the 150 pound range could be found a few miles north of the Fingers outside Barnstable Harbor. Tuna in this weight class are much better suited for light tackle spin fishermen.
The Square is another area worth checking out. The spot is located in the deeper waters to the west of the famed Billingsgate Shoal. Tuna likely venture into the area because of the large schools of striped bass and tuna that feed along the productive shoals of Billingsgate.. One tactic used successfully by tuna veterans is drifting live bluefish. Plenty of blues call Billingsgate home during the fishing season. These bluefish just happen to be one of the favorite prey items for large bluefin tuna..
Many of the bluefish in this area are enormous. At first glance they may seem too big to use as bait.. These larger specimens of the bluefish population make prime bait for giant bluefins.
Fishing with Kites and Balloons
Kite fishing is a great way to fish for bluefin tuna. Fishing with kites has really taken Cape Cod by storm as of late. The kite lifts the bait to the ocean's surface, making it appear to be a confused bait swimming widly on the surface. Basically ringing the dinner bell for any tuna in the area. It’s essentially the same thing as topwater bass fishing, except the fish is about 300 times bigger.
Paying attention to details is important when kite fishing for big bluefins. One poor knot or faulty swivel will be quickly exploited by a tuna.. Using braided line on Penn 80 or 130 conventional reels can really help a kite to fly high and strong even in a light breeze. Utilizing dropper lines will help to decrease the angle of the line you are using to fish the bait. Dropper lines can help to big time if you plan on fishing multiple lines off the same kite. Using an elastic to bridle hooking them in the traditional way can help to increase the longevity of your live bait supply. Often times acquiring good live bait is more difficult than finding tuna. Bridling baits will help to keep your bait supply alive and frisky.
Balloon fishing works well when there is no wind, or when an angler wants to target tuna at a specific depth. It is possible to cover the entire water spectrum by fishing a bait on a kite, and other baits under balloons. Choose a weight that is heavy enough based on wind and current condtions. Attach the weight a distance up from the live bait on the main line by way of an elastic band. If the depth you desire to place your bait at is 80 feet, then 80 feet of main line is paid out. Attach the balloon by tying it onto a loop of main line. Tying the balloon onto the loop will allow the ballon to break free when a fish hits the bait.. Float the ballon away from the boat and start the drift.
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September weather is also usually pretty nice. Again for starters, the humidity and the predominant southwest wind have eased a bit. Often times the waters around Cape Cod are as flat as a pond. Its days like this that make you forget that you are fishing on the ocean. And then there will be those breezy days and nights. However in September, a big wind is not always a bad thing. A brisk onshore breeze often lights up the fishing in spots that are surprisingly close to shore.
The best aspect of fishing during September is that the behavior of bass in Cape Cod Bay begins to change. Many of the stripers that you could not entice a single bite from during July will now hop all over a tossed offering. The bass become noticeably more aggressive as October approaches. Odds are that if you find the fish, you will be able to catch them.
Finding the fish in the first place also becomes easier as September inches its way towards October. As October approaches, big schools of bass move closer to the beachfront. Of course bass are found throughout the year in close to shore, however greater numbers of fish seem to move closer to the beach throughout this month. The days of trolling and cruising around in 60-70 feet of water are now (hopefully!) over. Spending time fishing and searching in 15-40 feet of water is the protocol during this time of the year.
Towards the end of the month, the bass will really put the feedbag on as they prepare for their southerly migration. I'm getting a little ahead of myself here, but I can not help but remember the great fishing we had during late September 2010. Of course, who knows what will happen in 2011. However the odds are in our favor that we will be able to at least put a few seriously large bass and giant tuna in the boat.
Just seeing a giant tuna crashing on the surface is a sight to remember. Hooking up and landing one is a completely different story!
Big blues and snapper blues invade Cape Cod during September. Pefect tuna bait size bluefish (20 inches or so) will often be around in full force. If 10 plus pound bluefish are your target, than look no further than Cape Cod Bay. Race Point, Sandy Neck and Billingsgate Shoal all produce big bluefish during September.
Snappers on the other hand, infiltrate the estuaries and harbors on the south-side of the Cape. Ultra light tackle is the way to go. Small lures or minnows fished on micro sized spinning reels is a blast. Kids usually love catching snappers. The action can be fast and furious at times. These small bluefish taste great and also make good live bait for tuna.
This is the time of the year when we hear stories of more exotic fish entering the water around Cape Cod. Even more exotic fish like Spanish Mackerel are caught off the southside of the Cape. These fish are usually taken by anglers fishing for bonito and false albies. So far this season I have heard some very positive reports of mahi-mahi being caught with regularity around the high flyers south of the Vineyard.
Cape Cod has many fantastic fishing opportunities. The fishing will only improve as September inches its way towards October. There will be many big fish taken whenever the weather allows. Now is the time to go fishing before the cold, windy days of November arrive!
Areas to Check Out
The nearly 604 square miles that constitute Cape Cod Bay can make it difficult for the average angler to locate an area holding big tuna. The tuna are out there for certain, however without the aid of a spotter pilot it can be difficult to locate a spot that will produce some action. Cape Cod Bay is surrounded by the outer Cape to the east and the Massachusetts' South Shore to the west. Waves can still build to great heights inside the Bay, howevver being surrounded by land on three sides does help to make the area more fishable, especially if you are fishing from a small boat. Giant bluefin tuna can be found roaming throughout the Bay during the spring, summer and fall months. Big tuna will prove challenging to find inside the Bay. Yet there area few general areas that for whatever reason seem to yield a greater number of tuna sightings each season. Give these areas a check on your next Cape Cod Bay fishing trip and you may get a surprise from a 500 plus pound behemoth.
In the tuna fishing world, long distances through rough seas are often just part of doing business. However inside Cape Cod Bay, there are areas closer to shore that will prove better suited for small boats. The Fishing Ledge is one such location. The Ledge sits roughly 10 miles outside the east end of the Cape Cod Canal. The Fishing Ledge is located just about smack dab in the middle of the Bay. When the wind is light and variable, we can easily access the Ledge in our 21 foot Hydra Sport. Unfortunately, if the seas begin to kick up, it is a smart decision for us to think about heading for the dock. However if the seas are glass calm, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for giant tuna cruising just beneath the water's surface.
Giant tuna will often create a large V-wake as they cruise just inches below the water's surface. Giants are spotted each year doing just this in the area of the Fishing Ledge, and in other areas around the Bay by folks fishing Cape Cod. If you plan on targeting smaller tuna on spinning gear, it may be smart to gauge the size of the tuna before casting. The problem is that this is very difficult to do, especially when you have been searching all day for fish. Add in the pumping adrenaline and it is hard to resist casting to tuna that will undoubtedly destroy your gear.
During the summer of 2010, tuna in the 150 pound range could be found a few miles north of the Fingers outside Barnstable Harbor. Tuna in this weight class are much better suited for light tackle spin fishermen.
The Square is another area worth checking out. The spot is located in the deeper waters to the west of the famed Billingsgate Shoal. Tuna likely venture into the area because of the large schools of striped bass and tuna that feed along the productive shoals of Billingsgate.. One tactic used successfully by tuna veterans is drifting live bluefish. Plenty of blues call Billingsgate home during the fishing season. These bluefish just happen to be one of the favorite prey items for large bluefin tuna..
Many of the bluefish in this area are enormous. At first glance they may seem too big to use as bait.. These larger specimens of the bluefish population make prime bait for giant bluefins.
Fishing with Kites and Balloons
Kite fishing is a great way to fish for bluefin tuna. Fishing with kites has really taken Cape Cod by storm as of late. The kite lifts the bait to the ocean's surface, making it appear to be a confused bait swimming widly on the surface. Basically ringing the dinner bell for any tuna in the area. It’s essentially the same thing as topwater bass fishing, except the fish is about 300 times bigger.
Paying attention to details is important when kite fishing for big bluefins. One poor knot or faulty swivel will be quickly exploited by a tuna.. Using braided line on Penn 80 or 130 conventional reels can really help a kite to fly high and strong even in a light breeze. Utilizing dropper lines will help to decrease the angle of the line you are using to fish the bait. Dropper lines can help to big time if you plan on fishing multiple lines off the same kite. Using an elastic to bridle hooking them in the traditional way can help to increase the longevity of your live bait supply. Often times acquiring good live bait is more difficult than finding tuna. Bridling baits will help to keep your bait supply alive and frisky.
Balloon fishing works well when there is no wind, or when an angler wants to target tuna at a specific depth. It is possible to cover the entire water spectrum by fishing a bait on a kite, and other baits under balloons. Choose a weight that is heavy enough based on wind and current condtions. Attach the weight a distance up from the live bait on the main line by way of an elastic band. If the depth you desire to place your bait at is 80 feet, then 80 feet of main line is paid out. Attach the balloon by tying it onto a loop of main line. Tying the balloon onto the loop will allow the ballon to break free when a fish hits the bait.. Float the ballon away from the boat and start the drift.
baits instead of
