Fishing for Big Bass and Giant Tuna off Cape Cod during September
What’s better than fishing Cape Cod during September? In my opinion-not much at all. September fishing on the Cape is really a world class opportunity. 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 the summer crowds have dissipated.
There’s a lot of good news for folks fishing in September. The weather is often times very conducive to striped bass and giant tuna fishing. Although there will be windy days throughout the month, odds are that we will also have many calm days and evenings. 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.
Striped bass behavior changes during September. This is the month when bass on Cape Cod begin to stage for their southerly migration. 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. During September, there is a good chance that if you find the bass, you will be able to catch them. “Lockjaw” does not seem to be as much as a problem during this month.
Finding the fish in the first place also becomes easier as September inches its way towards October. Large schools of big stipers tend to hang a bit closer to the beach during this month. The days of trolling and cruising around in 60-70 feet of water are now (hopefully!) over. Searching in water as shallow as 20 feet often yields higher catches than spending time in deeper water at this time of the season.
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.
For smaller bluefish and snappers, concentrate on the south side of the Cape. The many bays and estuaries that litter the Cape’s southside, including Buzzards Bay, are home to these baby bluefish. 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. Mahi-mahi are routinely taken by anglers fishing farther offshore. Actually, many exotic species inhabit the offshore areas such as yellowfin tuna, blue and white marlin, bigeye tuna and a variety of sharks-to name just a few.
Cape Cod has many fantastic fishing opportunities. All of these opportunities only get better as September turns into October. Now is the time to go fishing before the cold, windy days of November arrive!
Captain Ryan Collins fishes for striped bass and Bluefin tuna off Cape Cod, MA. Visit his blog, myfishingcapecod.com for insider tips. Click on trolling for striped bass.
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January 23 2012 01:33 am | Vacations