Autumn Fishing Thrives in the Cape Cod Canal: Stripers, Bluefish, and More

As of October 12, 2024, the fishing scene in the Cape Cod Canal is still vibrant, despite the onset of cooler weather and the migratory patterns of our favorite species. ### Tidal and Weather Report Today, you can expect a mixed bag of weather with highs in the 50s and 60s, but be prepared for blustery winds that will be shifting directions frequently. Sunrise is at around 6:45 AM, and sunset will be at approximately 5:45 PM. The tides are crucial here; a West tide, particularly during the fall, is a migration tide that brings fish from Cape Cod Bay into Buzzards Bay, making it a prime time to fish. ### Fish Activity Striped bass fishing remains good in the Canal, although the typical lures like XL pencils and Magic Swimmers are not as effective right now. Instead, anglers are having success with heavier epoxy jigs and smaller pencils in the 2-ounce range to mimic the prevalent peanut bunker and silversides. There are also reports of bluefish in the 3- to 5-pound range, though their bite has been spotty. ### Recent Catches Yesterday saw some impressive catches, with stripers ranging from schoolie to slot-size bass actively chasing schools of bait. One notable catch was a nice fish off the pier by George from the shop while jigging with FishLabs. Bonito are still present in good numbers, but they are starting to thin out. Tautog fishing has been good, though it has fallen back into the usual pattern of weeding through shorts to find keeper fish. ### Best Lures and Bait For stripers, using 3- to 4-ounce epoxy jigs and small pencil poppers is highly recommended. The baitfish in the Canal include squid, mackerel, peanut bunker, and silversides, so lures that mimic these will be most effective. For tautog, the usual suspects like crabs and clams are still the best bet. ### Hot Spots The west end of the Canal has been fishing well in the morning, with anglers reporting a good amount of fish coming up, though they are quite picky. The east end is also worth a try, especially around the pier where George caught a nice fish recently. Additionally, the Herring Run area at night can be productive, especially with unique setups like castable umbrella rigs. Overall, the Cape Cod Canal is still offering some fantastic fall fishing opportunities, especially as we approach the full moon next week, which is expected to bring another solid push of quality fish through the area. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.