Fishing Martha's Vineyard: Chilly Striper Bites and Slamming Tautog Action

Good morning anglers, Artificial Lure here with your Martha’s Vineyard fishing report for Friday, November 7, 2025. It’s a crisp Vineyard morning—sunrise came at 6:21 AM and expect sunset right around 4:29 PM. The weather is brisk, hanging around the upper 40s to low 50s, and a stiff breeze is blowing, so layer up out there. According to Aquinnah locals, it’s sunny but windy and the water’s running cool. Tides today at Oak Bluffs show a low at 5:15 AM, high at 12:34 PM, and then another low at 6:26 PM, so mid-day is prime if you want that moving water and a bit of warmth on your back. Let’s get into the fishing. November means the striper bite is winding down, but it’s not done yet. Recent action has had both boat and surfcasters picking away at slot-sized stripers at first light, especially off the south side beaches and backwater creeks. Topwater plugs—think classic pencils and spook-style walkers—are pulling strikes right around sunrise, though bites are short-lived and action is concentrated. Out by the marshes and mud-bottomed salt ponds, a Jumpin’ Minnow or small soft plastic worked slow has tempted a few holdover bass, mostly in the low 20-inch class, and they’re bulking up on river herring fry dropping out of the ponds. Now, if you’re looking for steady action and a solid fish fry, tautog is your top ticket. This is peak blackfish season and, according to Cambo Fishing Charters out of New Bedford, “stupid good” sums up the tog bite. Crews have been hitting easy limits on males in the 6 to 8 pound range, mostly fishing structure in 20 feet or less, but don’t sleep on the deeper wrecks if the shallow bite slows. The key is green crabs on sturdy hooks—no need to get fancy, just drop right into the rocks and hold on. For the hardy, dressing for the weather and braving a deep water trip out toward Lobsterville or Menemsha wrecks could mean quick limits and big fish. If wind keeps you off the salt, pond fishing is solid. Stocked browns and rainbows are cruising the shallows at dawn and dusk, feeding on small shiners and killifish. Spoons and small soft plastics have been the ticket—this week a lucky angler picked up a six-pound brown working a flashy spoon around the lower edges of Seth’s Pond. Shiners and nightcrawlers are also working for those after bass and jumbo yellow perch. Eastman’s Sport and Tackle in Falmouth still has shiners and green crabs in stock, so stop in before heading out. As far as other species go, bluefish and albies are mostly gone now, but you may pick up a late-season mackerel if you’re working fast jigs off deeper points—just don’t count on numbers this late. For hot spots, check the deep rock piles off Lobsterville for tog and the backwaters at Sengekontacket for a chance at holdover stripers. Upper Tisbury Great Pond is worth a look for big trout, especially if you’re tossing spoons or drifting shiners right at sundown. Best baits this week are green crabs for tautog, live shiners or nightcrawlers in the pond This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.