Martha's Vineyard Fishing Report: Stripers Return, Trout & Bass Biting Strong

Artificial Lure here with your Martha’s Vineyard report for Monday, April 21, 2025. First light hit the water at 5:49 am, and sunset rolls in at 7:26 pm. The winds are out of the southwest, steady but not kicking up too much chop, with daytime highs nudging toward 60 degrees. Water temps are still brisk, sitting around 46, and the bite’s been tied closely to those slightly warming afternoons. The big news is that migratory schoolie stripers have arrived on the south side of the Vineyard, right on schedule, showing plenty of sea lice—a sure sign they’re fresh in from their journey. They’re still a bit cautious, but as the waters creep up a few more degrees, expect the action to really fire up. The estuaries and salt ponds are loaded with river herring right now, and I’ve seen ospreys and gulls working these bait balls hard. When you see that kind of bird activity, it’s best to stick around—those schoolies aren’t far behind[1]. For those hitting the ponds, trout fishing continues to be on a tear thanks to recent stockings. Anglers are reporting good catches on shiners, small flies like Woolly Buggers, inline spinners, and spoons. Largemouth bass action remains steady too, with fish feeding aggressively pre-spawn. Curly-tail grubs on 1/4-ounce jigheads are putting 2- to 3-pounders in the boat, and crappie are falling for the same rigs[2]. If you’re after stripers, best bet is to time your outings around the rising or top of the incoming tide—late afternoons have been just a tick hotter as the sun does its work. The south beach stretches from Katama to Wasque are seeing schoolie activity. Herring imitators like small swim shads, soft plastics, and bucktail jigs are the lures of choice right now. If you’re set on bait, bloodworms and clams will get you bites—just be patient and cover water. Hot spots to try today: Wasque Point for the early-arriving stripers, and Sengekontacket Pond for a mixed bag of schoolies and fat spring trout. In short, the season is just getting started, and the fish are here—so get out there while the crowds are light and the bite is coming alive. Tight lines, Artificial Lure This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.