Martha's Vineyard Fishing Report: Stripers, Tautog, and Squid Bite Heating Up for Early May

Mornin folks this is Artificial Lure with your Martha’s Vineyard fishing report for Sunday May 4th 2025. We’re rolling into May and the island is coming alive with spring action both inshore and offshore. Here’s what you need to know before you hit the water today. First off let’s talk weather and tides. Today’s sunrise was at 5:38 AM and sunset will be at 7:44 PM giving you plenty of daylight to get lines wet. Temperatures are hovering in the upper 50s to low 60s with a light southwest breeze. Skies are mostly clear but pack a jacket for the early morning chill. The outgoing tide this morning has fueled the bite at the river mouths and rocky points—prime time for targeting stripers and tautog. Fish activity is heating up fast. Striped bass have started to move in solid with schoolies and some bigger fish around the south shore and up into the salt ponds. Local reports say the bass are feeling feisty, especially early and late in the day. Some anglers are seeing decent numbers of bluefish mixed in, and the first keepers of the season have been confirmed. Squid are showing up thick under dock lights and around the harbors after dark—these make top-notch bait but are also fun to jig for in their own right. Meanwhile, the tautog bite is in full swing along the rock piles on the island’s north and west sides. Numbers are strong and plenty of fish are over the keeper mark, especially on crabs and jigs fished tight to structure. If you’re itching for some action off the bottom, the scup season is now open and the bite is just starting to pick up[1][2]. As for lures and bait, you can’t go wrong with soft plastics for stripers—try paddle tails, Al Gag’s Whip-it-Fish, and swim shads. Topwater plugs are producing during low-light hours when bass are pushing bait in the shallows. For natural bait, fresh squid, bunker chunks, and seaworms are doing the trick. When targeting tautog, green crabs rigged whole or on a jig head are the ticket—trim those legs for a clean presentation[1]. Hot spots right now include Menemsha channel where the outgoing tide pulls bait into the open and draws in stripers and tog. State Beach is another consistent producer for early season bass and scattered bluefish, especially around the bends and jetties. If you’re after squid, hit Oak Bluffs and Edgartown harbors after dark with jigs under the lights. To sum it up, the fish are here and hungry, tides are lining up for a good bite, and the weather is on our side. Whether you’re on foot or drifting from a boat, Martha’s Vineyard is primed for a memorable day on the water. Tight lines and see you out there[2][1][5]. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.