In my opinion, September is the best month for Cape Cod tuna and striped bass fishing . 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 summer crows have dissapated.
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. Greasy calm days are pretty common. And then there will be those breezy days and nights. However in September, a big wind is not always a bad thing. This rings especially true in Cape Cod Bay. A strong onshore wind will often light the fishing up in nearshore areas. Places like Scorton Ledge and Sandy Neck are two such places.
The best aspect of fishing during September is that the behavior of bass in Cape Cod Bay begins to change. 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. Odds are that if you find the fish, you will be able to catch them.
Finding the fish in the first place also becomes easier as September inches its way towards October. As October approaches, big schools of bass move closer to the beachfront. Of course bass are found throughout the year in close to shore, however greater numbers of fish seem to move closer to the beach throughout this month. Long trips spent fishing out deep in 60 plus feet of water are often times no longer necessary. Finding bass in these deeper areas is always more difficult than locating bass in shallow water. Spending time fishing and searching in 15-40 feet of water is the protocol during this time of the year.
As September wanes into October, giant tuna and striped bass really become aggressive. This is the start of the annual southerly migration for bass. Fortunately giant tuna will stick around after the bass leave. 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. I'm crossing my fingers that we will have a repeat this year.
During September of 2010, a few giant tuna were seen crashing on the surface in the deeper water off Scorton Ledge.
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. Big Blues can be found in the usual Cape Cod Bay hot spots such as the Ledge, the Parking Lot, Race Point and Billingsgate.
Snappers on the other hand, infiltrate the estuaries and harbors on the south-side of the Cape. 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. Even these tiny bluefish make great bait for giant tuna. We hooked up with a giant last September using a 6 inch snapper in Cape Cod Bay.
Aside from giant tuna, bluefish and bass, many other species are also infiltrate the waters around Cape Cod during September. Bonito, false ablacore and school bluefin tuna, for example, can all be found swarming around Cape Cod throughout the month. 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.
Fishing on Cape Cod is just an awesome experience.
The opportunities are virtually endless. All of these opportunities only get better as September turns into October. Colder days are ahead-now is the best time to wet a line on Cape Cod!
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. Greasy calm days are pretty common. And then there will be those breezy days and nights. However in September, a big wind is not always a bad thing. This rings especially true in Cape Cod Bay. A strong onshore wind will often light the fishing up in nearshore areas. Places like Scorton Ledge and Sandy Neck are two such places.
The best aspect of fishing during September is that the behavior of bass in Cape Cod Bay begins to change. 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. Odds are that if you find the fish, you will be able to catch them.
Finding the fish in the first place also becomes easier as September inches its way towards October. As October approaches, big schools of bass move closer to the beachfront. Of course bass are found throughout the year in close to shore, however greater numbers of fish seem to move closer to the beach throughout this month. Long trips spent fishing out deep in 60 plus feet of water are often times no longer necessary. Finding bass in these deeper areas is always more difficult than locating bass in shallow water. Spending time fishing and searching in 15-40 feet of water is the protocol during this time of the year.
As September wanes into October, giant tuna and striped bass really become aggressive. This is the start of the annual southerly migration for bass. Fortunately giant tuna will stick around after the bass leave. 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. I'm crossing my fingers that we will have a repeat this year.
During September of 2010, a few giant tuna were seen crashing on the surface in the deeper water off Scorton Ledge.
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. Big Blues can be found in the usual Cape Cod Bay hot spots such as the Ledge, the Parking Lot, Race Point and Billingsgate.
Snappers on the other hand, infiltrate the estuaries and harbors on the south-side of the Cape. 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. Even these tiny bluefish make great bait for giant tuna. We hooked up with a giant last September using a 6 inch snapper in Cape Cod Bay.
Aside from giant tuna, bluefish and bass, many other species are also infiltrate the waters around Cape Cod during September. Bonito, false ablacore and school bluefin tuna, for example, can all be found swarming around Cape Cod throughout the month. 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.
Fishing on Cape Cod is just an awesome experience.
The opportunities are virtually endless. All of these opportunities only get better as September turns into October. Colder days are ahead-now is the best time to wet a line on Cape Cod!
About the Author:
Captain Ryan Collins fishes for striped bass and Bluefin tuna off Cape Cod, MA. Visit his blog, myfishingcapecod.com for insider tips about trolling for striped bass and giant tuna.
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