You’ve been hearing the same thing from every report and forum post for the past month: Big ones are right around the corner! Any day! Next tide! Here they come!

Well, I’m here to tell you this. They’re still not here (not in any types of consistent numbers anyway). We have plenty of fish just South of us and some trickling reports of cows North of us. But where’s the love for the Cape?

Let me give ya some context on this right quick before I dive into the weekend plan. There are big fish around the Cape in one or two specific spots. But by now, there are so many boats on them that it can be impossible to get a bite. Even when there wasn’t a fleet of boats motoring over them, they were finicky. Imagine how they’re acting now.

This season is turning out to be an exact representation of what we’ve feared for a few years. There are big fish around, sure. But they are tightly concentrated into a few separate biomasses. If you’re on the school, you’re going to get big fish. But good luck finding cows in smallers schools hanging around inshore structure.

There were strands of hope the past few days of some larger fish moving through the Canal. But where these fish will end up is anyone’s guess. I’m just hoping we get any type of bite in Cape Cod Bay in the next week or two. I’m tempted to say the new moon will move them straight through the Ditch, but now I’m not so sure. It’s a strange season, that’s for sure. I just hope this isn’t the new normal.

The Report

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Jeez, depressing talk much!? Let’s get to the bright spots. Seabass in Buzzards Bay has been ridiculous. By now, the big males have spread out across the Bay. We’ve had our best fishing away from the fleets in more sand flat-centric areas in 30-40′ of water. It’s going to get a big tougher to find a limit of big knotheads in the next week or two so get out while it’s still hot. Best jig has been the Joebaggs Flukie 3oz in pink.

Light tackle and fly fishing has been exceptional in the Three Bays, Barnstable, and Billingsgate. Most mornings in Plymouth, we’ve found acres of blitzing stripers all along the sand flats and rips. Incoming tide around dawn and dusk has produced the best bite. These fish are still finicky for whatever reason, and the white Albie Snax and a Rays fly on an intermediate lines has been the ticket to getting them to eat.

Mackerel showed up in big numbers for us on Wednesday–the first time we’ve seen a real consistent amount of bait. We were able to load the livewell in a few drifts. The only issue is, there aren’t many big fish to eat them. We had a blast catching fish just barely up to slot, but it would be nice if the 32″-36″ bass we used to get in the Three Bays would make an appearance.

The Plan

The original plan for this weekend was to venture out into Cape Cod Bay and hopefully find the first push of large bass. You know, a “make your own report” type of day. But slow fishing this morning for a few buddies and a worsening wind forecast is going to keep us in the Three Bays. We’ll just have to settle for some world class topwater action!

See you out there.