Cape Cod Fishing Report
By: Capt. Hap Farrell
07/14/10


After the 4th...Fishing

The striped bass have taken up residence on Billingsgate Shoals with a sense of almost permanence. For the past two weeks we have found them either on top of the shoals or on either the north or south edges. This is during the top of the tide. As the tide drops they slowly move off into the deeper water, I think. We're not sure where they really go but they do disappear. They show back up about 2 to 3 hours before high water and make themselves available for catching which we do with a vengeance.

Jigging is by far the best method to hook up on these fish with trolling hootchies a second and almost as productive way to land some of the stripers. It seems that there are not any bluefish mixed in which is a little unusual.

P-town, the bass capital of Cape Cod Bay, holds the most striped bass right now. With the commercial season starting it will be and is a very crowded area. With the way the economy is right now and the potential price for the bass at the fish market most everyone with commercial license is there. From what I've heard the first day was not all that good. A large amount of bluefish have moved in over night and made it difficult to use eels to catch the stripers. Many of the fishermen turned to jigging and the tube and worm, but even that was only marginal. I'm sure things will change, it's just when will it change.

The bluefish are settling in out in the deep water off the east end of Billingsgate Shoals. This area is called the square, by this I mean it 40 over 40 using the old Loran system. Just go across the east end of the shoals and go out to 55 to 60 feet of water and you're there. Single hootchies on 200 foot wires works very well. An umbrella rig will work but you will tear it up, these fish are big.

The Rock Harbor Charter Fleet, plus boats from other harbors, hosted this seasons Special Olympics type fishing trip. The fish we usually find along the Eastham shore were not there but were out in the deep water north of Billingsgate Shoals. There we found a good amount of big bluefish and some stripers. Everyone caught their share of fish and had a great time as usual. These special anglers are already talking about next years fishing.

The fisherman of the week which I'll be donating twenty dollars of canned goods to the Lower Cape Outreach Pantry is Casey Jagermann. This young lady handled both some big striped bass and bluefish with the skill of a pro. It was her first time fishing the bay.

If you'd like to get in on this really good summer fishing call me at 508-255-6211 or 508-240-8267..

Thanks Hap!

Stunmai II