It seemed to take awhile but summer is here, by the calendar and the emerging fishing patterns around the Upper Cape.  The wet, cool Spring had kept ocean temperatures relatively cool well into June.  But the arrival of the Summer Solstice also has brought more typical late June fishing conditions.

Striped Bass

Bass are no longer easy targets in the shallow, inshore waters.  Beach fishing is best done at night or in the early morning hours.  Chunks of fresh pogies or frozen mackerel or herring are the best bait choices.  Swimming plugs fished slowly after dark will also work.

For boat anglers, bass are setting up in the cooler waters along Tom Shoals, off Wasque and Squibnocket Points and from Gay Head to Devil’s Bridge.  In most cases white or green jigs are the baits of choice, with a tube and worm fished during the slack tides. Night trolling or pitching eels along the Elizabeth Islands should also produce keeper-sized bass.

Bluefish 

Blues are taking over much of Buzzards Bay, Nantucket and Vineyard Sounds.  For anglers targeting the toothy fish, that’s great; for anglers trying to jig up a bass or fluke, that can be a bane.  Blues are holding on most of the shoals, with best action east of South Cape Beach.  If you encounter blues, almost any bait will work.

Fluke

Now just two weeks old, the fluke season is good but not great.  Traditional spots like Middle Ground and Lucas Shoal are holding a lot of fish below the 17-1/2-inch size limit, but also a lot of weed and bluefish.  For fewer but bigger fish, veteran fluke anglers are working 60 to 100-foot holes and contour lines.  Their bait of choice is often a whole squid.

Sea Bass and Scup

Scup fishing is very good, with many very large scup being reported.  For beach anglers, most jetties are holding scup which make great sport for both adults and children.  Sea bass are now spread throughout the local waters and require a fair amount of patience.

Freshwater 

Bass, pickerel and panfish — in that order — are word from the freshwater ponds.  Smallmouth bass continue to provide very good action on both artificial and live shiners.  Lures and shiners are also accounting for catches of very large pickerel in the warm ponds.  Panfish are easy targets with night crawlers and grubs.

Gallery

Check out our photo gallery for pictures of some recent catches.