Persistent southwest winds have pushed water temperatures up significantly during the first two weeks of July.  Striped bass have retreated to deep holes and colder water, but bluefish continue to be found throughout the loca, in-shore waters.  In other words, the summer doldrums are here and will persistent until late August.

The warm waters, though, will bring the so-called “funny fish” — Atlantic bonito, false albacore and, with luck, Spanish mackerel.   (There was one relatively reliable report that a Spanish was taken the first week of July off Hyannis.)  Bonito will first show up off the southeast corner of Vineyard, where anglers trolling deep diving plus will take the first “bones” of the year.  Within days, the bonito and then false albacore should flood  Nantucket and Vineyard Sounds and Buzzards Bay.

Striped Bass

Decent bass fishing demands a boat trip — to Wasque Point and the Hooter, Gay Head and Devil’s Bridge and Squibnocket Point and Noman’s Island.  That’s where the commercial anglers are heading for consistent fishing.  Bass can also be taken during the night and very early morning hours along the Elizabeth Islands and thourgh Woods Hole.  Deep water jigging, tube and worm, eel, live or fresh pogies and scup are producing.  The real trick is to put yourself in the cold water where the fish are holding.

For shore-bound anglers, night fishing is the best bet for taking a keeper bass (or perhaps a big brown shark).  A fresh pogie or mackerel chunk is the preferred bait.  A swimming plug or soft bait like a Hogy or Sluggo fished slowly will also work at night.

Bluefish

What would we do without them?  Many anglers will complain about them, but bluefish do offer consistent boat and shore fishing throughout the doldrums.  Schools of blues are common throughout the local waters.  Best fishing time is probably the last hour of light, although breaking fish are likely to show up at any time of the day.

Fluke

This year’s story continues to be the same — there are decent numbers of fish around but the vast majority are below the 17-1/2-inch limit.  The deep waters — 80 to 120 feet — along Lucas Shoal and off Quick’s and Robinson’s Holes have been the best spots for the bigger fluke.

Freshwater

Despite the warm water, largemouth and smallmouth bass fishing is holding up in most of the local ponds. Daybreak and dusk are the best times to fish.  Soft plastics crawled along the bottom or the edge of lily pad beds have been the most effective baits.