September brings the promise of better fishing days ahead as the nights lengthen and the waters gradually cool.

Early in the month, though, the false albacore fishing has been very good most days and fantastic for several stretches.  The albies are chasing baby pogies, herring and silversides that flooded Nantucket Sound and Buzzards Bay, as well as their respective bays and harbors. Small metal lures or flies are best for breaking fish, while a trolled swimming plug can attract fish hanging deeper in the water column.  In the Sound, albies have been showing from Falmouth Heights to Popponesset, as well as the shoals between the Cape and the Vineyard.  In the Bay, the albies have been found from just north of Woods Hole up to the west end of the Canal. Albies are the dominant fish, blues and bonito are often mixed in with them, as well as the ocassional Spanish mackerel.

Striped bass fishing is still slow, with most fish still holding the the deep water off Gay Head and Squibnocket, or along the Elizabeth Islands.  Tube and worm can be effective, as well as eels and chunks. Interestingly, black sea bass fishing has turned hot throughout the area, with fish being found around wrecks and rockpiles.

Scup fishing is still good but the season will end late in the month so now is the time to target them.  Tautog are still waiting for the water to cool before moving inshore.

In freshwater, bass fishing remains very good and trout are starting to stir.  Proof of that was the local angler who caught two 16-inch rainbows and as well as an still unidentified, 14-inch trout or landlocked salmon at Mares Pond.  The fish looked exactly the way a trout or salmon should, except it had no spots and was a silvery gray color.  Possibly a genetic mishap.