Bluefish and Bonito!
By Nate Anton
Bluefish Cocktail and snapper blues are all over Nantucket Sound right now — from Falmouth all the way to Monomoy. They’re feeding on peanut bunker from 30 feet of water to surface blowups, so if the bonito or albies aren’t cooperating, blues are a reliable backup. They’ll eat just about anything as long as the profile stays small.
False Albacore The first albie report that hit the shop yesterday. They picked off a couple around Monomoy on Hogy Micro Chug Poppers and Surface Erasers. Hard to say whether it was a fluke or the start of a broader push across the Southside, but it’s encouraging to hear.
Bonito Bonito remain abundant in Buzzards Bay, and strong schools are holding around Falmouth. There bonito reports have been very varied day-to-day. A shop regular, Bob, recently had a great day in the Sound, finding bonito by Craigville, New Seabury, Falmouth and the Vineyard. He covered a lot of ground, but it was a great morning catches bones on the fly, as well as throwing epoxy jigs on the spinning rods. Smaller‑profile epoxies are producing best so far, with no standout color yet.
Striped Bass The striper bite has been inconsistent, but the early‑sunrise and post‑sunset windows continue to produce in the Canal, the western bay beaches, and the southern shoals up toward Monomoy. In the boats, Tube N' Worm seem to be hammering fish and our large bass worms are selling fast. Shore guys like, namely Jeff C. are still sticking 40‑inch‑plus bass on big swimming plugs and SP Minnows. The night bite is going to be more productive.
Fluke I wish I had more to report after the tournament at The Osterville Angler's Club this weekend, but the word is the bigger fish are stacked at the Nantucket fluke grounds — that’s where we’re heading next. Smaller juvenile fluke are still plentiful around Craigville Beach and nearby shoreline, and even the jetty is producing enough to keep things fun.
Sharking Brown Sharking has quieted down with the cooler weather, but that shift should help push stripers around and may bring a few surprise visitors into Cape waters as conditions change.
Until next time,
Tight lines!