By Striper Mike, Sports Port Pro Staff

It’s been a tremendously successful trout season since early March and April has continued the solid bite. The pond temperatures are now in the low 50’s and the omnipresent cruising trout will soon be headed to the deeper colder waters, however the largemouth and smallmouth bass will be taking over. What a great time to be a Cape Cod fisherman, a tremendous trout season with some bass mixed in but some fantastic bass fishing ahead these next few weeks and a couple more weeks before the arrival of our beloved striped bass, fishing heaven here on Cape Cod.

A special shoutout to Max for catching this enormous 13 inch (I measured it) yellow perch. I was fishing from shore and saw Max catch this perch from his kayak, certainly the biggest yellow perch I ever saw!

With all this tremendous fishing happening around us it is a perfect time to stop by the shop so Amy and her staff at Sports Port can get you properly geared up. Remember, the Sports Port FREE Surfcasting seminar is happening Saturday May 14th at Keyes Memorial beach at 9:00 am. Please register in person at Sports Port or online to reserve your spot.

Some saltwater anglers have had some luck catching tautog using clams or green crabs - both in stock at the shop. Rocky structures along the shoreline have been producing keepers.

By Striper Mike, Sports Port Pro Staff

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

Winter starved fishermen look forward to March and eagerly await Cape Cod pond fishing. The state began stocking these unfrozen ponds on March 7th and truckload after truckload of healthy, frisky rainbow, brook and brown trout started their new life in the Cape’s pristine fresh waters. As the March temperatures slowly warmed with the sun higher in the sky and daylight savings adding some extra daylight it was “game on” for shore, fly, kayak and car top fishermen - March did not disappoint, the trout action was tremendous with many of the Cape’s ponds reporting happy fishermen and as we approached the middle of the month, the largemouth bass started to become very active as well along with some of the fattest white perch I have ever seen. Well insulated waders and even one small boat adventure produced some terrific trout and bass fishing and April should be even better as we await the arrival of the striped bass migrating from the south.

By Striper Mike, Sports Port Pro Staff

March 1st began meteorological spring, the sun is higher in the sky, daylight is increasing every day and Cape Cod’s pond fishery is on the move. The state will be stocking (and has actually already begun!) many of these ponds with thousands of trout early in March and the largemouth and smallmouth bass will soon begin cruising around in their pre spawn state of mind.

This is a great opportunity for anglers especially the many striped bass and bluefish fishermen to break out their freshwater gear and get out on the many pristine Cape Cod ponds. Stop by Sports Port Bait and Tackle to update your gear - Amy, Frank, Morgan, Gary and Nick are ready with useful information to help you catch your first fish of 2022.

Tim with his scrappy holdover brown trout

Mid November ended the striped bass season but November through February provided steady action for trout and even a few bass. March is off to a fast start with more trout on the menu and with some basic trout lures or some nice lively shiners you can get at Sports Port, you could catch a fish of a lifetime from shore. Fresh air, great walking exercise and a very healthy and wonderful way to enjoy a few hours fishing on Cape Cod.

Here are a couple of February and early March trout, Tim with his scrappy holdover brown trout and Mike with a solid 19 inch holdover rainbow trout.

Tight lines everyone and hope to see you on the water.

Mike with a solid 19 inch holdover rainbow trout

Mike’s at it again! The photos above show a perch Mike caught as well as a rainbow trout he has at the end of his line. That water looks coooold! With the right gear you can still get out there to safely enjoy some time by the water and if you are lucky, land a fish.

And where there are yellow perch there are usually bass nearby. I was kayak fishing in Shubaels pond last week and hooked into a few rainbow trout. I paddled past a shore angler and after chatting across a stretch of water we figured out we know each other from the shop! While fishing from shore he was catching perch as well as trout. The fish were very active on this warmer evening, right around sunset. The usual lures were working…gold spoons and the jointed rapala in perch color.

As always, send us your fish pics and stories and we will include them in our emails! Be sure to follow us on all the social channels.

Wishing you the happiest of holidays!

Tight lines and full peck baskets!
Amy

Andrew with his PB brown trout

As you can see from the photos above and below the trout fishing is going strong. Pictured in the photo above is Andrew starting the week off right with his personal best brown trout caught on a hearty Sports Port shiner.

Below is a nice rainbow trout caught by Sports Port Pro Staffer, Mike, who was fishing Rapalas and gold spoons.

As always, send us your fish pics and stories and we will include them in our emails! And be sure to follow us on all the social channels: facebook, instagram, and YouTube!

Mike holds a rainbow trout

Shellfishermen and women have been enjoying their clam and oyster harvests. We have talked to lots of new customers who are just getting into it and I have to say that it always so exciting to help someone get geared up for a new adventure. Going out on the Cape Cod beaches in the winter and harvesting your food and maybe getting enough to bring some to your neighbors as well is something special. I wish you all bountiful harvests, especially during this holiday season!

Tight lines and full peck baskets!
Amy

Fishing News

Oyster lovers have been taking advantage of the south side (Bay St. in Osterville) oyster limit increase; from 1/2 peck to 1 full peck a week. According to the town there was a “moderate to heavy presence of Dermo (Perkinsus marinus) a prevalent pathogen that causes tissue degradation in oysters and eventually mass mortality in areas that have heavy densities of oysters.” Lucky for us, this pathogen is only detrimental to the oysters and humans can safely consume any live oyster that is contaminated with Dermo. The town wants to cycle thru these oysters which is why they increased the limit at Bay St. (The limit remains 1/2 peck anywhere else). We are well stocked on rakes, baskets, float rings, gloves and shucking knives!

Caroline and friends with harvested oysters

On the fresh water side, anglers willing to brave the colder temps at night have been successful in landing bigger brown trout as well as bigger large mouth bass. Spoons, crank and swim baits are all reportedly working well.

For anglers preferring the day bite; nightcrawlers, shiners and gold spoons are all working well on the rainbow trout.

Shop News

Our annual Christmas Sale is happening at our Hyannis location now. We have some awesome deals so you can buy for anyone on your gift list or stock up for yourself!

And don’t forget that Sports Port Too in Osterville will be open for the Christmas Stroll Friday December 10th. We are raffling off a Penn spinning combo, a Sports Port gift card and a Sports Port hoodie! Be sure to stop by during the stroll to get your FREE raffle ticket! The Christmas Stroll is always a festive and fun event.

Tight lines and full peck baskets!

Amy

Sports Port Pro Staffer Mike and I took his 14’ boat out to a pond in Falmouth in search of trout and bass. It was my first trout fishing trip EVER! Hard to believe, I know. I grew up really just fishing salt water with my dad. Now that I fish with my kids and we love pond fishing, we have yet to try our luck with the trout. The pond we frequent is loaded with large mouth and perch. I figured before I take my kids out for trout I should at least look like I have done this before! Mike was the perfect angler to show me the trout ropes as he has been fishing the ponds since he was a kid. We trolled and casted our hearts out while enjoying one of those beautifully sunny and warm “can’t believe it’s November” days. While the perch and bass were not jumping into the boat I did land a stocked rainbow trout while Mike managed a nice smallie with one of his custom made spinner baits. The choice lure for the trout was the Rapala Jointed in perch color.

I know other trout anglers are doing well with gold spoons as well as nightcrawlers and shiners. Fishermen and women are still catching schoolies in a few spots. Creeks, estuaries as well as the canal. In shellfishing news, oyster season is off to a great start and I know lots of folks are excited to have their oysters and “stuffies” for Thanksgiving!

Tight lines and full peck baskets!
Amy

Before the Nor’ester Mike and I took our kayaks out to a small Cape pond and found some smaller sized large mouth bass. To say that it was a gorgeous fall day would be an understatement! We both agreed that if we had gone closer to dusk maybe we would have found the “BIG Larry” instead of the “little Larry brothers.” Rubber worms, texas rigged were the lures of choice for the afternoon.

Large Mouth fishing on a gorgeous fall afternoon.

Photo Credit to Mike Marcus.

Post nor'easter: we have heard reports of schoolies being caught in Barnstable Harbor and from Sandy Neck Beach. Birds have been working and there is plenty of bait. There were schools of bunker on the south side as of yesterday morning.

The “togging” was good pre-nor’easter and should still be solid fishing on the rocky structures of Nantucket Sound and Buzzards Bay. We are restocked on green crabs!

The fresh water fishing should only continue to improve as Fish and Wildlife has stocked and restocked the trout!

Oyster season in Barnstable opens tomorrow, so bone up on your shucking skills with this quick video from Rob at Scorton Creek Oysters.

First things first: albies are still here…

I played hooky yesterday. There, I said it. Thank you Frank for covering the shop for me. Here’s why:

On Thursday morning my husband’s best friend, Tony (who has become my fishing buddy) and I went out to Craigville beach in search of stripers and/or albies. I had to open the shop at 9, so as I am walking off the beach at 8:30 the albies start breaking, although out of casting range. I say hello to a fellow angler who is just arriving as I am begrudgingly leaving the breaking fish. The smiling angler points to multiple schools of albies and questions my obvious poor judgement. “Work", I shrug. So off to the shop I go while Tony, the smiling newcomer and a couple of other shore casters bide their time. About an hour later Tony texts me a photo of the smiling newcomer with his landed albie on a gorgeous fall morning. Chris is the smiling newcomer’s name and kudos to him! So, thanks to Chris for landing his first albie and inspiring me to ask Frank if he could cover the shop for me the next day. (THANKS AGAIN FRANK!)

Tony and I planned to skip the early morning dawn mission for our next day’s fishing trip and meet at the beach with our kayaks at 8:30. Fast forward to 6 hours in the kayak, a text to my husband asking him if he can get the kids from school since I have completely lost all sense of time and any apparent logic has gone out the window at the first sign of fish, countless casts, lots of switching of lures, wondering if I can pee off the side of my kayak without falling in, several missed fish, several hooked fish spitting the hook and at the end of the day Tony and I landed 1 (ONE) albie each. IT WAS TOTALLY WORTH IT!
THANKS AGAIN FRANK.

I had the GoPro, so if you feel like watching some major rod bending action and hearing that sweet sound of screaming drag here is the link to the 3 minute video.

Here’s Tony pictured with his October albie:

In other fishing…

BIG striped bass are being caught in the canal. Like too-big-to-keep size. Also BIG blues are biting as well. 36” gators, which will put a bend in any rod.

Southside schoolies and slot sized bass are being caught from sunset into the night. Paddle tail soft plastics have been very productive from the beaches and inlets.

Tautog fishing has also been good. You don’t have to go all the way to Buzzards Bay this time of year. Colliers and Bishops should produce some decent size togs with the preferred green crabs on a rig or jig. If you find a rocky area you get land some from shore as well.

Anglers are still catching scup. I did hook one on my albie excursion when I let the jig drop to the bottom.

Lizard fish? Anyone else catching these fish out in Nantucket Sound or in the southside harbors and bays? My son and I caught one several years ago in West Bay and then again a couple of weeks ago. I have talked to a couple of other customers who have said they have also found them. I don’t know much about them other than they seem to be more prevalent this season.

Here’s Mike pictured with a keeper bass at sunset:

As always, if you have any fish pics or great fish stories we love to hear them. Stop by the shop or send us an email!

Wishing you all tight lines,
Amy

The squid boats are out in Nantucket Sound and the squid jigs are starting to sell in the shop. Although, we haven’t had any reports of squid inside Hyannis Harbor yet.

If the migrating schoolie bass haven’t yet rounded Wasque corner following the squid, then it could be tomorrow or the next day! Speaking of striped bass, you still have time to register for our FREE surfcasting seminar THIS Saturday at 9am at Keyes Memorial Beach.

The freshwater bite is very active now. Trout have been hitting on gold spoons like the Thomas Colorado as well as shiners and nightcrawlers.

Jamie B. was kind enough to send me the picture below of a nice bass from he caught at Round Pond using a Berkley Power Worm. If you have a catch you would like to share send us your fish pics!

We have some LARGE shiners that are catching some LARGE bass! A customer showed us a photo of a 6 1/2lb bass out of an unnamed Cape pond that was caught using a large shiner from our shop. That’s a nice catch. Mike (who is also running our Surfcasting Seminar on May 1st) landed this nice 3 1/2lb bass using one of the tried and true Rapala jointed lures.

Our trout fishermen and women are doing well in the stocked ponds in our mid Cape area. Small metals as well as powerbait are reportedly working with success.

We have green crabs in stock for our tog fishermen! As always send in photos of your catch and we will include it in our (sporadic) fishing report. Here’s to a great season with lots of tight lines.

You can NOT beat this November weather! Saltwater anglers are still catching striped bass from the beaches. Mostly schoolies, but one fishermen did land a 41” bass last week. Different customers are all swearing by different lures. One said the Rebel Jumpin’ Minnow. Another said the Savage Sand eel. While a third customer said he could only hook up on bucktail jigs. So, if one thing isn’t working try something else from your tackle bag.

The tog fishermen are also enjoying these mild fall days. We have been selling a ton of green crabs. A few guys have landed keepers out at Bishop and Clerks, but most fishermen have been having more consistent luck in getting their limit in Buzzards Bay.

On the freshwater side, fly fishermen have been having luck using mosquito dry flies over at Hamblins Pond. Spin fishermen are using powerbait and metal spoons.

OYSTER season started last week! Hooray! We have what you need to get whatever shellfish you fancy. Including those scallop dip nets!

Happy Fall Fishing…

Schoolie bass caught on the north side in November

The tautog are taking green crabs off of the rocky structures in Nantucket Sound. Many are shorts and have to be thrown back, but it sounds like if you put in the time you can get your limit with out having to go too far.

Bigger striped bass have been caught on live eels from shore at night in the bays, harbors and estuaries. Although, the Southside blues have been biting those eels in half, so bass hunters beware.

You may get lucky and hook an albie that’s still feeding on the small bait close to shore, but albie reports have quieted down the last week or two.

In fresh water reports, Fisheries and Wildlife has begun it’s fall trout stocking program. Several fly fishermen have reported good luck catching the holdover trout on small streamers, gnats and wet flies.

A few customers are still tracking down those tautog with some green crabs. These cooler nights are probably driving them into some deeper waters, so get those heavier jigs out if you are still targeting them.

Many of our anglers have put away their salt water gear and made the switch to fresh water fishing. Gold spoons, like kastmasters and colorados are working well to land stocked as well as holdover rainbow trout. Powerbait is also a great option. Nightcrawlers are working well at Shubaels pond.

For the die-hard surf casters that can’t stay away from the salty water, a few have been rewarded with some schoolies and even keeper bass. The last striper that we heard of being landed nearby was this past Sunday at Sandy Neck on soft plastics.

Hopefully you have been out to harvest some of our treasured Cape Cod oysters. The colder temps may thin some of the crowds that came out for opening day in Barnstable a couple of weeks ago. Here in the shop we are getting restocked on lots of glove options to help keep your hands dry and warm.

Finding oysters in Barnstable Harbor

This past long weekend brought lots of wind and rain…and then some sun. It also brought big blues to Rick and his fishing buddy (pictured below) who were trolling out in front of Sandy Neck. They spotted a leatherback turtle, so keep your eyes peeled and do call Mass. Audubon if you come across a sea turtle.

Northside Big Bluefish

Leatherback Turtle

Leatherback Turtle

In other saltwater news it has been reported that there are still lots of schoolies biting from the south side beaches and inside the harbors. A few keepers have also been landed on the south side. Bucktail jigs and soft plastics have both been working well.

The tautog reports have quieted from Colliers and Bishops but fishermen have had better luck for them in Buzzards Bay. Green crabs every time!

The freshwater bite has been very active. Sports Ports own, Shawn P., landed his personal best rainbow trout over the weekend. He was throwing kastmasters in Hamblins and managed to land a holdover.

Brandon was kind enough to send me a pic of this huge 6.44lb bass he landed on a jig.

Brandon and the very large largemouth!

Anytime you have a great fish picture please pass it on to us and we would love to include it in our fishing report.

Fisheries and Wildlife have dispatched their trout trucks and stocked over 60,000 rainbows and 4,000 brown trout to various ponds across Massachusetts. You can go to the state’s website to find out which ponds get the fall trout stocking and when it was stocked.

Cape fishermen have reported that the trout are indeed more active now and spoons have been very effective in landing these freshwater fish.

Joey finds some trout at Shubael Pond

---

On the salt water side of fishing, there is loads of bait in the southside bays and harbors. Feeding on that bait are lots of bluefish and some smaller sized striped bass. We are still getting sporadic reports of one or two albies being caught from shore, which proves that it never hurts to blind cast.

The Tautog bite is definitely picking up. Shawn stopped in on Friday to pick up some green crabs and reported back Saturday evening that they caught their limit of togs and not one short on the line. Thanks for the pics Shawn! If you ever have a photo you would like to share please email us.

Keeper Tautog

Tog and Shawn

Fishermen in the Canal have experienced hit or miss scenarios. Some have gone and been skunked or only finding schoolies, while other fishermen have been rewarded with hooking into a 40+ inch bass.

The northside boat fishermen have been finding some large bluefish. 16+ pound size range! Trolling squid imitations seem to work well as there has been some squid reported in/near the canal.

Last week there were reports of tuna in the Bay, but then it was discovered to be lots and lots of sunfish!

If the wind is too much for you to get out on the water today, then be sure to stop by Sports Port Too in Osterville to take advantage of our End of Season Sale. Our Hyannis store stays open year around, but SP Too will close for the season after Columbus Day weekend.

Fishermen who have gone out to the Monomoy rips have been rewarded with schools of big bass. This has been a welcome change as the bass have been scarce and small for most of the season. Top water was working great.

This has surely been the year for the funny fish! For weeks anglers have been hooking up with spanish mackerel, false albacore and bonito from beaches and boat from Hyannis to the Vineyard to Buzzards Bay. Over the weekend it seemed there were less bonito and spanish mackerel reports from the Craigville area but let me know if I am wrong. We had good reports of albies being caught and lots of blues on the south side. All the usual lures are working; mostly casting with small metals and epoxy jigs.

Green crabs in some rock piles are doing the trick with the tautog. And the scup are biting on seaworms, squid and clams.

Still getting reports of albies biting from Hyannis to New Seabury. Depending on the day and the timing the schools may have thinned out or they could be thick. Hopefully, you have timed it to the latter. Fishermen are also still hooking into Spanish mackerel and some reports of good sized bonito on the Bay side.

The north side has also brought some more reports of keeper sized bass. Last week we had mkre reports of keepers being caught in the Bay than we had all summer. Tube'n worm seems to be the winning method.

Back to the Southside. Guys are doing well with the tautog out around any structure. The small ones come first, but they are getting keepers! Green crabs are the best for these fall fish.