Good morning, this is Artificial Lure with your Cape Cod Canal fishing report for Saturday, September 13, 2025.

First light cracked at 6:19 AM and we’ve got a solid 12 hours and 37 minutes of sun today, with sunset rolling in around 6:56 PM. Skies are mostly clear, air temps kicking off cool before warming into the mid-60s, and a light north-northwest wind should keep things comfortable for both surfcasters and boat anglers. The recent push from Hurricane Erin has churned the canal waters, driving baitfish in and setting the stage for prime early fall action.

Tidal activity is strong and moving: high tide hit at 2:59 AM with another coming at 3:20 PM, and low tide at 9:09 AM followed by a drop at 9:43 PM. Sagamore’s tidal coefficient is up near 101 and climbing, which means big water movement, extra current, and plenty of feeding windows for canal monsters. These powerful tides have been shifting schools of peanut bunker and herring fry up and down the ditch—the classic fall run fuel[2][7].

Fish activity has ramped up nicely. According to On The Water and My Fishing Cape Cod, recent mornings and evenings have produced stripers—mostly slot size and some keeper cattle—along the west end and mid-canal stretches. Most fish are being caught tight to the banks on bucktail jigs, soft plastics, and silver-metal lures. Bluefish are marauding through the bait pods, with some bruisers up to 12 pounds showing in brief blitzes at first and last light. Bonito and false albacore (“albies”) have joined the party, with albie feeds popping out past the railroad bridge and at the east end near Scusset Beach—so keep an eye peeled for surface action and fast-moving birds[1][9].

Best results are coming on lures that match the hatch. Soft plastics like the 7” Al Gag’s Whip-It Fish, Hogy Epoxy Jigs in olive or pink for albies, and classic white bucktails remain unbeatable, particularly during moderate current. For stripers, switching between paddle tail plastics and metal-lipped swimmers—especially on the outgoing tide—has been deadly. Bluefish have hammered topwater plugs and silver Kastmasters thrown into feeding frenzies. If you prefer bait, fresh chunk mackerel and live eels after sunset continue to attract larger stripers lurking deep on structure[3][9].

Recent catch tallies have been impressive considering September’s fluctuations. Locals have averaged a dozen or more stripers each outing, with a good mix of schoolies and keepers making their way to fillet tables. Bonito and albies aren’t being caught in numbers, but when they do show, they’re slamming small metals and quickly moving through the canal. Bluefish hit fast and hard, often grabbing lures intended for stripers, so make sure to bring leaders strong enough to survive those toothy hits[1][9].

Hot spots right now include:
- The East End, just below the Sagamore Bridge—especially during peak tidal exchanges and sunrise for albies and stripers.
- Bourne Scenic Park area on the west side, where big blues and stripers have been treating locals to double-headers at dusk.
- Railroad Bridge to Bell Road stretch, which is a perennial favorite for both bass and the occasional bonito blitz.

Cape Cod Canal regulars are buzzing about the next week, with water cooling and new moon tides set to trigger even heavier feeding action and bigger blitzes as September marches on[1]. If you're hitting the canal, come prepared—bring a variety of lures, fish the moving water windows, and stay mobile to follow the bait.

That’s today’s Cape Cod Canal rundown. Thanks for tuning in, and remember to subscribe for more local fishing intel. This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out quietplease dot ai.

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