Hey there, folks! Artificial Lure here with your Cape Cod Canal fishing report for this beautiful Friday morning, May 23rd, 2025.

The Canal action has been heating up nicely as we move deeper into May. Since the new moon back on the 12th, we've seen waves of fresh stripers moving through. The herring runs are still going strong, and that's bringing in some nice slot and over-slot bass. These fish have been a bit finicky lately, but they're definitely present and hungry when conditions align.

For the past couple weeks, local anglers have been scoring well in the early mornings with Redfin lures - these have been absolute money makers in the Canal. If you're heading out today, tide's running outgoing through the morning, which has been the sweet spot lately. The current should be moderating by mid-morning, making for some prime fishing conditions.

Water temps are now solidly in the low-to-mid 50s throughout the Canal, which has really turned on the bite compared to earlier this month. Those "skinny" blues in the 6-8 pound range have shown up right on schedule, with the bigger gator blues expected any day now.

If the Canal isn't producing, plenty of schoolie action can be found in the local rivers, particularly on the outgoing tide. For those willing to venture a bit further, the north end of Buzzards Bay has been holding squid and herring with some bigger bass feeding on them.

Tautog fishing remains excellent on the small rock piles in northern Buzzards Bay, with good numbers throughout the tide. Green crabs have been the bait of choice for these tasty bottom dwellers.

For hot spots, I'd recommend trying the east end of the Canal where stripers have been consistently hitting, or check out the area where Buzzards Bay meets the Canal entrance - that's been a gathering point for bass up to 38 inches feeding on herring.

Tackle-wise, remember the Canal demands beefier gear than your typical surf setup. Seven to nine-foot medium-heavy rods paired with reels that can handle the strong currents are essential. Stock up on those Redfins, but also bring some paddletails and metal jigs to cover your bases.

For bait fishermen, Red Top in Buzzards Bay got fresh sea worms and green crabs in stock last week, and they've been keeping clams and mackerel on hand as well.

The forecast looks good for the weekend with moderate winds and temps in the high 60s, so get out there and wet a line! This is prime time on the Cape, and the fishing's only gonna get better from here.

Tight lines, folks! Artificial Lure signing off until next time.