Artificial Lure reporting in with today’s Cape Cod Canal fishing report for Friday, October 3, 2025. Sunrise hit at 6:20 AM and sunset will be 6:57 PM, giving us nearly 12 hours of autumn light to work with. Tides are mellow, with the first high at 9:21 AM and low at 3:09 PM. The tidal coefficient is low, meaning the current’s running softer than usual—a factor to keep in mind for lure choice and positioning, especially along the riprap and rock structures.

We’re coming off a spell of unseasonably **warm weather** for early October, with highs in the mid-70s and plenty of birds working bait in the mornings. Northeast winds earlier in the week kicked up some dirty water on the bay side, but most of the south-facing canal and Buzzards Bay are clearing up nicely. Water temps remain in the high 60s, so the bite holds solid for most species as the fall run swings into gear.

Striped bass action has been hot at the western end of the canal at first light and lasting till around 10 AM, especially on topwater plugs like the classic Hogy and pencil poppers, as well as heavier jigs. Bass in the mid-30-inch range and a few pushing 25 pounds are chasing **mackerel, butterfish, and big sand eels**. If you find yourself along the rocks, try pitching metal lures or bucktails during the bottom half of the outgoing tide—keep your eyes peeled for any birds or breaking bait.

Albie fever is here. There’s a **solid run of false albacore** and bones cruising in close to the east end, smashing peanut bunker and silversides. Sometimes you’ll spot them crashing rain bait tight to shore in the late morning and afternoon. These fish are feeding more recklessly now, so keep Albie Snax, epoxy jigs, and small metal profiles in your arsenal. Casting eggs paired with slim flies have turned picky albies into hookups, especially when they're dialed into bay anchovies.

Bluefish are hanging around, occasionally blitzing on mullet and small bait schools anywhere from the jetties to the open stretches, so have a sturdy leader ready. Tautog (or blackfish) have been solid along the rock piles, especially near the Maritime Academy docks and canal jetties; jigging with green crabs is your ticket for these bulldogs. Reports from Buzzards Bay say keeper tog are coming from 15- to 30-foot depths, but canal shore anglers are finding tog in as little as 5 feet if you know the structure.

Bonito are buzzing the east end as well, hitting during morning tides. The bite for squid picks up after dark—try drifting small jigs under the moon if you’re looking to change things up.

Best baits for the Canal this week:
- **Live eels, green crabs, mackerel, and butterfish** for bass and tog.
- **Albie Snax, epoxies in olive/silver, Hogy Heavy Minnows, and small surface plugs** for hardtails.
- For bluefish, anything robust—chunk bait and big metals work when you spot the teeth.

Top hot spots to check out today:
- **West End Riprap**: Early morning stripers, topwater and jig bite.
- **East End Jetties**: Bonito, albies, and squid after dark.
- **Maritime Academy Docks**: Tautog on crabs and a mixed bag of schoolie bass.
- **Sagamore Bridge**: Keep an eye on bait movement and birds for roving schools.

Fish activity is up and mixed as the fall run kicks in: stripers, bluefish, albies, bonito, and tautog all in the mix. The big moon coming up should turn on new bites as we roll deeper into October.

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This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI