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.

CAPE COD CANAL FISHING REPORT - May 21, 2025

Hey there, anglers! Artificial Lure here with your mid-week fishing update from the legendary Cape Cod Canal and surrounding waters.

The bite is absolutely on fire right now! Following that full moon we had on the 12th, we've seen wave after wave of stripers pushing through the Canal. Those big schools that were staging in upper Buzzards Bay a couple weeks ago have definitely made their move, and the action has been spectacular.

Tide-wise, we're looking at a high tide around 10:30 this morning with the outgoing starting shortly after. If you can get out there, the first couple hours of outgoing have been money lately. The morning drop has been producing slot fish consistently, with some hefty over-slot bass mixed in.

Weather's shaping up nicely today - temps in the mid-60s with light southwest winds around 5-10 knots. Sunrise was at 5:14 AM, and we've got until 8:07 PM before the sun ducks out, giving you plenty of daylight to work with.

Fish activity has been strongest at the west end and mid-Canal stretches. We're seeing stripers in the 26-36 inch range, with some bruisers pushing into the 40+ inch category. The herring runs are still going strong, and these bass are absolutely gorging themselves. Several anglers reported catching fish with multiple herring in their gullets!

Tautog fishing remains excellent in the rocky areas of Buzzards Bay, and those giant scup everyone's been talking about are still hanging around. Black sea bass season just opened, and the early reports are promising.

For lures, those skinny "racer" blues have shown up, so something flashy like a Daiwa SP Minnow or a swimming plug will get attention. Redfins have been the hot ticket for Canal regulars. If you're bait fishing, fresh mackerel or sea worms rigged on a fish-finder have been producing. The shops just got fresh green crabs in for those targeting tog.

Hot spots worth checking: Scusset Beach on the east end has been firing on all cylinders, especially during the early morning outgoing. The Herring Run area midway through the Canal has also been lights out when the tide gets moving. If you're willing to venture off the Canal, the beaches around Plymouth have been holding some absolute monsters feeding on pogies.

Remember, the next moon phase should trigger another push of fresh fish, so things are only going to get better from here. The water temp is now well into the 50s, and these fish are hungry and aggressive.

Tight lines, everyone! This is Artificial Lure signing off from the Cape. See ya on the water!

CAPE COD CANAL FISHING REPORT - May 19, 2025
by Artificial Lure

Good morning, anglers! The fishing scene around the Canal is really heating up this week, and it's about time!

Water temps have finally pushed past that magic 50-degree mark we've been waiting for, sitting around 52-53 degrees throughout most of the Canal. The migratory stripers we've been anticipating are showing up in decent numbers now, particularly at the east end of the Canal and throughout Buzzards Bay.

Since early May, we've seen a steady improvement with multiple waves of liced-up bass making their way into our waters. What started as finicky holdovers in the backwaters has evolved into a more consistent bite. The past weekend saw several 30+ inch stripers caught during the outgoing tide, with topwater action starting to pick up in the early mornings.

The tautog bite remains strong with many boats in Buzzards Bay reporting limits. Look for rocky structure in 15-20 feet of water, and you'll find these tasty fighters. Green crabs are still the go-to bait, though some folks are having luck with Asian crabs as well.

The squid run continues, with better action at night than during daylight hours. If you're heading out after dark from Sandwich or Scusset, bring your squid jigs and plan to fish the slack tides.

For those targeting stripers, fresh or live mackerel has been outperforming other baits, though chunked menhaden (bunker) is a close second. Lure-wise, 7-9" soft plastic paddletails in white, mackerel, or bunker patterns have been most effective. The Scally Wags and Hogy Pro Tails are local favorites. For topwater, the Canal Rats are getting blown up consistently at first light.

Hot spots this week include the herring run at Bournedale, the Maritime Academy stretch during the east current, and Scenic Highway when the west tide is pushing. The Railroad Bridge area has also been productive during slack tide transitions.

Tides for today show a west current starting around 9:30am and running until about 3:45pm, with east current after that until 10pm. With today's moderate wind from the southwest (10-15 knots), focus on the more protected spots during the afternoon west tide.

Sunrise was at 5:13am, and sunset will be at 8:07pm, giving us plenty of daylight to wet a line after work.

Word from the old-timers at the local shops is that we're about a week ahead of schedule compared to recent years, so don't miss out! The best is yet to come as we approach Memorial Day weekend.

Remember folks, the commercial striper season doesn't open until June 23rd, so it's catch and release only unless you're using circle hooks with bait. Tight lines, and I'll see you on the rocks!

Good morning, anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Sunday fishing report for May 18, 2025, around the Cape Cod Canal.

Let me tell you, we're hitting the sweet spot of our spring run! Those stripers I mentioned moving through Buzzards Bay earlier this month have now established themselves nicely throughout the Canal and into Cape Cod Bay. Anglers have been landing quality fish in the 28 to 36-inch class consistently over the past week, with some larger specimens mixed in.

Today's looking mighty fine for fishing with partly cloudy skies and temps around 65°F, perfect for a day on the water. Sunrise was at 5:17 AM and you've got until 8:05 PM before sunset, giving you plenty of daylight to work with. Tide's running strong today with a morning high around 9:15 AM and the afternoon low at 3:30 PM - that outgoing tide has been producing the best action lately.

The tautog bite remains reliable for shore anglers on the south side and boaters in Buzzards Bay. Folks have been hitting easy limits in shallow rocky areas around 20 feet or less, though you might have to sort through some shorts. Green crabs on a jig head have been the ticket there.

Squid are running strong now, especially for night anglers launching from Hyannis. That's bringing in more stripers every day, and with water temps now pushing past the magic 50-degree mark, metabolism rates are up and these fish are feeding aggressively.

As for hot spots, the east end of the Canal has been particularly productive during the first two hours of the outgoing tide. Scusset Beach and the Sandwich boardwalk area have also been giving up nice catches. For lures, white and chartreuse paddletails on 1-ounce jigheads are crushing it, while SP Minnows in mackerel patterns work great during daylight hours. If you're bait fishing, fresh mackerel chunks or seaworms on a fish finder rig are your best bet.

Don't ignore the back bays and estuaries either. There's a mix of resident holdovers and fresh migrating fish in these waters, with the bait situation looking mighty fine - we've got herring, squid, and now bunker in the area.

Freshwater is still gangbusters if you want a change of pace. The state stocked some beautiful tigers, browns and brookies this spring, and with many anglers shifting to saltwater, the trout pressure has lightened up considerably.

That's the scoop for today, folks. Remember to pinch those barbs and handle those breeding females with care. Tight lines until next time - Artificial Lure signing off!

Good morning anglers, Artificial Lure here with your Cape Cod Canal fishing report for Saturday, May 17, 2025.

Sunrise hit the horizon around 5:19 a.m. this morning, while sunset will close out the day about 8:00 p.m. Weather-wise, we’ve got a mild May morning on tap—temps starting in the low 50s and climbing into the high 60s by afternoon, with light winds from the southwest and mostly clear skies. The canal water temperature is right around that magic 50-degree mark, which has finally kicked spring fishing into gear[5].

Tides today favor early risers and those who stay late. Outgoing tide has been the ticket for striper action, especially at daybreak and dusk, when the current really pulls bait through the Ditch[1]. The bite has been best about two hours after high tide, as herring and squid drift along the canal, drawing in hungry striped bass.

This past week, we’ve seen good numbers of herring pushing through, and stripers—including plenty of slot and some over-slot fish—are close on their tails. The fishing can be hit-or-miss: some days it’s lights out, others the fish get finicky. Lure selection has made a big difference. Redfins and other swimming plugs have been the top producers for the daily ditch casters, with soft plastics and paddle tails also picking up fish when worked slow and low in the current[1].

The word at Red Top is that the east end has seen the occasional nice fish, especially around the herring run and the railroad bridge. Schoolie bass are thick in local rivers and at the edges of the Canal, with larger fish more likely to be caught low and slow on an outgoing tide[1][5]. For the bait crew, fresh clams, sea worms, and chunk mackerel have been moving bass and the occasional hefty winter flounder. There are also good numbers of tautog hanging on the rock piles in Buzzards Bay—green crabs remain the best bet for them[1].

Squid action has also picked up, especially on the north end of Buzzards Bay. Some bigger stripers have been reported on the squid and herring schools, so targeting those bait-rich areas can pay off[1].

Hot spots today include the east end of the canal near the herring run—always a classic early-season location—and the stretch by the railroad bridge, especially on the outgoing. For those venturing into Buzzards Bay, check the rock piles off the northern shoreline for tautog, and don’t overlook the mouth of local rivers for active schoolies.

All in all, the spring run is on, the bait is thick, and the tides are lining up for a productive weekend. Tight lines out there.

This is Artificial Lure with your Cape Cod Canal fishing report for Friday, May 16, 2025.

Sunrise was at 5:20 AM and sunset’s coming at 7:55 PM, giving you a long window to get lines wet. Weather’s classic Cape spring: cool mornings, warming up with a light southwest breeze later in the day, and a mix of cloud and sun. No real rain in the forecast, which should keep the fishing steady.

Tide today is key. The Canal’s best fishing continues to land around the first couple of hours after the turn—particularly the early morning east tide and the evening west. These swings have been lining up for prime time at dawn and dusk, and the fish are definitely staging with the moving water.

Reports in the past week show a modest but steady uptick in striper action in and around the Canal. Most of the bass are schoolies and holdovers, with some pushing keeper size but not quite the big class of migrators yet. Still, folks working plugs and soft plastics from shore, especially at the east end and around the herring runs, are reporting action, especially during the outgoing tide. The herring are in thick at nearby runs, which always helps draw in ambitious bass looking for a meal. Anglers at the Maritime Academy docks and the nearby rocks are also still pulling some good tautog, especially with green crabs on a simple tog jig.

The squid bite is rolling at night mostly off Hyannis, but keep an eye on Squid City and along the south side if you’re looking for some fresh bait or table fare. In Buzzards Bay, easy limits of tautog continue for boaters on rocky structure in under 20 feet of water.

For lures, it is still a soft plastic and bucktail jig game early in the season. White or bubblegum paddletails, five to seven inches, imitate the squid and herring around. Swimbaits, small Daiwa SP Minnows, and even a classic redhead Rebel have fooled the more active fish at dawn. If you find a school and they are picky, give them a small sand eel imitation or switch it up to a jig with a teaser. Bait guys are doing best with fresh chunk mackerel or seaworms when they can get them.

Hot spots to check today include the East End near the railroad bridge, where both stripers and tautog have been landed, and the herring run at the Sagamore, especially on the start of the outgoing tide. If you want a shot at bigger tog, try the Canal’s western rock ledges closer to the Maritime Academy.

In short: Schoolie stripers are here with a shot at early keeper fish. Tog fishing is still going strong if you hit the rocks with green crabs. Best success comes with moving water, soft plastics, and working the tide changes. It’s waking up every day on the Canal—this weekend could be the breakout. Tight lines!

Ahoy there, fellow anglers! This is Artificial Lure coming at you with the latest scoop from the Cape Cod Canal. It's Wednesday, May 14th, and let me tell you, things are heating up around here!

The tides are running strong today, which is typical for our beloved Canal. Water temps have finally pushed past that magical 50-degree mark we've been waiting for, sitting around 52-53 degrees this morning.

Sunrise was at 5:23 AM, and we're looking at sunset around 7:52 PM, giving you plenty of daylight hours to get your lines wet. Weather-wise, we're dealing with a slight southwest breeze that should help push more migrating stripers our way.

Speaking of stripers, the action has really picked up since last week! Those early liced-up bass that showed up in early May have now been joined by a more substantial run. The east end of the Canal has been particularly productive during the outgoing tide, with several 30+ inch fish being caught in the pre-dawn hours.

Tautog fishing remains reliable in Buzzards Bay, especially in rocky structure around 20 feet deep. The charter boats have been reporting easy limits, though you might need to sort through some shorts to get your keepers.

The squid run is in full swing, particularly for the night boats out of Hyannis. This has drawn in more predators, making squid imitations hot lures right now. For stripers, white and chartreuse paddletails on 1-2 oz jigheads have been killer, especially when worked slow and deep. Don't overlook the classic Canal standby - the yellow or white Bomber - particularly during faster current.

For those of you looking to soak bait, fresh mackerel chunks and seaworms have been producing well, especially during slack tide when the fish can more easily detect your offering.

Hot spots this week include the herring run at Bournedale, where stripers have been stacking up to ambush the herring. The Sagamore end has been heating up too, particularly around the power plant discharge and the Pip. For tautog, check out Cleveland Ledge or any of the rocky structure south of Onset.

If the Canal doesn't produce, don't forget about those backwater estuaries and salt ponds where resident stripers are now actively feeding, especially during outgoing tides.

One last local tip: the freshwater scene is still dynamite if the salt doesn't treat you right. Those big browns and tigers the state stocked are still there, and with many anglers hitting the salt, you might have those ponds all to yourself!

This is Artificial Lure saying tight lines, and I'll see you on the rocks!

Cape Cod Canal Fishing Report - May 12, 2025

Good morning, folks! Artificial Lure here with your Monday morning report for the Canal and surrounding waters.

The big news this week is that our striped bass migration is finally in full swing! After a slow start to the season, we've seen a significant uptick in activity throughout the Canal and Buzzards Bay over the past week.

Tides today are running with a high at 9:23 AM and low at 3:47 PM. Current is moving east to west for most of the morning, making the west end a prime spot for the early bite. Sunrise was at 5:31 AM and sunset will be at 7:56 PM, giving us plenty of daylight to work with.

Weather-wise, we're looking at temps in the mid-60s with light southwest winds around 8-10 knots - pretty much perfect conditions for a day on the water.

Fish activity has been strongest during the first couple hours after sunrise. Those early birds hitting the Canal at dawn have been rewarded with schoolies in the 24-28 inch range, with some larger fish mixed in. Several 30+ inchers were reported at the east end near the Sandwich boardwalk over the weekend.

The migration pattern shows bass moving through the Canal into Cape Cod Bay, with fresh liced-up fish being caught regularly now. They've been chasing herring, spearing, and even some bunker that's shown up along the south side of the Cape.

For lures, minnow plugs and soft plastics have been the ticket in the backwaters, while Canal regulars are scoring with white and chartreuse paddletails on 1-2 oz jigheads during the east current. SP Minnows in mackerel patterns and large Danny plugs have also been productive during first light.

If you're a bait fisherman, fresh mackerel chunks or seaworms fished on circle hooks have been taking fish consistently at Scusset Beach and along the service road.

Hot spots to check out: The Herring Run area has been firing early mornings, and the stretch between the railroad bridge and Sagamore has been particularly productive during the east tide. Outside the Canal, Monument Beach in Buzzards Bay has seen some nice blitzing action on incoming tides.

The tautog bite remains strong in Buzzards Bay for those looking to fill the cooler with some tasty fillets - green crabs on jigheads around rocky structure in 15-25 feet of water is your best bet.

The squid run is also underway off Hyannis, which should only improve our striper fishing as we move deeper into May.

Get out there while the getting's good, folks. After the slow start, this season is shaping up real nice. Tight lines until next time!

STRIPED BASS FISHING REPORT FOR CAPE COD CANAL
May 11, 2025

Good morning anglers, Artificial Lure here with your Sunday fishing report for the Cape Cod Canal area.

Folks, let me tell you, the fishing's been heating up something fierce these past few days! We've seen a real nice pulse of stripers in the 28 to 36-inch class moving through upper Buzzards Bay last week and these same fish are now being reported throughout the Canal and into Cape Cod Bay[1]. The migration is in full swing with some quality fish making their way north.

Today's sunrise was at 5:27 AM, and we'll have sunset at 7:58 PM, giving you plenty of daylight hours to wet your line. The weather's shaping up nicely with temperatures in the mid-60s and light winds from the southwest - perfect conditions for a day on the water.

Tide-wise, we've got a dropping tide through mid-morning with the next incoming starting around 11:30 AM. The current will be moving east to west in the afternoon, which typically produces better action along the Canal's middle sections.

The bait situation is what I'd call a "smorgasbord" right now. We've got squid, herring, and even some tinker mackerel in the Canal[3]. There have also been reports of bunker showing up on the south side of the Cape, which is bringing in some larger bass[5]. This variety of forage means the stripers are feeding aggressively.

Lure selection should match the buffet. Minnow plugs and soft plastics have been most productive, especially during slack tide periods[5]. For the stronger currents, try weighted soft baits like 7" Hogy's in bone or mackerel patterns. SP Minnows, Daiwa swimming plugs, and white bucktail jigs tipped with red or chartreuse pork rind are all taking fish.

If you're a bait fisherman, fresh mackerel chunks or live herring have been killers, particularly during the first two hours of the incoming tide.

Hot spots this week include the area around the Sagamore Bridge, the Herring Run, and the stretch between the railroad bridge and Pip's Rip. The east end of the Canal has been particularly productive with the arrival of migratory fish[4].

The size of these fish has been impressive - we're talking schoolies mixed with keeper-sized fish in the 30-inch range, and there are rumors of some 40-pounders being caught and released by the dawn patrol crowd at the east end.

Remember, the stripers are still moving in waves, so timing is everything. Dawn and dusk remain your prime times, but with the full moon approaching, we're seeing good action during daytime tides as well.

That's it for today's report. Get out there, be safe, and tight lines to ya!

- Artificial Lure

CAPE COD CANAL FISHING REPORT
Saturday, May 10, 2025

Mornin' anglers! Artificial Lure here with your weekend fishing update for the Canal and surrounding waters.

Let me tell ya, things are really heating up around the Big Ditch this week! Water temps have finally pushed past that magic 50-degree mark we've been waitin' on, and the stripers are responding. The early migration seems to be in full swing with schoolies and some keeper-sized bass showing up at the east end of the Canal and throughout Buzzards Bay.

The squid run that started earlier this month is still going strong, especially for the night boats out of Hyannis. Those squid are drawing in more stripers by the day. Speaking of bait, we've got the trifecta happening - squid, herring in the runs, and even some bunker showing up. It's like a striper buffet out there!

Tautog fishing remains excellent in Buzzards Bay, with charter captains reporting limit catches in rocky structure areas around 20 feet deep. If you're looking for a tasty alternative to stripers, these bulldogs are your best bet right now.

For today's tide, we're looking at a high around noon followed by an outgoing that should really get those bass feeding. The resident holdovers have been particularly active during the outgoing tide in the backwaters, so time your trips accordingly.

Weather-wise, we've got a light southwest wind today - exactly what we needed to push more migratory fish into our waters. Expect partly cloudy skies with temps hitting the mid-60s. Sunrise was at 5:26 AM, and sunset will be at 7:53 PM, giving you plenty of daylight to get your lines wet.

As for hot spots, I'd recommend Scusset Beach on the Cape Cod Bay side, especially during the first couple hours of outgoing tide. The railroad bridge area has been producing some nice fish on the early morning incoming. If you're boat fishing, the west end of the Canal toward Buzzards Bay has been the place to be.

Lure selection is straightforward this time of year - white or bone-colored 5-7" soft plastics on 1-2 oz jigheads have been the ticket. The Hogy Pro Tail paddle shads are working well, and don't overlook the classic Canal staple - the white bucktail jig with a red pork rind. If you're bait fishing, fresh squid strips or chunked mackerel have been producing.

If the salt doesn't produce, the freshwater scene is ridiculous right now with trout fishing described as "crazy good" and pre-spawn bass activity in high gear.

Remember folks, we're just at the beginning of what promises to be a stellar season. The next few weeks should see more and bigger fish moving through, so get out there while you can!

Tight lines until next time!
- Artificial Lure