Cape Cod Canal is alive with action as we head into the last day of May. Striper fishing has really turned on over the past week. According to On The Water, surfcasters have been connecting with above-slot striped bass—fish from 33 up to 40 inches—along much of the Canal. Most activity has centered around the rising east tide, particularly toward the west end and mid-canal. Hot hands like Justin “Shooter” Dorsey and “Slap Shot Scottie” Ewell have been landing solid fish on white Al Gags Whip-It Eels and SP Minnows, while the veteran “Boys of Summer” crew managed several near-40-inch linesiders on white Joe Baggs Swarters, Bill Hurley Canal Killers, and Albie Super Snax. Jigs in the 4- to 5-ounce range, especially in white, black & pink, have been producing consistently.

Tides are a huge factor in the Canal, and understanding the timing is key. The tide forecast today calls for the first low at 1:53am and high tide at 7:54am, with another low at 2:10pm and high at 8:12pm around the Bournedale stretch of the Canal, so plan your outings to hit that first light high slack for your best shot at a trophy. Sunrise today is at 5:29am and sunset at 7:48pm, offering a solid window for dawn and dusk bites, which have both been productive all week.

Weather’s been classic spring Cape Cod—cool mornings warming up by midday, with light southerlies and water temps creeping toward that magic 50-degree mark. Fish activity has mirrored the warming trend, with more and larger stripers showing up daily, including reports of a few bluefish and a steady trickle of fluke from folks fishing Buzzards Bay and the bay edges.

If you’re looking to dial in your approach, stick with proven Canal lures. Heavy jigs like the Shaddy Daddy and Canal Killers are a must for working the strong current, and swimmers like the SP Minnow and Swarter have been hammering fish during slower water. For bait, fresh chunk mackerel and sea worms will always draw strikes if you prefer bait-and-wait. If you’re after a mixed bag, folks have still been pulling sea bass and the occasional flounder adjacent to the Canal in Buzzards Bay.

For hot spots, check out the Cribbin on the west end at first light and the Herring Run area for mid-tide action. Both have produced quality fish this week, and the regulars are seeing consistent schools moving through.

That wraps up today’s Cape Cod Canal fishing report from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe for more local fishing updates. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.