Date: 2026-08-10
Quick Take: Striped bass are active across Cape Cod Bay, South Shore, and North Shore with a mix of live bait, topwater, and trolling. Bonito are abundant in Buzzards Bay, Nantucket Sound, and Cape Cod Canal, providing exciting opportunities. Bluefish and black sea bass bites are strong in Buzzards Bay and nearby waters. [Facts: MA039, MA009, MA038].
Best Bet This Week: Target striped bass in Cape Cod Bay using live bait or squid and bunker imitations. Early morning topwater and later trolling are effective methods. Nighttime fishing off Emerson Rocks with eels is also productive. [Facts: MA039, MA048, MA052, MA018].
What Fish Are Active: Striped bass, bonito, bluefish, black sea bass, fluke, and blackfish tautog are all actively biting. Fluke are hitting well drifting steep ledges like Hedge Fence and L’Hommedieu. [Facts: MA039, MA046, MA017].
Where to Fish: Cape Cod Bay offers striped bass, fluke, and cod; Buzzards Bay has bluefish, bonito, and black sea bass; South Shore is good for striped bass and cod; North Shore spots like Cape Ann and Plum Island produce striped bass; Walden Pond has freshwater trout and bass. [Facts: MA039, MA009, MA012, MA001, MA003]. Specific marks in the reports include Martin’s Ledge, Harding’s Ledge, and Strawberry Ledge and Scituate Harbor around Cedar Point.
Freshwater Focus: Walden Pond is producing good catches of rainbow trout and smallmouth bass at 20-25 feet depth. The Mystic River basin is best for largemouth bass and slab bluegills. No other specific freshwater updates available. [Facts: MA003].
How to Fish: Jigging epoxies in shallow Buzzards Bay can yield keeper black sea bass. Drifting steep ledges is effective for fluke. Use live eels for nighttime striped bass off Emerson Rocks. Fly casting bonito from a kayak at 25 feet depth is also working. [Facts: MA038, MA046, MA018, MA058].
Best Baits and Lures: Sand eels and eels are effective for striped bass, especially with Slug-Go type lures. Squid and bunker imitations work well in Cape Cod Bay. Shrimp remains a top bait for cod and haddock. Epoxy jigs catch bonito near the outer Cape. [Facts: MA005, MA021, MA048, MA022, MA069].
Trend Watch: Bonito numbers have increased significantly this season, invading Cape Cod and Buzzards Bay with strong morning and daytime activity. Striped bass fishing is steady with some sub-slot fish reported. Bluefish bites are improving in Buzzards Bay. [Facts: MA039, MA065, MA017].
Regulation and Access Changes: Commercial fishermen have reached their striped bass quota, potentially easing pressure on the fishery. Blackfish tautog limits remain at three per person. No other regulation changes reported. [Facts: MA014, MA010].