Cape Cod Bay 4-Hour Private Fishing Adventure

Atlantic Bonito

Atlantic bonito are speed demons that blast through Cape Cod Bay from July to September. These mini tuna typically run 3-8 pounds and school up to chase baitfish near the surface. Look for them around tide rips and areas with strong current. Bonito are lightning fast, capable of 40 mph bursts when hooked. They'll test your drag and make blistering runs. We often troll small, shiny lures or cast light tackle to feeding schools. A local trick is to look for terns diving - that usually means bonito are pushing bait to the surface. While not as prized for eating as their tuna cousins, bonito make great smoked fish dip. The best action is usually in August when big schools move through. Early mornings tend to be most productive. Bring plenty of line - a big bonito can strip 100 yards in seconds. Overall, these little rockets offer an exciting change of pace from typical bay fishing.

Atlantic Mackerel

Atlantic mackerel are the perfect warmup act in Cape Cod Bay. These speedy little fighters show up in huge schools from May through September. Most run 1-2 pounds, but they make up for size with numbers - it's not uncommon to catch dozens in a short time. Look for mackerel in open water, often marked by diving birds. They put up a scrappy fight on light tackle, with quick runs and acrobatic leaps. We usually jig with small, shiny lures or fly-line live baits. A local tip: if you find a school, cut your engine and drift - less noise means more bites. Mackerel make excellent bait for bigger predators like stripers and bluefish. They're also tasty eating when fresh - try them grilled whole. Early summer often brings the biggest schools inshore. Calm days are best for spotting the telltale surface ripples of a feeding school. Overall, mackerel are a fun, fast-paced target that's perfect for all skill levels.

Black Sea Bass

Black sea bass are a fun, tasty catch in Cape Cod Bay from late spring through fall. These bottom-dwellers hang around rocky structure and wrecks in 30-120 feet of water. Most run 1-4 pounds, but trophy fish over 8 pounds are possible. Sea bass put up a decent scrap for their size, with strong initial runs. They're a blast on light tackle. We usually drop baited hooks or jigs right on the bottom. A local tip: if you find one, you've likely found a bunch - they tend to school up. The meat is excellent - mild, flaky, and great for fish tacos. Spring and early summer offer the best action as the bass move inshore to spawn. Males turn bright blue during this time and develop a distinctive hump on their heads. Be sure to check current regulations, as seasons and limits can change. Overall, black sea bass are an ideal species for anglers of all skill levels looking for steady action and good eating.

Bluefish

Bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) Fish Description

Bluefish is a common game fish that is known for its delicious taste. Bluefish is a warm-water migratory species living in the Atlantic Ocean from Nova Scotia to Argentina and Spain to southern Africa. In South Africa, the Bluefish is known as Shad or Elf; in New Zealand and Australia, it is called Tailor. Bluefish are seasonal visitors to Cape Cod waters, arriving in mid-June and remaining until mid-October. They spend the winter in warmer waters from North Carolina to Florida's tip.

The Bluefish has a moderately proportioned body; one of its distinctive features is its broad and corked tail and its spiny first dorsal and pectoral fins that are usually folded back in a grove. The Bluefish is generally grayish to blue-green in its dorsal area, whereas its belly and lower sides fade to white.

It is a voracious predator with a large mouth and flat, triangular teeth that are strong, sharp, and prominent teeth.

Bluefish Diet

As aggressively strong feeders, the Bluefish have a complex menu of prey. They can chase after schools of forage fish owing to their fast swimming speed. They usually go on a feeding frenzy by attacking these schools of fish even after having satisfied their stomachs. They especially like sardine-like fish, Menhaden, Weakfish, Grunt, Anchovy, Squid, and Shrimp. In return, the Bluefish serve as food for bigger fish like Dolphin, Billfish, Sharks, and Tuna, among others.

Bluefish Size

Commonly, the Bluefish can grow up to 7 inches; they weigh up to 40 lbs. However, most of the Bluefish population reaches only up to 20 lbs.

Interesting Facts About the Bluefish 

• The Bluefish is the only remaining living species from the Pomatomidae family. It used to be grouped with Gnomefish, but the latter were separated.
• Lophar miocaenus from Southern California is an extinct relative of the Bluefish from the Late Miocene Period.
• Bluefish are reported to live up to 9 years.
• The Bluefish are cannibalistic, and they sometimes eat their own young.
• The Bluefish are known for churning water like a washing machine, attacking schools in shallow depths. This is called “Bluefish Blitz.”
• Bluefish is a common host to many parasites; in particular, it is often inhabited by the parasite named Philometra saltatrix, which is found in the ovaries of the fish.
• Despite being high in omega-3, children and adult women are warned against consuming Bluefish due to its significant mercury content.
• When properly prepared, bluefish is extremely good to eat, with mild, flaky meat, though larger fish (those weighing more than 10 pounds) have a stronger flavor than their smaller brethren.

Bluefish — Fishing Techniques

To reel in lots of Bluefish, you can use the following harvesting methods: trawls, hook and line, and gillnet. Note that you can only use a circle hook and nothing else; recreational anglers can only capture up to three pieces of Bluefish per day (no minimum size). As for artificial lures or flies, you can use only up to a maximum of two treble hooks. Be careful when handling Bluefish since they can bite you, leading to some serious wounds. Oily fish, such as eels, make excellent bait for bluefish. However, almost any type of baitfish can be used. When learning how to catch bluefish, another option is to use cut bait. Try chunks shaped like a small lure.

You can best fish for Bluefish from tidal rivers, bays, and sandy harbors during summer. In late summer, small, juvenile bluefish known as "baby blues" or "snappers" can be caught in sandy harbors, bays, and tidal rivers. This is an excellent fish for young and inexperienced anglers to catch. Bluefish are frequently caught using gillnets in the commercial bluefish fishery, but they can also be nabbed using a hook, line, or trawl gear.

A permit must be secured to catch Bluefish in commercial fisheries. Some states also impose a specific catch limit for commercial and recreational fishing.

Bluefish Habitat and Distribution

As a marine pelagic fish species, the Bluefish generally inhabit subtropical and temperate waters all around the globe. Most thrive along the continental shelves of America (except in northern South America and south Florida), Australia, and Southeast Asia. Interestingly, the Bluefish is also not found on the north side of the Pacific Ocean.

Typically, anglers find school of Bluefish in various habitats, including brackish waters, estuaries, rock headlands, surf beaches, or above the continental shelf. From time to time, the Bluefish migrate to open waters in schools.

Bluefish fishery management employs a bag limit for recreational fishing and an annual quota distributed to states for commercial fisheries to avoid overfishing.

Striped Bass

Striped bass are the crown jewel of Cape Cod fishing. These powerful predators arrive in May and stick around into October, with peak season in June and July. Most fish run 15-30 pounds, but 40+ pounders aren't uncommon. Look for stripers around structure like rocky shorelines, jetties, and rip currents. They'll chase bait in all depths, from the surf to 50+ feet down. Stripers put up an epic fight, with strong runs and head-shaking jumps. We often troll live mackerel or chunk fresh menhaden. A local secret is fishing topwater plugs at first light - the surface strikes are explosive. The meat is excellent, with a mild, flaky texture. Catch-and-release is encouraged for larger breeders. Night fishing can be incredibly productive, especially around the new moon. Pay attention to tide changes - the bass often feed most aggressively as water starts moving. Overall, striped bass offer an unbeatable combination of size, fight, and table fare.