The 2023 striped bass season has officially begun on the Outer Cape. It may seem like we’ve been waiting a long time, but the truth is they are way ahead […]
striped bass
THE SCUTTLEBUTT
Schoolies Arrive. So Does a New Upper Limit.
There are big blues off Montauk and mackerel in our harbor
The striped bass have arrived, and schoolie-size fish, which typically lead the charge north, are all the way up into the Race. That would indicate the keepers are probably not […]
ON THE BEACH
Singin’ the Waiting-for-the-Striper-Run Blues
Striped bass are migrating earlier than ever, but they’ve made bigger transitions
I remember asking the old-timers when they thought the first spring stripers would appear. The answer was always the same: “Stripers show up when the lilacs start blooming.” My fishing […]
THE SCUTTLEBUTT
Stripers, Blues, Bonito, and Sunsets
Now is prime time for big fish and spectacular autumn skies
Fishing has looked like the old fall runs we used to get around here. It’s as if we’re making up for all the fish we’ve missed out on over the […]
THE SCUTTLEBUTT
Ups and Downs of Late August Include a Boat on Fire
Provincetown’s first responders once again show their quickness and skill
The fishing community experienced some wild ups and downs last week. The earlier part of the week saw striped bass fishing as good as it has ever been, with many […]
THE SCUTTLEBUTT
North Winds and Pogies Come and Go
Changeable weather may be part of global warming’s domino effect
The inconsistent weather has continued to affect fishing at the tip of the Cape, making it very difficult to get a handle on where the fish are and what they’re […]
THE SCUTTLEBUTT
Fish Flee the Cool Front
After a thunderstorm, runoff heads for the harbor
Fishing had a major reversal this week, as a fall-like weather pattern with stiff north and northeast winds and cooler temperatures took hold. This followed the mother of all thunderstorms, […]
THE SCUTTLEBUTT
A Trip to the Bank
Finding mackerel for striped bass fishing in the company of humpback whales
Last week was a good one for fishermen. Striped bass are here in numbers we haven’t seen in quite some time. They are seemingly everywhere, with acres and acres of […]
THE SCUTTLEBUTT
The Bass Return to the Race
Also on the waterfront, news of a lone orca and a lobster boat crew rescue
We finally got into a summer weather pattern of southwest winds and warm air temperatures, and immediately things started to percolate in Cape Cod Bay. I had spent a few […]
THE SCUTTLEBUTT
The Season’s First Big Bass Is Caught Off Billingsgate
Fogged in, wind-blown, and still fishing
It’s funny how the weather goes around here. Day after day, we hoped all these northeast winds would go away so we could get out there and fish. And it finally […]
THE SCUTTLEBUTT
The Bass Are Running in Huge Numbers
Whales are scarce, but white sharks are appearing
Striped bass fishing dramatically improved this past week, with huge numbers of mixed-sized fish moving into the area between Wood End Light and Race Point. Most of the fish ranged […]
THE SCUTTLEBUTT
A Puzzle: Huge Schools of Very Small Bass
The conditions are optimal, but the big stripers are MIA
Striped-bass fishing has gone from looking like it was going to develop earlier than usual to now looking like it will start a little later than usual. We are wondering […]
THE SCUTTLEBUTT
Keepers Reach Canal and South Coast
Captains wait for news of this year’s Covid safety protocols
Striped bass continue to swim northward at an earlier than usual pace. Keeper-size bass have reportedly been caught at the Cape Cod Canal, on the south coast of Massachusetts, and […]
THE SCUTTLEBUTT
Striped Bass Are on the Way Early
Circle hooks will reduce released fish fatalities, but what about jigs that come with Js?
Spring in New England has come upon us in its usual manic fashion, vacillating between howling, cold, damp nor’easters and beautiful, warm, summer-like days. But the trend this spring has […]
THE SCUTTLEBUTT
More Warm-water Fish Are Showing Up Here
Reports of albacore tuna and white marlin reflect climate change
This past week saw more evidence of the effects of global warming on our oceans. We continue to see more warm-water fish moving up into our area. Charter boats out of […]
