TAKING A BREATH

September 14, 2005 - The month of September is truly one of transition with regards to our north Atlantic inshore fishery. Our migratory species, bluefish and striped bass, will become even more predisposed in their feeding habits as they prepare to undertake their southern sojourn. Our late season visitors, false albacore and bonito, have entered the system and are targets of opportunity for boat anglers. School blue fin tuna are also available, and in some cases, plentiful in Cape Cod Bay.

As fall approaches you would do best to consider estuary mouths, surf beaches, and known migratory routes when considering your angling venues. While I have never experienced a stellar flats outing where I typically haunt (So Beach, Chatham) much after the middle of October, the surfside of this barrier beach can offer some of the most reliable fly fishing of the season.

Anglers in pursuit of bonito and fat Alberts have been experiencing only limited success. A recent 3-4 day effort by Bob Thunberg and a cadre of seasoned longrodders brought only a few bonito and handful of bluefish to hand. The anglers fished out of New Seabury and targeted the terrain in and around Vineyard Sound.
In general both striper and bluefish action has taken a short breath, as many anglers have been experiencing only modest success. We did field one report generated from the Bass River in Yarmouth indicating that the entire system from the headwaters to the outflow was occupied by school fish in the range of 15-20 inches.

Good fishing and safe wading,
JB