By Captain Ryan
It's difficult to beat bluefin tuna fishing on Cape Cod. The tuna fishing over the past few years has been nothing short of spectacular..
Cape Cod supports and impressive abundance of tuna from June through Christmas. Over the past few seasons, the numbers of tuna in the waters surrounding the Cape have been staggering.. Enormous schools of small tuna, less than 200 pounds, have been common over the past few years. Larger tuna, known as giants, have also been frequent visitors. Bluefins well over the 500 pound mark are taken each year by anglers fishing from boats as small as 20 feet..
There has been a lot of hype in the media about bluefin tuna being depleted and on the verge of extinction. This may be true in places like the Mediterranean Sea and off Asia, however our Cape Cod fishery is strong and the tuna are plentiful.
Fortunately for Cape Cod anglers, the action is usually only minutes away from the harbor
Significant schools of 100-200 pound tuna fed heavily just north of the Fingers outside Barnstable Harbor last June. These fish proved difficult to catch, however the top water feeding frenzies were downright impressive.
On certain mornings, hundreds of bluefins could be spotted across the horizon, whipping up whitewater and crushing baitfish on the surface.
This year the stage has been set for some epic fall tuna fishing. As is typical, the bait is here and it is plentiful. Cape Codders are crossing their fingers that the tuna fishing will break wide open throughout September, October and November.
Throughout this fall, my crew and I will be targeting giant bluefins. If all goes well we hope to latch into a tuna greater than 72 inches in length. Our go-to technique will be drifting live bait.. Bluefish, pogies, and mackerel will be our go-to live baits. We'll use balloons and kites to present the bait. .
For those interested in live baiting a big bluefin, using "snack" size bluefish as bait may be the ticket. Small bluefish can be found throughout the Cape's back bays and estuaries. Unforunately these areas are usually a considerable distance from the tuna grounds.. The most challenging dilemna is devising a method of transporting the bluefish to places like Stellwagen Bank and the area east of Chatham. Luckily the effort, energy, and gas required to procure live blues is often times worth the effort..
Pogies may be a more realistic bait source for many. These filter feeders can be gillnetted or cast netted in many of the Cape's back bays and estuaries. If you plan on catching pogies on your own, then expect to invest a lot of time and energy into learning the trade. Befriending a local live pogie supplier is a more feasible option for many tuna fishermen..
For those not up to dealing with the complexities of obtaining live bait, artificial offerings are a viable option. Artificial presentations may not be as desirable for targeting giants, however they still catch they fair share of behemoth fish.. Trolling squid bars is one of the more popular techniques employed by the ares top captains. There are a variety of other trolling options available as well.. Many anglers choose to pursue school and small giant tuna on spinning gear. Casting topwater plugs and jigging metal are effective ways of targeting tuna as well..
Tuna can be caught in a multitude of ways. The key is determining what method works best for you and your crew. Experiment with different techniques until you discover one that works well for you..
Without a doubt, autumn is a fantastic time to be a fishermen on Cape Cod. The bluefin fishing is great, but it is not all that the Cape has to offer.. Aside from tuna, the striped bass fishing and whale watching can be incredible.
If the tuna bite slows. switching tactis and pursuing stripers is always an option. Big bass are fequently found in the general vicinity of tuna.. Often time's 20-40 pound bass are caught on the same pogies and squid bars meant for tuna.
If the weather cooperates, the fall of 2011 has the potential to be one of the most productive times of the season for anyone wetting a line off Cape Cod.
Cape Cod has an incredible fishery. The fishing opportunities are virtually endless..
Cape Cod supports and impressive abundance of tuna from June through Christmas. Over the past few seasons, the numbers of tuna in the waters surrounding the Cape have been staggering.. Enormous schools of small tuna, less than 200 pounds, have been common over the past few years. Larger tuna, known as giants, have also been frequent visitors. Bluefins well over the 500 pound mark are taken each year by anglers fishing from boats as small as 20 feet..
There has been a lot of hype in the media about bluefin tuna being depleted and on the verge of extinction. This may be true in places like the Mediterranean Sea and off Asia, however our Cape Cod fishery is strong and the tuna are plentiful.
Fortunately for Cape Cod anglers, the action is usually only minutes away from the harbor
Significant schools of 100-200 pound tuna fed heavily just north of the Fingers outside Barnstable Harbor last June. These fish proved difficult to catch, however the top water feeding frenzies were downright impressive.
On certain mornings, hundreds of bluefins could be spotted across the horizon, whipping up whitewater and crushing baitfish on the surface.
This year the stage has been set for some epic fall tuna fishing. As is typical, the bait is here and it is plentiful. Cape Codders are crossing their fingers that the tuna fishing will break wide open throughout September, October and November.
Throughout this fall, my crew and I will be targeting giant bluefins. If all goes well we hope to latch into a tuna greater than 72 inches in length. Our go-to technique will be drifting live bait.. Bluefish, pogies, and mackerel will be our go-to live baits. We'll use balloons and kites to present the bait. .
For those interested in live baiting a big bluefin, using "snack" size bluefish as bait may be the ticket. Small bluefish can be found throughout the Cape's back bays and estuaries. Unforunately these areas are usually a considerable distance from the tuna grounds.. The most challenging dilemna is devising a method of transporting the bluefish to places like Stellwagen Bank and the area east of Chatham. Luckily the effort, energy, and gas required to procure live blues is often times worth the effort..
Pogies may be a more realistic bait source for many. These filter feeders can be gillnetted or cast netted in many of the Cape's back bays and estuaries. If you plan on catching pogies on your own, then expect to invest a lot of time and energy into learning the trade. Befriending a local live pogie supplier is a more feasible option for many tuna fishermen..
For those not up to dealing with the complexities of obtaining live bait, artificial offerings are a viable option. Artificial presentations may not be as desirable for targeting giants, however they still catch they fair share of behemoth fish.. Trolling squid bars is one of the more popular techniques employed by the ares top captains. There are a variety of other trolling options available as well.. Many anglers choose to pursue school and small giant tuna on spinning gear. Casting topwater plugs and jigging metal are effective ways of targeting tuna as well..
Tuna can be caught in a multitude of ways. The key is determining what method works best for you and your crew. Experiment with different techniques until you discover one that works well for you..
Without a doubt, autumn is a fantastic time to be a fishermen on Cape Cod. The bluefin fishing is great, but it is not all that the Cape has to offer.. Aside from tuna, the striped bass fishing and whale watching can be incredible.
If the tuna bite slows. switching tactis and pursuing stripers is always an option. Big bass are fequently found in the general vicinity of tuna.. Often time's 20-40 pound bass are caught on the same pogies and squid bars meant for tuna.
If the weather cooperates, the fall of 2011 has the potential to be one of the most productive times of the season for anyone wetting a line off Cape Cod.
Cape Cod has an incredible fishery. The fishing opportunities are virtually endless..
About the Author:
Captain Ryan Collins fishes for striped bass and Bluefin tuna off Cape Cod, MA. Visit his blog, myfishingcapecod.com for insider tips about Cape Cod Canal fishing and giant tuna.
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