Cape Cod Fishing: Charters and Target Species

Cape Cod has a vibrant fishing community. For some families, fishing is more of a lifestyle than it is a hobby or a job. All their lives, they have spent inordinate amounts of time on Cape Cod’s waters. This is why sport fishing on Cape Cod can be such an awesome experience. The people who offer charter services really love what they do and want to share that passion and beauty of the Cape with as many people as they can.    

Choosing a charter or fishing captain can be a difficult task since there are so many of them.... and there are SO many good ones.  There is no one profile that fits the fishing captain you will find on Cape Cod. There are young professionals whose entire lives revolve around fishing and sport fishing and they do it as a fulltime job. There are those who do it as a part-time job. And then there are the retirees who are having the time of their lives on Cape Cod’s waters.

Some level of familiarity with Cape Cod’s geography and the kind of fish you want to catch will make your decision-making process much easier. You can narrow down the charters by how close they are where you are staying as well as how long you want to stay out on the water.    Some charters stay closer to shore while others go WAY OUT.  If you're looking for a half-day adventure, then any boat can accommodate.   If you're looking for something more adventuresome then you may need to do more research to find that perfect boat you're looking for.    Luckily for you, most of the information you will need is in this article.

Fish and ChartersHaddock and Cod Fishing

Stellwagen Bank is an excellent spot for cod fishing. The best months for Haddock and Cod fishing in Cape Cod are March, April, May, June, July, August, September, and October. The weather is usually warm at this time and your ride to Stellwagen from wherever you are staying at will be pleasant especially if you in a group of friends. A group of 6 can easily average more than 500lbs in one trip. Usually, the catch will consist of Cod, Haddock, Pollock, Monkfish, Halibut, and Wolffish.  Cod is usually more than 70% of the catch and can be up to 90% of the catch in March and April.

The boat trip is slightly over an hour long each way. With 7 to 8 hours of actual fishing time, a good trip will be about 10 to 11 hours long. Charters leave the dock before 6 a.m. for a fishing trip that ends around 3 p.m.

Cape Cod Shark Fishing

Cape Cod is home to a number of shark species. Blue sharks are the most common. It is not uncommon for fishermen to catch blue sharks while fishing for bluefin tuna. This is especially true if you go more than 9 miles deep into Cape Cod Bay and Stellwagen Bank. The water is warmest towards the South Side of Cape Cod and that is where you should focus most of your efforts.

If you’ve ever wanted to go shark fishing, Cape Cod may be just the right place to explore this interest. The average catch is going to be between 100 and 350 pounds but you can find sharks weighing more than 1000 pounds. The best months to go shark fishing on Cape Cod are July, August, September, and October.

Bass Fishing on Cape Cod

Serious Bass fishing starts in early May and the action continues till October. The action is usually on the Cape Cod Canal and on both sides of the cape. There is a lot of fish throughout the season with the average Bass weighing between 20 pounds and 45 pounds. Some fishermen occasionally catch Bass weighing more than 50 pounds.

Bluefin Tuna Fishing

Bluefin Tuna is abundant in Cape Cod waters. Save for Vineyard Sound, Nantucket Sound, and Buzzard’s Bay, you can find Bluefin Tuna pretty much everywhere you go fishing on Cape Cod. That said, the best places to go Bluefin Tuna fishing are Cape Cod Bay, Stellwagen Bank, Wood End, George’s Bank, Regal Sword, Shipping Lanes, Crab Ledge, and Peaked Hill Bar.

The best months to go Bluefin Tuna fishing on Cape Cod are June, July, August, September, October, and November. People use live bait on Cape Cod to catch Bluefin Tuna. It is the most effective technique to use. There are thousands of giants that migrate to Cape Cod to feed on Cape Cod’s schools of live bait. Their only reason for coming over is to eat.

Useful Information

Cape Cod is just one big fish bait. When a place has a fish in its name, you can expect some awesome action when you visit. The East coast has warm protected waters that attract migratory fish. To the North of Provincetown is Stellwagen Bank and it is rich with bluefin tuna, squid, and sharks.

For the entire fishing season, you can find Pollock and Flounder on Cape Cod Bay. As you go deeper, you will encounter Bluefin tuna. Towards the coast, you will also find Striped Bass and Bluefish. There is a great range of habitats and this offers fishermen an even greater selection of fish to look for when they come to fish on Cape Cod.

January, February, and March are pretty inactive on Cape Cod. It is almost impossible to find a fishing charter operating in February. The charters start getting ready for the fishing season in March and they begin opening their charters for business in April. In May, almost all the charters are open for business as the Black Seabass and Cow Strippers show up on Cape Cod. By July, Cape Cod is in full tourism season mode and some charters and accommodation facilities may be fully booked. If you are coming in July, you should make an effort to make reservations a week or two in advance. The fishing season runs till October when most of the fish move out of town.

The only thing hard about choosing a fishing charter on Cape Cod is deciding which of the awesome boats to go out on.   Cape Cod is known for fishing and the captains on these charter boats not only take your safety seriously but they want to make sure you have a great time so you come back every time you're on The Cape.   Here are a few of our favorite Fishing Charters or you can use one of the many travel resources to find that perfect adventure.  The good news for someone coming to the Cape to go fishing for the first time is that many of the Fishing Charters have been around for a long time.  Their crews are experienced, know the waters, know what's running and where so odds are good that you will land in good hands and your fishing experience on Cape Cod will be awesome.

Logistics

You can only fish on Cape Cod if you have a saltwater fishing license. This is true whether you are fishing from the shore or on a boat. Local vendors sell these licenses. You can also buy them online.

Cape Cod also has seaside inns that can help you with planning the logistics around your fishing trip. If you already have the dates for your trip figured out, you can just call a well-reviewed inn to see what is on offer. Some inns offer packages that cover accommodation, fishing charter, and a tour of Cape Cod.