It's difficult to beat giant tuna fishing on Cape Cod. The tuna fishing over the past few years has been nothing short of spectacular. 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 Cape Cod from boats as small as 20 feet.
Many people claim that bluefin tuna have been depleted, and are on the verge of extinction. Numbers worldwide are reportedly down, as overfishing has taken a toll. However the population of tuna off Cape Cod has only increased in recent years. Spotter pilots, recreational and commercial fishermen have observed more fish than at anytime in recent memory. Luckily for Cape Cod fishermen, much of the action can be found within a short steam from the harbor. Many of the top tuna fishing destinations are just a few miles off the Cape Cod shoreline.
Many people claim that bluefin tuna have been depleted, and are on the verge of extinction. Numbers worldwide are reportedly down, as overfishing has taken a toll. However the population of tuna off Cape Cod has only increased in recent years. Spotter pilots, recreational and commercial fishermen have observed more fish than at anytime in recent memory. Luckily for Cape Cod fishermen, much of the action can be found within a short steam from the harbor. Many of the top tuna fishing destinations are just a few miles off the Cape Cod shoreline.
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. During some trips, hundreds of tuna could be spotted across the horizon. The telltale splashes and whitewater could be seen from close to a mile away as the fish crushed bait 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. My crew on the Miss Loretta will be focusing our efforts on giant tuna this fall. We will use balloons to target tuna far beneath the waters surface, and kites to target surface feeding bluefins. Kite fishing is essentially the same as topwater fishing for striped bass, except the intended catch is about 200 times bigger.
For those interested in live baiting a big bluefin, using “snack” size bluefish as bait may be the ticket. Snack size blues can be found throughout the Cape's many bays and harbors. These areas are, unfortunately, usually located a fair distance away from the tuna grounds.
Adding to the challenge is that bluefish always seem more difficult to find when you need them the most. 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 when Fishing Cape Cod, artificial offerings are a viable option. Artificial presentations may not be as desirable for targeting giants, however they still catch their fair share of behemoth fish. Trolling squid bars is one of the more popular techniques employed by the area's 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.
For those not up to dealing with the complexities of obtaining live bait when Fishing Cape Cod, artificial offerings are a viable option. Artificial presentations may not be as desirable for targeting giants, however they still catch their fair share of behemoth fish. Trolling squid bars is one of the more popular techniques employed by the area's 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.
There are many different ways to target bluefin tuna. The best way to go about it is determining a method that works well for your boat and crew.
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 tactics 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.
Lets cross our fingers for fair weather for the fall of 2011. There will surely be some monstrous tuna and striped bass brought back to the docks in the months ahead. Cape Cod certainly has an incredible fishery. The fishing opportunities are virtually endless.
