Cape Cod 4 Hour Trip Inshore Fishing
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Fourhour inshore fishing adventure for small groupsProfessional guided trip accommodates up to four guestsMorning departure maximizes productive fishing time
Picture this: you and three buddies heading out from Cape Cod's legendary waters for a solid four hours of inshore action that'll have you talking about it all season long. This isn't some cattle-boat operation where you're shoulder-to-shoulder with strangers – we're talking about a top-rated small group experience that puts you right where the fish are biting. Cape Cod's inshore waters are absolutely loaded with hungry stripers, feisty scup, bulldogging tautog, and scrappy black sea bass, and Captain Mike knows exactly where to find them depending on the tide, time of year, and what Mother Nature's throwing at us.
When you step aboard the Endeavor, you're getting a genuine Cape Cod fishing experience that's been fine-tuned over years of working these waters. We'll motor out to productive inshore spots where the structure holds fish and the current brings in baitfish like candy to a kid. The morning bite is often the best bite, so we time these trips to hit the sweet spots when fish are actively feeding. You'll be fishing in 15 to 40 feet of water around rocky bottoms, drop-offs, and underwater humps that Cape Cod's gamefish call home. The boat's rigged with quality rods and reels, fresh bait, and all the terminal tackle you'll need – just bring yourself, some snacks, drinks, and get ready to bend some rods. The captain reads the water like a book, adjusting locations based on what's happening that day, whether it's following bird activity, watching the fish finder, or just knowing that certain spots fire up when conditions are right.
Inshore fishing around Cape Cod is all about matching your approach to what's working on any given day. We'll be dropping bottom rigs with circle hooks for the tautog and black sea bass, using everything from green crabs to clams to get their attention. When the stripers are in the mood, we might switch to live eels, chunk herring, or throw some artificials if they're busting bait on the surface. The scup fishing can be fast and furious with small pieces of squid or sea worms on light tackle – perfect for keeping the action hot between bigger fish. Captain Mike's got decades of experience reading Cape Cod's inshore bite, so he'll coach you through the techniques that work best for each species. Whether you're a seasoned angler or picking up a rod for the first time, the crew makes sure everyone's rigged up properly and fishing effectively. The key to success out here is staying flexible – one spot might be red hot for black sea bass in the morning, then we'll move to a different structure where the stripers are cruising through on the tide change.
Striped Bass are the crown jewel of Cape Cod inshore fishing, and these fish fight like they've got something to prove. Spring through fall, you'll find schoolies in the 18 to 28 inch range mixed with some real bruisers that'll test your drag system. Stripers love structure and moving water, so we target them around rocky areas, drop-offs, and anywhere baitfish are getting pushed around by the current. What makes them so special is their intelligence – they're not dumb fish, and when you hook into a good one, it'll run, jump, and do everything it can to throw the hook. The best action usually happens around dawn and dusk, but Cape Cod's waters can produce stripers throughout the day when conditions line up.
Scup might not win any beauty contests, but these feisty little fighters are an absolute blast on light tackle and they're some of the best eating you'll find in New England waters. Also called porgy, these fish school up in huge numbers around Cape Cod from late spring through early fall. They're aggressive biters that'll hit small pieces of squid, sea worms, or even tiny jigs, and once you find a school, the action can be non-stop. Scup typically run 8 to 14 inches, with the occasional jumbo pushing close to 16 inches and a couple pounds. They're perfect for keeping kids and new anglers engaged because they bite consistently and fight harder than their size suggests.
Tautog are the bulldogs of the inshore scene – these fish live around rocks and structure, and when you hook one, it immediately tries to get back to its rocky home to break you off. Locally called "blackfish," tautog are some of the smartest fish in Cape Cod waters, with mouths full of crushing teeth designed to eat crabs, mussels, and anything else they can crunch. They're most active in cooler water, making spring and fall prime time, though you can catch them through summer if you know where to look. Green crabs are the go-to bait, and you need to stay tight to the bottom and be ready for that distinctive tautog bite – more of a steady pull than a sharp hit. A good-sized tog can push 4 to 6 pounds, and they're absolutely delicious on the dinner table.
Black Sea Bass are another Cape Cod favorite that combines great fighting ability with excellent table fare. These fish are structure-oriented, hanging around wrecks, rocks, and hard bottom areas where they ambush smaller fish and crustaceans. Sea bass have huge mouths for their size and aren't particularly picky about what they eat – squid, clams, sea worms, and small fish all work well. They're most active from late spring through early fall, with the bigger fish often found in slightly deeper water. A typical Cape Cod sea bass runs 12 to 16 inches, but the area produces plenty of keepers over the minimum size, and the occasional jumbo that'll surprise you with how hard it fights. They've got sharp gill plates and spines, so the crew will help you handle them safely, but they're definitely worth the effort for the dinner table.
Capt. Joey's 25-foot Bluefin center console is your ticket to Cape Cod's productive inshore waters. This well-appointed fishing machine comfortably handles up to four anglers with plenty of elbow room for casting and fighting fish. The boat comes fully rigged with quality rods, reels, and tackle, plus live bait when conditions allow. You'll appreciate the onboard fish finder for locating productive spots, GPS navigation to hit the best fishing grounds, and radar for those foggy Cape mornings. The center console design gives everyone easy access to the action while the icebox keeps your drinks cold and your catch fresh. A marine head makes this perfect for family trips, and the VHF radio keeps you connected to the fishing fleet. Built for Cape Cod's inshore conditions, this boat delivers a smooth, stable platform whether you're targeting stripers, fluke, or scup around the shoals and structure that make these waters so productive.
Centropristis StriataBlack sea bass are chunky, hard-fighting fish that typically run 1-3 pounds around our local structure. These dark, mottled bottom dwellers love wrecks, rocky areas, and anywhere with good vertical relief where they can ambush prey. Late spring through summer is when they're most active in our waters, moving closer to shore as temperatures warm. What makes sea bass popular is their aggressive nature - they'll hit jigs, live bait, and even small lures with authority, plus they're top-notch table fare with sweet, flaky meat. The males develop a distinctive hump during spawning and can turn bright blue. My best tip is to fish squid strips on a high-low rig right on bottom near structure, and be ready - they bite hard and head straight for the rocks.
Stenotomus ChrysopsScup, or porgy as locals call them, are fantastic beginner fish that'll keep the action steady on our inshore trips. These silver-sided bottom feeders typically run 1-2 pounds and love hanging around rocks and structure where they crunch on clams and crabs with their strong jaws. May through October is their sweet spot when they're close to shore in relatively shallow water. Guests love scup because they bite readily, fight well for their size, and make excellent table fare - plus they're great live bait for bigger stripers. The key is finding them near structure and using small pieces of squid or clam on a light rig. Drop it down, feel for bottom, then lift it up about a foot and wait for that distinctive tap.
Morone SaxatilisStripers are the bread and butter of Cape Cod fishing, running 20-40 pounds on average with some real bruisers pushing 50+. These silvery fighters with their signature dark stripes love structure - you'll find them around rocks, drop-offs, and along the shoreline where baitfish gather. Spring through fall is prime time here, especially during their migration when they're feeding heavily on pogies and silversides. What makes stripers special is their combination of size, fight, and table fare - they're powerful swimmers that'll test your drag and make excellent eating. My go-to trick is watching for diving birds; when you see terns and gulls working, there's usually stripers underneath pushing bait to the surface.
Tautoga OnitisBlackfish are the bulldogs of our local waters - thick, muscular fish that average 2-4 pounds and live their entire lives around rocks and structure. You'll find them hugging jetties, boulder fields, and wrecks where they use their powerful jaws to crush crabs and shellfish. April through November is prime season, but they really turn on during spring and fall. Anglers love targeting tog because they're scrappy fighters and some of the best eating fish in these waters - firm, white meat that's hard to beat. The challenge is fishing tight to structure without losing gear. Here's the trick: use green crabs, remove the legs and claws, then fish right on bottom. When you feel that subtle pick-up, set the hook immediately - they'll spit the bait fast.
Cape Cod