8-Hour Cape Cod Inshore Fishing Charter
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Full-day 8-hour charter targeting Striped Bass and BluefishAll gear, lures, live bait, and cold drinks includedPrivate trip accommodates up to 4 guests maximum
When you book with MoonDog Fishing, you're signing up for a serious day of fishing Cape Cod's legendary inshore waters. This isn't some quick tourist ride – we're talking about a full 8-hour commitment to putting you on fish. Captain MoonDog knows these waters like the back of his hand, and he's going to work his tail off to make sure your cooler goes home heavy. Whether you're a seasoned angler looking to test new techniques or someone who just wants to feel that rod bend with a quality fish, this charter delivers the goods. We keep our groups small at just 4 anglers max, so you get the attention you deserve and plenty of room to work your lines without bumping elbows.
Your day starts early when we meet at the dock, usually around sunrise when the fish are most active. Cape Cod's inshore waters are absolutely loaded with structure – think sandy flats, rocky outcrops, and tidal rips that hold baitfish like nobody's business. We'll be targeting the spots where stripers cruise for easy meals, where bluefish terrorize bait schools, and where the bottom fish hang tight to structure. The boat is rigged with top-shelf electronics so we can mark fish and bait before we even drop lines. You'll notice we move around quite a bit throughout the day – that's because productive fishing here means staying mobile and reading the conditions. Tides, wind, water temperature, and bait movement all play into where we set up. Don't worry about bringing tackle; everything's provided from spinning gear to fly rods if that's your thing. We've got live bait when the fish want it and an arsenal of lures for when they're feeling aggressive.
Cape Cod inshore fishing is all about versatility, and that's exactly how we approach each trip. Depending on what we're targeting and where we find them, you might be throwing topwater plugs at dawn, drifting live eels along the bottom, or working jigs through schools of bait. The beauty of these waters is that multiple techniques work on any given day. Light tackle spinning setups are our bread and butter – they give you the sensitivity to feel those subtle bites while still having enough backbone to handle a decent fish. For fly fishing enthusiasts, we keep 8 and 9-weight outfits rigged and ready. There's nothing quite like watching a striper smash a popper on the surface or seeing a bonito tear line off the reel on fly gear. We also run conventional tackle when we need to get down deep or when the fish are being finicky about presentation. Live bait fishing with eels, pogies, or sea worms is deadly effective, especially when the bite gets tough. The key is reading the conditions and matching your technique to what the fish want that day.
Striped bass are the crown jewel of Cape Cod fishing, and for good reason. These fish are smart, strong, and absolutely beautiful. Most of the stripers we catch range from 24 to 36 inches, with the occasional cow pushing 40-plus showing up to make your day. They're most active during the early morning and evening hours, but Cape Cod's structure and current breaks hold fish throughout the day. What makes stripers special is their fight – they'll make long runs, dive deep, and use every trick in the book to throw your hook. They're also incredibly versatile feeders, which means you can catch them on everything from live bait to fly patterns.
Bluefish bring pure aggression to the table. When you hook into a decent blue, you know it immediately – they hit hard and fight dirty. These fish travel in schools and can turn the water into a blender when they're feeding. Cape Cod blues typically run 3 to 8 pounds, with some real slobs pushing double digits in the fall. They're not picky eaters, which makes them perfect for trying different techniques. The key with bluefish is having wire leaders ready because their teeth will cut through mono in a heartbeat.
Little tunny, or false albacore as some folks call them, are speed demons that show up in late summer and fall. These fish are built for speed and will test your drag system like nothing else. They typically weigh 3 to 8 pounds but fight like fish twice their size. When you find a school feeding on the surface, it's pure chaos – birds diving, bait scattering, and fish slashing everywhere. The trick is getting your lure or fly into the mayhem before the school sounds.
White weakfish are making a comeback in Cape Cod waters, and catching one is always a treat. These fish have delicate mouths, hence the name, but they're beautiful and excellent eating. They prefer sandy bottoms and are often caught while targeting other species. Weakfish fight with a steady pressure rather than explosive runs, and their silver sides flash brilliantly when you bring them to the boat.
Black sea bass are the bottom dwellers that always seem to show up when you're fishing structure. These fish are chunky, aggressive, and absolutely delicious on the dinner table. They're not going to peel drag like a striper, but they use their broad sides and knowledge of the bottom to make you work for every inch of line. Sea bass are particularly active during the warmer months and are often caught on jigs or cut bait around rocky areas and wrecks.
This 8-hour Cape Cod charter with MoonDog Fishing gives you the real deal – serious fishing with a captain who knows how to put you on quality fish. With everything included except your fishing license, all you need to do is show up ready to fish. The small group size means personalized attention, and the full-day format gives us time to really work the water and try different techniques until we find what's working. Cape Cod's inshore waters are
This clean, functional motorboat is built for serious Cape Cod fishing, designed specifically for inshore fly and light tackle work. The thoughtful layout keeps everything within easy reach while you're working the water, and the comfortable seating means you can fish hard for the full 8 hours without fatigue. GPS navigation gets you to the productive spots quickly, while the fish finder helps locate schools of stripers, blues, and bonito holding in Cape Cod's diverse structure. With space for up to 4 anglers, there's plenty of room to cast without getting tangled up, whether you're throwing flies or working live bait. The boat handles Cape Cod's varying conditions well, from protected bays to open water, giving you access to the full range of fishing opportunities these waters offer.
Centropristis StriataBlack sea bass are chunky bottom dwellers that love structure - wrecks, rocky areas, and old pilings in 20-120 feet of water. They typically run 2-4 pounds with occasional 6-8 pounders mixed in. Late spring through summer is prime time when they move inshore. What makes them fun is they fight hard until they break the surface, then give up completely. Plus, they're some of the best eating fish we catch - sweet, white, flaky meat that's hard to beat. Here's something interesting: they're all born female and change to male as they grow. My technique? Use a two-hook bottom rig with squid or clam strips, and fish right on the structure. Don't be afraid to get snagged occasionally - that's where the fish live.
Pomatomus SaltatrixBluefish are aggressive predators that show up mid-June through October in our waters. Most run under 20 pounds but they're built for business with razor-sharp triangular teeth and an attitude to match. You'll find schools working baitfish in shallow water, creating what we call "bluefish blitzes" - churning water that looks like a washing machine. They hit hard and fight dirty, making them great for action-packed trips. The meat's oily and flavorful, perfect grilled fresh. Watch your fingers - these guys will bite even in the boat. My go-to technique is using circle hooks with oily baits like eels or chunks of cut bait. When you see birds diving and water exploding, get your lines in fast because that feeding frenzy won't last long.
Euthynnus AlletteratusLittle tunny, also called false albacore or bonito, are pure speed demons that'll test your tackle and skills. Most run 10-12 pounds, though 20-pounders show up regularly. These torpedo-shaped fish travel in schools near the surface around jetties, inlets, and over sandbars. Summer into fall is when they're most active here. What guests love is the fight - they're incredibly strong swimmers that'll burn drag and challenge light tackle. The meat's darker and stronger flavored than regular tuna, but fresh it's excellent. Here's what I tell everyone: when you hook up, don't horse them. Let the fish do the work, especially on light tackle or fly gear, because that line will snap if you get too aggressive with these speed merchants.
Morone SaxatilisStripers are the bread and butter of Cape Cod fishing. These silver-sided beauties with their distinctive black stripes typically run 20-40 pounds, though we see plenty in that sweet spot around 28-32 inches. They're strong fighters that love structure - you'll find them around rocky outcrops, drop-offs, and along the shoreline where the current moves baitfish. Spring through fall is prime time, especially during their migration runs. What makes them special? They pull hard, taste great, and give you that classic New England fishing experience. Here's a local trick: when the water's moving and you see birds working, cast to the edges of the activity rather than right into the chaos - that's where the bigger fish often hang.
Atractoscion NobilisWhite weakfish are actually part of the croaker family and can grow impressively large - we're talking fish that can hit 28 inches and 7-8 pounds on average, with some monsters pushing much bigger. They hang in brackish areas and along the coast, usually swimming between mid-water and the surface, rarely hitting bottom. Spring through early fall gives you the best shots at them. What's cool about weakfish is they actually make sounds to communicate - five distinct calls. They're solid fighters and excellent eating with sweet, flaky meat. Pro tip: they can be lazy feeders, so don't be afraid to use a chum bucket to get their attention, and focus your presentation in that mid-water column where they cruise.
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