Best Seasons to Fish the Cape

A quick guide by Capt. Ross Walkinshaw of Cape Cod Charter Guys

As an angler who discovered his love for saltwater fishing after moving to the Cape 13 years ago, I can personally attest to the wonders of Cape Cod fishing. It’s a fishing paradise that keeps on giving, the kind of place that will turn your simple love for the sport into a lifelong obsession. When I’m not taking my clients out on my charter boat, I still enjoy myself out on the water as a recreational sport angler because there’s always plenty to discover, see, and catch. So, believe me when I say there are no bad seasons to fish in the Cape. With so many productive spots to fish in the region, you’ll be guaranteed a catch whenever you come to visit our picturesque peninsula.

However, while it is true that there are no dull fishing seasons in our beloved region, some seasons are just better than others, especially if you’re looking to hook a particular fish species. In this guide, I will break down for you the best seasons to fish the Cape and where to find your target game fish.

Spring Fishing

Fishing for holdover striped bass can begin as early as late March or even before that if the beginning of the season feels warm. But the true beginning of striper season in Cape Cod starts around April. Often the first arrivals can be found at Martha’s Vineyard and then on to the beaches of Mashpee and Hyannis. Striped bass continue to be actively feeding well into May, when the early bluefish begin to join the fray. The second week of May is your best bet for catching trophy-striped bass. Better time your fishing schedule when there’s a rising tide in the morning when they’re feeding like crazy. You will also find bluefish in the shallows and in the deep.

But if you’re keen on targeting a variety of species, waiting until June, right when the spring turns over to summer, might well be worth your while. You can target striped bass from the surf and from the boat. Bait anglers can also snag a few fluke, scup, and tautog. Deep-sea anglers may also get a glimpse of the bluefin tuna off Provincetown and the Outer Cape. 

Fly fishing for trout? The month of April is your best bet when targeting these freshwater favorites. Many of the Cape’s kettle ponds will be stocked with thousands of trout species around this time. It can be a good alternative if you’re still waiting for striped bass to start biting in May.

Summer Fishing

Fishing for trophy striped bass gets even hotter around June. Local anglers will typically wait for the breaking tides at Cape Cod Canal, which is highly regarded as the best time to target trophy bass just waiting on the surface of the water. 

For anglers who want to go deep sea fishing, tuna and billfish season starts hopping in June. Many choose to go south all the way to the canyons, past Vineyard and Nantucket, where they can challenge themselves with shark, yellowfin tuna, and even common dolphinfish and wahoo.

The summer fishing season oftentimes fades out well into August when most of the game fish have moved on. However, there’s still plenty of fish to be had. It is around this time that nearshore anglers can fish for Spanish mackerel, bonito, and false albacore. 

Fall Fishing

Cod is Cape Cod’s most popular catch (perhaps you can tell by the name). They are usually available all year round in abundance. However, catching them may depend on where you’re fishing. In the northern part of the Cape, fishing for cod is prohibited outside of its open season in September, which tends to be short — 2 weeks at most. South of the Cope, though, you can catch them all year round with a daily limit of 10 per angler.

The rest of September is often the best time in Cape Cod for some striped bass fishing at night. Come October, the canal gets active with anglers looking for striped bass from the north. The only caveat to fishing in October is the possibility of storms that can scatter the fish all about.

Winter Fishing

While you can’t expect winter fishing to be as amazing as the other seasons, you can still have a fruitful fishing experience during the cold season if you know where to look. Some boats can take you out winter fishing to offshore areas where you can bottom fish for Cape Cod favorites like cod and haddock. 

Fishing for trout in April may be your best bet, but ice fishing for them during winter can be equally rewarding as well. 

No Dull Fishing Season in the Cape

As you will see, there's really no such thing as a dull fishing season on the Cape. There are always fish biting, no matter what season. It simply is a matter of timing your visit with your target catch and having the willingness, grit, and patience to explore and comb through the area.

Another way to guarantee a successful fishing trip on the Cape is by booking a fishing charter boat like ours at Cape Cod Charter Guys. We have decades of fishing experience between me and my son (who happens to be my mate and a Master Captain License holder himself, just like me), and we've been fishing the Cape for years on end. We know the water, the seasons, the best spots for your target game fish, and the current patterns in many of the fishing spots in the region. We'll take you where you need to go in order to have your shot with your trophy fish of choice. And you don't need to bring anything - we have lures, reels, rods, and live bait on deck, and our boat is specially equipped with all that you need for a safe, comfortable, and luxurious fishing experience.