Northeast - Beyond Bass/Blues - What to target in Cape Cod Bay??

Okay, my first thread was really helpful. What I concluded is that going for sharks would mean a long ride for me, probably more than a tank of gas. So, I guess I can narrow this down now and fine-tune my curiosity.

I know there are bass and blues in CCB. I have been fishing for them, enjoy fishing for them, and plan to keep fishing for them. I still do want to branch out a bit, though. If I get a boat full of bass/blues in the AM, it would be nice to say "let's try going for ------ now".
So what are my options?

Can schoolie tuna be found inside the bay fairly regularly... or all the tuna on Stellwagen? Going after these would be a lot of fun, I think, but I am still confused on how often tuna are found within CCB. I just hear reports of people getting them trolling or on butterfly jigs and it is enticing.

What about cod fishing? I have my fishing chart that shows cod around various wrecks (Mars, etc) in CCB but how accurate is this? It sounds like all the cod are east of Stellwagen, but again I remain confused on that.

I am looking at that range of 20-25 miles from the east end of the Canal, so now that sharks have been scratched off the list I am open to suggestions about the other fish you all enjoy going after. I can also cover Buzzards Bay around the Elizabeth Islands easily, too, if you want to make suggestions for that area instead.

Again, thanks SO much. I don't expect anyone to give out their money spots or send along coordinates... just general what/where info. I can't tell you enough how much your replies have helped me so far as I start out! :tht_rulez:

I can't offer much insight as I'm not a fisherman (yet) but what're all those folks fishing for at Billingsgate Shoal? Seems like there is always a gaggle of boats out there.

I assume most of them are fishing for stripers... at least that was what I was doing at Billingsgate a coule weeks ago. Of course, I tried to stay away from the gaggle and claim my own spot. That resulted in zero fish, however. ;?

Bass, Blues, Fluke in season, False Albacore later in the summer, tuna, and all the dog fish you want. Grab a Capt. Sea Gull Chart for C.C. Bay. That will show you the spots and what fish to target. I usually fish Tuna, Bass, and Blues.

Seals !

I can't offer much insight as I'm not a fisherman (yet) but what're all those folks fishing for at Billingsgate Shoal? Seems like there is always a gaggle of boats out there.

Stripers until mid July, then mostly blues, unless you're jigging, then you can still scare up a bass or three

Drop a heavy brightly colored jigs with flashers down attach some bright colored teasers baited with clam and catch all the dogfish you want.

Seals !


At first I thought this was just a joke, but then I saw another fishing report today talking about the gray seals. I guess in some cases they are coming right up to the boats and taking baits... unreal.

So.. then... do you grill a seal or are they better broiled??
(Just kidding... just kidding... no need to call PETA) :grin:

There are bfts off the cliffs of plymouth. 100' n deeper try an x=rap 30 in silver

At first I thought this was just a joke, but then I saw another fishing report today talking about the gray seals. I guess in some cases they are coming right up to the boats and taking baits... unreal.

So.. then... do you grill a seal or are they better broiled??
(Just kidding... just kidding... no need to call PETA) :grin:


The gray seals are why the great whites have been showing up, but thats mostly on the back side of the cape.
Thousands of harbor seals around !

Bass, Blues, Fluke in season, False Albacore later in the summer, tuna, and all the dog fish you want. Grab a Capt. Sea Gull Chart for C.C. Bay. That will show you the spots and what fish to target. I usually fish Tuna, Bass, and Blues.

Mostly correct... I've never seen or heard of an albie in the bay for as long as I can remember. The Canal, BB, and southside from Monomoy to WH is your best bet for albies, bones, and spacks during their short migration. They are worth the ride - what a rush.

As for the bay, black sea bass and fluke make for some great bottom fishing during the heat of the summer, when the stripers seem to slow down. For a real treat, some of the better-known bayside estuarys hold sea-run brown trout and hickory shad (not atlantic shad), which are a blast with waders and a fly rod. Poor man's tarpon...