Exploring the Cape Cod Canal

You probably wonder what activities you can do at the cape cod canal to make your experience there worthwhile. This man-made waterway is a fantastic place with a long list of getaway activities that you can do, from recreational activities to business. Yes,  Cape Cod canal fishing 2021 is the same as 2022!

And that is not all; the canal provides a unique view that you can enjoy either by foot, boat, road and also rail. With the bridges crossing over from Cape Cod Bay to Buzzards bay, you can use a train and enjoy spectacular views.

In addition, you can use the paved pathway for running, biking, walking, and skateboarding; you can also have a close-up view of cargo ships and cruise lines as they use this waterway route.  There are plenty of spots at the canal to enjoy onshore fishing, from the north side to the south side.

Cape Cod Canal as a Recreational Area

The cape cod canal has three bridges that thousands of people cross over the water: the Bourne Bridge, the Sagamore bridge, and the cape cod rail bridge. Being managed by the Army Corps of Engineers, they have built north and south-paved waterside service roads.

The north service road is ideal for walking, jogging, and canal bike riding and has access to fishing spots. It’s a perfect bike path, and also, people can park their canal bikes used for fishing at the edge. In addition, you can enjoy fishing charters and cruises and experience the best fishing trip on a party boat on the cape cod while on your vacation.

The best part is that you can board a cruise and enjoy watching dolphins, calves, and whales. The whale watching season on Cape Cod begins mid-April and runs through October. Moreover, fishing is also allowed at the shoals or on charter boats near the canal’s banks.

Best Places to Fish in the Cape Cod Canal

The 7-mile path has connected many fishermen to the mainland and an open water shore.  Due to the accessibility of the flats to the coast, Cape Cod Bay is one of the best places to fish for striped bass, bluefish, mackerel, and more.

The cape cod canal, which runs from the west end of the sandwich connecting the Cape Cod Bay and Buzzards Bay, is another suitable area for inshore fishing. It has strong currents, and also, the big bass is found here.

Here, so many anglers cast their lines at the Cape Cod Canal fishing pier, located at Scusset Beach, or on the banks of the West end of the canal. Other spots like the East End Jetty, Portagee Hole, and the Jungle, are located off Sandwich road.

Moreover, canal fishermen can also cast their lines at east coast beaches. It’s a popular spot to watch whales. Also, many saltwater fish species are caught here. The fish includes back sea bass, scup, bluefin, striped bass, and fluke. Other seafood includes oysters and lobster.

What Time Can I Fish in the Cape Cod Canal?

The most suitable time to fish in the cape cod canal is during the breaking tides, and this is when the currents deposit fish to feed at the surface. The moon phases bring this heavy current. The last four days of the fall are close to the full moon and new moon phase.

For canal fishermen, Spring is the best season to target the larger fish on Cape Cod. These fish include; blue shark, fluke, bluefin tuna, big stripers, black sea bass, and the cod.

The beginning of May and the end of June is the best time to fish around Cape Cod due to the variety of species available; warm weather and the summer are not resourceful.

Fishing For Striped Bass at the Cape Cod

The best time to catch striped bass is early morning from dawn until about 2 hours after sunrise and late afternoon from 2 hours before sunset dusk. Most striped bass fishermen say that tides play a significant role in catching stripers.

New and full moons are the best time to fish for stripers because they create strong ocean currents, with an extensive mass of bass above the tackle-eating rocks of the big ditch in the west end.

Striped bass is caught in many different ways, which include;

• Topwater plug
• Jigging
• Bait fishing

Topwater Plugging

Most anglers toss topwater plugs on numerous channels and canals where topwater lures are very effective when the tide comes.

Plugging targets the upper part of the water column, where Strippers actively trail baitfish. It is easy to target stripers from shore on topwater plugs at some spots on the east coast.

Jigging

Jigs have been more successful in catching big striped bass than any other type of lure. To be a qualified striped bass fisherman, one must learn to identify productive areas to jig to catch big fish and structures like mussels and weeds where the bass lies.

Join tight lines with the treble hook, Diamond jigs, and plastic lures. Jigging is one of the most effective techniques for catching big striped bass.

Bait Fishing

While Cape Cod fishing, bait paddle Swimbait is simple, but it can be joined with a heavy jighead, sturdy hook, and a long slender hook. Get the lure at the bottom and let the canal current and the tail do all the work.

The best baits for Cape Cod Canal fishing are maggot, caster, worm, bread, and sweet corn. To catch the best fish at the Cape Cod Canal, you need to use some of the best lures and substantial hooks. In addition, the jigging rod should be heavy

Conclusion

The Cape Cod Canal is an amazing place to go for vacation; there are significant activities to participate in. There are also plenty of fishing spots on the cape side where various fish species can be caught.

In addition, camping and ship watching are allowed. On the other hand, swimming and scuba diving is prohibited. Always take safety precautions against the slippery rocks at the Cape Cod Canal. Remember that commercial fishing is not permitted, and all anglers should have an MA fish permit.