Inshore pelagic fishing on Cape Cod can be one of the most memorable experiences an angler can have all season. Whether it is Bonito or False Albacore fishing, either will put your skills as an angler and your gear to the test. These speedy critters are some of the fastest gamefish in our waters and offer an glers of all ages quite possibly the best fight of their life on light tackle
When the summer starts to wind down on Cape Cod, many anglers take a break from striped bass fishing and rest up until the Fall run starts. However, many serious anglers switch their gear from heavy bass equipment to lighter tackle and fill the gas tanks up in their boats to go chase the elusive False Alba- core (or little tunny, fat albert, albies, little tuna), September is usually the first month reliable reports start coming in that False Albacore are seen off the waters of Mathas Vineyard. Usually first mixed with Bonito and bluefish off Marthas Vineyard the albies start to break off and come across Nantucket Sound
When September through October are often the best times to find these speedy pelagics swimming around Mar- thas Vineyard, Nantucket Sound and Buzzards Bay, Typically the Bonito show up first in late August/ early September off of Marthas Vineyard and the albies flow in shortly after that. "The Hooter" is a spot many anglers go to year after year when they show up to chase Bonito and Albies.
Where There are not particular "hotspots" in which these fish are year to year since they need to always keep moving. The biggest factor in fishing inshore pelagics is finding the bait pods and sticking with them. Shoals and inlets are the best places to start your search for Albies and Bonito since these spots generally hold more bait than just open water areas, One day you could go and fish a shoal,catch ten or more fish and the next day it could be a barren wasteland with no life whatsoever. This is one of the things that make inshore pelagic fishing so much fun and yet, so frustrating at the same time.
Lures The most popular lures to cast at these speed demons are small metal lures such as Deadly Dicks, Kasmaster XL's, Swedish Pimples and Daddy Mac Albie /Bonito Jigs. The reason the small metals are the most popu- lar lure is because they offer the angler enough weight to get a long cast into the pods of slashing fish. Soft plastic lures such as small Slug-go's and Got Stryper Pintails are also very popular when the fish get finicky. The major advantage to using soft plas- tics over metals is soft bodies offer a more natural, realistic action. Color can also play a big part in your success when fishing for these funny fish. The most popular colors used are silver, green and pink.
There is a myth that since these are a fast moving species that your lure needs to be cranked in at a high rate of speed. However, this could not be farther from the truth. It really all depends on day to day conditions and what types of bait the fish are going after. The most pro- ductive way to work a lure in is a steady, constant retrieve with a few twitches here and there. With soft plas- ties the same rule can apply but more twitches and slower speed seems to work better.
Bonito fishing sometimes is a trolling only game and the speeds you need to troll are critical. Trolling for these fish you will need to be going at least 6 knots as going any slower will usually only produce bluefish. Yo-zuri 3d Crys tal Minnows are the most popular lure as they can withstand a beating from the occasional bluefish but still offer a very realistic baitfish look. Other cheaper alternatives are Rebel Fastrac Minnows which are slightly cheaper and provides the everyday user with a lure that they don't mind losing to a bluefish.
Rods and Reels Fishing from boat and shore your gear will vary slightly. Fishing from shore you should consider an 8'6" moderate to medium action rod This rod offers the angler a bigger selection of lures and weight they can throw and the longer rod will give a bit better cast from shore. Casting from a boat a 7' medium 26 Helen B Charters www. Helen B Charters.com 508 264 9747 action rod is the absolute best. The 7'2" Shimano Terez gives the user the option of casting un-weighted soft plastics to smaller metals. The Shimano Teramar in the same ac tion is another great choice and is priced right for the average fisher- man. Another great option is the St. Croix Tidemaster series rods which is a great quality /value alternative to some of the higher end gear. As for reels, the most common are reels in the 3000 to 5000 sizes which give the user more than suf ficient line capacity, yet are physi cally light weight. When choosing a brand of reel for this type of fishing just remember that these fish will scream off a ton of line and it needs to have a smooth, solid drag system. Inexpensive gear is not likely going to be able to withstand the rigors of this fishery.
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