Best Times & Seasons to Fish Cape Cod (Complete Guide)
Cade Cod is one of the best fishing destinations on the east coast and abounds with huge numbers of gamefish. Knowing the best time of year and of the day to fish Cape Cod can make a huge difference for you and lead to more fun fishing.
The best times to fish Cape Cod is between May and mid-June when the largest variety of species is available but also prior to the busy summer tourist season. In general, the fishing is great here all through summer and into early fall.
| Fish Species | Best Time of Year for Fishing |
| Striped Bass | May through August |
| Bluefin Tuna | Late May through August |
| Bluefish | June through September |
| Flounder | June through September |
| Cod | Available Year-round; winter can be best |
| Haddock | Available Year-round; winter can be best |
In this article, we are going to break down the top species found in Cape Cod and what seasons are best for them.
Best Time to Fish Cape Cod
If you’re hoping to beat the crowds of tourists flocking to Cape Cod in the summer, spring is the best season to fish Cape Cod. Though fishing is great as the waters continue to warm in the summer, there are some amazing fish to be caught in May and June without having to fight the crowds. Striper is one of the most popular fish caught during this time by shore and boat anglers.
Bluefin tuna also begin to show up into the late spring months, as well as fluke, also known as summer flounder. As the summer waters heat up, bluefish start showing up in droves. While many don’t go after the bluefish, they make for a great ice breaker fish for a newbie angler.
Fishing in Cape Cod can be great all year round, however, as the haddock and cod stay in the waters around the Cod all year round. If you can brave the cold, the winter seasons are great for these species.
I recommend this Penn Pursuit Spinning Rod & Reel combo (available on Amazon) for inshore and nearshore fishing. It can handle everything from redfish to snapper and king mackerel. The Penn Battalion Series Spinning Rod and the Penn Battle Spinning Reel are fantastic to create your combo.
Cape Cod Species Breakdown: Best Time
One thing which sets the fishing in Cape Cod above many other locales is the number of species available. In this section, we are going to break down some of the most popular and when the best time for each is.
Cod
Cod is perhaps the most popular fish species in Cape Cod, hence the name. They are found in abundance throughout the Cape’s waters all year round.
What time is best, though, is going to depend on when you are fishing. North of the Cape there is actually a season for the cod, and a short one if that. It tends to go for 2 weeks in September.
Outside of this time, they are prohibited. South of the Cape, however, offers no closed season with a daily limit of 10. South of the Cape the Cod can be caught in abundance all year round.
Haddock
Haddock, related to the cod but different, are also in abundance all year round. The best part, though, is that there is no closed season.
As they are just as tasty as their cousin the cod, the haddock makes for an excellent catch and great fishing. They can be found in the deep waters of the Atlantic all year round.
Striped Bass
Cape Cod, and the waters around Massachusetts, is known for its population of striped bass. The best time to target this species is from May to October with the peak times being in the late spring and summer months.
You’ll have a bigger chance of landing a monster during the feeding frenzy of the rising morning tides. This is when deep-water and shore anglers alike land plenty of all sizes.
For a complete breakdown of the best time and season to catch striped bass, please check out this helpful article.
Bluefin Tuna
Known worldwide for its beauty and fighting power, as well as its taste, the bluefin tuna can be found in the cool waters around the Cape.
The best season for bluefin tuna fishing is the summer season when they can be found right off the point of the Cape. They can, however, be landed during the spring and early fall as well.
Sharks
Several species of sharks call the waters around Cape Cod home for most of the year and make for an excellent experience you won’t easily forget.
Most species can be caught from June to October, while the summer season brings the peak season for species such as the mako and blue sharks. They can also be caught both onshore and offshore.
Bluefish
While not as popular to eat as some of the other species we’ve looked at, the bluefish is a great fish and are in larger numbers around the Cape.
What makes them so attractive is they will literally bite on anything, making them perfect for beginner anglers looking to dip their toes into the world of sports fishing.
They are in abundance from May to October and can be found both in the deep waters as well as the flats and shallow spots.
For a complete breakdown of the best time and season to catch bluefish, please check out this helpful article.
Mahi Mahi
A species often thought of in the tropical waters of the southern portions of the hemisphere makes its way up to the waters of Cape Cod as the waters reach their warmest during the summer.
As they are a migratory species, they won’t stay very long, as they love warmer waters. However, the months of July and August are great for fishing in the deep waters of the Atlantic for Mahi Mahi.
Recommended Fishing Charters in Cape Cod
These Cape Cod-based charters have earned great reviews from anglers and will offer you a tremendous service. The captains are knowledgeable, friendly, and are sure to put you on fish. By clicking the links below, you will be taken to the charter’s respective profile on Fishing Booker where you can read reviews, learn more about the charter, view photos, and book online at the best rate.
| Recommended Fishing Charters | Type of Fishing Offered |
| Grey Dolphin Sportfishing Charters | Inshore & Offshore |
| Salt Shaker Charters | Inshore & Offshore |
| JenniferAnn Sportfishing Charters | Inshore & Offshore |
| Tighten Up Charters | Inshore & Offshore |
| Cape Cod Fishing Adventures | Inshore & Offshore |
| Tiggertoo Charters | Inshore & Offshore |
| Sea Charters Sportfishing | Inshore & Offshore |
| Cape Cod Charter Guys | Inshore & Offshore |
| First Light Sportfishing | Inshore & Offshore |
Top Fishing Spots in Cape Cod
Cape Cod Canal
No list of Cape Cod fishing spots would be complete without mentioning the Cape Cod Canal. This 7-mile long stretch of water connects the freshwater and the saltwater and is home to some amazing fishing.
If you’re on a larger boat, fishing at the end of the canal during the morning hours is a sure way to land a boatload. Many anglers will also kayak up the canal and have a great fishing experience while taking in the beautiful landscape.
Yarmouth
Yarmouth has some of the best striped bass fishing in all of Cape Cod. The jetties below the bridge make for the perfect home for stripers, while the beaches allow for the best shore fishing experience you could hope for. Set up in the morning hours to get the best spot, though nighttime fishing here is very popular, too.
Scusset Harbor Jetty
The jetties and plantations here are another popular locale for striped bass. The locals say the best time to fish here is when the tide is breaking at daybreak and when the winds change direction, from the west to the east. This can, however, make for some cool temperatures. The fishing, though, will not disappoint all year round.
Morris Island, Chatham
Tuna and striped bass are a favorite for this island, and are in plenty. The spring and summer months bring some of the largest of these fish to the waters around the island, but that’s not the most popular reason many come here to fish.
The shark population here is also one of the largest around the Cape, with the likes of makos and blue sharks roaming the waters.
Old Silver Beach
Old Silver Beach in Falmouth is as popular for its water clarity as its fish population. This is because you can literally see the fish. In fact, on most days, you can see clear through to the bottom. This makes for a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many anglers.
Best time of day to fish Cape Cod
Morning is considered by many to be the best time to fish nearly anywhere in the world; Cape Cod isn’t any different. As the tides begin to change when the rising of sun, the fish go into a feeding frenzy and show up in places they wouldn’t normally come to all because the baitfish are active.
Many anglers will simply set up onshore and have a great haul after only a couple hours of fishing. This is also the busiest time of day to fish, meaning the pressure on the fish will be at its highest.
Large fish, though, will eat all day long. So, if a monster is what you’re after, waiting a few hours isn’t going to hurt your chances.
Booking Charters in Cape Cod
Though not a requirement to enjoy Cape Cod fishing, a fishing charter is a great way to get to the deeper waters in hopes of landing a monster and target areas not accessible by a kayak or small boat.
The key, though, to booking a fishing charter is knowing when to go. In this section, we’re going to look at the best times to book a fishing charter, as well as how long you should stay on the water and what times of day you should start.
Best Season for Booking a Cape Cod Fishing charter
Summer is the most popular month for fishing charters in the Cod as this is the time of the year many tourists fill the fishing holes.
That being said, the spring months make for some great fishing while allowing you to beat the crowds. Spring also offers some of the best value, but the spots can still fill up quickly so it’s best to book as soon as possible.
Morning Vs. Afternoon
The time of day you head out on a charter is going to depend greatly on the length of trip, which we’ll look at in the next section. However, the morning time tends to be the best time to head to the waters, especially as the sun is rising.
Fish tend to use lowlight times, such as the time at daybreak and again as the sun sets, to get into a feeding frenzy. This is the best time to get your line in the water.
That being said, the afternoon offers some advantages as well, the main one being pressure on the fish. Though the summer brings pressure all day long, and even into the nighttime, the afternoon sees a small lull in that, allowing you to get to a spot you might not normally have access to.
Trip Length
There will be two main trip lengths available when booking a fishing charter in Cape Cod, ½ day and full day. Let’s look at each one.
Half-day fishing charters are extremely popular in Cape Cod because of the area’s close proximity to deep waters. Also, since striped bass are a fisherman favorite of the Cod and are in such large supply, these shorter trips provide plenty of opportunities to fill the boat.
These trips range from 3-5 hours in length and hit some of the most popular spots around the Cod. If you’re looking for great fishing and value, but don’t have all day to fish, a half-day trip might be best.
A full-day trip is a great way to experience everything the deep waters around the Cod have to offer. You can spend your morning chasing striped bass before moving on to some bluefin tuna action. Most charters will offer beverages and food for you to eat, as well, for these longer trips.
A full-day trip can range from 7 to 10 hours spent on the water. And, while they are more expensive than a half-day trip, going for a full day can give you an experience you wouldn’t have with any other trip.
For a complete breakdown of the best time and season to fish Nantucket, please check out this helpful article. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish near Portsmouth, please check out this helpful article I wrote.
Cape Cod fishing & Tidal Impacts
Tides play a large role in the fishing of Cape Cod. The breaking tides of June, or the tides during dawn, are some of the most popular times to fish in Cape Cod.
Many land large stripers during this time using surface lures as they are coming in to feed. This is also a great time to fish from the shore as the stripers will be in close.
Those times which the tides change, both from low to high and vice versa, are going to be the best times to fish in Cape Cod, though high tide is best for those wishing to fish in the canals. This brings the deepest water to what are normally shallow waterways, allowing more fish, and bigger fish, to come in to hunt.
The Cape Cod Canal is likely the most popular place to fish during the breaking tides as this tide scenario brings the fish to the surface as well, making site fishing much easier.
For a complete breakdown of the best time and season to catch flounder, please check out this helpful article.
Storms & Cape Cod Fishing
The days leading up to a storm are some of the best fishing you can have in Cape Cod. This is especially true for the Cape Cod Canal. As the fish sense the change in pressure, the baitfish will either go inland or go to the deeper waters. As many go inland, this makes for an excellent chance at a feeding frenzy for many species, especially the striped bass.
The fall storms, called Nor’easters, have even more of an effect on the fishing. If you’re able, hit the waters the day before one hits and you won’t be disappointed.
Is Winter Fishing Bad or Good in Cape Cod
Winter fishing has its ups and downs in Cape Cod. On one hand, the winters can be absolutely brutal. On the other, there are some species that never leave the waters around the Cape. If you can brave the cold, you can have some success in the winter.
That being said, those species who do stay will slow down considerably, so the bite won’t be as strong or as steady as it was during the spring and summer months. Also, the larger fish will have moved off, so you are less likely to catch a monster.
Night fishing in Cape Cod
Night fishing is incredibly popular in Cape Cod, especially for striped bass. This is especially true during the breaking tides of June. Anglers in the area wait all year for this one month to experience night fishing on the Cape Cod Canal.
You are also sure to have success night fishing around many of the jetties in the Cape, as they will be home to striped bass as well.
Shore/Surf Fishing: Best Times and Season
Shore fishing is an incredibly popular method of fishing in Cape Cod. The best time of day for shore fishing is going to be the early morning hours before daybreak. This is when the larger fish come up to the shallower waters to feed. The best season for shore fishing is the spring into the summer months.
