Episode Details
Back to Episodes
Early Season Stripers and Tog Bite Heating Up on Martha's Vineyard
Published 1 year ago
Description
Artificial Lure here with your April 20th fishing report from Martha’s Vineyard. Spring’s finally waking up the island waters, and the action is just starting to heat up for anglers willing to put in the time.
We’re starting the morning off with sunrise at 5:57 AM and sunset wrapping up close to 7:32 PM. Today’s weather looks mild, with highs reaching into the upper 50s to 60 degrees and a mostly light breeze—classic spring conditions, good for extended sessions on the rocks or sand. Water temps around the Vineyard and Nantucket Sound are creeping near 50 degrees, ideal for kickstarting both tog and schoolie striper activity[1].
Tidewise, we’re working with a decent set for morning and evening bites, which should help the early risers and the folks who like an evening send-off. Low tide falls just after sunrise, with a strong incoming push throughout the late morning—prime time to target troughs and creek mouths.
Here’s what’s biting: Early reports from the southern beaches say fresh-run schoolie stripers—some still slick with sea lice—are showing up, especially around the south shore. These first migrants are on the smaller side, but their presence means bigger fish are right behind them. The estuaries and salt ponds are loaded up with river herring, and that’s got the resident stripers fired up. I’ve seen ospreys and gulls working hard over the herring schools, which is never a bad sign[1].
If you’re targeting tog, the bite is just starting to show up as water temps hit that 50-degree mark. Try green crabs or Asian shore crabs on a classic tog rig, and work the rocky structure near East Chop or the breakwall at West Chop.
For stripers, stick with small soft plastics—like a 4-inch paddletail in natural colors or white—and slim profile swimmers that mimic river herring. Early-season stripers tend to hang tight to structure and deeper drop-offs on the outgoing tide. Sand eel imitations and bucktails are also consistent producers this time of year. Folks tossing metal—like Kastmasters or smaller SP Minnows—are picking up fish when the wind’s onshore. On the bait side, fresh clam or seaworms are a reliable bet if you want to soak bait and wait.
Hot spots this morning include the surf along South Beach and the mouths of the Lagoon and Sengekontacket Pond. Those fishing the jetties at Menemsha and Eastville have also reported solid early-season action.
There have been a few keeper schoolies landed, but numbers are mostly shorts—expect fish in the 18 to 24-inch range right now[1][5]. The action will only pick up in the coming weeks as more migratory fish push through and water temps keep rising.
That’s the scoop for today, tight lines out there, and I’ll see you on the water.
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
This episode includes AI-generated content.
We’re starting the morning off with sunrise at 5:57 AM and sunset wrapping up close to 7:32 PM. Today’s weather looks mild, with highs reaching into the upper 50s to 60 degrees and a mostly light breeze—classic spring conditions, good for extended sessions on the rocks or sand. Water temps around the Vineyard and Nantucket Sound are creeping near 50 degrees, ideal for kickstarting both tog and schoolie striper activity[1].
Tidewise, we’re working with a decent set for morning and evening bites, which should help the early risers and the folks who like an evening send-off. Low tide falls just after sunrise, with a strong incoming push throughout the late morning—prime time to target troughs and creek mouths.
Here’s what’s biting: Early reports from the southern beaches say fresh-run schoolie stripers—some still slick with sea lice—are showing up, especially around the south shore. These first migrants are on the smaller side, but their presence means bigger fish are right behind them. The estuaries and salt ponds are loaded up with river herring, and that’s got the resident stripers fired up. I’ve seen ospreys and gulls working hard over the herring schools, which is never a bad sign[1].
If you’re targeting tog, the bite is just starting to show up as water temps hit that 50-degree mark. Try green crabs or Asian shore crabs on a classic tog rig, and work the rocky structure near East Chop or the breakwall at West Chop.
For stripers, stick with small soft plastics—like a 4-inch paddletail in natural colors or white—and slim profile swimmers that mimic river herring. Early-season stripers tend to hang tight to structure and deeper drop-offs on the outgoing tide. Sand eel imitations and bucktails are also consistent producers this time of year. Folks tossing metal—like Kastmasters or smaller SP Minnows—are picking up fish when the wind’s onshore. On the bait side, fresh clam or seaworms are a reliable bet if you want to soak bait and wait.
Hot spots this morning include the surf along South Beach and the mouths of the Lagoon and Sengekontacket Pond. Those fishing the jetties at Menemsha and Eastville have also reported solid early-season action.
There have been a few keeper schoolies landed, but numbers are mostly shorts—expect fish in the 18 to 24-inch range right now[1][5]. The action will only pick up in the coming weeks as more migratory fish push through and water temps keep rising.
That’s the scoop for today, tight lines out there, and I’ll see you on the water.
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
This episode includes AI-generated content.