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Stripers Blitz Canal at Sunrise After Hurricane Erin Swells
Artificial Lure here with your Cape Cod Canal fishing report for August 28th, 2025. After Hurricane Erin’s offshore passage kicked up a wild swell and shuffled the deck last weekend, things have settled but don’t let the calmer water fool ya—the action’s been red hot in the Canal, especially at daybreak.
Let’s start with the conditions. Sunrise was at 6:03 am, with sunset at 7:23 pm. On the tide side, high tide rolled in at 5:39 am and again at 5:54 pm, with lows just after midnight and shortly before 1 pm, according to data from CapeTides.com and Tides4Fishing. These large swings are prime for current-loving species, and today’s tidal coefficient was a hefty 72 this morning—expect strong current and plenty of moving water, which always gets the fish chewing.
The week’s weather stabilized after those big swells dirtied up the water, and now we have decent visibility and just a light breeze—surface chop is minimal along the Canal, though occasional swells could be a factor if you’re near the jetties or ledges.
Fishing-wise, it’s safe to say the Canal has absolutely blown up these past few mornings. Red Top Sporting Goods in Buzzards Bay is calling it the best bite in two years, and their regulars aren’t known for exaggerating. Tuesday saw plenty of stripers, with fish from 15 up to 25 pounds landed, and the trend continued into Wednesday and Thursday with schoolies and slots mixed in. East end is still the top spot at dawn—keep your eyes peeled for working birds and you’ll find the fish. If you miss the sunrise blitz, west end’s been producing later in the morning as tides flip and current starts to shift.
Striper are keying in on dense schools of peanut bunker and silversides left behind by scattered bonito. Pencil poppers are the standout topwater plug right now at daybreak, with bone and mackerel patterns being especially productive. Epoxy jigs and metal also shine later when bass push deeper or if you see splashes farther out from the rocks.
For bait anglers, live eels, mackerel chunks, and fresh sea worms are still favorites, all available at M&D Outfitters and local bait shops. Those bringing the cooler are getting plenty of action drifting chunks on the bottom during slack or using sandworms for schoolies at first light.
Meanwhile, bluefish have absolutely loaded into upper Buzzards Bay, especially near the Hog Island Channel. Three-to-five-pound cocktails are eager customers for both metals and poppers, but make sure you’re running wire leaders or risk donating your favorite lure.
As for the speedsters, bonito blitzes are fewer after the blow, but you might catch scattered fish outside the east end in Cape Cod Bay. They’re popping up quick, so always have a small metal, epoxy jig, or even a Deadly Dick rigged and ready.
Tautog are picking up around rocky structure in the Canal, and as the sea bass season trails off expect more boats targeting tog with green crab on snares or jigs.
If you’re looking for a couple surefire hot spots:
- East End stonework around dawn, riding the incoming
- Along the west end shelf after the tide flips, especially as bait stacks up on the current seam
Don’t miss the sunrise bite—fish are up and feeding hard right at daybreak, but it’s quick and you’ve got to be moving with the schools.
Thanks for tuning in to your local fishing report from Artificial Lure. Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss the bite. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
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Published on 3 days, 2 hours ago