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November Tides and Fall Action at Cape Cod Canal
Cape Cod Canal gave us a classic first week of November morning—crisp at 52°F, a steady 9 mph breeze, and air buzzing with that special mix of sea and salt. The low this morning was about 48°F and we’re only seeing a high of 55°F today, so dressing in comfy layers was the call. Sunrise hit at 7:06 am, and sunset's wrapping up at 5:47 pm, leaving almost 11 hours of daylight to work the tides and chase that fall action. Water temp’s hanging close to 60°F—ideal for holding late-season striper and tautog.
The Canal’s tides today started off with a very low at 5:53 am, bottoming out at nearly zero, but the swing really picked up heading into a strong mid-morning flood. High tide peaked at 11:07 am with 3.62 feet, and another negative low swings through at 6:24 pm—real current chewers at both flanks. If you want to take advantage of the major fish movements, aim to work your spots right before and as that tide turns.
Strong tidal coefficients this week mean a ton of current—perfect for big bass on the feed. CapeTides.com and TidesChart.com both call today an “average” solunar fish activity day, but if you hit it from about 9:50 am through high water at lunch, and again in the witching hour before sunset, you’ll find most action. The wind is light enough not to mess with drifts or topwater presentations.
For our diehards and canal rats: the stripers are still around, though the pushing schools are thinning as the water cools. According to reports in EastBayRI, 45-inch class fish were still caught last week right at the Canal mouth, so there’s legit potential if you put in your time. The action’s best on live eels and big soft plastics like 9-inch paddletails. Some sharpies are still working magic with the classic white bucktail or chartreuse Savage Sand Eels, especially through the heavier rips as the tide fills. If you’re chunking, fresh mackerel and sea clam are both solid—especially for tautog at the east end structure.
Speaking of tautog, the local limit’s five per, and the bite on green crab and Asian crab remains red hot along both sides, especially near the stone jetties by the Bourne Bridge and under the Sagamore end rocks. Daybreak today saw a pack of us pulling in keeper tog, many in the 3-4 pound range, with a few over five for the patient sticklers bouncing rigs close to bottom.
Best hot spots right now? Start at the East End by Sandwich—you’ll find a mix of structure, deeper holes, and swirling current. That stretch from the Scusset Beach pier south toward the railroad bridge is holding fish. The Middle Ground by the Herring Run is another magnet—stripers move in to intercept bait, and the tog pile up off the rocks there too when the water's moving. If you’re grinding it out through dusk, keep an eye on the schoolie blitzes that sometimes erupt along those lighted stretches near the Sagamore Bridge.
For lures, the usual suspects rule: big white or bone-colored spooks for topwater at first and last light, and then heavy metal (Savage Sand Eel jigs, JoeBaggs Patriot Fish, or bucktail jigs tipped with curly tails) as the sun moves up and the current gets moving. Don’t sleep on swimming plugs like the Daiwa SP Minnow—a retrieve just fast enough to keep it in the current’s sweet spot will often get slammed.
That’s the scoop for Cape Cod Canal this November Monday—bites are there for the persistent, and those fall monsters could still pop up with the right tide and a little luck. Dress warm, fish safely, and keep your head on a swivel for surface explosions or the thump of a late-season cow.
Thanks for tuning in—be sure to subscribe for more on-the-water updates and hard-earned local tips. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease dot ai.
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Published on 1 month, 2 weeks ago