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Battling Stripers, Tautog, and Albies in the Mighty Cape Cod Canal
Artificial Lure reporting from the mighty Cape Cod Canal on this crisp Wednesday, November 5th. Sunrise was right at 6:19AM, and sunset’s coming quick at 4:31PM, which means you’ve got about ten hours of daylight—make ‘em count. Tidal action today’s classic fall drama: the first low tide hit at 3:50AM with a negative dip, high tide will peak at 9:53AM pushing just under 8 feet, so the morning current is ripping—prime conditions to move both bait and hungry fish. Second low is set for 4:26PM and another high just before midnight, so the lunch window through early afternoon is your best shot.
Weather’s giving us a break: steady temps in the mid-50s, not much cloud cover, and a bit of a breeze out of the southwest, so dress in layers for that Canal wind chill. No storms, just that salty chill that spells November on the Canal. That means both comfort and good fish movement—ideal for those making long casts upcurrent.
Now, let’s get to the action. Stripers are holding on, but we’re past the heavy cows—expect mostly schoolies and slot fish by day, with the chance for a surprise trophy after dark, especially near the inlets or deeper reaches. There’s still a solid push of fish in the system. Last few days, “Mashpee Mike” and “Paulie the Painter” (shoutout from local legend East End Eddie Doherty) landed nine fat bass, all over slot, working white and green paddle tails dead on the bottom against the current—so don’t be afraid to go heavy on your plastics. At night, bigger bass have been spotted near breachways and the behind-the-scenes rock piles, hunting deep.
November means transition, so we’re seeing bigger shad pushing through—light-tackle folks are having a blast with slabs, especially inside the ponds and quietly along the west end. False albacore are hanging around for now, but the bite is sporadic and windows are tight—watch for birds and surface busts, and have a metal or fast jig rigged and ready. Bluefish are waning, but there’s still steady tautog action for those working the edges and rock piles.
Best baits and lures right now: heavy paddle tails in white or chartreuse, green mackerel-pattern Shaddy Daddy plastics, and a classic bucktail jig if you need distance. Declan O’Donnell at Breachway Bait & Tackle confirms that for tog, green crab on a simple rig off any hard structure is putting in work. If wind’s up, bring a Kastmaster or other heavy metal for albies—otherwise, paddle tails and bucktails are your money makers today.
If you’re hunting for hot spots, head to the East End near the Railroad Bridge at the crack of dawn—outgoing tide there pushes bait against the rocks and brings lurking stripers. Herring Run is another crowd favorite, especially on a rising tide. Don’t sleep on “The Mossy” just before Sagamore Bridge—chartreuse plastics have been nailing slots there this week. If the bass bite gets soft, shift over to the boulder fields off the Bourne side—tautog are thick and biting.
In November, every day is different. Fish are moving, so cover water, change baits if it’s slow, and don’t park in one spot too long. Dusk and dawn still bring the best shot at a larger fish, and with sunset rolling in early, don’t get caught off guard.
Thanks for tuning in—be sure to subscribe for fresh, local Canal reports and stay tight out there! This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
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This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
Published on 1 month, 2 weeks ago