6 Essential Lures You Need for Fishing Cape Cod in September

Fishing Cape Cod in the spring and summer is, of course, amazing. But many of us wait all year for Sept.,Oct, November! The waters come alive with migrating striped bass, blitzing bluefish, and the occasional bonito or false albacore in the mix. As the days shorten and the water cools, baitfish like peanut bunker, silversides, and sand eels school up in massive numbers, fueling the kind of fishing that keeps anglers coming back year after year. To make the most of this relatively short but spectacular season, having the right lures in your tackle bag is critical. Here are six essential saltwater lures you should never hit the Cape without in the fall.

1. Topwater Lures

Few things beat the thrill of a striped bass or bluefish exploding on a surface plug. In fall, when bass are corralling bait near the surface, a classic popper can be irresistible. Choose 5- to 7-inch models in natural bunker or bone-white patterns. Fish them with a steady pop-pause retrieve in calm conditions, or faster when bluefish are aggressively feeding. SHOP POPPERS

2. Soft Plastic Paddle Tails

Soft plastics on jig heads are some of the most versatile fall lures. A 5- to 7-inch paddle tail shad mimics peanut bunker perfectly and can be fished in the canal, along beaches, or from boats. In deeper water, match with a heavier jig head (up to 2 ounces); in shallow back bays, go lighter. Brands like NLBN make proven options that striped bass can’t resist. SHOP PADDLE TAILS

3. Metals

Sand eels are a staple bait in Cape waters come fall, and few lures imitate them better than a thin profile metal. Their slim profile and subtle wiggle excel in calm surf or nighttime conditions when bass are feeding heavily on skinny bait. Fish them slow and steady, letting their natural glide do the work. Green and white tails are the top colors for the Cape’s waters. SHOP METALS

4. Epoxy Jigs

When schools of peanut bunker or silversides are tight and bass are feeding deep, metals and epoxy jigs are essential. They cast a mile, sink fast, and perfectly mimic small baitfish. Use them to reach breaking fish from the beach or when albies and bonito are still around in early fall. Stick to 1- to 2-ounce sizes in silver, green, and olive. SHOP MF EPOXIES

5. Swimmers and Minnow Plugs

Classic minnow-style plugs like the Bomber Long A or SP Minnow remain deadly in fall. They dive shallow and swim with an erratic action that striped bass can’t ignore, especially during dusk and dawn runs. They shine in backwater estuaries, around jetties, and along sandy beaches where baitfish hug the shoreline. SHOP DAIWA SP MINNOW

6. Bucktail Jigs

If there’s one lure that consistently produces all season, it’s the bucktail. In fall, it’s especially effective when bass hold near the bottom in rips or the Canal. Tip them with pork rind or soft plastic trailers for extra appeal. Bucktails can imitate everything from squid to sand eels depending on how you fish them, making them a true Cape Cod staple. SHOP JIGS

Fall fishing on Cape Cod is fast-paced, unpredictable, and unforgettable. With these six lures—poppers, soft plastics, needlefish plugs, metals, swimmers, and bucktails—you’ll be ready for whatever the migration throws your way. Pack light, be mobile, and always keep an eye out for birds working the water. The blitzes don’t last forever, but the memories will.