Best Fall Fishing Techniques on Cape Cod

As the air cools and the leaves begin to change, Cape Cod transforms into one of the premier fishing destinations on the East Coast. The fall run—a migration of striped bass, bluefish, false albacore, and tuna—draws anglers from all over, eager to experience some of the most exciting fishing of the year. Success during this season often comes down to timing, location, and technique. Here are some of the best fall fishing techniques to maximize your chances on the Cape.

1. Surfcasting with Plugs and Metals

Striped bass and bluefish push bait close to shore in the fall, making surfcasting especially productive. Topwater plugs like pencils, spooks, and poppers work wonders in the low light of dawn and dusk when fish are most aggressive. During bright, calm conditions, casting metals like Kastmasters or Deadly Dicks can reach distant schools and mimic the slim baitfish stripers key on in the fall.

Pro tip: Match lure size to the baitfish around. In October, silversides and peanut bunker dominate, so smaller offerings are often more effective.

2. Bucktail Jigging in Currents

The humble bucktail jig shines in fall conditions, especially around rips, inlets, and bridge abutments where bait funnels through moving water. By bouncing a bucktail near the bottom, anglers can entice both resident stripers and other migrating fish. Adding a soft plastic trailer like a curly tail or paddle tail increases strike potential.

Pro tip: Keep your jig weight light enough to feel the current but heavy enough to maintain bottom contact.

3. Fly Fishing the Flats and Creeks

For those who prefer fly fishing, fall is prime time on the Cape’s estuaries and tidal creeks. Schools of stripers feed aggressively on small bait, providing excellent opportunities for intermediate fly casters. Clouser Minnows and Deceivers in olive/white or chartreuse/white are reliable patterns.

Pro tip: Use an intermediate or sinking fly line to get your fly into the strike zone, especially when fish are feeding deeper.

4. Chasing False Albacore and Bonito

From mid-September into October, albies blitz the south side of the Cape and the Islands. These speedsters demand fast retrieves and precise casts. Metals, epoxy jigs, and small soft plastics are top choices. On the fly, small surf candies and epoxy patterns are deadly.

Pro tip: Albies can be selective. Downsizing your lure or fly and speeding up your retrieve often makes the difference.

5. Trolling for Tuna Offshore

For offshore anglers, fall marks the peak of bluefin tuna fishing east of Chatham and south of the Islands. Trolling squid bars, spreader bars, and rigged ballyhoo remains the go-to method. Chunking or jigging can also produce when tuna are feeding deeper.

Pro tip: Be ready to adapt quickly—tuna move fast, and success often comes to those willing to run and gun.

6. Light Tackle Inshore

When conditions are calm, inshore light tackle fishing can be unbeatable. Casting soft plastics like Slug-Gos or paddle tails on jig heads around rocky shorelines, jetties, and beaches can produce a mix of bass and bluefish.

Pro tip: Use fluorocarbon leaders for clear fall waters to avoid spooking fish.

Fall fishing on Cape Cod is about capitalizing on opportunity. The fish are hungry, the bait is abundant, and the migration clock is ticking. Whether you’re working a pencil popper into the surf, drifting a bucktail through a rip, or chasing tuna offshore, the key is to stay flexible and match your techniques to the conditions and the bait around you.

With the right approach, the Cape’s fall season can deliver some of the most memorable fishing days of the year.

SHOP THEMIGHTYFISH.COM