If You Put the Rods Away During the Dog Days of August, It’s Time to Pull Them Back Out!

September and October Can Be Prime Time for Cape Cod Beach Fishing

If you put your surf rods away during the dog days of August, you're not alone.

August can be a frustrating month for the beach angler. The days are hot, the beaches are crowded, water temperatures are high, and the fish can seem scattered. Sometimes the best strategy is to put the gear away for a few weeks, enjoy the summer and wait for conditions to change.

Well, it's time to pull those rods back out of the garage.

September and October can be two of the most exciting months of the entire year for fishing the beaches of Cape Cod.

The crowds thin out. The water starts to cool. Baitfish become abundant. Fall weather begins creating bigger surf and stronger currents. And, perhaps most importantly, predators know that winter is coming.

For the Cape Cod surf fisherman, that's a recipe for some serious action.

September Changes Everything

The arrival of September doesn't magically turn every beach into a fish-filled playground. But the overall conditions begin moving strongly in the angler's favor.

Water temperatures gradually begin dropping, baitfish become increasingly important, and migratory predators start feeding heavily.

Striped bass are the star attraction for many surfcasters, but they're certainly not the only game in town. Bluefish can provide incredible action, while bonito and false albacore can offer some of the most exciting light-tackle fishing Cape Cod has to offer.

And unlike the middle of summer, you don't necessarily have to fish all day to find them.

Dawn and Dusk Become Prime Time

Early mornings and evenings have always been productive periods for beach fishing, but the fall can make these windows especially good.

A falling tide around first light can be worth getting out of bed for.

So can the last hour before dark.

And when a fall storm or strong northeast blow gets the ocean moving, don't automatically assume the conditions are too rough. Sometimes a little wind, surf and dirty water are exactly what gets the fish feeding close to shore.

The Bait Is the Key

One of the biggest reasons fall fishing can be so good is simple:

There is a lot of food in the ocean....and it comes inshore.

Sand eels, peanut bunker, mullet, mackerel, squid and other forage species can all become important parts of the fall food chain.

When predators find concentrated bait, they often don't have to travel far to find a meal.

That's when a Cape Cod beach can come alive.

You might see birds working over bait. You might spot bass crashing in the wash. You might see albies exploding on the surface just beyond the breakers.

And sometimes you won't see anything at all—but the fish are there.

That's why covering water and paying attention to tides, structure and current becomes so important.

Stripers: The Main Event

For many Cape Cod surfcasters, September and October are what the entire season is about.

Striped bass can become increasingly aggressive as fall progresses, and beaches, rips, flats and points can all produce fish.

This is a great time to have a selection of plugs and soft plastics ready to match the forage.

Don't overlook topwater plugs when conditions are right. A surface strike from a fall striper in the wash is one of the most exciting experiences in saltwater fishing.

But also carry swimmers, darters, needlefish-style plugs and soft plastics.

And don't be afraid to experiment.

The fall can bring dramatically different conditions from one day to the next.

Bluefish Can Make Things Interesting

Bluefish are another reason to keep the surf gear handy.

When a school moves along the beach, the action can be spectacular. Blues are aggressive, hard-fighting and more than willing to attack a wide variety of lures.

Metal jigs, swimming plugs and topwaters can all produce.

Just remember that bluefish have teeth—and serious ones. Use appropriate terminal tackle and be careful when handling them.

Don't Forget About Bonito and Albies

If you enjoy light tackle, September can be one of the most exciting times of the year.

Bonito and false albacore can push bait close to shore, creating opportunities for anglers who are ready to react quickly.

These fish aren't necessarily going to be sitting in one spot waiting for you.

You have to find them.

Watch for diving birds, surface disturbances, nervous bait and sudden explosions on the surface. Keep a few small metals and epoxy-style jigs ready to go.

When an albie suddenly appears within casting distance, you don't want to spend five minutes digging through your tackle bag looking for the right lure.

October: Don't Assume the Season Is Over

One of the biggest mistakes a Cape Cod angler can make is deciding that summer is over and the fishing season must be winding down.

For the surf fisherman, October can be spectacular.

The beaches are quieter. The summer crowds are gone. The water is cooler. Fall storms can create powerful surf conditions, and bait can continue moving along the shoreline.

And when everything lines up, October can produce the kind of fishing that keeps surfcasters coming back year after year.

There can also be something special about standing on an almost empty Cape Cod beach in October, casting into the darkness while the waves crash around you.

No beach traffic.

No summer crowds.

Just you, the ocean and the possibility that the next cast could be the one.

Fish the Conditions, Not the Calendar

Don't get too caught up in a particular date.

Fall fishing is about conditions.

A warm spell can change things. A cold front can change things. A strong northeast wind can change things. A sudden bait movement can completely change a beach overnight.

Pay attention to water temperature, wind direction, tides, bait and bird activity.

And don't be afraid to move.

If a beach isn't producing, try another. Look for points, rips, troughs, cuts and areas where current concentrates bait.

The fish don't care what beach you've always fished.

They care where the food is.

It's Time to Restock the Surf Bag

If your surf gear has been sitting untouched since early August, now is the time to go through it.

Replace damaged leaders.

Check your knots.

Sharpen your hooks.

Make sure your reels are properly serviced and your line is in good shape.

Restock the tackle bag with a variety of plugs, metals and soft plastics.

And make sure you have a headlamp, pliers, spare leaders and other essentials ready to go.

Fall fishing can happen fast. You want to be prepared when the opportunity arrives.

The Best Part? The Beaches Are Yours Again

There's another reason September and October are so appealing to Cape Cod surfcasters.

The beaches come back to the fishermen.

The parking lots are quieter. The crowds disappear. You can walk stretches of shoreline that were packed with people a month earlier.

And that's when Cape Cod starts feeling like a completely different place.

The same beaches that were crowded with swimmers and beachgoers in July and August can become prime fishing destinations in September and October.

Pull Those Rods Back Out

If the dog days of August convinced you that your surf-fishing season was over, think again.

September and October can be the payoff for all the patience you've had during the summer.

Striped bass are feeding. Bluefish are roaming. Bonito and albies can provide incredible light-tackle opportunities. Bait is moving, the water is cooling and the ocean is beginning its transition toward fall.

So dust off the surf rod.

Spool up the reel.

Organize the plug bag.

Check the waders.

And get back on the beach.

Because on Cape Cod, some of the best fishing of the year may still be ahead of you.

Ready for the Fall Run?

Whether you're chasing stripers in the surf, looking for blitzing albies or simply trying to make the most of the quieter Cape Cod beaches, Goose Hummock has the rods, reels, lures, line and tackle you need for fall fishing.

The dog days are over.

The fall run is calling.