Cape Cod Bay Tuna Hot Spots

Spots in Cape Cod Bay to Look for Giant Bluefin Tuna when Fishing Cape Cod

Cape Cod Bay is a 604 square mile expanse of saltwater due south of Boston, MA. The Bay is encompassed by outer Cape Cod to the east, and Massachusetts' South Shore to the west. Seriously big tuna can be found throughout the Bay during the fall, summer and spring months. On some years giants are even seen in the Bay around Christmas. Giant Tuna will prove challenging to find inside the Bay. Yet there area few general areas that for whatever reason seem to yield a greater number of tuna sightings each season. Give these areas a check on your next Cape Cod Bay fishing trip and you may get a surprise from a 500 plus pound behemoth.

In the tuna fishing world, long distances through rough seas are often just part of doing business. However inside Cape Cod Bay, there are areas closer to shore that will prove better suited for small boats. The Fishing Ledge is one such location. The Ledge sits roughly 10 miles outside the east end of the Cape Cod Canal. The Fishing Ledge is located pretty much smack dab in the middle of Cape Cod Bay. When the wind is light and variable, we can easily access the Ledge in our 21 foot Hydra Sport. Unfortunately, if the seas begin to kick up, it is a smart decision for us to think about heading for the dock. However if the seas are glass calm, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for giant tuna cruising just beneath the water's surface.

Giant tuna will often create a large V-wake as they cruise just inches below the water's surface. Giants are spotted each year doing just this in the area of the Fishing Ledge, and in other areas around the Bay. If you plan on targeting smaller tuna on spinning gear, it may be smart to gauge the size of the tuna before casting. Although this is difficult to do, especially when the adrenaline is pumping.

Smaller tuna were sighted on numerous occasions just north of the Fingers during 2010. The Fingers is located outside Barnstable Harbor, and is much closer to shore than the Fishing Ledge. Tuna in the 150 pound range were commonly seen in this area throughout the 2010 season. Tuna in this weight class are much better suited for light tackle spin fishermen.

The area referred to by old timers as the Square off Billingsgate may also be an area worth taking a ride too. One tactic used successfully by tuna veterans is drifting live bluefish. Plenty of blues call Billingsgate home during the fishing season. These bluefish just happen to be one of the favorite prey items for large bluefin tuna..

Quite a few of these Billingsgate bluefish are on the enormous side of the spectrum. They may seem too big to use as bait. However a 1,000 pound bluefin certainly has no problem sucking down a 35 inch or longer bluefish.. These big bluefish make perfect bait for big bluefins. Snipping off a piece of the bluefish's tail can make the blue easier to fish under a kite or a balloon.

Fishing with Balloons and Kites

Using a kite is one of the most effective and exciting ways to catch a giant bluefin tuna. The kite keeps even large baits at the water's surface. This creates the scenario of a confused baitfish, swimming wildly on the ocean's surface. It's essentially the same thing as topwater bass fishing, except the fish is about 300 times bigger.

Details matter when kite fishing. Using braided line on Penn 80 or 130 conventional reels can really help a kite to fly high and strong even in a light breeze. Dropper lines set at intervals from the line running off the kite rod will help to decrease the severity of the angle of the main line running from the reel to the bait. "Bridling" baits can help to increase the longevity of precious live bluefish, pogies and mackerel.

Balloon fishing allows a fisherman to strategically place live baits at specific depths. Choose a weight that is heavy enough based on wind and current conditions. Attach the weight a distance up from the live bait on the main line by way of an elastic band. Pay out the amount of line that corresponds to the depth you would like to fish the bait. If you mark tuna at 50 feet, then pay out 50 feet of main line. If you mark tuna t 120 feet, then pay out 120 feet of line. Attach the balloon by tying it onto a loop of main line. Tying the balloon onto the loop will allow the balloon to break free when a fish hits the bait.. Float the balloon away from the boat and start the drift.