Cape Cod Fishing Forecast: The Last Two Weeks of July

The second half of July is when Cape Cod fishing changes gears. Summer is in full swing, water temperatures continue to climb, and anglers who adapt their tactics will enjoy some of the best action of the season.

Here's what to expect over the remainder of July.

Striped Bass: Go Deep or Go After Dark

As inshore water temperatures approach or exceed 70 degrees, striped bass become much more selective. The easy daytime topwater bite begins to fade, and larger fish seek cooler, oxygen-rich water.

Look for bass to hold around:

Surfcasters should shift almost exclusively to dawn, dusk, and nighttime trips. The best beach fishing will occur during moving water after sunset when larger bass move shallow to feed.

Boat anglers will find success with:

One interesting trend this summer has been the abundance of squid well into July. Instead of immediately switching to bunker patterns, many successful anglers are still matching squid with pink, amber or white soft plastics, epoxy jigs, and swimming lures.

Bonito Are Knocking on the Door

Late July traditionally marks the full arrival of Atlantic bonito around the Cape, and all signs point toward another strong start.

Watch for schools around:

Keep a spinning outfit ready with:

The first fish often show up around breaking bait and diving terns before the crowds realize they're here.

Bluefish Continue to Provide Action

Bluefish remain one of the most reliable species during late July.

Expect good fishing around:

Surface feeds can erupt at any time, making poppers, pencils, and soft plastics exciting choices.

Fluke Fishing Keeps Improving

Summer flounder fishing should continue getting better through the end of the month.

Drift sandy bottoms in 10 to 25 feet of water using:

Many keeper fish are coming from Nantucket Sound and Vineyard waters as summer settles in.

Bluefin Tuna Stay Consistent

Bluefin fishing has been one of the bright spots this season.

Anglers fishing east of Chatham and south of the Islands should continue finding fish feeding on sand eels, mackerel, and squid. Trolling remains productive, while jig-and-pop opportunities develop whenever fish push bait to the surface.

Best Bets for the Rest of July

★★★★★ Bonito – More arriving daily with improving opportunities.

★★★★☆ Bluefish – Reliable and aggressive on both sides of the Cape.

★★★★☆ Bluefin Tuna – Excellent offshore opportunities for prepared crews.

★★★☆☆ Striped Bass – Quality fish remain available, but anglers must fish deeper or later.

★★★★☆ Fluke – Improving steadily with plenty of keeper potential.

Late July rewards anglers who adjust to summer conditions rather than fish like it's still June. Fish early. Fish late. Target deeper water during the day. Keep an eye on birds, bait, and current edges.

Perhaps the biggest wildcard this year has been the extended squid presence around Cape Cod. If that forage remains abundant through the end of July, expect striped bass, bluefin, and even early bonito to continue keying on slim-profile baits rather than larger bunker imitations.

The dog days of summer are here—but some of Cape Cod's best fishing is just getting started.