BD Saltwater Fishing Report 10/23/2026

Late October is delivering some surprisingly good saltwater fishing across southern New England. Striped bass are continuing their migration, bonito are hanging around longer than many expected, and false albacore made an encouraging appearance on Cape Cod this week. Strong northeast winds have made fishing difficult at times, but anglers taking advantage of the better weather windows are still finding plenty of action.

Photo Courtesy Capt. Brian Kelly RPS Fishing

Cape Cod

Striped Bass: Cape Cod Bay produced some outstanding fishing over the weekend, with large schools of bass ranging from 18 to 30 inches pushing 4- to 5-inch sand eels tight against the beaches. While the largest schools have moved on, fish are still being caught from the sand, particularly when northeast winds push bait into shallow water. The east end of the Cape Cod Canal has also been productive, with schoolies, slot-sized fish, and occasional larger bass. Backwaters and salt ponds throughout the Upper and Mid-Cape remain reliable, especially during late afternoon and evening tides when bass are feeding on silversides and juvenile herring.

Bluefish: Bluefish have become less consistent around much of the Cape, although scattered cocktail blues remain in Buzzards Bay and portions of Nantucket Sound. Larger bluefish have also been reported in Nantucket Sound. Anglers fishing around bait concentrations should keep a durable fly handy, but striped bass remain a considerably more dependable inshore target.

Bonito: Bonito continue to surprise anglers this late in the season, with fish appearing around the east end of the Canal, lower Buzzards Bay, and the Elizabeth Islands. Recent feeds near the Islands have produced multiple bonito, while scattered fish remain around the Upper Cape and Nantucket Sound. The schools are smaller and moving quickly, so covering water and watching for birds will be important. Sparse baitfish flies and epoxy minnows remain excellent choices.

False Albacore: Encouraging news this week. A significant albie blitz developed along the south side of the Mid-Cape on Thursday, with fish pushing tight against the beach and several caught from shore. This was one of the first substantial reports since the latest northeast blow. It remains uncertain whether these fish will stay, but the south-facing beaches around Hyannis and Nantucket Sound are worth watching closely. Have small, sparse silverside and anchovy patterns ready.

Bluefin Tuna: Giant bluefin continue to offer offshore opportunities east of the Outer Cape, although recent feeding windows have become shorter and less predictable. Strong winds have also limited offshore effort. Smaller recreational-size tuna have not been reported consistently, making this a difficult fishery for fly anglers. Any opportunity will depend heavily on finding accessible surface-feeding fish during favorable weather.

Photo Courtesy Capt. Brian Kelly RPS Fishing

Rhode Island

Striped Bass: Rhode Island continues to produce some of the most dependable late-season bass fishing in the region. The Providence and Seekonk Rivers have been particularly productive, with large fish holding around bait concentrations. Along the coast, Narragansett, Newport, Aquidneck Island, and the South County beaches are producing fish ranging from schoolies to around 20 pounds, with occasional larger bass. Some excellent daytime blitzes have developed close to the beaches, while nighttime fishing around rocks, rips, and reefs offers opportunities for larger fish.

Bluefish: Bluefish remain mixed into the fall-run fishing, although recent reports have focused much more heavily on striped bass and bonito. Smaller blues are still appearing around Narragansett Bay and the South County shoreline. Anglers encountering surface feeds should be prepared for the occasional bluefish, particularly where bait is concentrated against rocks or beaches.

Bonito: Large bonito continue to show off Narragansett, with fish feeding heavily around abundant bait. Some of these fish have been exceptionally healthy and aggressive, providing excellent light-tackle opportunities. Scattered bonito are also being reported around Newport and portions of the South County coast. Rhode Island remains one of the better places to target a late-season bonito on the fly.

False Albacore: Slowing but not finished. Albies remain scattered around Newport and the South County shoreline, although dependable feeds are becoming increasingly difficult to find. Most recent hardtail reports have been dominated by bonito, with fewer consistent albie sightings. Anglers specifically targeting false albacore should concentrate on clean water, active bait, and favorable weather windows rather than expecting fish to appear in the same locations each day.

Bluefin Tuna: Offshore tuna reports remain limited, particularly for recreational-size fish. Giant bluefin have been present on the broader southern New England grounds this fall, but there has not been enough recent activity to describe a dependable fly-fishing opportunity south of Block Island. Weather and locating active surface feeds remain the major challenges.

Greater Massachusetts

Striped Bass: The fall migration is winding down, but there are still fish to be caught. The Weymouth Back River has been one of the better remaining options around Boston Harbor, particularly near Bare Cove Park and Great Esker Park. Occasional surface feeds have also appeared around Slate and Grape Islands. On the South Shore, Black Rock Beach and Damons Point continue to produce late-season bass. Farther north, Salem Sound and the rocky shoreline around Cape Ann are holding scattered fish, while Plum Island remains an option around Parking Lot 6 in the Parker River Wildlife Refuge. River mouths, estuaries, and protected water are becoming increasingly important as the larger schools move south.

Bluefish: Bluefish have become very scarce north of Cape Cod. There have been very few dependable bluefish sightings in Massachusetts Bay or along the North Shore. Buzzards Bay and the South Coast remain better possibilities, although even there, blues should be considered a secondary target.

Bonito: Westport, lower Buzzards Bay, and the waters around Gooseberry Point remain worth watching, with recent reports of bonito moving out of Buzzards Bay and along the nearby shoreline. The schools are scattered, but there are still opportunities for fly anglers willing to search for breaking fish.

False Albacore: Scattered fish remain along the South Coast, particularly around the western end of Buzzards Bay and nearby waters. Recent Westport-area reports have included albies mixed with bonito and bluefish. There are no dependable reports of a significant albie fishery farther north in Massachusetts Bay. For anglers hoping to target hardtails, the South Coast, Cape Cod, and Rhode Island remain the better options.

Bluefin Tuna: Giant bluefin remain an offshore possibility in Massachusetts waters, particularly east of Cape Cod, although the most recent offshore reports describe brief and unpredictable feeding windows. There have been no convincing new reports of a dependable school-size tuna bite around Stellwagen Bank. Anglers should consider this a specialized opportunity rather than a reliable late-season target.

Photo Courtesy Capt. Brian Kelly RPS Fishing

The Bottom Line

Cape Cod is one of the most exciting places to be fishing this week. Striped bass are still feeding heavily in Cape Cod Bay and the Canal, bonito remain around the Elizabeth Islands and Buzzards Bay, and Thursday's albie blitz on the south side was an encouraging development for anglers hoping to connect with one more hardtail.

Rhode Island continues to offer excellent striped bass fishing, particularly around the Providence and Seekonk Rivers, Newport, and the South County beaches. Bonito have also remained surprisingly strong, making Rhode Island another excellent choice for anglers targeting late-season hardtails.

Farther north, Massachusetts is clearly moving toward the end of the migration. Striped bass are becoming more scattered, but the Weymouth Back River, South Shore beaches, and a few North Shore locations continue to produce.

The biggest takeaway is to match the bait and stay mobile. Small silversides, juvenile herring, and sand eels are fueling much of the action, so don't be afraid to downsize. Keep a second rod rigged for bonito and albies, particularly around Cape Cod and Rhode Island.

Late October can be unpredictable, but there is still enough bait and enough fish around to make every good weather window worth taking advantage of.

Always check current state and federal regulations before fishing.