Bear’s Den Saltwater Fishing Report 10/2/2026
The first major nor'easter of the fall reshuffled the fishery, but the early returns are encouraging. Striped bass fishing has taken a major step forward, bonito are still around in good numbers, false albacore are beginning to reappear, and plenty of bay anchovies, sand eels, peanut bunker, and silversides remain throughout the region. For anglers, October is starting exactly how we'd like to see it.
Photo Courtesy Capt. Brian Kelly RPS Fishing Charters
Cape Cod
Striped Bass: Stripers are surrounding the Cape right now, with good fishing from the Canal through Cape Cod Bay and down the Outer Cape beaches. The east end of the Canal has been particularly productive, with fish ranging from schoolies to over 40 inches. Cape Cod Bay and the backside beaches are also holding migrating fish, giving anglers plenty of options away from the Canal crowds.
Bluefish: Bluefish have become surprisingly scarce around much of the Cape. The Islands are the major exception. Martha's Vineyard continues to produce good numbers, including some very large blues, so anglers fishing Vineyard Sound and the Island should keep wire tippet handy.
Bonito: Bonito appear to have handled the storm extremely well and have come roaring back along portions of the south side. Larger silversides are fueling much of the action, which is good news for anglers because the fish aren't necessarily keyed on microscopic bait. The south side, Vineyard Sound, and waters around Martha's Vineyard remain worth checking.
False Albacore: Still a question mark, but there are encouraging signs. The storm temporarily shut down the albie bite just as it was beginning to improve. There have been few confirmed fish from Hyannis through Waquoit since the blow, although albies have been caught around Martha's Vineyard. With clean water returning and plenty of bait remaining, the fish could reappear quickly.
Bluefin Tuna: This is one of the more interesting developments of the week. School-size bluefin appeared off Provincetown before the storm and were found again by boats getting back onto the water this week. For properly equipped fly anglers, these smaller tuna are much more interesting than the giants that dominated much of the summer.
Photo Courtesy Capt. Neal Vitullo Played For It Charters
Rhode Island
Striped Bass: The nor'easter appears to have pushed the Rhode Island fall run into another gear. The Providence and Seekonk Rivers have been loaded with feeding bass, while fish are also spread throughout Narragansett Bay. Topwater feeds have been reported from Jamestown through Narragansett, with additional action along the South County shoreline. Fish range from schoolies to over 40 inches.
Bluefish: Bluefish have become more noticeable since the storm. Many are small, but some substantially larger fish are mixed in. They're feeding alongside bass and hardtails from Narragansett Bay to the oceanfront, making a durable baitfish fly worth keeping nearby.
Bonito: Bonito survived the blow and have actually pushed surprisingly far into Narragansett Bay. Fish are being found from the Upper Bay and Providence River down through Narragansett and the oceanfront. Bay anchovies, sand eels, and peanut bunker are all contributing to the feeds.
False Albacore: They're back, but not everywhere. Confirmed fish have reappeared from Point Judith through Narragansett and Newport, while additional reports have come from Narragansett Bay. The bite is considerably more sporadic than it was before the storm, but there are enough fish around to justify carrying the albie rod.
Bluefin Tuna: Offshore reports were limited by the weather, but recreational bluefin should remain available on the midshore grounds south of Rhode Island and Block Island. Expect a clearer picture once more boats have a chance to get offshore.
Photo Courtesy Capt. Joe LeClair Fly Fish Salt Charters
Greater Massachusetts
Striped Bass: The South Shore is firmly into fall-run fishing. Humarock, Rexhame, Egypt Beach, and Peggotty Beach have all been producing stripers, while the mouths of the North and South Rivers and nearby embayments are seeing fish intercept herring fry being flushed toward the ocean. This is an excellent situation for fly anglers, especially around moving water and river mouths.
Bluefish: Bluefish remain inconsistent north of Cape Cod. There are scattered fish around Massachusetts Bay and the South Shore, but Buzzards Bay and the South Coast remain better choices for anyone specifically hoping to target blues.
Bonito: Westport and the South Coast continue to offer the possibility of bonito alongside striped bass and bluefish, while the more dependable bonito fishing remains farther south toward Buzzards Bay, Cape Cod, and the Islands.
False Albacore: The better albie fishing remains south of the main Massachusetts coastline. Martha's Vineyard has produced confirmed fish since the storm, and Rhode Island is beginning to see them again. Buzzards Bay and the South Coast remain worth watching, but farther north they are still an unlikely target.
Bluefin Tuna: Recreational-size bluefin remain in play around Stellwagen Bank, and the fish have been putting on some impressive surface displays while chasing northern halfbeaks. This is a specialized fly fishery, but when these smaller tuna stay on top, they can provide one of the most exciting opportunities of the entire fall.
The Bottom Line
The nor'easter didn't end the fall run—it appears to have accelerated it.
Striped bass are the standout this week. Cape Cod has fish from the Canal through Cape Cod Bay and down the Outer Cape, Rhode Island is seeing excellent surface activity from the Providence River through Narragansett Bay and onto the oceanfront, and the South Shore is lighting up around beaches, river mouths, and migrating herring fry.
The hardtail situation is more complicated. Bonito came through the storm surprisingly well and remain a very realistic fly target. Albies were knocked back, but confirmed fish are already reappearing around Martha's Vineyard, Narragansett, Point Judith, Newport, and portions of Narragansett Bay.
For fly anglers, don't put away the small flies yet. Keep the albie and bonito box ready, but make sure you also have larger peanut bunker and herring patterns available. October has arrived, the bait is moving, and the striped bass migration is finally beginning to look like the fall run we've been waiting for.
~anthony
