Falmouth schoolies and early bluefish as the fall run takes hold

Water at NOAA CO-OPS station 8449130 read 65°F this morning, and the nor'easter that just passed has cleared enough for the fall run to show. Per Saltwater Edge Blog (RI), bluefish are still in force and tautog are chewing after the October new moon. The Fisherman — Cape Cod & Islands reports that Falmouth Bait and Tackle is seeing bass and bluefish moving down the Falmouth shore and into the harbors, with schoolies to slot-sized fish and the occasional albie within reach of the jetties.

CURRENT CONDITIONS

65°F

Water temp · 7-day

Last Quarter

Moon phase

High 7:13 AM and low 12:34 PM EDT per NOAA CO-OPS 8449130; the ebb from the morning high runs to midday.

Tide / flow

Post-nor'easter water is clearing; check local forecast before heading out.

Weather

New to these readings? What water temp, tide, and moon phase mean for fishing →

What's biting

Active

Striped Bass

Active

Bluefish

Active

Tautog

Slow

False Albacore

Fish this water?

We're light on local intel here. Send us your report and we'll credit you.

Send a report

What's next

Tide is the planning tool this week. Per NOAA CO-OPS 8449130, high water is at 7:13 AM and low at 12:34 PM EDT, so the ebb runs from the morning high to midday. Plan the harbor mouths and the Falmouth jetties around that window.

Saltwater Edge Blog (RI) calls the extended forecast typical October weather, sunny and chilly. That should keep bluefish and bass feeding on bait pushed toward the beaches and into the harbors as the water settles after the storm. Tautog remain the most dependable target until bass show up in numbers. Check state regs before harvesting.

Context

Early October is the heart of the fall run on the Massachusetts coast. Baitfish move out of the harbors and salt ponds, and bass and bluefish follow them toward the beaches. Water in the mid-60s is typical for this point in the season. Shifting winds and falling water temperatures usually trigger the bigger push of fish later in the month, so the window opening after this storm is worth planning around.

Wayfinder

Get the tides, bait, and spots that are firing on Cape Cod Bay, in one plan.

Plan this weekend's trip for Cape Cod Bay →

Synthesized from real-time NOAA buoy data, USGS stream gauges, and current reports across regional fishing blogs, captain updates, and angler forums. Check local regulations before keeping fish. Never trust a single source for a trip decision.

EVERY SATURDAY MORNING

Weekly fishing intelligence

Nationwide conditions, what's biting, and honest gear deals. One email, no noise.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.