The dog days of summer are officially over. After a slower stretch in July, the fishing around Martha’s Vineyard has really picked up over the past few weeks. Bonito are in, bluefish are showing under birds, and striped bass fishing on the flats and in shallow water has come back to life.
The Killer B’s—bluefish, bass, and bonito—are all in the mix, making for some of the most varied fly fishing we've seen all summer.
Bonito
Bonito are here, and they're providing some of the most exciting action around the island right now. Look for birds and surface activity, particularly early in the morning. The bonito have been feeding on smaller forage and have been a little picky, so smaller flies have been important.
A white Albie Whore or chartreuse Surf Candy have both been good options. We also have a good selection of custom bonito and albie flies in the shop, with more patterns on the way as we head into the heart of the fall fishery.
As with any bonito fishing, finding feeding fish is only part of the equation. These fish can be selective, so having the right fly and making a good presentation is important. Be prepared to make quick shots to fish that can disappear almost as quickly as they arrived.
Bluefish
Bluefish are also around and have been showing up under birds, especially early in the morning. We've been finding them mixed in with schools of bonito, which can make for some pretty chaotic surface action.
Wire leader has been a must. We've even landed a few bonito and striped bass while fishing wire for bluefish, so don't be surprised if something other than a bluefish ends up eating your fly.
Striped Bass
Striped bass fishing has really picked up in the flats and shallow water. Crab and shrimp patterns have been productive, and sand eel patterns are also getting plenty of attention.
A moving tide remains key, but the fishing has been good throughout the day rather than being limited to a short morning window.
For fly anglers who enjoy sight fishing, this has been a particularly good stretch. Fish are moving into shallow water and giving anglers opportunities to work flats, beaches, and other skinny-water areas with crab, shrimp, and baitfish patterns.
If you’ve been wanting to sight fish for stripers on foot, don’t wait. Our recent wade trips have produced some of the biggest bass of the year. This highly technical style of fishing can be difficult to unlock, but it’s also incredibly rewarding—and our guides will teach you how, when, and where to look for and present flies to sight-feeding stripers.
We’ll also make sure you have the right gear to get the job done. All equipment is provided on our guided trips, so you can focus on learning the fishery, making the cast, and hopefully watching a striper eat your fly in a few feet of water.
Black Sea Bass
Black sea bass have also been getting in on the surface action. We've been seeing them come up particularly after a bluefish blitz. They're an easy species to overlook when bonito and striped bass are buzzing around, but when they're feeding on the surface, they can provide some surprisingly fun fly fishing.
The Dog Days Are Over
The dog days are behind us, and the fishery is starting to feel like fall is just around the corner.
We're seeing more surface activity, more bait, and a great mix of species around the island. The next few weeks should only get better as we move toward the fall run.
We still have openings for Martha's Vineyard boat and shore fly fishing trips over the next couple of weeks. It's a great time to get out on the water while the fishing is picking up and before the crowds and boat traffic of the fall run arrive. Please email stephen@kismetoutfitters.com and abbie@kismetoutfitters.com, or call the shop at 774-549-5921 to book today!
The fish are here. The dog days are over. Now's the time to go fishing.
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