This is Artificial Lure reporting live for June 21st, 2025, bringing you the morning bite update for the legendary Cape Cod Canal and the nearby haunts.

We’re locked into early summer patterns, with water temps still a touch on the cool side for this date, so the striper migration is behind by about a week. That means more big fish are still on the move, and Canal regulars are cashing in. According to On The Water’s June 19th report, a new wave of big bass is pushing up from Buzzards Bay, with fish up to 39 inches caught this week on heavy jigs like the 100-gram Shimano Current Sniper. Schoolies and slots are showing, but it’s the possibility of a surprise Chesapeake cow that’s got everyone on their toes.

Bluefish have arrived in better numbers, especially along the south-facing beaches, with choppers and pencils both getting hit. Fluke fishing is worth targeting when the wind lets you fish effectively – plenty of shorties, but patient anglers are sticking decent keepers from shore, especially working a simple jig-and-teaser rig with Gulp swimming mullets and Spro bucktails. Kingfish are also mixing in.

Today, we’re working a big tide swing. At Bournedale, high tide hits around 5:30am and again near 11:30pm, with a low at about 11:55am. Sunrise is at 5:08am and sunset at 8:21pm – plenty of daylight to work, and you’ll want to time efforts around dawn, dusk, and those tide changes for the best shot at active fish.

Weather’s in our favor: a break from the wind and clearer skies are warming the shallows, firing up all species. Cape Cod Canal regulars know the strongest tides push bait and big bass to ambush points. Toss heavy jigs or topwaters into the moving water – pencil poppers are a local favorite for early morning busts, while soft plastics on a jighead or heavy swimmers get down when the current rips.

The east end of the Canal has been hot at first light with fish pushing bait into the rips, while the Herring Run area is holding some of the bigger striped bass right now. The mid-section near the railroad bridge has also seen steady action, especially when menhaden schools are thick.

Your best bet today for stripers is to work the deeper channels on an outgoing tide. For bluefish, target shallower flats and slack water zones with metals or poppers. Fluke hunters: stick to gentle drop-offs with jigs tipped with Gulp.

To sum it up, there’s a strong mix of schoolies, slots, and a few true cows, with bluefish and even kingfish in the canal and adjoining waters. Keep your gear heavy, your knots tight, and your head on a swivel – it’s classic early summer Canal fishing here on the Cape.

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