Bonito & Albies

Fall Run Fishing in Buzzards Bay With Captain Ray Jarvis

Fall Run Fishing in Buzzards Bay With Captain Ray Jarvis

Join Captain Ray Jarvis of Salt of the Earth Charters as he leads a thrilling day of fall run fishing in Buzzards Bay. With multiple species on the line, including some of the biggest albies we’ve ever seen, here’s a breakdown of how we approached this exciting day:

    Approach 1 (Striped Bass):

      We started the day targeting striped bass near structure and boulders. Using topwater lures, we focused on making casts into likely holding areas, retrieving with erratic, walk-the-dog movements to draw strikes from bass scattered around the structure.

        Approach 2 (False Albacore):

          For the fast-moving albies, we switched to a more patient, walking and gunning approach. Instead of charging at the fish, we eased into the feeds, positioning the boat carefully to maximize casting accuracy.

            Gear Setup:

              Rod: Light spinning gear paired with 20 lb braided line and fluorocarbon leaders for finesse and strength.

              Striper Lures: The XL Dog Walker worked well for striped bass, delivering effective topwater action in the early morning.

              Bonito & Albie Lures: Surface erasers and micro poppers stood out in the feeds, drawing strikes from both albies and bonito when matching the hatch failed.

                  Technique:

                    Stripers: Using a walk-the-dog technique with the XL Dog Walker, we created erratic, side-to-side movements that mimicked wounded baitfish, luring bass to strike on the surface.
                    Bonito & Albies: For albies and bonito, we cast into active feeds and retrieved lures with fast, steady motions. Success required persistence, with hundreds of casts needed before hooking up.

                    Environmental Factors:

                      The fall run meant the fish were chasing bait schools, so staying close to the action and adjusting to wind and current was key to success.

                        Situational Factors:

                          Albies: The albies were keyed in on 1-inch micro bait, making them tough to hook. We had to switch to larger, more visible lures like the surface eraser to stand out from the natural bait and entice strikes.
                          Striped Bass: Striped bass were scattered around the structure, and using bigger lures like the XL Dog Walker was crucial for calling them in from a distance and triggering aggressive surface strikes.

                          The Challenge:

                            The biggest challenge was matching the hatch for albies, which were focused on tiny baitfish. By using larger, attention-grabbing lures, we finally got results.

                              Fish Care & Conservation:

                                Captain Ray emphasized careful handling, especially for albies, to ensure a healthy release and preserve the fishery for the future.

                                  After hours of casting and patience, we finally started hooking into some of the biggest albies we’ve ever seen in Buzzards Bay. It was a day to remember with Captain Ray! Tight lines!

                                   

                                  Reading next

                                  Striped Bass Fishing The Worm Hatch

                                  Leave a comment

                                  All comments are moderated before being published.

                                  This site is protected by hCaptcha and the hCaptcha Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

                                  Related Videos

                                  Topwater Albie Fishing | New England Fall Run

                                  In this video, we join Capt. Ray Jarvis of Salt of the Earth Sportfishing for a day of chasing False Albacore in upper Buzzards Bay. With the New England fall run in full swing, the crew encountered large schools of False Albacore feeding heavily throughout the morning. The key to success was the Hogy Surface Eraser fished on a fast "skippy" retrieve. The single hook on the Hogy Surface Eraser made for a quick and healthy release!

                                  Early Season Albie Fishing | Casting Surface Plugs

                                  In this video, Capt. Mike heads out aboard his 28' Contender in search of some early-season False Albacore. The crew didn't have to travel far before they were in the middle of feeding fish! The Surface Eraser allowed for various retrieves and long-distance casting, which was perfect for targeting False Albacore!

                                  Topwater Stripers | Hogy Poppers | Monomoy

                                  Capt. Mike Hogan heads out through the fog to the rips off of Monomoy. In this video Capt. Mike is using the Hogy Charter Grade Popper in pink and amber to imitate the squid these stripers are feeding on.

                                  How To Clinic: Fishing Top Water Poppers Around Structure For Stripers

                                  Join Capt. Mike for a few pointers in a clinic format for casting poppers on light tackle in and around structure for stripers. In this video Capt. Mike showcases how to fish structure for striped bass, the best way to approach structure, recommended tackle and lures, and what to expect.

                                  Jigging for Weakfish | Upper Buzzards Bay | Fall Run

                                  In this video, Capt. Mike and crew stumble upon an uncommon occurrence here on Cape Cod, a stellar Weakfish bite! Armed with the ultra-versatile Hogy Surface Eraser, the crew got to jigging and managed to successfully catch and release a bunch of Weakfish!

                                  Inshore Fishing GRAND SLAM | Cape Cod Fall Run

                                  In this video, Capt. Mike joins renowned angler, Capt. Dave Peros, for a day of fishing the rips off of Monomoy. With the fall run in full swing, we were prepared with tackle that would appeal to any species that may cross our paths! The ultra-versatile Slowtail Swimbait was the perfect offering to cater to the various inshore species that migrate through Monomoy on their journey south.

                                  Related Blogs

                                  CastingCrack The Code: Micro Squid Rips Finicky Stripers

                                  Crack The Code: Micro Squid Rips Finicky Stripers

                                  Cracking the Code: Four Retrieves on One Cast — Surface Eraser vs. Finicky Monomoy Stripers Striped Bass  ·  Monomoy Rips  ·  Mid-June Cracking the Code Capt. Mike Hogan &...

                                  InshoreCrack The Code: Monomoy Rips Topwater Striper

                                  Crack The Code: Monomoy Rips Topwater Striper

                                  Cracking the Code: Poppers on a Squid Bite at Monomoy Striped Bass  ·  Monomoy Rips  ·  S2022 E6 Cracking the Code Capt. Mike Hogan  ·  Salty Cape TV powered by Hogy ...

                                  InshoreCracking The Code: Monomoy Rips Striped Bass

                                  Cracking The Code: Monomoy Rips Striped Bass

                                  Cracking the Code: Surface Eraser on the Monomoy Squid Rips Striped Bass  ·  Monomoy Rips  ·  S2024 Cracking the Code Capt. Mike Hogan  ·  Salty Cape TV powered by Hogy ...

                                  Bluefin TunaCracking The Code: Light Tackle Bluefin - The Gully

                                  Cracking The Code: Light Tackle Bluefin - The Gully

                                  Light-Tackle Bluefin  ·  The Gully  ·  S2025 E6 Cracking the Code Capt. Mike Hogan  ·  Salty Cape TV powered by Hogy Location The Gully — S. of Block Island Season Midsummer Species Bl...

                                  Black SeabassCracking The Code: Deep Summer Seabass

                                  Cracking The Code: Deep Summer Seabass

                                  Cracking the Code: Deep Summer Sea Bass — Long Drifts, No Bait, 95 Feet Deep Summer Sea Bass  ·  Vineyard Sound Cracking the Code Capt. Mike Hogan  ·  Salty Cape TV powered b...

                                  Black SeabassCracking The Code: Seabass Three Ways

                                  Cracking The Code: Seabass Three Ways

                                  Sea Bass Three Ways  ·  Eldridge Shoal  ·  S2025 E3 Cracking the Code Capt. Mike Hogan  ·  Salty Cape TV powered by Hogy Location Eldridge Shoal Season Early Summer Species Black Sea B...