Artificial Lure here with your Cape Cod Canal fishing report for Tuesday, November 18th, 2025. We’ve got crisp fall air this morning with temperatures hovering around 34°F. Expect it to warm up slightly, topping out near 40°F this afternoon before dipping to the low 30s tonight. Winds are a mild 6 to 8 knots out of the northwest, and skies will stay mostly clear — perfect conditions for a November outing, just bring your layers to beat that canal chill. Sunrise was at 6:58 AM, and sunset will be 5:56 PM, so you’ve got over ten hours of daylight to work with.

Tides are running a typical high-low swing today. According to CapeTides.com, low tide rolled through at 6:16 AM and we’ll see a high tide right around 11:33 AM. Another low is due at 6:49 PM. That means you’ll want to target the moving water both a couple hours before and after each tide change, which is when the fish are most active in these deep, current-swept stretches.

Fish activity this morning is steady, but not frantic. November’s chill has chased most of the blitzes south, but local reports still show good catches. Canal Bait & Tackle in Sagamore mentioned recent schools of schoolie striped bass — mostly 22-28 inches, plus a handful of legal keepers mixed in. Tautog are still hanging near the rock banks and pilings, and you'll see the occasional black sea bass down deep. Bluefish action has tapered off, but there’s been talk of a few late runners especially near the east end.

Top lures right now: soft plastic paddletails in bone or bunker colors, and heavy bucktail jigs bounced right along the bottom. If you’re after tog or sea bass, swap for green or Asian crabs. Stripers are hitting 7-inch white Savage Gear Sandeels and SP Minnows. Bait anglers should stick with fresh sea herring, chunk mackerel, or, for tautog, try green crabs threaded onto a stout hook. Don’t forget a heavy sinker — canal currents don’t mess around.

Where to fish? The west end near Bourne Bridge has been hot for schoolie action, especially during outgoing tide. For those targeting bottom dwellers, the east end near Scusset Beach is the spot, with deep ledges and scattered boulders. The riprap by the Sagamore end and the area right below the Railroad Bridge offer solid catches for those willing to walk — keep your eyes peeled for birds working, which often signal bass driving bait up against the canal wall.

Boaters aren’t running much this late, so shore anglers have the edge today. Remember to mind local regulations: one striper between 28 and 31 inches per angler, and tautog must be over 16 inches.

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