As of October 4, 2024, the Cape Cod Canal is buzzing with activity, making it an exciting time for anglers. Here’s what you need to know for a successful day on the water.

### Tidal and Weather Conditions
We're expecting breaking tides early this week, particularly on the back side of the new moon, which often brings a surge in fish activity. The weather forecast indicates a mix of sun and clouds with a gentle breeze, ideal for casting.

### Sunrise and Sunset
Sunrise is at around 6:45 AM, and sunset will be at approximately 6:00 PM, giving you ample daylight to fish.

### Fish Activity
Yesterday saw a significant uptick in fish activity, especially at the West End of the Canal. Reports from Connor Swartz at Red Top Sporting Goods indicate that bass up to 38 pounds were caught in this area. The East End also saw action, with feeds from bonito and false albacore mixed in with good-sized bass. These bass are primarily feeding on mackerel and pogies.

### Types and Amounts of Fish
The bass caught yesterday ranged from 20 to 38 pounds, with several fish in the 30-pound range. Bonito and false albacore are also present, particularly at the West End, where they are feeding on silversides.

### Best Lures and Bait
For striped bass, large double-jointed glide baits like the Magic Swimmer or Jeff’s Canal Swimmer are highly effective. Some anglers are also using Finnish style swimmers and old school bucktails tipped with pork rind to mimic the movement of squid. For those preferring jigs, green tube-tailed diamond jigs have been successful, especially when vertically jigging.

### Hot Spots
- **West End of the Canal**: This area has been particularly active, with large bass and bonito present.
- **Middle of the Canal**: Between the herring run and the Sagamore Bridge, there is solid action for bass, especially during the east current.
- **East End of the Canal**: Although the fishing slowed down recently, the presence of small bait should attract larger fish back into this area.

With the favorable tidal conditions and the variety of baitfish present, today promises to be an excellent day for fishing in the Cape Cod Canal. Make sure to stay in rhythm with the casting distance and direction of other anglers, especially in crowded areas, and be prepared for some exciting catches.