Current Waters: Nantucket Fishing Report

Striper fishing is slow, which it usually is this time of year. By August, warmer air and water have started switching things up. We have plucked out a few striped bass when we’ve needed to, but we’ve been putting our efforts into some fun bottom feeders, as well as bluefish and tuna.

For bottom fish, we’ve got black seabass and fluke, which are great table fare. For the bluefish, there doesn’t seem to be a pattern right now, but we are getting them. One thing with bluefish lately is the competition to just get them into the boat. I’ve had more sharks chasing or stealing fish this year than I have in the past 10 years altogether. Local social media has had plenty of photos of body-less bluefish to help drive home that point.

Bonito are pretty much the same as last week. They’re around, but we haven’t seen enough this past week to go target them. People have been getting them. In the August Blues Tournament, all of the “first bonito of August” slots have been taken. Let’s hope the bonito do what they do and come in bigger numbers soon.

False albacore, albies, still haven’t shown up yet. Hopefully they’ll show up soon and help mix things up a bit. When they do, or if you’ve already caught one, send us your picture of your first albie and maybe we’ll post it (@topspinfishing). Or better yet, enter it into the August Blues Tournament! They still need “first albie."

Mole crab (sand flea) update, anyone?

Some of you may remember back in July of 2025, I wrote about mole crabs, or the seeming lack of them. I heard from so many people that they noticed a decline in them too. I don’t have any answers yet, but I thought I’d check in and see if anyone has spotted any around the island recently. I’m hoping there is a population somewhere and they haven’t gone away. Or if anyone wants to collect some data and investigate the question of mole crab populations, I’m happy to chat.

Don’t forget there is still time to enter the 4^th Annual August Blues tournament. The leaderboard is heating up. It’s a fun time for a good cause, so get out there! The Ladies Fishing Fundraiser is August 18^th, with proceeds going to PPMD (Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy). Contact Tammy King for more info. The first Albie prize for the tournament is still open in all categories (beach, boat, and junior), so get out there!

It’s also Nantucket Race Week. You can see a full list of events here, but also keep in mind Sunday for those non-racers. Everyone’s favorite event, the one that has been immortalized in many a painting, the Rainbow Fleet parade starts off the Opera House Cup race this Sunday. The weather looks pretty good that day, plus lots of boating eye candy.

Hope to see you out on the water.

Until next tide…