2025 Season Recap

The 2025 fishing season has been in the books for some time now and we are nearly halfway into the 'offseason'. Boat show and fishing show season begin as soon as next week here in the Northeast. During the holiday period, I find myself looking at photos and telling stories of some of the trips from the year.

Before 2026 gets upon on us, here's a bit of a look back at the 2025 season seen through the lens of some of my fishing with friends and family. Thanks to all those that made the season special and here's to looking ahead to fishing with friends, old and new, in the upcoming 2026 season. Cheers.

APRIL - TAUTOG

Tautog were the entry into the season in April. When the weather windows allowed, we were into them pretty good in shallow water, anchored up. Jigs and rigs both worked well.

My affinity for Tautog fishing grows every single year, and I continue to question why it took me so long to get into the fishery. It's a 'commitment' to chase them in chilly temperatures in less than ideal conditions sometimes. You have to locate them on structure, build a bite, hook one, and then hang on. The rewards are well worth it though.

MAY - MIXED BAG AND MIXED FISHING

Top Left - Ryan Collins with a Striped Bass in the Surf using a 5" Paddletail on a jighead. Photo Courtesy of Ryan Collins of MyFishingCapeCod

When we got into May, the anticipation of the full fledged migration of Striped Bass and the movement inshore of the Black Sea Bass was only partially fulfilled. The water temps stayed cold and the entire push of spring fish into Cape Cod waters seemed later this year than the previous two or three. Still, May is a great time for me to get my children out on the boat for some schoolie bass and black sea bass.

MAY - MEMORIAL DAY AND FISHING FOR THE MISSION 22

I was introduced to the organizers of Fishing for the Mission 22 at the RISAA show in 2025 and I was privileged to be one of the tackle sponsors for their Memorial Day weekend black sea bass tournamount. The weather proved challenging but some captains braved the sporty conditions in search of one of the prized tagged fish for some extra prize money.

Some of the photos below were submitted by entrants into the tournament and were featured on the organizers social media. Thanks to those that entered and thank you to the Fishin' for the Mission 22 team for your work with Veterans in our community.

JUNE - A TRIP TO NANTUCKET IN THE FOG

Before getting into the Monomoy part of the season, my cousin Bruno invited me on a trip south of Nantucket. I have to take his word on our location, because we couldn't see anything the entire time save for about 15 minutes on or way back and what I thought I saw was an outline of Sankaty light.

I fished a prototype spoon and squid skirt 3 way rig that I hope will be seen in 2026. The fish was definitely quality over quantity. No complaints and a bucket list trip checked off. Hope to go back soon.

JUNE - JULY MONOMOY STRIPED BASS

June mornings mean getting up early and fishing large bait and large paddle tails at sunrise. It also means large crowds.

SQUID FISHING WITH MY KIDS

During the course of the entire summer an activity I enjoyed at night with my kids was sneaking away and fishing for squid off of docks and piers. It brought me back to my childhood when I fished for macs off the pier with my dad and grandfather.

JULY - SUMMER WITH FAMILY

Fishing in July means friends and family on 'combo' trips for Striped Bass in the early morning and drifting the outermost rips for fluke and sea bass. This is the fishing I enjoy the most, because I get to spend time with my kids and friends, family and neighbors. The smiles say it all.

AUGUST SANDEELS AND SQUID Late summer saw the usual influx of sand eels into the Monomoy Rips. We mixed up the presentations with more slender lipped and unlipped lures. I also field tested the new 6" soft plastics on unweighted hooks with good results.

LATE SUMMER, THE FUNNYFISH, SOCCER AND SOFTBALL

My season ended promptly on Labor Day this year. Both of my kids have reached an age where sports and weekend games and tourneys start early. Before the season wound down for me, I was able to entertain some family with a mixed bag of fishing chasing peanut bunker, sand eels, and bay anchovies that populate Nantucket Sound and both sides of Monomoy.

I had to live most of the fall run through photos from friends of the shop who were out chasing bonito and albies.

Thank you again to those who follow and support Monomoy Tackle. 2026 will be the Fifth season of the shop. To say it has gone beyond my expectations is an understatement. There will be new adventures to look forward to this coming year and I'm looking forward to living them and making more memories.

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