Fishing has a rich history on the Cape, literally. The majority of the large homes and estates that line the main roads of the Cape almost certainly belonged at one time to fishing or whaling captains who prospered greatly from the sea. Of course, it wasn't always an ocean of opportunity. Remember, the folks who arrived here in 1620 had crossed the ocean with the thought that they'd be farmers in what we now call Virginia. The crops yielded by the Cape's sandy soil were not as bountiful as these settlers had hoped, so they had to explore other ways to supplement their diet and provide a means of support. They soon realized that money could be made by venturing offshore to harvest fish from the sea.

Centuries later, the Portuguese arrived here and added another layer to the Cape's fishing heritage. Provincetown, where many of the Portuguese settled, became a major fishing port during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Though commercial fishing still exists, recreational fishing has grown to a point that it now rivals its commercial cousin, due mainly to the many restrictions placed on commercial fishing these days.

In this chapter we give you an overview of the sport, along with places to go and people to see to help make your fishing experiences memorable. A word of advice: Familiarize yourself with the many local regulations. The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, (508) 563-1779, can be reached Monday through Friday from 7 AM to 4:30 PM. It can provide current information about species availability and regulatory restrictions, which often change.

Whether bait fishing or fly fishing, you'll be in heaven on the Cape. Fly fishing is especially attractive here, because of the Cape's geography. Saltwater anglers go after striped bass, blues, bonito, false albacore, Spanish mackerel, cod, and fluke, while freshwater anglers find trout, small and largemouth bass, and yellow perch.

Experienced fly-fishers head out at night to hook the big fish. This is because the bright shadows produced during the daylight spook the fish, heading them into deeper water. Casting at night is a bit tricky, but once you gather confidence and find the quiet solitude of the darkness comforting, you'll find that nighttime fishing increases your odds of landing the big one, heightens your awareness of your surroundings, and improves your daytime successes. No license is required for saltwater fishing. However, in order to fish in the freshwater ponds and lakes on Cape Cod, you'll need to purchase a license, which can be obtained from any town clerk and at many tackle shops around the Cape.

Shellfishing for mussels, clams, and quahogs is also quite popular around the Cape. Get a license and a clam rake or just a trowel and dig for your chowder. Types of shellfish available, regulations, and licensing fees vary from town to town. Contact the individual town for more information. Also, eels for family use or for bait, or seaworms for bait, are covered by local regulations, and permits are required.

To land the right fish, or any fish for that matter, you have to use the right bait. That's just one more reason to start your Cape fishing at a bait and tackle shop. You may also want to consider a local guide. The sandy shores of the Cape change constantly, especially after a rough winter or during the later summer hurricane season, and an experienced guide will get you into the right place. See our recommendations later in this chapter.