Artificial Lure here with your Martha’s Vineyard fishing report for Saturday, November 1st, 2025. The first hard chill of November greeted anglers this morning—air temps sliding from the upper 40s up to maybe 57 if we’re lucky today, with sunrise at 7:10 AM and sunset already creeping in early at 5:40 PM per CapeTides.com. The island feels quieter with the Derby bell now silent, but for those willing to brave some wind and cold, there’s still plenty happening on the water.
After a soggy week and a big blow yesterday, the wind is expected to run strong out of the northwest, so dress for it and keep an eye on falling branches, as The Average Angler and local weather confirm. Recent rain has softened things up, and gusts could make certain beaches a challenge, but this pre- or post-storm pattern tends to get the fish feeding, at least for a spell. Tides today on the Vineyard show a low at 5:11 AM and 5:35 PM, and highs at 10:29 AM and 10:47 PM—prime windows early and late for those surf outings, courtesy of CapeTides.com.
The fall run for striped bass is in its waning phase, but not done yet. Before yesterday's blow, reports of slot-sized bass were solid, especially at South Beach in Edgartown and the always reliable Lobsterville Beach. Anglers have been connecting with 28-34 inch fish, with a few up to 40 inches, though that real herd of big migrators never seemed to hammer the sand like last year, says The Average Angler. Still, three noteworthy pushes of fish are the norm, and some believe there’s one more decent wave of stripers working their way south. Boat folks found fish mixed with big shoals of peanut bunker, sand eels, and the occasional herring—easy pickings if you find the birds.
Top lures of the week: Needlefish plugs, Storm shads, and metal like Hopkins or Kastmasters for casting into the wind. For fly anglers, this is peak time for long, slender sand eel patterns—think Squimpish or classic Clousers on a 5/0. Live eels are slowing as the water cools, but fresh chunked bunker or mackerel remains deadly, especially in the evening when the stripers get on the chew in deeper troughs. If you’re walking the surf after sunset, try swapping to a black or blurple Super Strike darter for that silhouette effect. For you bait soakers, clams and chunk mack will tempt the nighttime feeders.
Bluefish action has tapered off but the diehards have found some gators in the rips off Wasque and Menemsha, mostly taking topwater pencils and diamond jigs. Don’t expect Derby-level blitzes but do keep a rig handy in case they show.
Albies are mostly gone now, though a couple of late runners were spotted near Oak Bluffs last week. Your best bet now is to chase the last schoolies on the flats, where small soft plastics on light tackle turn the trick as the sun gets low.
Hot spots to try this weekend:
- Lobsterville Beach, especially around the tide changes, still has a shot at migrating stripers in the wash.
- State Beach by the Big Bridge is always worth a scout, particularly if you see birds on peanut bunker.
- If you’re looking for solitude, head down to Chappaquiddick’s East Beach with heavier gear and scan for gannets or diving cormorants—signs that there’s bait, and bass won’t be far.
Don’t forget, November brings some special gatherings like the Barn Raiser’s Ball and harvest celebrations, but smoked bluefish still shows up on local tables—a reminder there’s never really an “off season” for Vineyarders.
Thanks for tuning in to this week’s fishing report—may your lines be tight, and your thermos full. Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a bite. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
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