Schoolies have been over-wintering in shallow backwater bays and coves all through the colder winter months . Bluefish follow by early May along the Vineyard and on south beaches like Loop Beach in Cotuit. May. Water temperature can speed this migration up or slow it down by weeks. Bluefish arrive hungry and hit topwaters well and big spoons too. Then it just keeps gettin' better 'til they migrate South for the winter in November.
Early fish are a mixture of sizes and have varying tastes in lures and baits.
Some early fishers swear by a deep slow fly, while others drift bait at night off beaches in pursuit of the first keeper of the year. Spin fishermen use mostly spoons and smaller plugs off jetties and at river mouths and channels. All summer the Stripers hang around as long as there is food to eat. If the herring are in short supply they may move along the coast or out to where they are plentiful. Keep an ear out for where the herring are running.