Fishing Reports

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

STRIPED BASS fishing remains very good during low light conditions (overcast days). Live lining bunker (Atlantic menhaden) or an eel on the reefs at dawn and dusk still producing some nice bass (50 inches – 54 pounds, (Plum Gut). Striper spots include the Watch Hill reefs, Ram Island Reef in Fishers Island Sound, lower Mystic and Thames River, the Race, Sluiceway, Plum Gut, Pigeon Rip, outer Bartlett Reef, Black Point, the “humps’ south of Hatchett Reef, lower Connecticut River, Long Sand Shoal, Cornfield Point, Southwest Reef (outer), Sixmile Reef, Falkner Island area, the reefs off Branford, New Haven Harbor (Breakwalls) and the upper reaches, Charles Island area, lower Housatonic River, buoys 18 and 20 off Stratford Point, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground, Milford Point, Penfield Reef, around the Norwalk Islands, and Cable and Anchor Reef. Don’t have a Boat? Hook up with the many Party or Charter Boats found throughout CT’s shoreline from Greenwich to Stonington.

STRIPED BASS ANGLERS FISHING IN RHODE ISLAND WATERS - are advised that the state of Rhode Island has adopted the following regulations pertaining to striped bass. These regulations apply to all Rhode Island state lands and waters including the waters around Block Island: “Any person recreationally harvesting a striped bass thirty-four (34) inches or larger shall at the time of harvest have the right pectoral fin removed at a point as close to the body of the fish as possible.”

BLACKFISH (Tautog) fishing closed on September 1, 2016 and will reopen on October 10, 2016.

BLUEFISH fishing is very good. Large numbers of bluefish in the lower estuaries and rivers feeding on menhaden. The “Top-water” bite has been phenomenal. Eastern Sound has seen much better fishing for “alligator –size” blues. Bluefish fishing spots include the reefs off Watch Hill, the Race, Thames River, Sluiceway, Plum Gut, Pigeon Rip, lower Connecticut River, Long Sand Shoal, Sixmile Reef, Falkner Island area, New Haven Harbor and upper reaches, lower Housatonic River, buoys 18 and 20 off Stratford Point, Stratford Shoal/Middleground, Penfield Reef, and Cable and Anchor Reef.

SNAPPER fishing has improved in the tidal creeks and rivers with fish measuring 6 to 10 inches in length.

BLACK SEA BASS fishing has been very good and consistent in the Sound. The sea bass have finished spawning and are feeding heavily on crabs, squid and small fish throughout Long Island Sound. Plan a trip on a party/charter boat trip to fish off of Block Island…there are many giant-sized sea bass out there. Eastern Sound (Fishers Island to Block Island and northeast of Montauk) anglers are having better success. For those willing to travel, Block Island Sound is the place to be for humpback sea bass. Closer to home, the rocky reefs from Niantic, to Branford (Faulkner Ilsand) have been consistent all season. A reminder to all anglers…if you are fishing in water deeper than 100’, barotrauma can cause released fish to struggle to make it back to the bottom. A descending devise such as the Shelton Fish Descender can help assist the sea bass air bladder to recompress and get safely back down to the depths. See Fishsmart.org for more information.

SUMMER FLOUNDER (fluke) fishing is getting better as water temperature slowly decrease and fish begin to migrate. Fishermen are reporting some very large doormat fluke being caught (11 lbs 4 ozs, eastern sound). Apparently, the bite is in deeper water (40 to 110 feet. Live lining snapper blues in deep water (80 to 120 ft) is the preferred method by fluke sharpies. The usual summer flounder spots include the south shore of Fishers Island (Isabella Beach, Wilderness Point), Napatree Point and along the beach, off the Stonington breakwater, mouth of the Mystic River over to Groton Long Point, Twotree Island Channel, Black Point/Niantic Bay including the Bloody Grounds, Sound View Beach, Long Sand Shoal, Falkner Island area, New Haven Harbor, off the mouth of the Housatonic River during the flood tide, and around the Norwalk Islands.

SCUP (porgy) fishing is very good throughout Long Island Sound. They are everywhere as one angler remarked. In the west the Norwalk area (Cockenoe Island) is fishing very well. Otherwise, some good locations in the west are: the lower Housatonic River to Charles Island, Morningside (Milford), Coast Guard Jetty at Southport Beach, Rick Jetty at Calf Pasture beach, South Benson Fishing Pier, Sherwood Island, Pleasure Beach Fishing Pier, St Mary’s by the Sea and Stratford wall along with Long Beach (excellent shore spots). Other shore spots include The Sound School Fishing Pier/Dock, Rocky Neck State Park, Harkness Memorial State Park, Meigs Point, Hammonassett, Sherwood Island State Park and Fort Trumbull State Park. Fish during the high tide at these shore locations. Locate your favorite Enhanced Shore Fishing Opportunities for these hard fighting and excellent eating “Reef Slammers”.

HICKORY SHAD fishing is good in the Black Hall River and fair in the Lieutenant River, Housatonic River and the lower Connecticut River (DEEP Marine Headquarters fishing pier). Fishing remains good at Fort Trumbull, Black Hall, Clinton Harbor River systems and the lower Connecticut River (DEEP Marine Headquarters fishing pier). Both snappers and hickory shad can be found schooling together at these locations.

BLUE CRAB fishing is good in all tidal creeks and bays, especially around pilings in the evening. Remember…all egg bearing females must be released without avoidable injury. Minimum carapace length is 5 inches for a hard shell crab. Legal gear types include: scoop (dip) net, hand line, star crab trap, circular (topless) trap not exceeding 26 inches in diameter. Maryland Style Crab traps are prohibited. Chicken with the skin on it (along with a long handle net) and a small circular crab trap is the preferred method to capture these tasty crabs. Blue Crab Fact Sheet Angler’s please also note: It’s illegal to snag blue crabs.

GOT A FISHING REPORT - PLEASE EMAIL US AT deep.marine.fisheries@ct.gov

NOTABLE CATCHES:

Species Length (in.) Weight (lb) Angler

Smooth Puffer 25.25 in. 9 lb. 6 oz. Wayne Schneider

Bluefish 38 in. 14 lb. 2 oz. John Kijak Jr.

Black Sea Bass 20.75 in. - Alex Erdmann

Atlantic Needlefish 34 in. - Zacery Martindale

Black Sea Bass 24 in. 4 lb. 8 oz. Todd Bacon