TheDay 11/25/05

1. With the first snow flurries of the fall in the forecast, it's time to wrap up our fishing column for the 2005. But, we still have some news to write about, primarily schoolie fishing in and around the lower Thames and the last schools of bass moving past the Rhode Island beaches west to Long Sand Shoal.
2. Capt. Al Anderson made four charter trips to the lower Thames River this week in his small boat, totaling 400 bass from 15 inches to 15 pounds. All the fish were caught south of the Gold Star Bridge: around the ferry docks on the west side, the boulder field around Eastern Point and the mouth of the river one trip on the last of the ebb tide. In seven years Al and his charters have fished the Thames he's tagged an amazing 10,000 striped bass.
3. These have shown up in various places like Pleasant Bay on Cape Cod in early May after being tagged in the upper river in the winter. He also had a tag come back from an osprey nest overlooking the Westport River in Massachusetts in June. That fish was tagged in the early spring off Montville; made its way to the east but was eaten by an osprey, the rack and tag found in the nest during routine inspection by a game warden.
4. Al said the fish caught off the West Wall in early April are coming from rivers like the Thames, the first of the migration heading east and then north, mainly to other river seasons like the Merrimack almost on the Massachusetts/New Hampshire border.
5. Right now the water temps in the lower Thames are 48-49 degrees. As it drops next month we'll see more fish more up past the bridges but right now there's little quality fishing from Montville to Norwich.
6. On another note about river boating, Al maintains a department head at the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) told him in 2004 the DEP would keep the floating docks in place around the Gold Star ramp and others through November. That was not the case and last weekend there were some very made boaters who had to launch and retrieve their boats the hard way. Included was a group of Navy people trying to launch two very large hard-body inflatables.
7. Capt. Don's in Charlestown reported a bluefish blitz at the Weekapaug beaches last Friday that was enjoyed by both locals and Connecticut fishermen. This writer landed 14 blues from 5-11 pounds and eight small bass on top waters. Over the weekend there was a pick of fish, both blues and small bass, at daybreak and dusk from Misquamicut through East Beach. Included in the catch was a 23-pound bass caught at Weekapaug on Saturday during the day and a 37-inch bass by the same angler later on near Watch Hill. The storm at mid-week roiled and dirtied the surf but all the locals are betting the fishing has at least one more week to go.
8. Don at King Cove Outfitters in Stonington said you get catch blues and small bass from the Rhode Island beaches and schoolies from inside Napatree Point in Little Narragansett Bay through Stonington Harbor then west along the bridges that border Route One. Blackfish can still be caught on most of the rockpiles if you want to brave the wind and cold.
9. Jack at the Fish Connection noted the store traffic dropped way off as people head indoors for another winter. As of this report the best bet for small stripers is down below the Gold Star Bridge with out a few caught around Norwich and buoy 27, the latter spot offers blues that are much bigger than the stripers. In this cold weather, people are also fishing bait on the bottom around Dahl Oil, able to sit in their warm vehicles and watch their rods for signs of a bite. You might also try off the Fort Trumbull pier for chance for a schoolie striper.
10. Stephanie Cramer sent in her last e-mail until next spring. She continues to enjoy good schoolie fishing in the lower Thames with Capt. Anderson. Their best day was last Sunday when they caught, tagged and released 120 small bass; most caught trolling small tubes on small umbrella rigs. One of the fish was bitten in half, a sure sign bluefish are still around even in the chilly water.
11. Capt. Joey Devine of the Mijoy also sent an e-mail about their blackfish trips last Saturday and Sunday. On the first day the fish bit well with local sharpies from Niantic, Calil and Camran Rahman, ages 12 and 9, doing a very good job. Their trips were paid for by a proud mom who rewarded the two for good report cards. Kyle Wilson, age 10, of Gales Ferry was also aboard to catch blackfish of 9 pounds and a 15-pound bluefish that took a crab on the bottom. The next day the fishery was in a “state of lockjaw” with slow fishing for all except Dave S. from Groton. They also caught a small cod while anchored up off Race Rock and heard about a keeper cod landed on the Lady Margaret also out black fishing in local waters. They will sail this coming weekend, both days at 6 a.m. then call it quits for the year.
12. Richard at Hillyers Tackle in Waterford said some of the fly fishermen wading the beach at Ocean Beach landed small bass but also saw very large swirls presumably caused by big bass feeding nearby. And, in one case the young man watched in awe as a big striper swam right past his legs. You still have a chance for blackfish in the weekend weather is hospitable.
13. River's End observed most of the local blackfish pros are heading out to deeper water, the shallow spots offering throwbacks or nothing. Schoolie bass can be caught from time to time along the Old Lyme beaches. One day a large flock of gulls was over a school of bigger stripers at Long Sand Shoal but they moved through by the next day. Some of the tidal creeks have small stripers and hickory shad, caught with light rods and small jigs.