Connecticut Post - Mild weather has Bluefish hopping

• Bluefish—Plenty of medium to large choppers around, and the action is picking up thanks to the mild weather. The mouth of the Housatonic produced a huge school of blues this week. Waders and boat anglers were taking the very feisty fish on virtually every cast of the popper or swimmer. Milford Harbor has seen some great bluefish action as well. To the East, the Race, Plum Gut, Thames River, Pigeon Rip, Bartlett Reef, Hatchett Reef, Connecticut River from the Baldwin (I-95) Bridge to the breakwaters, Falkner Island area to the reefs off Branford, and the New Haven Harbor all have seen terrific action.
• Striped bass —The big bass are still hanging out in the deeper, colder water. Some schoolie action was reported in the Housatonic at Smith's Point across from Knapp's Landing restaurant. DEP reports indicate the usual spots, the reefs off Watch Hill, south side of Fishers Island, Ram Island Reef, the Race, the Sluiceway, Plum Gut, Pigeon Rip (just north of Plum Island), Bartlett Reef, Black Point, Hatchett Reef, Long Sand Shoal, Southwest Reef, Sixmile Reef, Falkner Island area and the reefs off Branford are still yielding cow bass.
• Blue crabs—The fantastic crab season is showing no sign of tapering off. Crabs measuring six inches point to point are not uncommon these days. Tackle shops are doing great business selling pole nets.
• Bonito—Eric Johnson at Norwalk Outfitters reports the action that nearly everyone has been into is still hot albeit a bit slower than weeks past. Flase albacore have started to move in and will traditionally push the other speedsters out of town. Have no fear though, L-Jack Jigs and Crystal Minnows will work just fine for the falsies.
  
• Snapper blues- Plenty of good-sized baby blues are at places like Milford's Town dock and Bond's Dock in Stratford. Small Castmasters or shiners are among the best choices.
• FRESHWATER Trout—The DEP's annual fall stocking is under way with 49,000 trout scheduled to go into ponds and rivers before it is over. Water levels in streams and rivers remain unusually low due to the lack of rain.
  
• Largemouth bass— Fishing is reported as good in many areas. Places to try include Lake Hayward, Upper Moodus Reservoir, Highland, Bashan, Columbia, Waramaug, Crystal and Red Cedar Lakes, Quaddick Reservoir, Pachaug Pond and Bicentennial Pond. Anglers are having to work for their bass at Candlewood Lake, and tough fishing has been reported from Billings Lake and Amos Lake.
  
• Smallmouth bass —Good fishing reported at Highland Lake, Squantz Pond, Mashapaug Lake, and fair Bashan Lake, Coventry Lake and Candlewood Lake. Anglers can still find good smallie fishing on the Housatonic (especially on warmer days, and this weekend should be warm).
  
• Northern pike—Fish are showing up in the shallows with the cooler temperatures in Lake Lillinonah, Winchester Lake, Bantam Lake, Hopeville Pond (several 30-inch-plus pike recently caught) and Pachaug Pond. A 17-pound pike was recently caught at Ashland Pond.
  
• Walleye—Some action reported at Coventry Lake, Lake Saltonstall (a 24-incher among the catches) and Squantz Pond (8.6-pound walleye).
  
• Black crappie—Anglers at Lake Saltonstall, Saugatuck Reservoir, Silver Lake (Berlin) and Park Pond have been getting them on small shiners.

TheDay Blackfish Opener A Mixed Bag

• The best spots for small boaters were Seaflower Reef and Black Rock; for shore anglers, the Gold Star and RR Bridges, Seaside jetties and New London Light. Blackfish season opened with mixed results said Joe Balint at the Fish Connection. He had reports of limit catches for some but others returned saying they caught little or only large porgies.
• Joe's son Jack is catching false albacore consistently on his charters over to Montauk but sometimes got a very rough ride home in the afternoon winds. Bonito popped in and out of Pleasure Beach, sport for those there at the right time.
• We also had fishing news from the Thames River from Red at Bob's Rod & Tackle who said there are blues of all sizes in the river chasing bunkers or caught in ones and twos by shore anglers using chunks of frozen bait on the bottom. Most of the blackfish reports talked about the average fish between 18 and 19 inches. Current regulations allow you to keep four fish per day from state waters with a 14-inch minimum size.
• Porgies are also in the river along with some jumbos to 15 inches on the rockpiles just in and around the river mouth. Bass were caught at night drifting with live eels or trolling the tube and worm during the day.
  
• Al Golinski of Misquamicut and his wife Emme have been enjoying good to excellent catches of sea bass off the rockpiles from Misquamicut to Weekapaug, fishing during the slower part of the tide, avoiding the heavy current during the recent full moon. Al hasn't seen many blues in his travels nor has he been bothered by them biting off his sea bass rigs. This is in keeping with the slowdown in blue fishing experienced by Connecticut residents visiting the Rhode Island beaches.
• Capt. Don's in Charlestown said the beach fishing from Charlestown over to Watch Hill is a lot slower than the last full moon. People are finding some bass in a very crowded Quonny Breachway or here and there from the Blue Shutters to Napatree Point. One Florida visitor caught three bass from 18 to 32 inches at Watch Hill on Tuesday evening but others had little to show for their time.
  
• Capt. Allen Fee at Shaffers reported good blackfishing over the past weekend with perhaps the best catch made by Bob Bellerose and wife from Chaplin with nine tautog to 9 pounds at Ellis and Ram Island Reefs. Please keep in mind the blackfish season is still closed in New York waters until Monday (Oct. 1).
  
• During the heavy, full-moon tides during mid-week people needed much bigger sinkers to hold bottom trying either for blackfish or large porgies. Bunkers were sighted in both the Mystic River and Stonington Harbor, sometimes with bluefish chasing them around. Bonito were around from Groton Airport to Watch Hill, zooming this way and that, gone some days before people could rig a rod for them. It pays to have a light spinning rod rigged and ready with a Deadly Dick or other productive lure on the boat if bonito show up on the surface.
• Capt. Tom Clapsadle of M&M Sportfishing sent in an e-mail saying his wife Bobbette landed her personal best striper, a 51-pounder, trolling a tube and worm slowly on the ebb tide off the south side of the west end of Fishers Island.
  
• Capt. Brad Glas of the Hel-Cat reported he had to move around this past week to “play the spots” to come up with a good catch of blues with stripers mixed in. On one day everyone on the boat caught a keeper bass as well as some bluefish. Over the weekend the tides picked back up, making it easier to locate fish. Big fish of the week goes to Tom Fix of Valatie, N.Y. with a 19-pound striped bass.
• Over at J&B Tackle, Roger told me their charter boat had good striper fishing at night on Monday and Tuesday thanks to pickup in the tides. Bonito were sighted and caught on Wednesday by three boats around Bartletts Reef. One of the anglers used a very small Crippled Herring while others stuck with the standard Deadly Dick or Needle Eel.
  
• Blackfishing was fair to good in 10 to 12 feet of water over the weekend past and 40 to 50-pound bluefin were trolled or chunked in the Mud Hole on the east side of Block Island
• Jeff Frechette sent in an e-mail about his latest offshore fishing. They left Niantic for the Block Island Mud Hole around 5 in the morning and landed a small bluefin on a cedar plug after 10 minutes of trolling. That fish was followed by another small tuna and three bonitos in the next hour.
• Their next move was out to the Suffolk wreck where they landed two blue sharks, lost a legal mako at the gaff and boated another mako that measured 7-feet, 3-inches from the tip of the nose to the fork of the tail.
• Richard at Hillyers Tackle said they weighed a 4.45-pound triggerfish caught by Christine Small of Shelton on a green crab in Niantic Bay. It's been submitted to the Connecticut DEP as a new, pending state record for that species.
  
• As of Thursday there were both bunker and hickory shad around the Niantic Bridges for bait for striper fishing or sport on a light rod.
• Down at River's End, Mark talked about bluefish blitzes at the mouth of the Connecticut River and good catches also at times on the flood tide in Plum Gut. Chunkers caught blues from shore in the lower river along with a few smaller bass. Kayakers and small boaters also caught schoolies and blues casting around Great Island early in the day.
• Porgies remain on all reefs and bonito come and go without any consistency, certainly nothing to plan a day around at this point. Crabbing remains good in the Oyster River plus North and South Coves.
• We close with another note about continued good to excellent cod and haddock fishing out of Gloucester, Mass. This writer and three others fished with my friend Capt. Jerry Hill, a fellow with 60 years experience, on Tuesday in some stiff southwest winds, filling up a large cooler with 7 bags of haddock fillets, three bags of tasty cod fillets along with cusk and one pollock, mostly caught on bait in 240 to 290 feet of water about 25 miles offshore.

CT DEP Weekly Fishing Report #23

• 2007 FALL TROUT STOCKING UPDATE: Fall trout stocking continues to be affected by extremely dry conditions/very low flows. For the second consecutive week, DEP has cancelled trout stocking in western CT due to very low flows.
• In eastern CT, no more rivers and streams will be stocked this fall, and those trout originally scheduled for rivers/streams will instead be stocked into lakes, ponds and Trout Park ponds. Coventry Lake (Wangumbaug Lake), Horse Pond, Beach Pond, Crystal Lake and the Mohegan Park Pond, Day Pond and Valley Falls Park Pond Trout Parks are the areas in eastern CT that were stocked this week.
• With flows in many areas well below typical levels and significant amounts of precipitation required to improve flow conditions statewide. Should these drought-like conditions continue, there will be numerous additional changes to DEP’s fall stocking schedules, possibly including the broodstock Atlantic salmon releases.
• Rivers & streams - Very low flows continue to plague the state. Northeastern CT is especially hard hit, with extremely low flows on many rivers and streams including the Willimantic, Natchaug, Fenton, Yantic and Quinebaug Rivers. Generally, matching the hatch is not as important at this time of the year.
  
• Streamers and nymphing are the way to go and often dominate the early morning and late evening. For streamers try white, yellow and brown colors. Patterns to try include White Wooly Buggers, Muddlers, Micky Finn and Grey or Black Ghosts (#4-10). For nymphs, bottom-bounce with Caddis pupa (#16-26), Serendipity (#14-16), Pheasant Tail (#12-20), Prince (#6-18) and Hare’s ear (#8-20). Light line and leaders should work best in the current low flow, clear water conditions. Good reports from the West Branch Farmington (many large browns), Farmington and Housatonic Rivers.
• Farmington River – Trout fishing continues to be good. West Branch flows continue to be clear and have been reduced, currently only about 75 cfs at Riverton, with an additional 7 cfs from the Still River.
• Farther downstream, the East Branch is currently providing an additional 150 cfs (Lake McDonough release). Current hatches/patterns consist of Isonychia (#12-14, fast water, evening), Blue Wing Olives (#20-28, mid-late afternoon), Caddis (tan #14-18, all day; green #22-26, evening; summer pupa #18-22 morning), Midges (#22-28, morning), Black Ants (#14-22, mid day in fast water), Summer Cahills/Stenonema (#14-22 in the evening), Black Beetles (#16-18, mid day), Flying Ants (#16-26, mid day, when windy/humid) and Stone Hoppers (#8-12, mid day). Tricos (#22-26) are still working in the upper West Branch.
• Housatonic River - Trout fishing remains good, although low flow conditions are concentrating fish and anglers. Flows remain clear and continue to decline, currently about 90 cfs at Falls Village and about 160 cfs at Gaylordsville. Morning water temperatures in the TMA are in the low 60’s °F, although temperatures may rise again with warmer weather predicted for the next several days. Current hatches/patterns include Blue Wing Olive (#18-26, early morning; spinner fall in evening), Isonychia (#10-12 evening), Sulfurs (#16-18), Summer Cahills/Stenonema (#12-14 in the evening) and Black caddis (#14-18, early morning & evening).
• Lakes & Ponds – Lakes reporting good trout fishing include Candlewood Lake (6 lb brown), East Twin Lake (13 trout for one angler, one 19” rainbow), Crystal Lake, Highland Lake and West Hill Pond.
• BASS fishing remains variable. Good reports for LARGEMOUTH BASS from Bashan, Andover, Highland, Hayward, Wintergreen, Lower Bolton (lots of action on smaller fish) and Cedar Lakes. Fishing reported as fair at Hopeville Pond, Quonnipaug Lake, Gorton Pond (bags include a 5.5 lb bass), Pachaug Pond (5.7 lb largemouth among the catches), Batterson Park Pond and Bunnells Pond, and slow at Lake Housatonic (but a 5.2 lb largemouth among the catches) and Beseck Lake. Mixed reports from Amos Lake and Bantam Lake.
  
• Good SMALLMOUTH BASS action reported from Candlewood (including several 3-4 lb smallies), Highland, Mashapaug and Coventry Lakes.
• NORTHERN PIKE action reported from Bantam Lake, Hopeville Pond and Pachaug Pond.
• WALLEYE catches are reported from: Squantz Pond and Lake Saltonstall (6.7 lb walleye among the catches).
• CHAIN PICKEREL have been caught at Beardsley Park Pond.
• Connecticut River – NORTHERN PIKE fishing is reported as good. Fish have been found in the Enfield area, Wethersfield Cove, and from Middletown (including a 32” pike) to the Haddam Meadows/Salmon River Cove area. BLACK CRAPPIE fishing is good to very good on small shiners in coves.
• CATFISH have slowed, but are still being taken (cut bait in the deeper holes and on the outside edges of the river). LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing is slow. SMALLMOUTH BASS action reported from the Farmington River confluence area, and a 4.2 lb smallie among the catches from above the Enfield Dam.
• STRIPED BASS fishing remains good at the usual spots the Watch Hill reefs, south side of Fishers Island off Wilderness Point, Ram Island Reef in Fishers Island, the Race, the Sluiceway, Plum Gut, Pigeon Rip (just north of Plum Island), Harkness Memorial State Park, Bartlett Reef, Black Point, Hatchett Reef, Long Sand Shoal, Southwest Reef, Sixmile Reef, Falkner Island area, the reefs off Branford, Milford Harbor-Charles Island area including Silver Sands State Park, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground area, Bridgeport Harbor, and the Norwalk Islands. Live bait, cut chunk baits, and the tube and worm combination has worked well for cow bass.
• BLUEFISH fishing remains good to excellent in the Race, Plum Gut, Thames River, Harkness Memorial State Park, Pigeon Rip, Bartlett Reef, Hatchett Reef, Connecticut River from the Baldwin (I-95) Bridge to the breakwaters, Long Sand Shoal, Sixmile Reef, Southwest Reef, Falkner Island area to the reefs off Branford, New Haven Harbor, Silver Sands State Park, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground area, Penfield Reef, Norwalk Islands and Stamford Harbor. Casting surface plugs or using chunk baits on three way rigs will score on big choppers!
• SCUP (porgy) fishing remains good to excellent and is about prime time for these hard fighting fish. Any rock pile or bottom structure will do.
• HICKORY SHAD fishing is good at the usual spots: The Mystic River, Niantic River between Rte. 156 and the railroad bridge, and the lower Connecticut River (from Essex down to the breakwaters) including DEP Marine Headquarters fishing pier.
• BLACK SEA BASS and TAUTOG (blackfish) can be caught off the major reef areas and rock piles in addition to scup.
• ATLANTIC BONITO and LITTLE TUNNY are racing around the Pine Island area, Little Gull Island, the Sluiceway, Millstone Point to Black Point, Hatchett Reef, Sixmile Reef, Charles Island area to Milford Point and around the Norwalk Islands.
• PEANUT BUNKER are everywhere along the coastline.
• BLUE CRABBING remains good to excellent with jimmies measuring in the 7 inch range being reported.

On The Water Magazine

• Across the region, reports from the past week were a bit slow, with most of the blame being tacked on the sometimes-gusty east wind, but there were some bright spots. Bait is thick no matter where you look, so chances are good that with a shift in the winds this weekend and the moon waning toward the new, fishing will pick up through this weekend.
• Narragansett Bay has loads of options, from good scup fishing and tautog around Hope Island, Halfway Ledge, the Jamestown Bridge – “anywhere there’s rocks” – as Tommy at Quaker Lane Bait & Tackle in North Kingstown put it. And with enough bait around that “you could walk to Portugal on it,” you should have no problem finding blitzing bluefish this weekend. Bass fishing has been decent and should only improve with the new moon tides and (eventually) cooler weather.
• In Newport, Peter at The Saltwater Edge reported that some big bass are being landed by plug guys fishing the surf. Rob from the shop took a 34-pounder in the early morning on a pencil popper, and Earl landed a 35-pounder on a needlefish plug. This time of year the bass are starting to school up and travel in packs, so it’s hit or miss proposition. Peter recommends setting out with a game plan and moving around to find the fish.
• Albie and bonito fishing has slowed from the “once in a lifetime” pace that marked most of September to what Peter described as “better than normal.” While there seem to be fewer fish around, they also seem to be feeding on larger bait now, 3- to 4-inch peanut bunker for the most part, and that usually means the fish are a lot less picky than when feeding on small bait. Slightly larger lures and small topwater plugs have been getting results on albies off Point Judith, the Breachway and Sakonnet Point; these fish move fast and can pop up just about anywhere.
• Bass fishing is best in the very early morning right now, according to Mary at Maridee Bait & Tackle in Narragansett. Any spot from Pier 5 down to the East Wall could have fish feeding on top at first light; expect lots of bluefish but plenty of bass underneath them. Boat fishermen working outside of the Center Wall have been taking some good bass by fishing eels at night, according to Rob at Wildwood Outfitters in Wakefield. Rob also reported that a couple kayak fishermen trolling eels and tube-and-worm rigs around Dutch Island and Dutch Harbor in Narragansett Bay took some bass up to 30 pounds. Scup and sea bass are “everywhere,” said Rob, and blackfish up to 8 pounds are being caught off the Narrow River at River Ledge.
• Out at the Mud Hole, one Wildwood customer cast-netted some live baits and went out to the Mud Hole to play with juvenile bluefin tuna in the 15- to 25-pound class. There have also been reports of good numbers of bluefin tuna in the 40-pound range being taken on chunk bait, while at the opposite end of the fishing spectrum, freshwater anglers are finding tough conditions with low water levels and warm daytime temperatures.
• Block Island bass fishing is in another league, where 20-pound bass are considered average. John at Twin Maples Bait & Tackle noted that surf fishing for bass has been very good for surfcasters working the North End out to Sandy Point. A 42-pounder was taken off the beach on a needlefish plug at night. Southeast Point is also fishing well at low tide, when shore anglers can wade out on the rocks and reach the deeper holes.
• False albacore fishing is excellent out at the Block, with fly-guys working the Coast Guard Channel and light-tackle fishermen throwing Yo-Zuri L-Jacks and other metals with reflective green sides. Sea bass and scup fishing is good; some surprisingly large scup have been hitting tube-and-worm rigs intended for stripers. Bait is in abundance around the island, including plenty of squid moving into New Harbor at night.
• Fishing along the breachways has been very productive, according to Steve at Breachway Bait and Tackle, but the bite is best from sundown to sunup. Plenty of legal-sized stripers are being caught up 38 inches, along with bluefish. There’s a great deal of bait around, so much that it’s making the fishing tough at times. Steve mentioned that false albacore are still around out by Watch Hill but they have gotten spotty, popping up occasionally and not staying up for too long.
• The striper fishing is pretty good around Watch Hill and Sugar reefs; Rennie at The Fish Connection in Preston reported a 42-incher caught this past Wednesday and plenty of legal-sized fish. Trolling tube-and-worm rigs along the outside shore of Fishers Island is also a good bet this time of year. Porgy fishing is excellent, and these fish are even being caught way up in the Thames where they are mjixing with white perch. Lots of 3- to 4-pound blues can be found in the upper portion of the Thames, and bigger blues are following the schools of large bunker farther down. Eels are producing some nice stripers out at The Race including plenty of 20-pounders and the occasional 30 to 40. Bonito were reported around Bluff Point and out to Race Point as recently as the first of October, but it’s been quiet for the past few days. Blackfish season is still off to a slow start, but it could be that the warm weather has anglers thinking bass and not anchoring up for tautog. Seaflower Reef, Sarah Ledge, Goshen Point, Latimer Light, the Dumplings and the breakwaters at Stonington are all excellent spots to go blackfishing.
• Captain Jerry Morgan out in Madison reported that blackfishing is picking up, with nearshore reefs producing very well. Madison Reef and Charles Reef have been notable, but you can also head out to Falkner and Kimberly if you feel like taking a longer boat ride. Bluefish are pretty common, feeding heavily on the top, and there is no real sign yet of any striper migration – could be because the water is still a warm 68 degrees. Look for bonito anywhere from Hammonasset Point to Falkner Island, and if you’re a fan of blue crabs, the East River is chock full.
• I heard excellent reports this week from the Housatonic River; the first was from Stratford Bait and Tackle, where surfcasters are taking bass up to 25 pounds and double-digit bluefish tossing Danny-style plugs near the mouth. Yellow is the hot color at the moment, but more important is that your plug is swimming under dark skies as the bite has consistently died out as soon as the sun peeks over the horizon. The second report came from Westport Outfitters in Norwalk, where Eric reported that they had been taking charters up into the Housie because the wind has been tough lately. Up in the river, they treated clients to 20-pound bass and “gator” blues. In the Norwalk area, albies had moved in and mostly displaced the bonito, but the strong east wind has made finding the albies sketchy for the past few days. With a lighter southwest blow in the forecast and lots of palm-sized peanut bunker in the area, Eric predicts things to break open this weekend.
• Best Bets for Connecticut and Rhode Island:Your best bet this weekend is to hit the salt and wet a line. Typical fall action on stripers and blackfish is just starting to pick up, but with the warm weather and water, the late-summer action on bonito and false albacore is still holding on. If you’re a surf fisherman, your best bet is still to head out after dark and cast eels or plugs, especially as we head toward the new moon next Thursday. And if you enjoy chasing bonito and albies, get out now because time is running out.

CT DEP Weekly Fishing Report #22 9/27/07

• 2007 FALL TROUT STOCKING UPDATE
• Lack of rainfall continues to affect the fall trout stocking schedule. No stockings will occur in western CT this week. In eastern CT, trout stocking did begin on Monday, although the schedule was altered to include more lakes & ponds, and fewer rivers. Black Pond, Cedar Lake, Mashapaug Lake,Quonnipaug Lake, Rogers Lake and the Day Pond, Mohegan Park Pond and Valley Falls Park Pond
• Trout Parks were all stocked this week. Three rivers with flows still suitable for trout, the Hammonasset (including the TMA), Scantic and Shetucket Rivers were also stocked.
  
• Anglers are reminded that flows in many areas are well below typical levels and that significant amounts of precipitation will be required to improve conditions statewide. Should these drought-like conditions continue, the fall trout stocking schedules will be subject to numerous additional changes. Further delays in stocking some rivers & streams are possible, some areas may not be stocked at all, and it is likely that some fish originally scheduled for rivers/streams will be redirected to lakes, ponds and Trout Park ponds.
• Rivers & streams - Flows throughout the state continue to be very low. When fishing these conditions, light line and leaders should work best. Northeastern CT is especially hard hit, with extremely low flows on many rivers and streams including the Willimantic, Natchaug, Fenton, Yantic and Quinebaug Rivers. Good reports from the West Branch Farmington (many large browns), Farmington, Housatonic, Naugatuck, Shetucket and Norwalk Rivers.
• Farmington River – Trout fishing is good. Morning West Branch water temperatures remain in the mid 60's °F. West Branch flows remain clear and low (currently about 95 cfs from Hogback and an additional 7 cfs from the Still River). Unless significant rain occurs, expect flows to be further reduced next week to approximately 50 cfs. Successful patterns include Isonychia (#12-14, fast water, afternoon/evening), Blue Wing Olives (#20-28, mid-late afternoon), Cahills/Summer Stenonema (#18-20), Caddis (tan #14-18, all day; green #22-26, evening; summer pupa #18-20 morning), Midges (#22-32, morning), Tricos (Riverton area, #24-28), Black Ants (#16-18, mid day in fast water), Black Beetles (#16-18, mid day), Flying Ants (#18-22, mid day, when windy/humid) and Stone Hopper (#10-12, mid day).
  
• Housatonic River - Trout fishing remains good. With the warmer weather, temperatures have increased to the low 60’s °F (mornings in the TMA). Flows are at very low levels, currently 105 cfs at Falls Village and 175 cfs at Gaylordsville. Hatches/patterns include Blue Wing Olive (#18-26, early morning; spinner fall in evening), Isonychia (#10-12 evening), Cahills/Summer Stenonema (#12-14), and Black caddis (#16, early morning & evening), Black/Cinnamon Ants (#14-18, mid day in fast water), Black Beetles (#14-18, mid day), Stone Hopper (#8-10, mid day) and Flying Ants (#16-18, mid day, when windy/humid). Try nymphing the pockets, deeper riffles and pool heads. Streamers will produce a mixed bag of trout and smallmouth bass.
• Lakes & Ponds – Good early fall trout fishing reported from Lake Wononscopomuc, Alexander Lake, Crystal Lake (Ellington), Mashapaug Lake, Highland Lake and West Hill Pond. Mixed reports from East Twin Lake and Long Pond.
• BASS fishing is variable. Areas to try for LARGEMOUTH BASS include Scoville Reservoir, Moodus Reservoir, Bashan, Candlewood, Quonnipaug, Cedar, Wintergreen, Beseck, Pickerel and Bolton Lakes, Messerschmidt Pond, Aspinook Pond, and Squantz pond.
• SMALLMOUTH BASS fishing is picking up, try Coventry, Highland and Candlewood Lakes. Some good river smallie action can be found on the Housatonic during warmer afternoons.
• NORTHERN PIKE fishing is reported to be very good. Pike are showing up in Lake Lillinonah, Bantam Lake, Winchester Lake, Mansfield Hollow Reservoir, Quaddick Reservoir, Ashland Pond (including a recent 17.3 lb beauty), Pachaug Pond and Hopeville Pond.
• Fall WALLEYE action is reported to be good. Areas to try include Lake Saltonstall and Squantz Pond (a 10.0 lb walleye among recent catches). Anglers can expect excellent action later this fall, also remember, bad weather means good walleye fishing.
• YELLOW PERCH action reported from Hayward, Gardner, Candlewood and Tyler Lakes.
• Connecticut River – BLACK CRAPPIE (20 fish for one angler) are providing some good fall fishing (excellent Wethersfield Cove action on small shiners). Some STRIPED BASS action is reported in coves and in the lower river (try after dark). NORTHERN PIKE fishing is reported as good. Best action is from Wethersfield Cove and the Chapmans Pond/Salmon River Cove/Haddam Meadows area.
  
• LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing has been slow. Some SMALLMOUTH BASS action can be found in the Enfield area.
  
• Fall CATFISH action is fair. Anglers should try cut bait or chunks in the deeper holes and on the outside edges of the river.
• NOTICES: Fishing Hop Brook Lake has been closed until further notice due to a possible “toxic-alga bloom”. Please call the USACE at 203-729-8840 for the current status.
• STRIPED BASS fishing remains good and will even get better as the fall season progresses. Striper spots include the Watch Hill reefs, south side of Fishers Island off Wilderness Point, Ram Island Reef in Fishers Island, the Race, the Sluiceway, Plum Gut, Pigeon Rip (just north of Plum Island), Harkness Memorial State Park, Bartlett Reef, Black Point, Hatchett Reef, Long Sand Shoal, Southwest Reef, Sixmile Reef, Falkner Island area, the reefs off Branford, Milford Harbor-Charles Island area including Silver Sands State Park, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground area, Bridgeport Harbor, and the Norwalk Islands.
• BLUEFISH fishing remains good to excellent in the Race, Plum Gut, Thames River, Harkness Memorial State Park, Pigeon Rip, Bartlett Reef, Hatchett Reef, Connecticut River from the Baldwin (I-95) Bridge to the breakwaters, Long Sand Shoal, Sixmile Reef, Southwest Reef, Falkner Island area to the reefs off Branford, New Haven Harbor, Silver Sands State Park, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground area, Penfield Reef, Norwalk Islands and Stamford Harbor.
  
• Scup fishing remains good on the local reefs with fish measuring 16 inches in length being reported.
• HICKORY SHAD fishing is good the Mystic River, Niantic River between Rte. 156 and the railroad bridge, and the lower Connecticut River (from Essex down to the breakwaters) including DEP Marine Headquarters fishing pier.
• BLACK SEA BASS and TAUTOG can be caught off the major reef areas and rock piles. Huge blackfish of over 10lbs. were reported this past week!
• ATLANTIC BONITO and LITTLE TUNNY are hit or miss in LIS. Best bets are around the Pine Island area, Millstone Point to Black Point, Hatchett Reef, Sixmile Reef, Charles Island area to Milford Point and around the Norwalk Islands.
• PEANUT BUNKER can be seen breaking the surface in tidal rivers, harbors and coves all along the coastline.
• BLUE CRABBING remains excellent.

Westport Outfitters

• With the boat show in town last weekend, our charters were minimal to accommodate the reconfiguration of the docks here at Cove Marina, but we were still out and about on the water sticking some fish. As the water temps continue to drop slightly, the A.M. striper bite continues to improve as well from shore. South Pine Creek specifically has been fishing very well, as has Southport Beach too. There is no shortage of bait. Small silver side patterns for the fly guys including Eric Peterson’s gummy epoxies that he just delivered over the weekend as well as some smaller peanut bunker imitations will surely do the trick. We also have a huge batch of hand tied custom clousers that were field tested Sunday evening for bass up to 27 inches around Westport and the Saugatuck River basin, also spun up by Eric. For the spin enthusiast, stick to Rattle Traps, Stillwater Plugs, Yozuri Minnows and during no light or low light conditions, the NEW Storm Shads!
• Perhaps the highlight of the week was from an out of towner Donny Goulart who was in town for the Norwalk International Boat Show. Donny could not have been happier when after setting up his booth he walked into Westport Outfitters. Lucky for him, Norwalk Island guide extraordinaire, friend and fellow fish freak Matt Gifford happen to be in the store to give Donny the crash course on fishing Calf Pasture Beach. Although Matt and I varied on what the best location would be, Donny ventured out Wednesday night East of Shady Beach and had his fill of Stripers and Blues (Matt’s Location). After a few more decent catches from shore on top water Creek Chubs and some small plastics the fish gods blessed Donny with the ultimate shore catch Saturday night…FAT ALBERTS!! That’s right folks, two of them right from shore at dusk on Creek Chubs in less than 8 feet of water. Upon returning to the shop to speak of his travels, he was surrounded by nearly 100 years of combined fishing experience in our local waters, all who reiterated how truly awesome his catch was. Donny walked around the boat show for the rest of the weekend with a smile from ear to ear…Congrats Donny and keep in touch!!
• The kayak fishing is really starting to heat up as well. Bruce fished from his trusty tri-balance on Saturday A.M. armed with his fly rod and had the ultimate fall slam less one with blues and bass and several Bonita hook ups and one landed to the yak. Congrats Bruce! Speaking of kayak fishing, some straggler boat show attendees were treated (and some probably a bit scared) to a special catch when on Thursday night Matt Mumbach marched into the shop with about a 7 lb bone he had taken on his fly rod earlier that evening. Like anything with Matt there was story…a perfectly placed cast, a hook up, a blistering run and a rather large wind knot that took the two top sections of his fly rod for a Norwalk Islands Sleigh Ride with the fish still on. After hand over handing the fish in on his butt section, he retrieved his rod tips as well as a gorgeous fish. After selling his boat last year, Matt has been shore/kayak bound and has really put his time in, your diligence is truly paying off my friend!
• Our favorite kid fisher award this week goes out to young Jackson Morgan from Darien. Moving here from California in the spring, he and his father Dennis have been getting dialed into the local fishing scene. Over the weekend, young Jackson landed his first fish, a 21 inch 3.3 lb blue. (See new homepage photo). He will forever be hooked…Congrats!!
• At the time of this report, I received a phone call from shop customer and good friend Steve Elliot who had just come in from the water with yet another stellar report (9.26.07). Armed with his Quantum Cabo Reels, Steve landed two Albies over 8 lbs and two Bonita outside of the islands on Deadly Dicks. The excitement in Steve’s voice was indescribable. Steve, you are one of the hardest fish guys we have around here, constantly pursuing the lure of this great sport. Congrats on a great morning, you surely deserve it!!
• This is the time folks, the fishing is only going to get better from here on in, pending any big blow. We have not seen this type of fall action in many, many years, so make the time to get out there this weekend.
• MONTAUK REPORT
• From the decks of the Teaser in Montauk New York, Captain Dean reports that he fishing on the edge has been as good as it has ever been for me. Thursday overnight in the "brick rock," which is about 4 miles east of West Atlantis canyon, provided us with 16 yellowfin in the 75# to 90# class with one albacore and half a dozen mahi's. With Sundays weather forecast I'm sure we will be hitting that area again this week or early next week. There was also great reports on swordfish being taken in that same area.
• The Viking Fleet reported that the Striped Bass fishing has been RED HOT with the full moon!!! Fly fisherman have been seeing lots of Albies right off Montauk Point. Fly casters were having better luck with lines that don't sink too fast, or with really fast retrieves.
• FRESHWATER REPORT
• Finally the freshwater reports are starting to heat up again with a bit of rain over the past few weeks. Justin Solis has been diligently fishing the Housy as well as its tributaries and he claims it can’t get much better. He has been experiencing some prolific hatches all day long with Caddis in the A.M. and Iso's later in the day. Size 10-12 in the ISO pattern as well as BWOs size 22-28. Justin says it’s some of the best dry fly fishing he has seen in years. He and his trusty fish partner George Discala were up at the Housy over last weekend and landed 15 or so fish with the largest being a 20" Bow and a 19" Brown. The best part is, it’s only just the beginning! The next few weeks the water will cool even more and bring out even larger trout.
• As far as the tributaries and local streams... there are fish around, with some fairly large holdovers, you just need to know where they like to hide. Justin landed an 18" hold over brown on Sunday and several more in the 13-14" range on hares ear nymphs and BWO emergers. Throwing large streamers works well also since the brookies and browns are starting to snuggle up for the spawn, which is a time when they become very aggressive.

Rivers End Tackle, Old Saybrook

• STRIPED BASS- Considering the time of year the bass fishing is only fair. Theres a decent population of small to medium sized bass along the shoreline from here to Pt. Judith. Given the amount of baitfish around there should be more bass. The Race, Sluiceway and Plum Gut have a good run of smaller bass with an occasional larger one. Hatchetts, Bartletts and Long Sand Shoal have had some better sizes on live bait if you can get in between the blues. Theres still schoolies in the mouth of the River. The run hasn't started in Montauk yet either from shore or boat. Rhode Island has also slowed a bit since the weekend.
• BLUEFISH- This is one of the larger runs we've seen in the last few years with a very good mix of sizes.You don't have to go very far, sometimes even north of the I-95 Bridge. The mouth of the Connecticut River is a good place to start with some surface action but the most consistent action on bait. Theres a combination of peanut and adult bunker in the River and outside. The usual spots such a the Race, Plum Gut , Pigeon Rip and Southwest Reef all have good fishing on diamond jigs.
• SNAPPERS- They are starting to thin out in number but their size is 8" and sometimes larger. Best spots are still the Causeway and Saybrook Point.
• BLACKFISH- Season started out very good with mostly limit catches reported from Hatchetts, Southwest Reef and Black Point.
• PORGIES-Continues to be strong at Hatchetts, Bartletts and Southwest Reefs.
• BONITO, FALSE ALBACORE - It appears that the large schools that were north of us are starting to move. Some large school are in Montauk though not always jumping on the hooks. There was action this week at the Pine Island - Bluff Point area, Jordan Cove and Black Point. The RI shore has a few schools hitting close in at Weekapaug and running along the beaches from Watch Hill to Pt. Judith.
• BLUE CRABS- They are still here on borrowed time. The mild weather hasn't moved them out.
• BONEFISH- Not too good locally but we're expecting them south this winter. We have a trip to Acklins Island in the Bahamas in November and one in Los Roques, Venezuela in February. For more detail call Pat 860-388-2283.

On The Water Magazine

• The fishing has tapered off just a bit, according to reports Tommy at Quaker Lane Bait & Tackle in North Kingstown has heard. Despite the slowdown, however, there are still plenty of fish to catch, particularly bluefish. These are being found throughout Narragansett Bay and along the south shore, but they aren’t holding in any given spot because there is so much bait. Patient anglers in upper Narragansett Bay have been taking striped bass on the sand flats at Conimicut Point, but the blues make it a real trial. Several nice bass have been landed nonetheless, so it appears to be worth the effort. False albacore are dashing about all over, including Narragansett Bay. Tommy reported that the fish can be found just about anywhere, but don’t plan on them being in any one place, as they are moving about rapidly. For those seeking more sedentary pursuits, Tommy has heard good reports of blackfish on all the rock piles. Use a chart and your depthsounder to target likely spots.
• In Newport, Steve at The Saltwater Edge in Newport concurred that the fishing has slowed some, mainly because the fish are constantly chasing the never-ending supply of bait. Bluefish are being found all throughout upper Narragansett Bay, as are school bass. The action is sporadic regarding both time and place. False albacore are also making a major showing, particularly along the West and Center Walls, as well as shores along Sakonnet Point.
• The Coast Guard House and the Town Beach have been very productive in the early morning hours, according to Mary at Maridee Bait & Tackle in Narragansett. Anglers are doing very well from shore in both these locations, and good numbers of nice-sized bluefish and striped bass are being taken. Bonito are also showing up along the shore, giving anglers a shot at this speedy species. If they visit your vicinity, you’d better make haste; they don’t seem to be hanging around for long. The Narrow River is also being productive, offering good catches of both bluefish and striped bass. Tsunami shads and pencil poppers seem to be the best choice for both the blues and the stripers; Deadly Dicks are the trick for bonito.
• A number of decent-sized stripers were weighed in at Wildwood Outfitters in Wakefield for the tournament that took place over the past weekend. At least six fish topped the 40-pound mark, and Rob said that a number of bass in the 20-pound class were also taken. There are still lots of decent-sized striped bass around, and chunk bait is the way to get them to the hook. Rob reported that the bait is breaking up and scattering, which has slowed the fish a bit over the past week. Bluefish are still abundant throughout the area, but they are also more scattered, causing the action to be very much hit-or-miss. One of the bluefish “hits” produced a nearly 23-pound monster from Carpenters Beach! Bonito and false albacore have been reported in the area on a regular basis, but they too are moving about rapidly, making for some frustrating fishing. Rob has heard some reports from fresh water, but they are not so very good: incredibly low water levels are putting the fish off the feed.
• Block Island continues to be a very fishy place, though John at Twin Maples Bait & Tackle noted that catches of bluefish have slowed considerably over the past week. Wind has been a major problem on the island, but anglers getting between gusts are doing very well to striped bass, bonito, false albacore and sea bass. Sea bass and blackfish are readily found on just about every rock pile around the island, according to John. Action to school bass has been good at Sandy Point, and bigger fish can be taken there at night when tossing eels. Bigger stripers are still abundant on the south side of the island, with Black Rock being the most productive spot. While it can be a hit-or-miss venture during daylight hours, Black Rock is producing well at night with chunk bait or eels. Fishing from a boat increases the odds for big fish. Anglers are doing well along the east side of the island as well, from Ballards Beach to the Southeast Light, though most fish caught are schoolies. John said that the fish switched their preference to light-colored needlefish plugs this week, maybe because squid have started showing up around the island. John also reported that the bonito and false albacore are still raging away in the Coast Guard Channel. Best times are first light, and from about 8:30 a.m. until about 11:00 a.m. Afterwards, the fish seem to take a siesta until about 3:30 p.m. The action to these two species tends to die off between 5:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
• Over in the Charlestown region, Captain Don at Captain Don’s Bait & Tackle reports that the fishing action has tapered off just a bit over the past week, much like in the Narragansett Bay region. Bluefish are showing here and there, and in good numbers of large fish when they do, but they may not return to any given area for a couple of days. This makes the fishing for them more like a game of hide-and-seek. School bass are being found, as are bonito and false albacore, but from what Captain Don has heard, they are not being very consistent either. The fish are around, but they are hanging deep, so Captain Don suggested using lead-head jigs if you want to tag a few decent-sized fish on a more consistent basis. Anglers using this method are taking nice stripers.
• There are lots of bluefish in the Thames River, according to reports Rennie at The Fish Connection in Preston has heard. Lots of 3- to 4-pound blues are being found in the upper portion of the Thames, and bigger blues are following the schools of large bunker farther down. Big and small blues are moving around the river quickly, according to Rennie, so don’t go back to previously hot spots expecting them to be hot again. Striped bass are being found far up the Thames in the area where it meets the Shetucket River, and some decent-sized fish are being taken. School bass are fairly common at Bluff Point and Avery Point, but nothing big has been taken yet. Eels are producing some bigger bass in The Race, however, some of which are approaching the 35-pound mark. This seems to be the sole big fish spot at the moment. Bonito are racing around, providing fair-to-good action around Race Point, Pleasure Beach, Bluff Point and Watch Hill. All spots are sporadic, however, and there’s not much consistency at the time being. Big scup are being taken regularly at Goshen Point and Sarah Ledge. Rennie reports that blackfish season is off to a slow start overall, with the biggest fish so far being weighed in at 8 pounds. This fish was taken at Seaflower Reef, but nice fish are also being taken at Sarah Ledge, Goshen Point, Latimer Light, the Dumplings and the breakwaters at Stonington.
• Lou at Hillyer’s Bait & Tackle in Waterford reported that the fishing has been great in that area. Albies can be found off the mouth of the Thames River, while bonito seem to prefer the area from Twotree to the Sluiceway, where a mix of both species can be found. Bartlett Reef has been producing some very nice striped bass, with tube-and-worm rigs working great by day and eels working great by darkness. Nighttime capers are producing the bigger stripers, and Lou said Hatchett Reef should not be neglected; it has been producing good stripers, as has The Race. Bluefish are everywhere, though they are scattered and moving about, making the action a bit hit-or-miss. The mouth of the Connecticut River has been consistently producing good catches of bluefish, however. The Connecticut River blues are large fish, and they’re are ranging up river to Essex. Lou also mentioned good catches of sea bass on the Bloody Grounds south of Black Point. Target the deeper waters where you would expect to catch fluke.
• Bluefish are rampaging all around the eastern end of Long Island Sound, according to reports Captain Jerry Morgan at Captain Morgan’s Bait & Tackle has heard. Bonito are showing sporadically between Hammonasset and Falkner Island, and from Falkner to Charles Island. These fish are not consistent in any given area, but when they show, they do so in good numbers. Captain Morgan has heard reports of good striped bass fishing at both Charles and Falkner islands, and anglers are seeing some larger-sized stripers come to chunk bait even during the daytime. Blackfish season got off to an o.k. start, according to Captain Morgan, and he thinks a cold snap that drops water temperatures a few degrees will get the blackfish feeding better. Sea bass are being taken on the deeper reefs in Eastern and Central Long Island Sound.
• The folks at Westport Outfitters in Norwalk had just finished up a major on-site boat show and had only a short report this week, but they did say that bonito were showing up rather consistently at Calf Pasture Beach. Bluefish are feeding in the same area, so be prepared for some pretty intense action. One angler even caught some bonito on Creek Chub lures!
• Rick at Fisherman’s World in Norwalk reported that big bluefish and good-sized striped bass have been taken on chunk bait fished at the 28C- and 11C-buoys. Smaller bluefish are swarming all over the area, and especially around the Norwalk Islands. The Norwalk Islands are also seeing some bonito action, with the most consistent action taking place just to the south of the islands. Deadly Dicks are the lure of choice. Anglers seeking bonito are doing well both from boat and from shore. Rick reported that blackfish got off to a slow start, probably because it is still a bit on the warm side. Charters going offshore to the canyons are seeing some of the best fishing of the season, said Rick.
• Best Bets for Connecticut and Rhode Island This is definitely getting old, but Block Island cannot be outdone when it comes to bonito and false albacore opportunities; there the fish are abundant, consistent, and reachable by shore and boat. Get there while the fishing is still hot, because it really can’t last forever! The Norwalk region also sounds like a good bet for bonito at the moment, and the mouth of the Connecticut River is offering some pretty intense angling to big bluefish. Finally, Eastern Long Island Sound – particularly the area around Waterford – seems to be offering saltwater anglers a pretty good variety of opportunities for species both big and small. (Alan Desbonnet)
  

Connecticut Post Mild weather has Bluefish hopping

• Bluefish — Plenty of medium to large choppers around, and the action is picking up thanks to the mild weather. The mouth of the Housatonic produced a huge school of blues this week. Waders and boat anglers were taking the very feisty fish on virtually every cast of the popper or swimmer. Milford Harbor has seen some great bluefish action as well. To the East, the Race, Plum Gut, Thames River, Pigeon Rip, Bartlett Reef, Hatchett Reef, Connecticut River from the Baldwin (I-95) Bridge to the breakwaters, Falkner Island area to the reefs off Branford, and the New Haven Harbor all have seen terrific action.
• Striped bass — The big bass are still hanging out in the deeper, colder water. Some schoolie action was reported in the Housatonic at Smith's Point across from Knapp's Landing restaurant. DEP reports indicate the usual spots, the reefs off Watch Hill, south side of Fishers Island, Ram Island Reef, the Race, the Sluiceway, Plum Gut, Pigeon Rip (just north of Plum Island), Bartlett Reef, Black Point, Hatchett Reef, Long Sand Shoal, Southwest Reef, Sixmile Reef, Falkner Island area and the reefs off Branford are still yielding cow bass.
• Blue crabs — The fantastic crab season is showing no sign of tapering off. Crabs measuring six inches point to point are not uncommon these days. Tackle shops are doing great business selling pole nets.
• Bonito: Eric Johnson at Norwalk Outfitters reports the action that nearly everyone has been into is still hot albeit a bit slower than weeks past. Flase albacore have started to move in and will traditionally push the other speedsters out of town. Have no fear though, L-Jack Jigs and Crystal Minnows will work just fine for the falsies.
• Snapper blues — Plenty of good-sized baby blues are at places like Milford's Town dock and Bond's Dock in Stratford. Small Castmasters or shiners are among the best choices.
• FRESHWATER
• Trout — The DEP's annual fall stocking is under way with 49,000 trout scheduled to go into ponds and rivers before it is over. Water levels in streams and rivers remain unusually low due to the lack of rain.
• Largemouth bass — Fishing is reported as good in many areas. Places to try include Lake Hayward, Upper Moodus Reservoir, Highland, Bashan, Columbia, Waramaug, Crystal and Red Cedar Lakes, Quaddick Reservoir, Pachaug Pond and Bicentennial Pond. Anglers are having to work for their bass at Candlewood Lake, and tough fishing has been reported from Billings Lake and Amos Lake.
• Smallmouth bass — Good fishing reported at Highland Lake, Squantz Pond, Mashapaug Lake, and fair Bashan Lake, Coventry Lake and Candlewood Lake. Anglers can still find good smallie fishing on the Housatonic (especially on warmer days, and this weekend should be warm).
• Northern pike — Fish are showing up in the shallows with the cooler temperatures in Lake Lillinonah, Winchester Lake, Bantam Lake, Hopeville Pond (several 30-inch-plus pike recently caught) and Pachaug Pond. A 17-pound pike was recently caught at Ashland Pond.
• Walleye — Some action reported at Coventry Lake, Lake Saltonstall (a 24-incher among the catches) and Squantz Pond (8.6-pound walleye).
• Black crappie — Anglers at Lake Saltonstall, Saugatuck Reservoir, Silver Lake (Berlin) and Park Pond have been getting them on small shiners.

Rivers End Tackle, Old Saybrook

• STRIPED BASS- Theres been a surprise population of school bass in the mouth of the Connecticut River. They have been along Great Island and the adjacent flats just like Spring. Chunkers have also been getting bass in the River mixed in with the blues. The Race and Plum Gut have some medium sized bass while the closer reefs have been yielding larger bass on live bait. The Rhode Island beaches have been very good from Watch Hill to Point Judith with most of the bass action after dark and some blitzes at daybreak. So far this has been one of the best starts to a fall run than we have seen in many years.
• BLUEFISH- Another bright spot. You know its good when you get more complaints about blues getting the bait or lures before the bass and quitting because of sore arms. The race and Gut have the usual, but the River and just outside has had a lot of blitzes sometimes lasting an hour or more. At times the blitzes have been under the I-95 Bridge. From shore the chunkers at the DEP piers and Saybrook Point have been getting a few blues up to the mid-teens in size.
• SNAPPERS- Theres hasn't been any let up yet as some of the snappers are 8 inches and a few longer. The best bets are still in some moving water near the Causeway and DEP piers.
• BLACKFISH- Season closed, will reopen on the 22nd.
• PORGIES-Good to very good at Hatchetts, Bartletts and Cranes. Some hot fishing near Plum Gut and Race Rock lighthouses.
• BONITO, FALSE ALBACORE - A strange season, but aren't they all when it comes to albies. There's still some decent reports from eastern RI and inconsistent fishing at Montauk. A few catches have been reported along the Waterford beaches. It seems to be that the majority of albacore are north of Point Judith. Theres also been a few odd catches on the north side of Plum Island and the Sluiceway but not very consistent at all. The Jordan Cove area has had a few albies, bonito and even a couple of Spanish mackeral.
• BLUE CRABS- Some very excellent catches from both North and South Coves on the River as well as the DEP Piers and Oyster River. Theres no let up yet, if the current weather pattern continues we should have a few more weeks of crabs.

Westport Outfitters

• Warm days, cooler nights, dropping water temps, no storms and tons of bait…it looks as if the fish Gods are definitely smiling down on us all. This calm weather pattern we have been experiencing, which is forecasted to continue, could to do some amazing things for our local fishing. The bonita action that nearly everyone has been into is still hot albeit a bit slower than weeks past. The Albies have started to move in and will traditionally push the other speedsters out of town. Have no fear though, your L-Jack Jigs, Crystal Minnows and Deadly Dicks that you stocked up on will work just fine for the Falsies as well. With any luck the Albies will have a bit more of a pattern to their swimming habits to make it a bit easier to get one of these on.
• For the fly gals and guys, stick with smaller patterns such as Eric Peterson’s bay anchovy and silver side imitations.
• From shore, the action continues to pick up. Our own Peter Viviano was back on the shore over the weekend at Burial Hill at low tide for several stripers up to 26 inches on the fly rod. He noted the fish were awfully skinny so it’s just a matter of time before they start gorging for the journey south. Speaking of Pete, he proudly represented Westport Outfitters on Sunday at the annual Aspetuck Land Trust Family Fun Day in Easton. Westport Outfitters has always been a big supporter of the trust and was invited to set up a table to introduce families and kids to the sport of fly fishing. Pete tied flies and did casting demonstrations for the whole family and the response was terrific.
• The charters that ventured out over the weekend were greeted with some pretty snotty weather, but that did not prevent captain Rob in getting the Tomicetti’s into some blues on light tackle and a keeper bass on the fly rod. Chris was out in deeper water trolling his ever famous lead core rigs with blues to 12 pounds as well.
• From the field, a special congrats to shop faithful Jon Thelen’s daughter Isabel Thelen who landed a 33 inch bass off of Fairfield Beach on Saturday. She will now be forever hooked!!
• Newcomer Scott McHugh who recently moved to the area has taken no time to get into fish which is quite impressive considering he is new to fishing our somewhat technical local waters. Scott got into some Albies outside of Copps and Goose (about 1 mile) and bones in tighter to Copps and Goose over the weekend, on both flies and spin before retreating back to the docks to pick the family up.
• As the temps continue to drop, the striper bite should continue to increase. Let’s hope the fishing Gods continue to shine down upon us with steady and calm weather.
• MONTAUK REPORT: Our friend Captain Dean on board the TEASER was back at again as well this past week. The fluke season officially closed on the 17th. There was some real decent fish around last week. The “Hurry up” reported a #15 fluke on Sunday. Now that’s a nice catch.
• The Falsie are back and the point has been lit up with birds, blues, bass and False Albacore.
• The cow bass fishing has been on a day to day thing right now. Plenty of action on top but the fish are a lot smaller compared to bait fishing in the rips. We had a great day on Friday and a slow day on Sunday. Others did the exact opposite. Eels are finally starting to work and save the time of catching your own live bait for the tide rips. The fishery at Montauk Point is completely based on tide so you need to be there at the right tides to truly tell how the fishing is. The ebb tide has been the best for me this year.
• The fall fishing is the best around. You should get you boat out here and come on board if you can find the time.Offshore the shark fishing is still holding up pretty well with a mixture of blue sharks and smaller mako’s. The tuna fishing on the edge was excellent before the little blow we had over the weekend.

Connecticut Post - One man's guide to the best surf fishing

• Arguably, there is a greater angling thrill than standing knee-deep in pounding waves at dawn, wader boots sinking alarmingly into soft, wet sand, casting eight-inch surface plugs at busting bluefish, marauding striped bass or a zooming pod of false albacore.I've done many types of fishing, and the only thing that comes close to the pure surf experience in my view is hooking a fat trout on a fly rod in a rippling stream.Although fall does not officially begin for seven more days, now is the time to plan surf-fishing expedition. With apologies to whoever said it first, Shakespeare? (No, not the tackle maker, the other one): in fall, many a fishermen's fancy turns to the surf.
• Every dedicated surf fisher has his or her favorite place in the world to visit in the fall. Below are my top five, in order of preference, surf-fishing places in the Northeast. To be sure, this is not the definitive list. There are a number of surf-fishing venues along New England's spectacular coastline I have yet to visit, much less fish, including such legendary locals as the Massachusetts's Plum Island, the Rhode Island sluiceways and Block Island's south shore. So what follows is an entirely personal and subjective view of some great places to spend a few chilly autumn mornings watching the sun rise over angry waves as the fish are hauled up onto the beach. 1. Nantucket, Mass. OK, don't blow a gut. Yes, the island is a billionaire's paradise where a restaurant meal can cost more than a Van Staal rod-and-reel combo. But it's that very exclusivity that has allowed so many miles of the island's beaches to be open (after Labor Day) to four wheel-drive beach buggies. By contrast, nearby Martha's Vineyard, while having far fewer miles of drivable beaches, has better park-and-walk access for anglers without four-wheelers.
• It not easy, but in the fall, budget-conscious anglers can rent a small cottage with a kitchen in the town of Nantucket for under $800. The kitchen will keep you away out of the pricey restaurants. From town, it's a 20-minute drive to Great Point, perhaps the greatest of all East Coast surf-fishing locations, or to Smith's Point in the West. In between are miles and miles of open beaches.
• 2. Montauk. Ah, Montauk; beautiful, wild, fish-mad Montauk. What's there to say? Standing below the great cliffs, the magnificent Montauk light at Long Island's easternmost point towering above; it almost does not matter if the fish are there or not. The thrill is being there. Happily, chances of not catching fish at Montauk during the fall run are very slim. The incredible sight of hundreds, perhaps thousands of wheeling, screaming birds above three acres of crazed striped bass chasing panicked baitfish is something every fishermen must experience before going to wherever fishermen go after their last cast is cast. Beware, though, too long a cast might end up on the deck of a charter boat whose foolhardy captain has allowed it to drift into the surf line, hoping to share the action of the folks in chest waders.
• 3. Nauset Beach. In fall, Cape Cod's National Seashore, from Chatham to Race Point near Provincetown is one endless deserted beach, but Nauset is the best of the magnificent lot. The non-four wheeled angler can park in any one of several public parking lots and walk to the water's edge. Rents are cheaper and the tourist throngs have left for work. An angler can walk for miles casting into nearly perfect surf, searching for the deep holes formed by offshore sandbars. It is in the holes where the really big bass sometimes lurk. The fishing can get crowded on weekends, but there are plenty of bass and blues to go around.
• 4. Cuttyhunk, Mass. No cars: that's the thing with this tiny dot at the very tip of the Elizabeth Islands chain that swings off the base of Cape Cod into Rhode Island Sound like a bowed surf rod. The only way to get to the Cuttyhunk surf is to walk there or rent a golf cart, the only motorized vehicles allowed on the island. But however you get to the surf, Cuttyhunk offers some of the best conditions and largest stripers you'll ever see. Huge boulder deposits along the Western shore are a favorite haunt lunker bass. Chances are whatever place on the island you choose to wade and cast you will be alone with the fish. There really is only one place to stay on Cuttyhunk, that's the Cuttyhunk Fishing Club, a beautifully restored former rich man's fishing haunt established in 1864 by a gaggle of barons of industry whose bait of choice was usually lobster tails.
• 5. Hatteras. It true North Carolina's Outer Banks are technically not in the Northeast, but they ought to be. When the blues are running at Hatteras Point, there is no more exciting fishing sight in the world as hundreds of anglers stand shoulder to shoulder casting into the white froth created by crazed blues and bass. If The Point is dead, there always a quick run up to the vast sandbars of Oregon Inlet. Somewhere along that route birds you are likely to spot birds hovering over breaking fish. That's when you park the vehicle and run over the dunes for some fast casts.
• So there they are my top five fall surf locations. As I said, it's a personal thing. If you have a favorite surf spot, even on tame old Long Island Sound, we want to hear about it Send it along by email along with some of the reasons you think it is better than those listed above. We'll run as many emails as we can later this season.
• The Department of Environmental Protection's Boating Division has launched a series of pages on the department's Web site devoted to DEP-operated coastal and inland boat launches, including car top and carry-in sites. The sites provide driving directions, launch and boating regulations, maps, and photographs of the ramp, access road, parking area and park entrance for over 100 Connecticut launches. To access this new feature, visit the main boating page at www.ct.gov/dep/boating, select the "Where to Go Boating" link on the left-side screen, and then select "Locate a Boat Launch." The state boat launch at Gardner Lake will close for renovations on Monday and is expected to reopen in mid-April 2008. (Charles Walsh, Connecticut Post).

On The Water Magazine

• Best Bets for the Weekend: This may be starting to sound redundant, but if you want hot action to bonito and false albacore, Block Island is the place to be. If you get sick of tossing flies or light spoons to these speedsters, you can grab the heavyweight plugs and a surf rod and head to the south side of the island for large striped bass. If bluefish are your desire, the waters from Watch Hill to Stonington Point are also good bets, as are the breachways along the south shore of Rhode Island; bonito and albies are available there as well. Farther west, the mouth of the Housatonic River is lively, and the Norwalk Islands should provide decent opportunities as well. Last but not least, with cooler weather rolling in more consistently, now is be the time to go after the blue crabs that have been in such abundance.
• Bluefish are still around, but they are more scattered than they were a week ago, according to Captain Jack Balint at The Fish Connection in Preston. The densest concentrations of bluefish are being found between Stonington Point and Napatree Point at the moment. School bass are being found here and there, but the only big stripers have been coming from The Race. Captain Balint heard reports of some large bass taken on Watch Hill Reef, but the action has slowed there over the past week. False albacore have been reported at The Race, Watch Hill, Plum Gut and the Sluiceway, but without any consistency in Eastern Long Island Sound yet. Bonito, however, are keeping anglers happy at Mumford Cove and at the mouth of the Thames River. Deadly Dicks and Swedish Pimples have been consistent producers. Scup anglers are doing incredibly well on the reefs at Watch Hill, according to Captain Balint; he has seen them coming into boats one after another, all of them good-sized.
• Anglers who know when and where to go and what to use are still taking striped bass to 30 pounds throughout the area. A 30-plus-pound striper was landed at the mouth of the Niantic River earlier in the week, according to Howard at Hillyer’s Bait & Tackle in Waterford. Early morning is the best time to be out, and the big bass prefer chunk bait to anything else at the moment. Bluefish are still fishing excellently, with Black Point being the most consistent producer of bigger fish. Bonito are pretty steady in Jordan Cove, according to reports Howard has heard, and they can be found throughout the eastern end of the sound from Harkness to the Sluiceway. False albacore have not made a strong showing in the area just yet, but there is lots of bait, so they ought to show soon. Howard reported that the blue crabbing is still incredible, with lots of big crabs being taken.
• The wind has been keeping quite a few anglers off the waters of Eastern Long Island Sound, according to Captain Jerry Morgan at Captain Morgan’s Bait & Tackle in Madison. The wind, however, has pushed bait in close to shore, making for some excellent surf fishing. Bluefish and striped bass are both around, and bluefish have been “blitzing” on the surface close to shore on most afternoons and evenings. Bonito are around but are not consistent anywhere in particular, and the false albacore have not showed in any numbers quite yet. Captain Morgan reported that the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection has begun its fall stocking of trout. They are focusing on the lakes and ponds first in hopes that the area will receive some much-needed rainfall and improve the water levels in the rivers and streams. A few anglers have reported taking trout in the Hammonasset River, and a few have reported taking pike in the Meadows on live shiners.
• Chris at Stratford Bait & Tackle in Stratford reported that fishing has slowed a bit overall in the past week. There is lots of bait around, but it’s mainly baby bunker, so the bigger stripers are either not around or not very active. In spite of this, some anglers are doing well for larger stripers fishing live eels and chunk bait on Penfield and Fairfield reefs. Darkness improves the odds for success. Chris also reported that Short and Long beaches are seeing some pretty good action to bluefish on and off throughout the day. Anglers tossing plugs are doing quite well. Scup fishing is still good throughout the area, but there have not been many bonito or false albacore sightings over the past week. Now that the weather has cooled a bit, Chris has been seeing lots of anglers heading to the Farmington River; he expects to have a better report on it next week.
• In the Norwalk area, Chris at Westport Outfitters reported that anglers are doing well trolling tubes for striped bass, but no one is reporting much in the way of topwater action at the moment, at least not to striped bass. Bluefish are being found here and there, with the mouth of the Housatonic and the Norwalk Islands having the largest concentrations at the moment. For whatever reason, the mouth of the Housatonic has larger bluefish, running to 12 pounds, while the islands are producing blues in the 6- to 8-pound range. Bonito have been pretty consistent just outside the Norwalk Islands, with a scattering of fish on the inside. False albacore are being reported around Port Jefferson and the Middle Ground.

The Day It's Not Quite As Crowded Out There

• Yesterday morning, big blues and larger bass had a school of bait penned up against the east shore of the Thames River around the Municipal Transfer Station. A fellow on the spot casting from shore estimated his largest blue at 14 pounds and weighed and released a striper of 30 pounds, said Joe Balint at the Fish Connection.
• Small blues are up river around Trading Cove but most of the large bunker and bigger fish are down below the Sub Base. You might find some false albacore in the early morning off Bluff Point or maybe over in the Sluiceway. Black fishing is closed right down, opening up on Sept. 22.
• Porgies are around in good numbers from all the reefs off the mouth of the Thames through Fishers Island Sound. You can also catch large porgies and some sea bass on the hard bottom off the State Beach at Misquamicut or just east of Watch Hill Passage.
• Red at Bob's Rod & Tackle heard about three bass from 41-48 inches caught with live eels in the lower part of the Thames River, all within the last few days. Blues were caught on live bunker or chunks fished from shore. People dunking worms along the river caught schoolie bass at times plus sea robins and very small sea bass.
• Al Golinski of Misquamicut had a week of mainly tending to visiting relatives and friends, only getting out once on a rough day for a fair catch of sea bass on the rockpiles off Weekapaug and Charlestown. There are lots of blues in the area, bothering striper fishermen looking for a trophy bass with live bait.
• Bunkers were spotted at times in Stonington Harbor, Quambaug Cove and just south of the Masons Island Bridge and other parts of the Mystic River.
• Capt. Don's in Charlestown reported on good to very good surf casting for bluefish anywhere from the Blue Shutters to Watch Hill. The fish are popping up in the morning and evening, also at times right in the middle of the day at Weekapaug Beach. One fisherman was called to the beach by his wife who was there sunbathing but got on the cell when she saw all the fish jumping out in the first wave.
• Those out after dark had some larger bass from the Quonny Breachway on plugs drifted out in the ebb current or cast off the rocks to the east of the breachway. An angler visiting from Florida had stripers of 28 and 30 inches on a Ron Z lure, a sand eel imitation that is very, very popular on Cape Cod and the islands.
• Porgy fishing from the breachway banks is just OK but not as productive as the weeks past. Fluke season is done in Rhode Island until next year just like Connecticut. If you want to get in some good beach casting before the weather turns cold, now is the time.
• Don at King Cove had numerous reports about bluefish caught from shore from Watch Hill over past Charlestown, both by locals and visitors from inland parts of the state. The fish are showing up at sunrise and sunset with bass around the rocks once it gets dark.
• Black fishing is closed but Don also said many people have 9/22 marked on their calendars. You can catch bass of various sizes trolling a tube and worm on the south side of Fishers Island or casting a live eel into the rocky shore — if a bluefish doesn't find it first. Bonito come and go, sighted in one locale one day, gone the next.
• Capt. Allen Fee at Shaffers said people are filling in time until the opening of black fishing chasing blues on the surface with spinning tackle or catching them trolling around the Watch Hill Reefs. Bunkers are in the Mystic River and Stonington Harbor, prime bait for big stripers if a bluefish doesn't beat a bass to the punch.
• The west side of Block Island and Southwest Ledge on the slack tides has sea bass if you want to run over there. Blue fishing was generally good in The Race along with others caught around Pigeon Rip. Big porgies are still on most of the rocky high spots in Fishers Island Sound.
• Capt. Brad Glas of the Hel-Cat said the blue fishing ranged from very good to excellent last week with the exception of one day when boat traffic “made a mess of things.” The first of the night trips for ocean blues to Alligator Ledge was a super success. Big fish of the week was caught on that trip, a 15-pound blue by Washington Castro of Danbury.
• Capt. Howard Beers was on duty at Hillyers Tackle. He told me on Wednesday a school of blues was on the surface most of the day just off Black Point, taking surface plugs for those with the time off. Bonito were caught from the shore at Pleasure Beach from time to time but not every day.
• Blue crabbing is still good along the pilings and coves of the rivers and the regulars catching bass in better numbers than the weekend angler.
• Roger at J&B Tackle said their charter boat had good blue fishing overall last week but the daytime bass in The Race were on the slow side. Porgies are still in good shape and crabbing also worth the time.
• Roger saw some small weakfish landed by people looking for snapper blues in Mystic River and small porgies caught from the docks up to the Route One Bridge.
• Capt. Joey on the Mijoy gave me a cell phone call to say the blue fishing is good over all along with a few bass on some of the trips. Starting Oct. 2 they will switch to porgies from Tuesday through Friday and continue with two trips per day for blues and bass on the weekends.
• River's End weighed in two bass in the 50s last week caught on live bunker on a three-way rig at the Sand Shoal. Blues are blitzing the beaches between Madison and Waterford; look for the bait and you might find the fish. Now is the time to scout the shore, even during the day, looking for the magic moment when fish push the bait up against the beach and usually grab any lure pulled past their noses. Mixed in with the blues just might be a striper over 30 pounds.
• Bigger bluefish were jigged up at Pigeon Rip and some also in The Gut on the flood tide. Porgies are big and plentiful and Cranes and Outer Hatchetts Reefs. Our waters are less crowded now, offering plenty of good fishing, weather permitting, right through November. (Tim Coleman is The Day)

Westport Outfitters

• Ah…the feeling of fall is definitely upon us, coupled with some of the best Bonita action we have seen in years. Topping last week’s report, the little speedsters showed themselves all weekend long. The steady but not overbearing southwest blow stacked these fish up inside of the “bowl” inside of Goose and Grassy out in the islands as well as in tight where the bones had bait cornered between the reef and Cockenoe Island. Captain Matt took the whole family out on Saturday to get into these fish and did quite well with several to the boat and many more hook ups. The fish themselves are definitely beginning to get a bit more finicky though. Perhaps as a direct result of getting everything in the bag tossed at them over the past several weeks. So much for boat traffic dwindling as we had forecasted several weeks back. It seems as if in reality, it actually has increased since the Labor Day Holiday. Just remember etiquette when into these fish, try and forecast where the boat next to you may be drifting towards and do your best not to cross over their drift.
• A special note; try a small teaser off a swivel just above your shock tippet when fishing for these fish. Perhaps an all white or chartreuse deceiver. This seemed to do the trick for Captain Matt on Saturday after cycling through his bag of goodies with not much luck.
• Shop customer Sage (see new homepage photo) was back into thee fish once again on Sunday with an excursion both in the A.M. and then a return trip back out later that afternoon. His bait of choice was white soft plastics (bass assassin and/or sluggos). With all of these great Bonita reports around, we still can not forgot about the striper bite which continues to improve albeit still during low or no light conditions from shore.
• Local angler Ron Leong continues to venture out and wade the shallows leading up to first light around the usual haunts in Westport. Saturday A.M. he was once again awarded with a nice 34 inch bass on a top water plug and had several other tremendous hits with no hook ups. Ron has been steadfast despite the water temps throughout the season when fishing inshore and his very productive weekly reports to the shop show his efforts truly paying off.
• Looking back at our archived reports from last year, our friend or should we say rather foe, Tropical Storm Ernesto had just pushed through with recorded wind gusts of over 60 MPH in our local area. For those of you that recall this little storm, we awoke on Sunday morning with over 16 boats up on their ears on Calf Pasture Beach. We were really crossing our fingers that the latest depression would not do the same and we came out unscathed. On the upside, the large influx of rain, probably dropped our water temps by several degrees which is good news for the bass fishing. Although none of us ventured out Monday and Tuesday, we have charters booked all weekend so we will see if any damage was done in regards to scattering the bait. The last thing we need is a good blow to run the hoards of peanut bunker out of town.
• Often it is the case that we need a weather event to really get the bass moving again, an event that brings with it, a drastic temperature change. What this change does is indicate to these fish that “hey,” winter is on its way and we better gorge before we head south. At the time of this report, I had just stepped in from the outside. When I left my home this A.M. (Thursday) at 5:15, the temperature was 47 degrees and I could see my breath...enough said.
• Focus on a strong moving tide whether it be incoming or outgoing from shore. The bluefish blitzes are still popping up pretty close for the wade fisherman, which all have larger bass mixed in as well. Jay Thomson ventured out Monday around the Saugatauk basin with the fly rod and some of Eric Peterson’s hand tied Synergy Flies and had his fill of nearly keeper stripers and 3-8lbs blues. For the spin fisherman, Bounders, L-Jack Jigs, Stillwater Poppers and as long as you get up early, the new Storm Wild Eyed Herring and Shads. If you have not seen/fished these new flies, you are missing out!! Speaking of flies, we almost forgot to mention, local angler, slip customer good friend and shop customer Patrick Hughes also broke the curse and nailed his first bone on the fly rod Saturday. He came in to tell the report with a smile from ear to ear as if he had just won the lottery. If he had won the lottery, that new 2400 Bay Ranger Pat would have been in your driveway before you got done celebrating.
• LATE REPORT FROM THURSDAY 9.13.07-Albies seen, scouted and caught in Norwalk!!- Game ON!!
• Although the kids are back at school, the snappers are still here and growing, Take The Family Fishing™ today!! If jigging is your fancy, the OB, 28C and Can 13 are also picking up. Don’t forget your teasers. If you are not familiar, stop on down and we can spin you up a few for your excursion while you wait.
• Snapper Tourney this Saturday September 15 @ the pier on Calf Pasture Beach!!
• MONTAUK REPORT: The "Teaser" took off last week but was back at the fishing grounds this week. Fresh report from the wet decks on board the TEASER in Montauk where Captain Dean reports that the fluke fishing is still better than average for this time of year. Despite the politics that went on at the beginning of the year, Fluke season will officially close out East on the 17th of September, so you only have a few more days for a chance at the "Montauk Doormat."
• He reports that the striped bass fishing seems to be on the down side as well, but this is the traditional lull before the fall blitz heats up. Offshore the shark fishing is holding up pretty good with a mixture of blue sharks and small makos. “We should start to see the giant fall blue sharks pretty soon now with these cooler waters moving in,” Kardamis stated. The tuna fishing out near the edge was excellent this past week. In addition to the usual yellowfins and longfins there were a surprising amount of bigeyes being taken too and not just at dawn and dusk, but even at midday inside the drop-off on the flats. That’s probably the result of cooler waters too. The last couple of years you would see the temps in the upper seventies, but now they’re down around 72-73 degrees.

Rivers End Tackle, Old Saybrook

• STRIPED BASS- Its been a moderate week with an increase in medium sized bass on the local reefs. The Race and Plum Gut also had more medium sized bass if you can get through the blues. Schoolies have been along the shoreline at low light and dark conditions.Theres even more peanut bunker along the shore and we had more reports of adult bunker in the River this week. Hatchetts and Southwest reefs have had bass on morning tides for eel drifters.
• BLUEFISH- They have been getting thicker and bigger this week. Blues up to mid-teens in size have been pretty common, even from the docks this week. The Race, Plum Gut and Pigeon Rip have been good to very good this week and fairly poor last weekend. The River has some good and sporadic blitzes even at mid day near the bridges.
• SNAPPERS- Theres hasn't been any let up yet as some of the snappers are 8 inches and a few longer. The best bets are still in some moving water near the Causeway and DEP piers.
• FLUKE- Closed in Connecticut, open in RI and NY through September 16th. You can catch Fluke in NY and RI but you cannot bring them into CT waters.
• BLACKFISH- Season closed, will reopen on the 22nd.
• PORGIES-Good to very good at Hatchetts, Bartletts and Cranes.
• BONITO, FALSE ALBACORE - Bonito reports were better than the albies this week around Watch Hill and Fishers Island. Some albies were caught outside West Harbor on Fishers. Word from Montauk was a good yesterday at the point and west. Some albies have been on the north side of Plum Island, but they are sporadic and tough. Best reports are coming from Charlestown and east.
• BLUE CRABS- Some very excellent catches from both North and South Coves on the River as well as the DEP Piers and Oyster River.

On The Water

Best Bets for Connecticut and Rhode Island: Norwalk sounds like a good place to be if you live in Western Connecticut and have a hankering for a bonito chase (who doesn’t?). The fish are thick there and in pursuit of anchovies – a favored bait – so expect them to hang around a while. Far to the east, the false albacore appear to be making their showing in grand fashion, so a trip to the Point Judith area or anywhere along the eastern section of the south shore of Rhode Island seems to be a reasonable choice. The Eastern Long Island Sound area seems to be presenting a mixed bag of bonito and albies, and a smattering of striped bass. If you want to tangle with bluefish, you are in luck – just drive to the coast anywhere between New York City and Providence and toss a plug or spoon into the water.

• There are lots of bluefish in the Mystic / Stonington area, according to what Cheryl at Shaffer’s Marina has heard from anglers. The biggest concentration of bluefish seems to be lingering between the outer breakwater off Stonington Point and Watch Hill Reef. Reports have it that there is a mother lode of bait in that area, so don’t expect the fish to leave anytime soon. Cheryl suggests tossing 2- or 3-ounce diamond jigs or small- to medium-sized surface poppers. Cheryl has heard reports of both bonito and false albacore, but none suggesting they have taken up residence in the area yet.
• It took me two days to connect with Rennie at The Fish Connection in Preston, but the report was worth the effort. He reported bonito in good numbers along Pleasure Beach, Groton Long Point, the Sluiceway and out to Watch Hill Reef. False albacore are just now being reported in the area, and Rennie was pretty sure they will become more abundant over the coming week. The Thames River is still producing lots of fish, but angler reports said the big bunker have disappeared and no one has been able to find them. Unfortunately, the jumbo bluefish disappeared along with them and left behind only lots of smaller specimens that Rennie called “snarbors.” Mixed in with the roving hordes of small blues are lots of school bass, so a mixed bag of species is available in the Thames for the time being. Fluke season is closed in Connecticut, and will be closed soon in Rhode Island and New York as well. Big scup are still coming readily to hook, and Rennie heard of some very good catches of sea bass to 3 pounds in the area just east of Watch Hill Reef and just off Misquamicut Beach. Rennie also wanted to invite folks to visit the shop in Preston on September 22, when they will be hosting an Open House and Customer Appreciation Day. Stop by and say “Hello” to Rennie and the rest of the gang.
• The striped bass are playing at night and during the very early morning hours, according to what Thelmo at Hillyer’s Bait & Tackle has heard from anglers. Anglers after bigger stripers during other parts of the day are finding them a tough quarry, though there are plenty of school bass and bluefish to keep them occupied. Plum Gut and the Sluiceway are the most consistently productive spots for striper action to good-sized fish. Thelmo had heard reports of bonito in the region, but they are not “camped out” anywhere, so the action is very hit-or-miss at the moment. Reports of albies were coming into the shop as well, though most reports of sightings have come from The Race and the Sluiceway. Huge scup are still being taken throughout the region in the likely spots.
• Captain Jerry Morgan at Captain Morgan’s Bait & Tackle in Madison said that the top stories are: the giant scup that are still being taken throughout the region on sandworms and clams; the huge numbers of bluefish – some quite large – that are very active in the early morning hours; and the bonito that are now appearing in good numbers in Eastern Long Island Sound, albeit inconsistently. Striped bass are still around, but the weather has been a bit uncooperative, especially if you’re chasing the bigger fish that are hanging out in deeper waters or on the reefs just off the coast. If school bass are your desire, Captain Morgan has heard good reports of tube-and-worm action during daylight hours. Reports of very small weakfish in the 6- to 9-inch range are coming into the shop pretty regularly now, and they have been plentiful along Sheffield Reef. Many anglers have been mistaking them at first glance for snapper blues due to their small size.
• The rain early in the week is just what was needed, according to John at Valley Angler in Danbury, although the timing would have been better about a month ago. Fishing on Candlewood Lake is tough going at the moment, though anglers jigging along the humps at about 35 feet of water are doing o.k. to smallmouth bass up to 5 pounds, and anglers trolling spinners and spoons are doing o.k. to brown trout. John suggested focusing on the points of land extending into the lake; one angler using that technique landed a 7-pound brownie. John has heard excellent reports of large concentrations of anchovies along the coast, as well as lots of baby bunker. All that bait is drawing in lots of bluefish, which seem to be the star attraction at the present time.
• Eric at Westport Outfitters in Norwalk has gotten numerous reports of excellent bonito fishing in the area. The fish are being reported just about everywhere, with most fish in the 8- to 10-pound range. Middle Passage to Goose Island is where you can find the largest concentration at the moment, but the fish are moving around, so expect them to pop up unexpectedly. Reports Eric has heard estimates of a 20-percent hook-up rate when using Deadly Dicks, Crystal Minnows and anchovy fly patterns. Bluefish are just about anywhere you care to cast, with most in the 3- to 6-pound range. Striped bass are also around, but they are mainly school bass mixed in with the bluefish. Larger stripers are only being taken during the wee hours of the night, when water temperatures finally drop a few degrees. Expect the bigger fish to get more active as the water temperature continues to drop.
• Bonito and a few false albacore were reported at Fisherman’s World in Norwalk, according to Bert. Middle Passage to Goose Island is the place where the thickest concentration is to be found. There are lots of bluefish mixed in and around the bonito, and some anglers are getting confused. Big concentrations of bluefish, readily available from shore, have been reported in Norwalk Harbor and at the Maritime Center. Striped bass are being taken at Sheffield Reef and the 11B- and 28C-buoys by bouncing diamond jigs, though these are mostly school bass, according Bert. There are lots of baby bunker around to keep the fish in the area. Big scup are still being taken, with the 11B-Buoy and Sheffield Reef being the two hot spots for big scup. Sand worms and clams are the best bait choices.
• Rhode Island: The fish are moving around a lot in Narragansett Bay, reported Dave at Quaker Lane Bait & Tackle in North Kingstown. Since last week, the biggest concentration of larger striped bass has been hanging out in the lower reaches of the bay, while schoolie bass have been fairly common at mid-bay and plentiful in the upper bay near the river mouths. The recent spate of hot weather drove water temperatures up slightly, and the stripers are shuffling around accordingly. The bluefish didn’t seem to care about the heat, however, and they are being found just about anywhere you toss a fly, lure or chunk of bait. Lots of bait has moved in to the mid- and upper bay region, so be prepared for some intense action once the temperature dips a few degrees. Both bonito and false albacore are in Narragansett Bay, but best results will come from seeking them out in the lower bay and along the south shore. Big scup are still being taken regularly throughout the bay area on sand worms and clams.
• Albies, albies and more albies! That’s what Rob at Wildwood Outfitters in Wakefield had to say when I called. He has heard reports of albies and bonito showing up along the beaches all the way from the Narrow River to Watch Hill. The average false albacore is running at about 10 pounds, although reports of the occasional 14-pounder are also trickling into the shop. If you can’t seem to find those two speedsters, Rob suggested adding some wire to your leader and tossing your wares to the numerous bluefish thrashing around the dense schools of baby bunker; they can be found just about everywhere. If striped bass are what you seek, Rob is getting reports that the south shore area from Deep Hole to Moonstone is producing some rather nice specimens. The bigger fish seem to be readily enticed by a 9-inch Swim Shad lure.
• Fluke catches are slowing considerably, according to reports that Steve at The Saltwater Edge in Newport has heard. The fish are deeper and harder to locate now that the season finale is quickly approaching. Steve reported tons and tons of bait in lower Narragansett Bay, however, which is drawing in fish like a magnet. Albies, bluefish and school bass can regularly be taken from shore or boat all along the oceanfront in Newport and along the “walls” at Point Judith. The beaches in Narragansett are also producing fish pretty consistently. Reports of bonito are scarce, but there are plenty of fish to keep you busy. Steve suggests fishing at dusk and into darkness for best results and to improve your odds at catching something of greater size.
• The mouth of the Narrow River is also producing some nice fish, according to Mary at Maridee Bait & Tackle in Narragansett, though the action may have slowed a bit since last week. The Narragansett beaches are fishing exceptionally well, particularly early in the day and just before and after first light. At those times, anglers can do very well to good-sized school bass and occasional keepers with surface plugs in the surf. Anglers have been telling Mary that both bonito and false albacore are around, but they’re moving quickly and not being very consistent at any place except the walls at Point Judith. Mary also reported that fluke catches are slowing considerably; the only action has occurred from boats, with no reports of fluke taken by shorebound anglers recently. Charters out of the shop are doing well to good-sized bass and bluefish, and they have had a couple of good sharking trips in the past week or two, picking up the occasional tuna.
• Block Island is still the place to be if you want to catch fish, though the strong winds over the past weekend and the heavy fog early in the week slowed down the action just a bit. John at Twin Maples Bait & Tackle on Block Island reported that the north end of the island is providing lots of action to school bass and decent-sized bluefish by boat and from shore, on the surface and under. Larger striped bass are still more prevalent on the south side of the island, particularly on the southwest corner. Bonito and false albacore are the big draw at the moment, according to John, who reported that both species are readily found from Southwest Point to the Transfer Station, though a boat is needed to reach them successfully. Shorebound anglers can get into the action with both speedster species by wetting a line in the Coast Guard Channel. On average, the bonito are running 5 to 7 pounds and the albies are 7 to 10 pounds.
• The fishing is “magnificent” in the Charlestown region, according to Captain Don at Captain Don’s Bait & Tackle in Charlestown. Bluefish and striped bass are stacked up everywhere along the beaches, and anglers fishing tube-and-worm rigs are doing unbelievably well – provided they can get below the hordes of bluefish. Surfcasters are having a very good time of it as well, reported Captain Don, and it hasn’t been uncommon for 40-pound stripers to be taken in the surf. The best action seems to be at first light, but savvy anglers are taking nice stripers at midday by fishing below a bluefish blitz, or after it’s occurred. Captain Don suggested that you let your Kastmaster sink below the blues, then work the lure to entice one of the big bass picking up the pieces below the carnage. Other anglers have been doing very well tossing Hab’s “TallyWackers” to pick up nice stripers just after a pack of savage bluefish moves through. Captain Don reported bonito and false albacore in the area, but they are moving around quickly and are inconsistent, even if they appear to be everywhere.

TheDay - Time For A season Of Changes

• We open with a reminder to all that fluke season is closed until 2008, that from Capt. Allen Fee at Shaffers Marina. Black fishing will close tomorrow in state waters and reopen on Sept. 22.
• In the meantime, you can have fun looking for blues on the surface in the early morning from Middle Clump to Watch Hill or maybe Race Rock lighthouse. A few bonito are in the mix but as of this report it's much better off Rhode Island than Fishers Island Sound.
• Kids are catching snapper blues from the Mason's Island Bridge and porgies from the dock at Mystic River Park.
• Al Golinski of Misquamicut fished all week for stripers, including a day when it was blowing over 20 and he broke the hinges on his motor cover as a result of the rough water. He caught a nice number of bass on live bait on the south side of Fishers, the biggest around 37 pounds.
• One of Al's friends returned from a cod trip on Thursday off Gloucester, Mass., where they caught a cooler of cod to 12 pounds, haddock, cusk and two pollock. When cleaned the fillets filled 11 bags of tasty seafood dinners.
• Capt. Al Anderson had nine bluefin tuna to 48 pounds trolling one day with cedar jigs and Hex Heads in the Mud Hole off Block Island. On Thursday however, the fishing slowed way down, the party losing two small fish by mid-morning, the trip shaping up to be something of a struggle.
• Striper trolling was good in the North Rip with bass and bluefish taking the umbrella rigs and parachute jigs. On Sunday they found a tremendous school of bonito off the West Wall and Matunuck but could not get many of the speedy fish to hit even with fly tackle.
• Capt. Don's in Charlestown reported overall good surf fishing for blues in the morning and evening from Watch Hill to the Blue Shutters. Most people are using poppers for the bluefish or plastic shads trying for a striper off to the side of where the blues have the small bunker penned up against the beach. This is the time of year when you can wade the surf in shorts and bare feet, catching bluefish as you walk along.
• We had bass into the high 40s on the scales over the past weekend, said Don at King Cove. The biggest during the week was a 36.15 striper landed by Michael Galanti, all fish landed from the Watch Hill Reefs. There is just a glut of bluefish around, feeding on top lots of the time or taking baits meant for bass at others.
• Porgy fishing is good to excellent and small snapper blues caught by the little people or bigger kids around Lambert's Cove. Those fishing from shore at Stonington Point landed blues and small stripers on small poppers.
• Bob's Rod & Tackle said you might catch blues from snappers to 12-pounders in the Thames on chunks on the bottom or Snapper Poppers. Bass took the tube and worm trolled slowly during the day or live eels drifting along after dark. The river is also full of porgies, many too small to keep but with enough keepers to get people buying more bait.
• The Fish Connection folks told me on Wednesday a large school of blues stretched from Napatree Point all the way down into Rhode Island. Those fish were very fussy, maybe full of peanut bunker, hitting lures only now and then. On his last fluke trip of the season, drifting about 300 yards east of Watch Hill, Joe Balint caught a 28-inch fluke and several nice sea bass on the fluke rigs.
• Porgies and sea robins are as far up river along the Thames as buoy 27 and bigger blues were chasing bunkers between Trading and Horton's Coves.
• Capt. Brad Glad of the Hel-Cat said the blue fishing last week was very productive and bass caught during the “right piece of the tide.” They will continue fishing daily for blues through the end of October and will also offer two night trips to Alligator Ledge for ocean blues this month. Big fish of the week was a 23-pound striper landed by Chris Tietjen of Lisbon.
• Hillyers Tackle reported large bass caught at Valiant Shoal and Outer Bartletts early in the morning on live bait or after dark with live eels. Kayakers trolling the tube and worm slowly along the shoreline landed some medium bass plus bluefish. Black fishing closes Saturday. Just prior, they weighed in 8 and 10-pounders, raising hopes for a good fall.
• Blues have been in and out of the beach at Harkness including an 18-pounder caught on a chunk of bunker during the day on Wednesday. A few bonito are around our shore but it's better off to the east. Porgies are big and eager on most of the rockpiles around Niantic Bay. One shore angler landed 14 hickory shad between the bridges yesterday morning on a Sabiki rig.
• Roger at J&B Tackle advised the sea bass fishing is good right now at the Hooter off the southwest corner of Block Island during slack tide. Blues were on the surface early in the day from Ram Island Reef over to Latimer Light. Chunkers caught blues and a few bass at Sugar Reef on bunker or mackerel chunks fished deep in the rip with the help of lead core line.
• The fellow at River's End told me bluefish have been in and out of the beach between Waterford and Old Lyme, hitting best early in the day or later in the evening just before dark on poppers. Diamond jiggers caught blues at times in The Gut and Pigeon Rip. Fluke season is over until 2008.
• Jeff Frechette provided our last report, sending in an e-mail about an offshore trip to Block Canyon prior to the long weekend. They had a windy, slow time at anchor during the night and in morning started trolling lures before daylight, hooking some large creature that took a lot of line on a very tight drag then came off, not the first time that happened wrote Jeff.
• Later, up on the flats north of the canyon they landed a 50-pound albie, 80-pound yellowfin and lost a third fish when a brand new reel locked up. They also lost a Green Machine lure to the teeth of an aggressive wahoo. Moving northwest of the flats, they landed a 45-pound long fin that grabbed the lure as it was free-spooled out, not 10 feet from the boat, almost pulling the rod from the surprised fisherman's hands.
• The day ended with some medium mahi caught near a floating cardboard box found on the troll back to port. (Tim Coleman, The Day)