Captain Morgan, Madison

• Hooded sweatshirts and slickers were pulled from lockers to greet this early chilled windy morning. Bouncing along the shoreline in search of pods of bait was the chore at hand—and this day it was a chore. Spot after spot revealed little or no activity—echoes void on the screen as though it red-lined.
• Wind blew from the northwest, driving bait from most unprotected rivers or forcing it too far north. When a couple of blips appeared, fighting an uncontrollable drift just to haul a few pieces amounting to less than a quarter tote made for a long few hours of night fishing. Certainly, this was to be a momentary glitch in the routine and hopefully, a temporary one.
• The next couple of nights produced similar results—bunker popping up here and there, but nothing amounting to much. As the waters settled from recent stormy conditions, more fish appeared in the rivers and then, without warning, menhaden exploded driven by feeding fish below. Hauling gave way to a live-lining foray intended for some hungry cow at the bottom of the pile.
• These fish were big—in the 30- to 40-pound range—and eager to take free-swimming bait. It was dark, cold, and noisy as massive tails slapped the water, bait fleeing in all directions. All fish were released except the rat of the pack destined for the table. Baitfish strewn about, the cockpit looked like the deck of a trawler before it had been picked. Some bait for the next trip (and the next rip), a hardy wash down, everything stowed and almost everything was back to normal—whatever that is. Different—but a good trip, nevertheless.
• Fishing Reports:
• Crisp mornings set off this weekend from hot humid weather just a few days ago, but wind was a factor. Pre-dawn summer temps were in mid- to high 40s reaching mid-70s at day's end. Now that the Sound is calming down, more bait schools are showing up but aren't staying put for any length of time before popping up elsewhere. Bunker has been spotty but plentiful enough in the Sound to draw bluefish and keep stripers content. Once temperatures rise, menhaden schools will thicken.
• Striped bass fishing has been excellent with most local reefs holding fish. Six Mile has been good for trolling while Hatchett's, Cornfield Point, Southwest, Faulkner's, Brown's, and the Beacon have been attracting drifters. Pre-dawn has been striper time with many cows succumbing to live bait, chutes, and T/W's while the shoreline and tidal rivers have seen steady daytime schoolie action.
• Birds are working the surface more often as schools of blues blitz. Explosive action can be found at the turn of the tide when rip lines develop and baitfish are flushed and become disoriented. Chunks are readily being taken down below while top-water plugs are being chopped and hooks straightened. Light action rods are providing exciting action near sluiceways, along tidal flats, and in rivers.
• Fluking is really picking up along the Connecticut coast with a few trophy fish being caught near tidal inlets, back bays, and coves. By the time Nor'East's Flukemania rolls around on July 14 and 15, fishing ought to be prime. Register at Captain Morgan's for the shop contest and Flukemania's shot at the $10,000 first-place prize for the biggest fluke caught.
• Scup is in full swing as more porgy anglers are setting up on reefs. Two-pound fish are taking soft baits and exceeding minimum size limits of 10 1/2 inches is not difficult. Most popular inshore reefs are now active with hungry porgies that are even taking to drift rigs. Head for Faulkner's and other local spots for some good action. Although not as consistent, tautogs from 8 to 10 pounds are being boated. Jetty fish, however, are biting with catches in the four- to six-pound range. Several near-shore reefs are also producing good catches.
• Easy flows are making trout fishing the rivers quite manageable both for fly and spin anglers. Note that the Shetucket, Housey, and Naugatuck thermal refuge areas are closed until Sept. 1, 2007. There is no fishing within 100 feet of the mouths. Largemouth bass fishing is varied with Quonnipaug, Cedar, Pattagansett, and Moodus being good spots to try. Try the Shetucket and Gardner for smallies and the newly stocked lakes/ponds for channel cats. (Captain Morgan, Guilford Courier).