Captain Morgan, Madison, CT

• Great weather and low humidity kicked off our holiday weekend as one of the best days of summer greeted anglers. Full moon tides brought intense fishing to many lower tidal rivers emptying into Long Island Sound as bait concentrated during a strong ebbing tide. Bunker schools were scattered and those looking for that prime bait had to search.
• Displays of fireworks painted the sky drawing onlookers to the shoreline. Those in anchored boats resembled a disorganized drive-in movie theater until bows gave way to the current. Needless to say, fishing close to these events produced little, however, offshore reefs offered better opportunities for success.
• The eel bite picked up as stripers struck those cast by structure and hit three-way rigs drifted over reefs. Except for smaller, hungry fish feeding on the flats and near mouths of tidal rivers, the best times continue to be predawn and late-day hours. Trolling deeper offshore reefs and shoals is also producing. Pulling 'brellas, trolling daisy chains/lures, and diamond jigging is the way to go. Try a banjo eye, feathered jig, or a grim reefer.
• Bluefish from 4- to 14-plus pounds are packing the Sound and are on tails of schooling baitfish. Gulls can be seen picking the spoils swooping and following the action as anglers try to stay ahead of blitzes. Keeping a top water rig at the ready will pay off as these feeding choppers erupt without warning and shortly disappear moving out of range. Kimberly, Faulkners, and Charles are good spots as are Six Mile and Sachems Head. Look for snapper action to surge as water temps move into the mid-60s.
• Porgy/scup catches remain good with two-pounders easily being caught off Clinton, Madison, and Guilford reefs. Time to get in on scup fever and spend part of a tide hooking into this popular saltwater panfish. En route to your favorite porgy hump, drift for fluke on the front/back side of the tide for a great fishing day combo. Cinder Bottom, Long Sand Shoal, Charles, and Kimberly Reefs are close to scup grounds.
• Ideal weather/water conditions make for very good trout fishing. Flies and natural baits are working best in rivers with deep-water trolling most effective in lakes. Largemouth action has picked up with pike, pickerel, panfish, catfish, crappie, and smallies holding steady. Rig up a Case Crawl, Whacky Jack, or Lil Sweet P for serious bass strikes.