Captain Morgan: Nightime Crabbing for Striped Bass

• A few days of much-needed rain preceded a great fishing weekend, albeit a bit windy/choppy one. Inshore rivers and streams absorbed water, giving trout and bass a little more breathing room, while the Sound and its estuaries got a good soaking, stirring shellfish beds and activating feeding among other sea life. There were more turtles’ heads popping the surface and below, blue crabs were feeding and being caught by the new Crab Trapper.
  
• Fishing in the salt pond was as diverse as it gets. Striped bass could be found searching the offshore reefs, inshore narrows, and in the tidal rivers. Their feed varied from eels, seaworms, chunks, soft baits, and freshly caught finfish as well as crabs. Artificials like the Polly Chute, Grim Reefer, or Magnum Burner–trolled or cast–produced fish even during daylight hours as did simple T/W combos. Although in many parts of the Sound, bait isn’t as concentrated as this time last year (give it one to two more weeks), there are scores of bluefish both in/offshore.
  
• Whether around the Thimbles, out at Faulkner’s, or The Six, blues are foraging in concentrated schools, voraciously feeding under diving gulls. Flip a tension lure or live image kroc for some really good fun! Anchoring on some of the local reefs will net you limits of scup, many of which are dinner plate size plus. Some of those same reefs can also produce excellent blackfish/tautog.
  
• Weakfish are showing up south of Faulkner’s and being caught while drifting for stripers or seabass. Fluke fever is still rampant. More and more mini-doormats are showing up feeding in shallow inshore waters and heading for tidal rivers. Shore catches are up as anglers drift the flats, shoals and channels. Colors and combo rigs are changing almost daily, causing those in the know to shift gears and re-rig–however choices of tide, location, drift, and bait are the key factors.
  
• Both clamming and crabbing continue to be good in the Madison/Guilford area. East River, Route 146, and the Hammo are holding large jimmies and small sallies. Traps are producing good catches while scooping is average and throws/nets better. So far, this season is better than the last few years. Take advantage of it!