Connecticut Post Online

• Striped bass — Chunkers will find keeper striped bass on the bottom and occasionally on the top near the DH buoy, buoys 18 and 20. Nautical charts of Long Island Sound that gives the location of all buoy and markers are available at boating stores such as West Marine and the Milford Boat Works. Jason at Bobby J's Bait & Tackle says the waters behind Charles Island have been fairly productive this week, yielding keeper bass up to 24 pounds. Many anglers are having luck at night using the old-but-effective technique of drifting sandworms on a unweighted gold hook or just a small split shot on the line.
• Bluefish — Tailor blues, lots of fun on fly and light tackle, are at all the usual shore spots, with the larger choppers lurking in deeper water at buoy 18 and 20 and around Charles Island.
• Fluke Middlebank party boat that sails out of Captain's Cove reports the really hot fluke action is still on the north shore of Long Island, but with the 19 -inch minimum keeper size, it is basically one keeper to every five thrown back. Tim says that even the throwbacks are just under the minimum. On the Bridgeport side of The Sound, the fluke are bigger, some running to four and five pounds and higher, but there are fewer of them. The Milford breakwater at the mouth of the Housatonic is also worth a try. New Haven has been fairly hot for keeper (18 inches or better in Connecticut) fluke, but anglers say both an agreeable wind and tide are vital to set up the proper drift. Lacking either factor spells many hours and few fluke.
• Snapper blues — They have arrived in the harbors and river mouths in quantity but the average size is still a mere three inches. They need another month to reach eating size. The little guys make fine fluke bait, however. Remember, there is a 10-fish creel limit on all bluefish in Connecticut waters, no matter what the size.
• Porgies — Middlebank's Griffin think it will take another month of hot weather before the scup really start hitting. Most scup that are being caught are coming from deeper water off shore. Chumming with clams or some other bait is still a requirement.
• FRESHWATERTrout — The DEP reports that warm weather has made early morning and late evenings the best times for both trout and trout fishing. Some great reports from the West Branch Farmington (TMA), also some nice catches reported from the Norwalk River, Farmington River, Naugatuck River (TMA), Housatonic River, Pomperaug River, Saugatuck River (TMA), Salmon Brook and Coppermine Brook.
• Largemouth bass — Fishing for largemouths remains good to excellent in many areas. Areas to try include Upper Moodus Reservoir, Quaddick Reservoir, Lake Chamberlain, Lake McDonough, Scoville Reservoir, Candlewood, East Twin, Wonoscopomuc, Bashan, Lower Bolton (great early mornings), Waramaug, Quonnipaug, Amos, Pickerel and Rogers Lakes, and Batterson Park, Gorton, Black, Mudge, Ball, and Dooley Ponds.
• Smallmouth bass — Lake McDonough, Highland Lake, Candlewood Lake, Mashapaug Lake, Lake Waramaug and Squantz Pond all report smally action. With the warmer temperatures, smallmouth bass fishing on the Housatonic River is good to excellent. Also, there have been some good reports of river action in the Naugatuck and Farmington (Tariffville area) Rivers.
• Northern pike — Good catches reported at Bantam Lake, Winchester Lake, Hopeville Pond, Pachaug Pond, Lake Lillinonah, and the Housatonic River. Several pike also caught from the Pachaug River. (Charles Walsh, Connecticut Post)