Rivers End Tackle, Old Saybrook

• STRIPED BASS- Its on the upswing this week with the bite in the Race and Plum Gut picking up, however the night bite is strongly favored. Locally the reefs from Cornfield to Bartletts have been giving up some larger bass on live bait- bunker, porgies or hickory shad. The bunker have been moving east, New Haven to Westbrook have had very sparse schools of bunker for the past few weeks. The Connecticut River and Niantic have also been tough spots to get bait with the Thames being better. It seems that the usual population of menhaden the we've seen the last few seasons have shifted to the east. If you're set on daytime fishing its time for the tube and worm or fresh bunker. They're betting a few bass from the DEP Piers and Saybrook Point on bait.
• BLUEFISH- The Race, Plum Gut and Pigeon Rip have made a comeback this week for some daytime jigging for medium sized blues. The mouth of the Connecticut River has some mixed sizes including some monsters, mostly on bait for both boat and shorebound anglers. Theres a fair amount of sandeels around this year with smaller blues chasing them near the mouth of the River. Bait seiners have got some 2-3" snappers this week.
• FLUKE- Reports have been generally good all over thats overally generalized but a true assessment. Now its better in some spots than others, the RI Beaches from the Misquamicut and east to Matunuck have been very good with limits and doormats being common. There have also been some very good reports from the southeast waters off Fishers Island. Closer to home Long Sand Shoal, Soundview and the Millstone/Waterford have been good.
• BLACKFISH- Not too many reports this week, its still worth a try at Hatchetts and Black Point if you can get through the porgies.
• PORGIES- Still on the upswing as the schools get thicker. Hatchetts, Hens and Chickens and Bartletts have good populations. Some are being caught from shore at Harkness and Niantic.
• BLUE CRABS- Its been an early and good start to the season. Good sized crabs have been caught in both the Oyster and Connecticut Rivers. (Pat Abate, Rivers End Tackle)