Rivers End Tackle, Old Saybrook

• STRIPED BASS- Its been a better week for bass. School to medium sized bass have been reported from Watch Hill to Plum Gut with acre sized schools finning on the surface. It appears that these fish are feeding on some sort of small crustacean. They're difficult but not impossible to entice. Drifting at Southwest Reef has been good on most morning and night tides with live bait. The Race and Plum Gut have had a better week, though still not up to par. Theres been a few schools of bunker along the Old Lyme to Waterford shoreline and thats been attracting some larger bass to that area. Hatchetts and some of the other local rockpiles have given up some cows on live bunker or hickory shad. Theres been an increase in the shad in both the Connecticut and Niantic Rivers.
• BLUEFISH- The blues at the mouth of the Connecticut River have increased a bit this week both for shore and boat anglers. Saybrook Point is still the center of shore activity with some action at the DEP Piers. Fresh chunks of bunker or shad are best. The Race, Plum Gut and Pigeon are up to par with blues while action at the closer reefs is sporadic. Snappers are increasing at the DEP Piers, Causeway and Saybrook Point, they're in the 4" range now.
• FLUKE- The good not great season moves on. Theres still a fair number of doormats coming from the depths of Black Point and Hatchetts. The River is a little slower this week but still worthwhile if the boat traffic permits. Long Sand Shoal has a lot of shorts. Fishers Island is sporadic, but when its on they have good sized.
• BLACKFISH- A few dedicated anglers are doing pretty well at some of the local reefs.
• PORGIES- Its getting better at Hatchetts, Bartletts, Hens and Chickens and Cranes Reefs. Still not a lot of numbers but big sizes.
• BLUE CRABS- Now theres a lot of keepers. The best is the back coves of the Connecticut River, particularly at night. Some fair catches are coming from the DEP Piers again best at night, Oyster River and the Causeway.