Captian Morgan, Fishing Today on Long Island Sound 8/9

• “What’s the bait situation, Cap?” “Here and there” was the reply, as the search began for the morning’s trip. The hunt continues for bait but now that the water temperatures in Long Island Sound are in its summer range, the chase is beginning to ease. Rivers are experiencing intermittent visits of bunker as more schools of bluefish are driving them in. However, the day’s bait flushes quickly. Soon the “peanuts” will fill up the Sound and more average size bunker will migrate–or more aptly put, be driven–into the big pond. A rush of “cow” bass came through surrounded by a younger class of fish, making it difficult to break through the top layer especially with feeding bluefish present.
• This is the beginning of what could be a repeat of last August’s episode of an escalated fishing bonanza. Like magnets, boats draw toward a bent rod, indicating that the fishing, for the moment, at least for some, is less than adventurous. Unfortunately, on a small reef holding a tight concentration of fish, this only brings gunwales closer and voices to a shouting pitch. The more fish brought to the surface and released, the tighter the boats become.
• Soon the bite is over and all is good once again with teeth and fists unclenched and stories already formulated by docking time. “We had some nice fish Cap.” “Yep, in spite of all the company,” was the reply. “There are days when there’s no other boat in sight and then there are days like this one.” Sometimes there’s no one to show or tell–those days are getting numbered. Sometimes though, those days are some of the best on the water where peace and quiet reign save for the splashes and tail slaps.
• On the Water Report: As the first real hot spell hit Connecticut, many anglers and fish sought the comfort of a cooler more comfortable haunt. While 90-degree temps hit, cranking the Sound up a few more notches, surges of menhaden infiltrated our waters along with scattered schools of warm water fish, like bonito and albies. Certainly, these typical August days brought out a slew of day boaters, making daytime fishing in places a bit of an obstacle course. Periods of early morning fishing exploded with concentrated schools of bass in the 25- to 30-poundd range holding tight on local reefs, taking full advantage of a fresh food supply. For a limited time, bass to 50 pounds fell for fishermen’s offerings. Eels were the tickets for some anglers drifting Southwest while others found bunker the answer. Important were the hump and the time to fish it. Occasionally, this focused assault on such a minute area created some curt interchanges between anglers not grasping striper fishing etiquette, usually ending with things somewhat half-heartedly worked out. During one of these recent striper runs, Jeff Fulchur of Denver on one of Captain Morgan’s guide trips aboard High Hook and skippered by Captain John Tarutis landed several striped bass to 30 pounds drifting eels. Trolling ‘chutes and deep running lures and ‘brellas caught stripers from shoals/reefs like Long Sand and Six while T/W’s were effective closer to Menunketesuck, Tuxis, Sachems Head, and Browns. As daylight broke, birds feverishly worked above schools of bluefish.
• There was excellent top water action throughout the shoreline as blitzes occurred, leaving telltale signs of cleanly sliced bunker floating on top. Anglers pursued these huge schools of “choppers” emptying tackle boxes and shredding leaders in an attempt to keep up the pace. Saltwater splashed from fish tail-walking, mouthfuls of baitfish and scales flew about, and hooks became deformed from stubborn locked jaws. Yep, bluefish season is upon us and registrations for WICC/Captain Morgan’s Bluefish contests are now being accepted at the shop.
• If you’re looking for a day of fishing, a full menu of Long Island Sound fish awaits you. From porgy/scup to fluke/seabass and everything in between, summer anglers are baiting up and making full use of fillet tables.
• With such warm water, even the offshore bite has exploded bringing tuna, mahi mahi and wahoo in tight. From the Race to New Haven, fishing has been strong with little evidence of the ‘dog days’ of summer taking hold.
• Catch the top of the tide for some good snapper fishing and the bottom for excellent crabbing and clamming.
• Estuaries offer outstanding opportunities for both round clams/steamers and crabs. Clammers are easily filling half-bushel baskets while crabbers are catching soft shells over 3 ½” as well as large ‘jimmies’ over 7”.

(Captain Morgan)