DEP Marine Weekly Report #6 5/28/09

Water temperatures in Long Island Sound (LIS) are in the low to mid 50’s °F.

STRIPED BASS fishing has improved dramatically, rated excellent with many large bass (40 pounds and larger) being taken in the recent week. The new moon should provide anglers with the best striper action, with many opportunities to catch a large “Cow” bass. Baits of choice for trophy size “linesiders” (40 lbs and larger) are eels, hickory shad, scup, bunker, live eel, butterfish and bait-chunks. The best times are during dawn and dusk, also nighttime and daytime periods of overcast low light conditions.

The Race and Outer Bartletts are the hot spots, loaded with Striped bass in the mid-30 inch to low 50 inch range. Other fishing locations include the Watch Hill reefs, Ram Island Reef (Fishers Island Sound), the Sluiceway, Plum Gut, inner Bartlett Reef, Hatchett Reef, Crane Reef, Connecticut River between the Baldwin Bridge and the Amtrak RR Bridge, Southwest Reef, Six Mile Reef, the reefs off Branford, Charles Island to Milford Point, the Norwalk Islands and the reefs off Stamford. Three 50 lbs plus trophy striped bass were landed this week. Please use circle hooks to avoid gut-hooked fish. With the increasing water temperatures, large “cow” bass are susceptible to hooking mortality from stress, especially when caught in deep water. See page 41 of the CT Angler’s Guide for Tips on Catch & Release Fishing.

BLUEFISH have arrived early, the best action in years. “Harbor Blues” are showing up and feeding voraciously on juvenile prey (menhaden and butterfish) fish. Fishing is more consistent in eastern LIS from the Race to Long Sand Shoal, loaded with 2-8 lb bluefish. “Alligator Blues’ will soon follow in the next few weeks. Bluefish in the mid-20’s to low 30 inch range can be caught off the major current breaks during the day. Other good fishing locations include the Sluiceway, Plum Gut, Bartlett Reef, Hatchett Reef, Connecticut River between the Baldwin Bridge and the Amtrak RR Bridge (incoming tide), New Haven Harbor, Milford Harbor, Lower Thames River, and lower Housatonic River. Bunker, jigs and fish–imitating lures are providing fast and furious action. Please practice catch and release.

HICKORY SHAD (“Connecticut Tarpon”) fishing remains fair to good in the Niantic River and fair in the Connecticut River and Clinton Harbor. Incoming tides are best. Shad approaching 20 inches have been caught on willowleafs, shad darts and leadhead jigs with plastic curly tails. Chartreuse, white, red, and copper are the colors of choice for lures or jigs. Go out and enjoy some great shore-based fishing action. Please be sure of the identification of the herring you catch. The taking of river herring (alewife and blueback herring) is prohibited.

SCUP (Porgy) - The season opener was May 24th, and action has been excellent so far. Large schools of 12-16 inch jumbo scup have arrived in the sound. Fishing is rated good to excellent for these “Reef Slammers” at any of the major rocky reefs throughout LIS. Try using conch and squid strips just off the bottom on a slip rig. Get ready for some incredible action as these spunky, greedy fish swarm all over your bait. Introduce your children to this easy and exciting nonstop fishing action. The best fishing is close to shore around reefs and wrecks with the tide moving.

BLACK SEA BASS fishing is rated fair/good at any of the major and minor (smaller) reefs and wrecks in Long Island Sound. Fish weighing 2-4 pounds are common with a few “bucket mouths” weighing in at 6 pounds have been taken this week. Popular spots include Norwalk Islands, Stratford Shoal/Middle Grounds, Charles Island, Townshend Ledge, Branford Reef, Brown’s Reef, Faulkner’s Island, Kimberly Reef, Ram Island Reef, lower Thames River, Southwest Reef and Black Point in Niantic. Hermit and green crabs, squid strips, peanut bunker and conch are your baits of choice to catch this prized gamefish. Its white flesh is excellent eating.