On The Water, 4/30/09

Best Bets: Herring are in the major rivers as well as invading western Long Island Sound, and larger striped bass should be right behind them. Blackfish season is ending, so focus on flounder in western Long Island Sound where the best action seems to be at the moment. School bass are moving into the Rhode Island salt ponds and hints of squid are in the air. Trout fishing continues to be good throughout the region with excellent water conditions expected for the weekend. Trout stocking is slated to occur late this week, which should provide good fishing for the weekend.

For the complete Rhode Island report go to On The Water. Not much squid in Rhode Island except for a report from Ninigret Pond. The breachway finds the most consistent quantity of school bass with most activity in the early morning. Some worm hatches going on in RI salt ponds.

In Connecticut starting at the Western Long Island Sound at Prestons' Fish Connection: continued improvement in striped bass fishing as the weather warms and the fish continue to spread out and move downriver. High tides and evenings have been best, with shad bodies being the most productive offerings. Norwich Harbor is beginning to produce some larger striped bass. Flounder fishing remains relatively poor throughout the area, and not many reports of blackfish, but from the sounds of things few anglers have been targeting them. Trout fishing continues to be good, with Captain Balint hearing the best reports coming back from the Thames River.

From Hillyer’s Bait & Tackle in Waterford, Lou reports good flounder fishing in the Niantic River, a report that bucks the trend for most of the rest of the immediate area. Blackfishing also is pretty good, but not great. The warmth has improved catches from shore, with a 13-pound fish taken from shore along the Niantic River. School bass continue to be available in the area, and Lou reports more keepers mixed in with the school bass. Bunker have been reported at Millstone Point and in the Thames River.

From Rivers End in Saybrook, good striped bass action in the Housatonic River, in the upper portions of the Connecticut River, and in Norwich Harbor on the Thames River. Herring are reported in all three waterways and larger striped bass are now being taken in each as the big fish take advantage of this new food source. School bass are to be found lower in the rivers. Mark reports good blackfishing on the reefs in the Westbrook area, while flounder fishing has just not been making a showing.

Captain Jerry Morgan at Captain Morgan’s Bait & Tackle in Madison reports intermittent blackfish action all over the area, but the season closes on the last day of April. Winter flounder are making a decent showing in Guilford Harbor and Madison Harbor. Clams are your best bet if you’re looking to target these fish. Striped bass to 40 pounds are now being taken in the Connecticut River as the herring draw in the big fish. The first bluefish of the season (small ones in the 2 -pound range) have just shown up in the Madison area, as well as in Guilford and Clinton waters.

Art at The Bait Shop in Rowayton reports striped bass off the Norwalk Islands, as well as fish, mainly school bass though, from shore. The biggest striped bass are being taken under herring in the upper Housatonic River. Some flounder are being taken in the vicinity of the power plant at Manresa, but the catching is sporadic. No reports of blackfish taken in the area over the past week.

From Fisherman’s World in Norwalk, Rick reports good fishing for flounder around Sprite Island, with fish to 3 pounds being landed. Can 9, south of the power plant, and Calf Pasture Pier have also been producing decent catches of flounder, with the best reports coming from the incoming tide. The Housatonic River is producing good catches of striped bass, though mostly school bass in the lower sections. Bunker are being found in Norwalk Harbor, and in the Saugatuck River, and anglers are doing okay to larger fish on chunk bait. Blackfish action has been okay on local wrecks, with most fish being reported at 5 pounds or less, but there is not much season left for this species. [by Alan Desbonnet, On The Water 4/30/09]