Rivers End, Old Saybrook, 5/22/09

STRIPED BASS--- The reports from the Connecticut River were on the downslide as the week progressed. Outgoing tides at dawn and dusk disappeared in the last few days, the incoming tides produced less fish. Tides don't look too good until the end of the week. The only bright spot is that the weather forecast is for rain and clouds mid week and that might make for some good mid-day casting in the River.
Activity on the reefs has got good especially to the west around Clinton and Westbrook. The Race and Plum Gut have small to medium sized bass for drifters and casters on the NW corner are picking a few bass. No word yet of bass on the Watch Hill Reefs although there have been reports of schoolies on the inside of Napatree.
Bunker are also thicker to the west. New Haven, Branford and Guilford have catchable schools of bunker. There are some bunker in the Connecticut River but not in reliable quantities. Some hickory shad are being caught from the DEP Piers.

BLUEFISH--- There's some small to medium sized blues in the Connecticut River latching on to surface lures. Larger choppers have taken hold on Southwest Reef and mixed sizes are in the Race and Plum Gut. So far it looks like a good population of blues taking hold.

FLUKE--- Its not open in Connecticut until June 15th, I sent out a copy of the tri state regs last week with the start date listed as June 17th which is wrong.
Some anglers ventured across with fair to good catch and release days. I've attached an updated copy of the regs to this report. [Pat Abate, Rivers End Tackle]