Rivers End, Old Saybrook, 5/29/09

STRIPED BASS-- The lower Connecticut River has been turned on the past week to some medium to large bass. The bunker have got a bit thicker at the mouth of the River and the herring are starting to drop down to waiting stripers. I've seen some eruptions of what appeared to be schools of large bass going after herring on the surface. Surface lures that imitate those herring have been effective. Low light conditions and an outgoing tide have been the better choice for times to fish.
Most of the reefs outside the River have bass including some jumbos on them. Southwest Reef, Six Mile, Long Sand Shoal, Hatchetts and Bartletts have had reports of bass this week. We keep hearing of more anglers successfully using Butterfly Jigging techniques on the reefs. The Race and Plum Gut have some smaller bass mixed in with blues although reports from early in the week were slow. I have not had any first hand reports of squid on the Watch Hill Reefs yet, however there have been some good reports coming in from inside Napatree Point.

The piers in the Connecticut are giving up a few bass of mixed sizes. This is the best time to target bass from the piers but you can't work on your tan and fish for stripers. Nights are the way to go for better shore results.

BLUEFISH-- They've been in the lower River for a couple of weeks now with sizes mixed. Casting along Great Island has been about the best concentration but they're liable to be anywhere you might throw a Slug-go in the lower River. The nearby reefs such as Southwest and Long Sand Shoal have had some choppers up to double digit range. Plum Gut has a concentration of mostly smaller ones sometimes on the surface, the Race has similar size and less volume.

FLUKE-- Still closed in Connecticut until June 15th. Anglers going over to Greenport have got some doormats but a lot of fluke under the 21.5" NY limit. You still can't bring those fish back to Connecticut waters until the season opens here.

PORGIES-- Season opened last week but no reports in yet. Its time. [Pat Abate, Rivers End, 440 Boston Post Rd, Old Saybrook]