The Fishing Line 6/13/09

Overview: Anglers are catching bass to 38 pounds in some deeper water areas. The fishing has been good though and should remain hot for the next few days.

Westernmost CT: Warming water means bassare moving east. Day and nighttime bass anglers are using Gulp! or Sluggo style lures and fishing them weightless. Stillwater Poppers are also getting the job done, but only during the day shift. Good nighttime action on medium sized bass has been reported in the Housatonic River, but mainly during the night shift. Greenwich is also doing well at night on Bombers and Rapalas.

Bridgeport to Stratford: Fishing in the Bridgeport area has been great with tons of 30 to 35- pound bass for all! The high hook for the week was a nice 34 pounder caught on a live bunker. Most bass in this part of Connecticut are between 32 and 35 inches. Larger bass and blues have been caught farther to the east, but many anglers are having a lot of success near the Bridgeport area. Many bluefish anglers have had success from Gulf Beach down to New Haven. Porgy anglers are having great success over at Charles Island.

New Haven to Madison: Bass to 45 pounds were caught in this area during the busy summer week. Shops across the region are reporting plenty of stripers and harbor blues on all major reefs in this area. It seems they are biting just about anything; mackerel, sandworms, fresh and live bunker. Townsend’s Ledge and the Branford Reef are still holding the most fish on a daily basis. The Southwest Reef off of Clinton will be a sure best bet for the remainder of the weekend.

Eastern CT:
CT River and the Race: The mouth of the Connecticut River has been hot these last few days. Reports of tail splashes and spooked bass are coming from the Great Island area. Lures of choice for this week include a tube and worm combo and for fly anglers any sand eel imposters should work. Loads of sand eels and butterfish have been seined from this area and should be devastating baits. The Southwest Reef and Long Sand Shoal have been more consistent then the Connecticut River on the week. Plum Gut, Pigeon Rip and the Race are now holding medium sized bluefish. Larger bluefish have been caught near Great Island and the Calves Island day marker.

Niantic Bay and Thames River: Eel and bunker are the two top choices for anglers in this area. Most striper action has picked up from last week. The Millstone Discharge is still on fire along with Hatchett’s and Bartlett’s Reef. The Spindle at Bartlett’s has been this week’s hot spot because it’s loaded with tons of bait. The Millstone Power Plant Discharge is also loaded with blues with some anglers landing 30 plus fish in one trip. The Niantic Bay Yacht Club has been a porgy haven since Monday with many keeper fish being caught. [J.R. Warnet, The Fishing Line]