TheDay.com It's Been A Good Week For Stripers

• STRIPER FISHING WAS terrific on Sunday through Tuesday said Al Golinski of Misquamicut. Using live porgies for bait he and his partners for the day landed upwards of 12 bass into the low 40s at both the Watch Hill Reefs and The Race.
• Fluking down along the Rhode Island beaches east of Watch Hill was so-so one afternoon and very good the next time, the biggest then an 8-pounder along with a limit catch.
• Capt. Don's in Charlestown said there are about 10 people each day lining the Quonny Breachway catching scup on worms on the bottom. One of those, Marc Paruta, was reeling in a hooked porgy when a 41-inch striper grabbed it and ended up on the shore along with the porgy.
• Prior to that day Marc's dad caught an 11-pound tautog from the shore at East Beach. Small blues are in and out of the shoreline, also up in the back of Quonny Pond where they can be live lined for larger bass.
• Capt. Al Anderson made a weekday trip to Block Island for school bass but couldn't locate a single bluefish. That could also be said for offshore boats trying to locate blues for shark bait. There has been some blue sharks and a thresher or two caught south of Block in 65-degree water. Bluefin tuna from 65 to 150 pounds have been seen clearing the water while sharking but few of these were caught on a hook and line.
• Other trips during the week were fly-rod ventures in the lower part of the Salt Pond and Center Wall of Point Judith Harbor for about 20 small bass per day along with smaller blues and some fluke that didn't make the present Rhode Island limit.
• King Cove in Stonington weighed in 40-pound bass from the Watch Hill Reefs, most of them caught with live bunker or porgies. The light tackle boats are finding a mix of schoolie bass and blues feeding on sand eels some mornings between Stonington and Sandy Point, the fish and bait often given away by terns working over the bait.
• Small bluefish are in the Mystic River said Cheryl at Shaffers Marina and also up in the cove by the Mason's Island Bridge. Fluking is pretty steady with slip customers getting about two keepers per trip off the Rhode Island beaches or at times at can 7 at the mouth of the Mystic River. Three small weakfish were caught around the train bridge over the river and hickory shad caught from the docks at the Mystic River Marina.
• This writer got out on the Monday evening ebb tide, fishing with Sherwood Lincoln and Richard Wick, both from East Lyme. We landed seven stripers from 24 to 38 inches casting live eels and plastic worms around Fishers Island on a beautiful calm night that was a pleasure to be on the water.
• The hot weather early in the week kept lots of fishermen at home, said Red at Bob's Rod & Tackle. Those out tried mainly for porgies off the rockpiles on both sides of the Thames River mouth. Bunker schools are still in the river but those snagging one and then live lining it caught mainly bluefish.
• Joe Balint was minding the store at the Fish Connection with son Jack out on steady charter fishing duty. Bunker schools can be found from Trading Cove to Dow Chemical with mainly blues to 8 pounds and smaller bass under them. However, the exception was the 48-inch striper caught on a mackerel chunk fished from shore opposite buoy 27 this past Saturday.
• A few fluke were picked up on the flats by the boat house and some sea robins in the deeper water along the river's channel. People are buying large shiners for fluke drifting along this side of the sound, catching one keeper for about every four fish landed. Diamond jigs are working on blues in The Race and some smaller and medium bass at the end of the tide.
• Capt. Brad Glas of the Hel-Cat said the blue fishing remains good to very good on the day trips to The Race and the striper catches improved over the last three days. The afternoon fluke trips on Thursday through Saturday were rated as very good also. Brad wrote that fishing from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. “doesn't get any better than it was this week.”
• There will be no fluke trip on Saturday due to a Fireworks Cruise and also the following Saturday due to a commitment to a group from AA for the annual Sober Cruise. Big fish of the week was a 20-pound striper caught by Rhys Stockwell of Avon.
• Hillyers Tackle was a busy place but one of the people tending the counter took enough time to tell me there are shad in the river above the road bridge at times for either sport of bait for stripers. Snapper blues are showing up as they usually do this time of year.
• Bass catching has been steady on Bartletts Reef for those using a live shad or bunker. Some customers said they caught an easy fluke limit while others reporting fishing all day for one lone keeper. Porgy numbers are improving, that fishing right in the bay or just outside, an easy run from the local marinas and ramps.
• Lots of blues are in The Race and some smaller ones along the shore and in the Millstone discharge. You can still find a few blackfish around if that's your interest.
• Capt. Kerry Douton was at J&B Tackle in the morning after running the evening bass trip on his charter boat that returns to the dock after 1 a.m. Sharking is good off Montauk with mostly blue sharks. A few bluefin tuna were seen jumping on the surface but few if any of these took a lure trolled past them.
• Bass trips were good after dark in The Race and Valiant, plus the daytime charters had more stripers than the week before mixed in of course with the usual blues. The last fluke trip their charter boat made to Isabella netted one keeper and five shorts on the first drift before a mechanical problem cut the day short.
• Pat Abate at River's End Tackle said 5 percent of the sharpies using live bait are catching about 95% of the big striped bass right now. However, a shore angler at the DEP Pier in Old Lyme did manage to land a 40-pound bass on a chunk on the bottom on Tuesday.
• Everyone seems to be catching fluke, including some to 7 pounds along the edges of the lower channel in the Connecticut River when the boat traffic is light to moderate. Outside you stand a chance for keepers from Hatchetts down to Black Point.
• Generally the deeper you fish, the better chance for bigger fish but less numbers. Some of the fluke pros go out as deep as 150 feet, deeper than the average weekend angler associates with summer flounder fishing. (Tim Coleman The Day)

On The Water Magazine

• Best Bets for Connecticut and Rhode Island: Head into the coves and bays with some crabbing nets and crab baits, and take advantage of the abundance of these tasty coastal denizens. Banner years for blue crabs don’t seem to roll around that often, so get out there and enjoy this bonanza while you can. The Farmington River sounds pretty tempting, and it may be the ticket for any trout junkie who just can’t get enough. Big stripers are showing up all along the south shore of Rhode Island, so an evening trip with some live eels or other enticing bait ought to be lots of fun. I also suggest taking advantage of the abundance of large scup. Reports of really massive scup are coming from all points in our region, so grab your jigging rods and head out there this weekend.
• There are still plenty of stripers in the Thames River, according Rennie at The Fish Connection in Preston, though most of the fish are down in the lower reaches of the river. Anglers report mainly school bass, though there are some rather large bluefish mixed in with the schoolies. The bunker have dropped down the river and thinned out because the big blues are around and harassing them on a regular basis. There still appear to be a few jumbos around, as one shore angler picked up a 48-inch striper on chunk menhaden near buoy 27 on the river. Tube-and-worm rigs are also taking good numbers of stripers on the south and southeast sides of Fishers Island. For fluke anglers, Ocean Beach, Groton Long Point and Seaflower Reef appear to be the most productive spots at the moment, judging from reports coming into the shop. The really big news, however, is that blue crabs are more abundant than they have been in the past several years. Rennie received reports of excellent to outstanding crabbing in all the creeks and coves that you would expect to hold crabs. Inland, things are a bit slower now that the water has warmed considerably. Despite that, a 7.5-pound rainbow trout was taken from Mohegan Park Pond. Amos Lake is producing some good largemouth bass fishing, and Beach Pond is producing some walleyes for persistent anglers. River and streams are low and warm, so trout fishing is challenging in local waters.
• The Race continues to be the top-producing zone of water in the area, according to reports coming into Hillyer’s Bait & Tackle in Waterford. Shane received reports of good bass fishing at night – at Bartlett Reef in particular – while The Race is the number-one producer in the daylight hours. Millstone Point and Black Point are also yielding good numbers of stripers, with menhaden chunks, umbrella rigs and three-way bucktail rigs as top producers. Small bluefish are all over the place, and there have been reports of some intense topwater action during the day in scattered locales. Fluke fishing is sporadic at the moment, with Misquamicut being the most consistent producer of keeper-sized fish. Isabella Beach is productive, but very hit-or-miss over the past week. Squid and live mummichogs are the best baits. The scup are large and plentiful throughout the area; take lots of squid, and don’t overlook the area between the bridges, which is producing good numbers of large ones. A few reports of snapper blues have come into the shop over the past few days.
• For eastern Long Island Sound, Capt. Morgan at Capt. Morgan’s Bait and Tackle has had reports of some excellent fluke fishing out near the Falkner Island area. Keeper fluke are pretty common and are taking any number of baits, including sandworms, squid and mummichogs. Thirty feet of water seems to be the target depth at Falkner. Capt. Morgan has received numerous reports of shorebound anglers taking keeper fluke in the same area as well, so a boat may not be necessary. School bass and small bluefish are all over the place, and some bigger stripers have been reported from Falkner Island. Reports have also been coming into the shop of good blackfish catches from Charles Reef. Reports for scup seem to be showing an upswing of smaller-sized fish, though large specimens are still being taken. A bit farther east, Capt. Morgan reported some of the most intense blue crab numbers in a long while, and people are taking good numbers of nice-sized crabs. Inland, the fishing is slowing down because the streams are low and warm. Fishing reports for largemouth bass continue to be good, particularly for those fishing live baits early and late in the day.
• At the western end of Long Island Sound, Patrick at Westport Outfitters in Norwalk reported that the action has slowed a bit over the past week. This is mainly because the hordes of sand eels are thinning out and breaking up, scattering the fish and making them a bit more difficult to find. Patrick also feels that the warming waters are driving the fish out to deeper, cooler areas, which is where they typically go at this time of the season. While the transition from small bait in shallow waters to chunk bait in deeper waters takes place, there are tons of small bluefish around to keep anglers busy. For those seeking out snapper blues, Patrick has received reports that they are now showing up in the area. The freshwater angling is getting more difficult with the warm temperatures and the low water levels, although Patrick mentioned that the Housatonic River is still fishing pretty well, and that the Farmington River is fishing excellently, with some good ongoing hatches. (Alan Desbonnet, On The Water).
  

Rivers End Tackle, Old Saybrook

• STRIPED BASS- Things got a bit slower in bass circles this week. The usual gathering spots of the Race and Plum Gut aren't giving up a lot of bass. Some of the closer reefs such as Bartletts and Hatchetts and occaisionally Long Sand Shoal are yeilding some jumbos on live bait. There seems to be fewer but larger bass on those reefs. Tube and worm is also producing on the reefs and shoreline but it seems to be a slower method than previous seasons. Chunkers are getting medium sized bass in the
• Sluiceway. Some small to medium sized bass have showed up on the Watch Hill Reefs. There also has been an occaisional big bass caught from the DEP Piers.
• The bunker have been better this morning in the lower River after a scarcity of two weeks. Still not too much bait reported to the west of us.
• BLUEFISH- The bass have left a void at the Race, Plum Gut and Pigeon Rip this week and the blues have filled it. There have been some pods of jumbo blues along the Old Saybrook shore and some larger schools of very small choppers in the same area. Casters from Saybrook Point, Niantic and the DEP Piers have been getting some good sizes.
• FLUKE- Good news, bad news. Good- the fluking is good in the Connecticut River with fluke up to 7 pounds being caught just a few pints of gas away. Boat traffic permitting, the channel from North Cove to the Breakwater has been good with mixed sizes including a few doormats. The deeper waters, thats 80' plus off Black Point to Hatchetts has also given up some doormats this week. Bad news-Soundview, Waterford and Long Sand Shoal are yielding smaller fish with more shorts than keepers.
• BLACKFISH- There seems to be a lack of interest this week with not too much effort for blacks. Most anglers have given up for the summer.
• PORGIES- Some good sizes but light on numbers are Hatchetts and Bartletts, same at Cranes and Hens and Chickens.
• BLUE CRABS- Some good reports came in from the Causeway and Oyster River all indicators are still strong. (Pat Abate, Rivers End Tackle).
  

Waterbury Connecticut Republican American

• LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing remains good to excellent in many areas including Upper Moodus Reservoir, Quaddick Reservoir, Lake Chamberlain, Lake McDonough, Scoville Reservoir, Candlewood, East Twin, Wonoscopomuc,Bashan, Lower Bolton (great early mornings), Waramaugand Batterson Park, Black, Mudge, Ball and Dooley Ponds.
• SMALLMOUTH BASS action reported from Lake McDonough, Highland Lake, Candlewood Lake, Lake Waramaug and Squantz Pond. With the warmer temperatures, smallmouth bass fishing on the Housatonic River is good to excellent. There have been some good reports for river smallies from the Naugatuck and Farmington(Tariffville area) Rivers.
• NORTHERN PIKE- Good catches reported at Bantam Lake,Winchester Lake, Hopeville Pond, Pachaug Pond, Lake Lillinonah, and the Housatonic River. Several pike also caught from the Pachaug River.
• CHAIN PICKEREL are reported from Moosup Reservoir,Highland Lake, Wonoscopomuc Lake and Wood Creek Pond.
• KOKANEE (fish to 18") are producing good fishing (try 25-30 feet) at West Hill Pond. WALLEYE catches are being reported from Lake Saltonstall, Coventry Lake, Batterson Park Pond and Squantz Pond.
• TROUT Rivers & Streams - Early morning and late evenings are the best times for both trout and trout fishing. Some good reports from the West Branch Farmington (TMA),some nice catches reported from the Farmington River, Naugatuck River (TMA), Housatonic River, Pomperaug River, Salmon Brook and Coppermine Brook.
• Farmington River water temperatures are in the mid toupper 50's°F (West Branch TMA). Flows are clear, and should remain quite fish able, currently 265 cfs at Riverton, plus an additional 65 cfs from the Still River. Hatches/patterns include Needhami (major hatch,#26-28, early morning), Isonychia (#10-#12, evening),Blue Wing Olives (#18-#20 & #24-#28, cloudy days,mid-late afternoon), Summer Caddis (tan #18-#22, all day; green #22-#26, evening), Invaria and Dorothea.Also, try below surface on nymphs, wets and streamers.
• Housatonic River morning water temperatures have dropped back to the low 70's F (from 77°F earlier this week). Wednesday's storms provided some much needed rainfall to parts of northwest CT. Weekend conditions should be good for fishing, flows should clear and drop by then, and air temperatures are forecast to remain moderate through the weekend. Insect hatches include Alder/Zebra Caddis (action slowing, #10-12, afternoon-evening near overhangs),Blue Wing Olive (#18-#22, early morning; spinner fall in evening), Isonychia (#12-#14 evening), Light Cahill(#12-#14, evening), and Tan & green caddis (#14-#16,early morning & evening). Golden stonefly (dead drifted deep; very hot!) nymphs hatch at first light and adults egg-lay after dark. Note that temperatures are expected to rise early next week. These summer water temperatures, especially in the mid 70's°F or higher, are very stressful to trout, anglers should take extra care when handling trout they plan torelease.
• Anglers are also reminded that the thermal refuge areas on the Housatonic, Naugatuck and Shetucket Rivers are currently closed to fishing and will reopen on September 1. There is no fishing within 100 feet of the mouths of posted tributaries to these rivers.Lakes & Ponds. A number of lakes are still producing good trout including East Twin Lake (browns to 20"),Highland Lake, Wonoscopomuc Lake and West Hill Pond.
• Connecticut River NORTHERN PIKE fishing is good with good catches are reported in coves, Haddam Meadows and the main stem from Hartford downstream to Haddam.
• STRIPED BASS are still being taken at night in thelower river, live eels and tube & worm working best.
• Some SMALLMOUTH BASS are being caught in the Enfield area.
• LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing from Wethersfield to Chapman's Pond was reported to be fair, catchesincluded a 5-lb largemouth.
• CATFISH (8-10 lbs.)fishing is very good, with frozen herring & cut/chunkbait working best.
• STRIPED BASS fishing for school stripers remains good in the lower Pawcatuck River, Mystic River, Thames River, lower Connecticut River, Sandy Point in New Haven Harbor, Milford Harbor jetties, Housatonic River including Milford Point up to the Devon area, Bridgeport Harbor (Seaside Park), Penfield Reef, and Norwalk Harbor including around the islands. The local reefs continue to hold larger "cow" bass. Striper hang outs include the Watch Hill reef complex, Ram Island Reef, the Race, the Sluiceway, Plum Gut,Bartlett Reef, Black Point, Hatchett Reef, Long Sand Shoal, Cornfield Point, Southwest Reef, the rip off Duck Island, the reefs off Branford, New Haven Harbor including the breakwaters, Milford Harbor-Charles Island area, Bridgeport Harbor, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground area, and the reefs around the Norwalk Islands. Live-lining eels, bunker or hickory shad or slow trolling the tube and worm combination are effective methods for those big slammers. Just remember to usen on-offset (straight) circle hooks when using bait to prevent "gut hooking" fish.
• BLUEFISH fishing remains good throughout LIS. The sound seems to be invaded with 2-lb choppers making life tough for anglers fishing for summer flounder.Larger bluefish tend to be on the major reefs and rip areas. These spots include the Race, Plum Gut,Bartlett Reef, Hatchett Reef, Long Sand Shoal, Sixmile Reef and the reefs off Branford, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground area, and the Norwalk Islands area.
• SNAPPER BLUEFISH should be appearing any day in tidal creeks and rivers!
• SUMMER FLOUNDER (fluke) fishing remains good at the usual places: Sandy Point in the Stonington area,lower Mystic River over to Latimer Point, south shore of Fishers Island, Twotree Island Channel, Niantic River, Black Point, lower Connecticut River, Long Sand Shoal, Hammonasset Beach, New Haven Harbor off the breakwaters, Charles Island to Stratford Point, outer Bridgeport Harbor, and off the Norwalk Islands.
• SCUP and TAUTOG fishing is good on the local reefs. Scup measuring 14 to a whopping 17 inches in length have been reported.
• HICKORY SHAD can be caught off the DEP Marine Headquarters fishing pier in Old Lyme. There have been reports of BLUE CRABS but nothing great so far.

Westport Outfitters (Norwalk) Fishing Report

• It’s not over just yet folks…despite the hoards of boats not showing up in some of our local inshore haunts like the Mill Pond, Weed Beach and Southport Harbor, there is still fish to be had for the wading and inshore angler. It seems as if the buzz about the Mill Pond dissipated without any real evidence that the fish had moved to deeper water. This is supported by our scouts including Patrick and Pete Viviano still taking many fish over the weekend at first light up to 30 inches, on no other than the new pattern we recently developed (hand tied by Peter Viviano, Jr,.) the “Emerging Sand Eel.” If you have not tried these, you are surely missing the boat (no pun intended). Sand Eels are definitely dispersing some but the silver sides are right behind them, so don’t give up on the inshore seen just yet. Focus on low light conditions. As the water temps increase, the traditional night bass feeding may be postponed until the A.M., so go to bed early to prepare for the even earlier rise...
• Our charters on Saturday and Sunday also did very well. We took Bill Sullivan and family out on Saturday with some blues in the 14 lb class on tubes as well as a few stripers just shy of keeper length. All fish were taken in and around the Norwalk Islands. The fluke bite continues to be strong off of Copp’s Rocks outside of the islands on the traditional rigs tipped with sand eels and/or sandworms. Also try the Atom Fluke Bombs we started carrying recently for that keeper fluke.
• Tuesday night we had an evening charter that fished in and around Captain's Island with blues up to 10lbs on light tackle. Finally the bunker that have been living the good life are starting to get pushed, so hold on for what seems to be shaping up as another stellar blufish season.
• With rain scheduled towards the end of this week and several fronts pushing through, the water clarity will surely suffer, so try switching up your tactics and filter in some poppers on the fly rod or some of the new bone color Stillwater poppers. At times like these, you will normally have better luck with an agitator type approach to trigger a strike, versus going sub surface. This also may be a good time to try out some of our custom hand tied crease flies by local captain Ian Devlin.
• Sunday Captain Chris ventured East fishing the mouth of the Housatonic with more keeper bass on chunks than he could count, fishing in only 8 feet of water. Great day out on the water with the whole family!
• Monday we were back at it with a good customer and friend Sgt. Colonies for an outing before he shipped out overseas on a deployment. Although we worked hard, we failed to manage the keeper bass we were hoping to get him into before his departure. Nothing on the fly rods and light tackle, but we did manage a few blues and bass up to 25 inches on the go to T-Man tubes tipped with the imitation Gulp sand worm patterns during the high mid day sun. The T&W technigue is definately starting to pick up as some resident fish begin to stack up on local reefs. Another great technique to keep the boat moving (and the kids happy).
• The pier over the weekend was also hot producing a few large bass up to 34 inches on mackerel chunks and fresh bunker with some higher tides on the dropping sun. The snappers continue to infiltrate our local waters accomplishing two things, a secondary bait source for bass and larger blues as well as hours of enjoyment for the kids. We are still starting any outing with plastics, but be sure to have a stock of hard baits such as the new Rattle Traps in various colors for the chompers. These powerful little fish are a blast on light tackle, so come on down and Take The Family Fishing ™! For the fly guys and gals, mix in a few snapper like patterns, blue/white deceivers and some specific hand tied flies by Peter Viviano. Speaking of Peter Viviano, he has now come on board as another addition to our growing shore guiding and kayak staff. Be sure to check out his credentials under the “Chartering” section of our website.
• Montauk Report: Captain Dean of the "TEASER," located in Montauk N.Y., reports many bass to 40 lb. in the rips with live porgies being the bait of choice. The fluke fishing has moved from the South side to north in the sound. Offshore has been strong with some amazing shark catch's as well. There was a 557 Thresher weighed in at Montauk Marine Basin last Saturday. Sharking has been excellent and the blue fins are also showing up in strong numbers with lots of fish in the 50# to 100# range.

Fisherman's World

• Fluke fishing is excellent at times. Fishing the Eatons neck triangle and also can 26 south of goose island out to 40ft, south of can 26 west along the 40ft line south of Copps island and middle passage. Drifting with strips of fresh squid and whole dead fresh squid. Strips of bunker and spearing have been the ticket. Bucktails with a teaser rig is also an excellent choice. Do not fish extremely windy days. Note to remember: fluke do not bite well, if at all, wind against tide. It is not good to fluke fish with an outgoing tide and an east wind or vice versa. It is best to fish on nice days not windy days. We've seen fish to 20 inches this week. Best catch of the week was Scott Martin who helps run cove marina 27 fluke thursday (7/12) afternoon up to 5 1/2 lbs.
• Chunking is better now in the Norwalk islands and the Darien area at night, places like Green's ledge, can 28 the small reef's (high spots south of green's ledge and green's ledge light) Budd's reef, 28c, 11b, ob buoy, and can 13 eatons neck have all have a mixture of bass and blue.
• The mouth of Norwalk harbor has large bass and blues coming in to feet at night. Note: largest bluefish 20lb 2oz on July 1st by Richard Epstein fishing with his brother Neil. Haven't seen a 20lb blue in the area in 20 years. We hope this is a good sign for the summer and fall.
• WICC bluefish tournament). Fresh bunker is a must, larger fish have had more bites with fresh bait. If not fresh bunker, fresh/frozen. Mackeral will catch fish too but they tend to catch smaller fish. Use a fish finder weight in deep water and no weight in shallow water in most cases. Use the minimum weight to hold bottom and change your weight consistently as the tide gets stronger or weaker. And as usual tube and worms are catching fish mostly school fish with a few keepers mixed in trolling in 1-20 ft of water in the Norwalk, Westport, Darien area. There has been some larger fish on the tube and worms on lead line at 11b and Eaton's neck. Blind casting with popping plugs(stillwater poppers land rapala skitter pops) in shallow water in the Norwalk islands have produced some nice blues and bass.

Captain Morgan, Madison, CT

• Fair winds and following seas made for outstanding fishing. Wave action was minimal with periods of flat calm making runs to fishing grounds much different than during recent windy conditions. Of course, that changed slightly as the sun warmed the surface. Noticeably, boat traffic increased during daylight hours however in periods of prime striper time, drifts/trolls were manageable.
• Bluefish continue to pour into the Sound adding to the top water excitement resulting in more wharf and jetty fishermen hooking up. From 'taylors' to 'choppers,' schools of blues are working rip lines taking poppers, spoons and chunks. Often it's non-stop action even with schools of bunker being spotty. Most reefs and shoals are subject to marauding blues feeding on silversides, sand eels and a host of other finfish. Try jigging a Grim Reefer or casting a Tension lure.
• Striper 'catching' remains strong with Salty swimmers/pencil poppers, 'peanuts' and 'slashbaits' scoring among casters and light trollers fishing near shore structure. During pre-dawn hours, anglers drifting and jerking wire are hooking up with tricked out poly feathers/chutes. After that, look for small bass and blues nipping at your bait. The eel bite is increasing while an assortment of whole live baits are bringing up 'cows' from the bottom. Fish 'low and slow' and farther back from the rip line for big ones. Mieg's Point, Faulkner's, Southwest, The Six and Brown's have been good choices.
• Scup/porgy fever is catching nearly everyone. Reefs and shoreline humps are holding slab porgies while other scattered spots are being adopted by new smaller fish. It's hard to miss the bite around Faulkner Island, Kimberly or Charles reefs. Great family fun and good eat'n too, these fish are fun to catch on light gear and an excellent way to introduce anyone to saltwater fishing.
• Fluke numbers have increased especially along the CT shoreline. Where the 'big one' will be caught is anyone's guess but those drifting sandy bottoms, shoals and deepwater humps/holes are catching doormats. By count, there still are plenty of 'shorts' to sift through but many anglers are rewarded with dinner plus catches for their efforts.
• Blue crabs are in the tidal rivers and drainage ponds with larger 'jimmies' showing up along with smaller 'sallies.' A unique trap like the 'new' throwing Crab Grabber makes catching easier by being able to pitch it some distance while locking crabs in for keeps. The convenient bait cage keeps bait secured and by design, the Crab Grabber rights itself on the bottom.

Norwich Bulletin

• Striped bass fishing continues to be excellent throughout the region. As water temperatures increase, the larger fish are moving out of shallow, warm inshore areas and settling into deep waters around reefs, or migrating northward along the coast. Reports have been mixed with both everyday anglers and charter captains reporting that one day fishing is excellent and the next day being slow.
• Bass fishing: It continues to be excellent along the Rhode Island beaches and around the mouths of all the salt ponds from Weekapaug to Point Judith. Captain Ron's Charters out of Breachway Tackle limited out on 30- to 40-pounders by 7 a.m. Wednesday morning.
• Bluefish: Action continues to be excellent and improving throughout the region with the Race being the best place to ensure a catch.
• Fluke: Reports began to slow down from the pace that was set earlier in the season. This is typical, being that this species does not move around as much or as fast as stripers or bluefish. What appears to happen is they move into an area and, if trawlers run through, they disappear like popping a bubble. If it's a recreational fishing area, they get chipped away at so by the end of the summer many keeper fish have disappeared.
• Scup/porgies: This species is beginning to build in abundance throughout the region, but no specifics on plate-sized fish. Hillyer's noted most of the fish they have been hearing about barely reach the 1 1/2-inch minimum.
• Bass fishing: It's good in all area lakes and ponds, but none of the area shops had any lunkers to report. Same thing with walleyes in area lakes.
• Trout: Fishing is pretty much dead around this area, but Peter Butterfield of Boondocks told us the Farmington River is producing well lately. He personally caught a huge brown trout that was 23 inches long on a No. 18 prince on the Farmington River last week.
• Crabs: Most of the region's shops are reporting good numbers of short crabs at the moment, but these little buggars will grow rapidly. So there should be some great crabbing in this area during the latter part of August of early September.

Connecticut Post Online

• Striped bass — Chunkers will find keeper striped bass on the bottom and occasionally on the top near the DH buoy, buoys 18 and 20. Nautical charts of Long Island Sound that gives the location of all buoy and markers are available at boating stores such as West Marine and the Milford Boat Works. Jason at Bobby J's Bait & Tackle says the waters behind Charles Island have been fairly productive this week, yielding keeper bass up to 24 pounds. Many anglers are having luck at night using the old-but-effective technique of drifting sandworms on a unweighted gold hook or just a small split shot on the line.
• Bluefish — Tailor blues, lots of fun on fly and light tackle, are at all the usual shore spots, with the larger choppers lurking in deeper water at buoy 18 and 20 and around Charles Island.
• Fluke Middlebank party boat that sails out of Captain's Cove reports the really hot fluke action is still on the north shore of Long Island, but with the 19 -inch minimum keeper size, it is basically one keeper to every five thrown back. Tim says that even the throwbacks are just under the minimum. On the Bridgeport side of The Sound, the fluke are bigger, some running to four and five pounds and higher, but there are fewer of them. The Milford breakwater at the mouth of the Housatonic is also worth a try. New Haven has been fairly hot for keeper (18 inches or better in Connecticut) fluke, but anglers say both an agreeable wind and tide are vital to set up the proper drift. Lacking either factor spells many hours and few fluke.
• Snapper blues — They have arrived in the harbors and river mouths in quantity but the average size is still a mere three inches. They need another month to reach eating size. The little guys make fine fluke bait, however. Remember, there is a 10-fish creel limit on all bluefish in Connecticut waters, no matter what the size.
• Porgies — Middlebank's Griffin think it will take another month of hot weather before the scup really start hitting. Most scup that are being caught are coming from deeper water off shore. Chumming with clams or some other bait is still a requirement.
• FRESHWATERTrout — The DEP reports that warm weather has made early morning and late evenings the best times for both trout and trout fishing. Some great reports from the West Branch Farmington (TMA), also some nice catches reported from the Norwalk River, Farmington River, Naugatuck River (TMA), Housatonic River, Pomperaug River, Saugatuck River (TMA), Salmon Brook and Coppermine Brook.
• Largemouth bass — Fishing for largemouths remains good to excellent in many areas. Areas to try include Upper Moodus Reservoir, Quaddick Reservoir, Lake Chamberlain, Lake McDonough, Scoville Reservoir, Candlewood, East Twin, Wonoscopomuc, Bashan, Lower Bolton (great early mornings), Waramaug, Quonnipaug, Amos, Pickerel and Rogers Lakes, and Batterson Park, Gorton, Black, Mudge, Ball, and Dooley Ponds.
• Smallmouth bass — Lake McDonough, Highland Lake, Candlewood Lake, Mashapaug Lake, Lake Waramaug and Squantz Pond all report smally action. With the warmer temperatures, smallmouth bass fishing on the Housatonic River is good to excellent. Also, there have been some good reports of river action in the Naugatuck and Farmington (Tariffville area) Rivers.
• Northern pike — Good catches reported at Bantam Lake, Winchester Lake, Hopeville Pond, Pachaug Pond, Lake Lillinonah, and the Housatonic River. Several pike also caught from the Pachaug River. (Charles Walsh, Connecticut Post)

CT DEP Weekly Fishing Report #11 7/11

• LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing remains good to excellent in many areas. Areas to try include Upper Moodus Reservoir, Quaddick Reservoir, Lake Chamberlain, Lake McDonough, Scoville Reservoir, Candlewood, East Twin, Wonoscopomuc, Bashan, Lower Bolton (great early mornings), Waramaug, Quonnipaug , Amos, Pickerel and Rogers Lakes, and Batterson Park, Gorton, Black, Mudge, Ball, and Dooley Ponds.
• SMALLMOUTH BASS action reported from Lake McDonough, Highland Lake, Candlewood Lake, Mashapaug Lake, Lake Waramaug and Squantz Pond. With the warmer temperatures, smallmouth bass fishing on the Housatonic River is good to excellent. Also, there have been some good reports for river smallies from the Naugatuck and Farmington (Tariffville area) Rivers.
• NORTHERN PIKE- Good catches reported at Bantam Lake, Winchester Lake, Hopeville Pond, Pachaug Pond, Lake Lillinonah, and the Housatonic River. Several pike also caught from the Pachaug River.
• CHAIN PICKEREL are reported from Moosup Reservoir, Quonnipaug Lake, Highland Lake, Wonoscopomuc Lake, Black Pond and Wood Creek Pond.
• KOKANEE (fish to 18”) are producing good fishing (try 25-30 feet) at West Hill Pond.
• WALLEYE catches are being reported from Lake Saltonstall, Coventry Lake, Batterson Park Pond and Squantz Pond.
• TROUT: Rivers & streams - With summer temperatures fully entrenched, early morning and late evenings are the best times for both trout and trout fishing. Some great reports from the West Branch Farmington (TMA), also some nice catches reported from the Norwalk River, Farmington River, Naugatuck river (TMA), Housatonic River, Pomperaug River, Saugatuck River (TMA), Salmon Brook and Coppermine Brook.
• Farmington River water temperatures are in the mid to upper 50’s °F (West Branch TMA). Flows are clear, and should remain quite fishable, currently 265 cfs at Riverton, plus an additional 65 cfs from the Still River. Hatches/patterns include Needhami (major hatch, #26-28, early morning), Isonychia (#10-12, evening), Blue Wing Olives (#18-20 & #24-28, cloudy days, mid-late afternoon), Summer Caddis (tan #18-22, all day; green #22-26, evening), Invaria and Dorothea. Also, try below surface on nymphs, wets and streamers.
• Housatonic River morning water temperatures have dropped back to the low 70’s °F (from 77 °F earlier this week). Wednesday’s storms provided some much needed rainfall to parts of northwest CT, and flows are currently murky and have increased to about 770 cfs at Falls Village and 960 cfs at Gaylordsville (as of Thursday, 7/12). Weekend conditions should be great for fishing, flows should clear and drop by then, and air temperatures are forecast to remain moderate through the weekend. Insect hatches include Alder/Zebra Caddis (action slowing, #10-12, afternoon-evening near overhangs), Blue Wing Olive (#18-22, early morning; spinner fall in evening), Isonychia (#12-14 evening), Light Cahill (#12-14, evening), and Tan & green caddis (#14-16, early morning & evening). Golden stonefly (dead drifted deep; very hot!) nymphs hatch at first light and adults egg-lay after dark. Note that temperatures are expected to rise early next week.
• Lakes & Ponds – A number of lakes are still producing good trout including East Twin Lake (browns to 20”), Highland Lake, Wonoscopomuc Lake, Crystal Lake (Ellington), Alexander Lake and West Hill Pond.
• Connecticut River:
• NORTHERN PIKE fishing is good with good catches are reported in coves, Haddam Meadows and the mainstem from Hartford downstream to Haddam.
• STRIPED BASS are still being taken at night in the lower river, live eels and tube & worm working best.
  
• Some SMALLMOUTH BASS are being caught in the Enfield area.
• LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing from Wethersfield to Chapman’s Pond was reported to be fair, catches included a 5-lb largemouth.
  
• CATFISH (8-10 lbs.) fishing is very good, with frozen herring & cut/chunk bait working best.
• STRIPED BASS fishing for school stripers remains good in the lower Pawcatuck River, Mystic River, Thames River, lower Connecticut River, Sandy Point in New Haven Harbor, Milford Harbor jetties, Housatonic River including Milford Point up to the Devon area, Bridgeport Harbor (Seaside Park), Penfield Reef, and Norwalk Harbor including around the islands. The local reefs continue to hold larger “cow“ bass. Striper hang outs include the Watch Hill reef complex, Ram Island Reef, the Race, the Sluiceway, Plum Gut, Bartlett Reef, Black Point, Hatchett Reef, Long Sand Shoal, Cornfield Point, Southwest Reef, the rip off Duck Island, the reefs off Branford, New Haven Harbor including the breakwaters, Milford Harbor- Charles Island area, Bridgeport Harbor, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground area, and the reefs around the Norwalk Islands. Live-lining eels, bunker or hickory shad or slow trolling the tube and worm combination are effective methods for those big slammers. Just remember to use non-offset (straight) circle hooks when using bait to prevent “gut hooking” fish.
• BLUEFISH fishing remains good throughout LIS. The sound seems to be invaded with 2-lb choppers making life tough for anglers fishing for summer flounder. Larger bluefish tend to be on the major reefs and rip areas. These spots include the Race, Plum Gut, Bartlett Reef, Hatchett Reef, Long Sand Shoal, Sixmile Reef, the reefs off Branford, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground area, and the Norwalk Islands area.
• SNAPPER BLUEFISH should be appearing any day in tidal creeks and rivers!
• SUMMER FLOUNDER (fluke) fishing remains good at the usual places: Sandy Point in the Stonington area, lower Mystic River over to Latimer Point, south shore of Fishers Island, Twotree Island Channel, Niantic River, Black Point, lower Connecticut River, Long Sand Shoal, Hammonasset Beach, New Haven Harbor off the breakwaters, Charles Island to Stratford Point, outer Bridgeport Harbor, and off the Norwalk Islands.
• SCUP and TAUTOG fishing is good on the local reefs. Scup measuring 14 to a whopping 17 inches in length have been reported.
• HICKORY SHAD can be caught off the DEP Marine Headquarters fishing pier in Old Lyme.
  
• There have been reports of BLUE CRABS but nothing great so far.

Sand Eels - SurfTalk

Reports of Sand Eels on the beach from SurfTalk over at StripersOnline.

The Blog is Back in Business

So all of a sudden I kept getting a "bad html code" whenever I posted - which of course prevented me from posting. I finally got it fixed and I'll try to update everything as quick as a Bluefin Tuna on vacation.

Noreast.com, Western Sound 7/8

• Captain Joe from Moontide Charters started out his Friday morning trying to get a bunker into the boat in one piece. “It was a great morning, and my clients had a ball watching the bunker get attacked by 10-pound blues right at the boat,” Joe said. All the action took place right in Manhasset Bay. The bite started slowing as the sun got up, so Captain Joe headed over to Matinecock and started fluking. It didn’t take long for the fish to cooperate, and the group ended up with 8 keepers to 22 inches, along with a bunch of throwbacks. All the keepers were loaded with sand eels. Give Captain Joe a call to book his boat and fish the Flukemania Tournament aboard the Moontide this weekend.
• John at Glen Cove Sports also reported an upswing in fluke and porgy action this week. The porgies seem to be anywhere the bluefish aren’t! That includes any rock pile or shallow water spot you would normally find blackfish. The fluke have been showing off the local points in good numbers. Frank Rosario landed over 60 porgies to 3.21 pounds while fishing clams outside Hempstead Harbor. Jimmy V. limited out on fluke to 23.5 inches while fishing Peruvian spearing off Prospect Point. The bass and bluefish continue to dominate anglers’ attention, especially now that they can be found working the massive schools of bunker in the western Sound. Bob Greco dropped his jigs down as soon as he started marking fish in mid-Sound. It didn’t take long to boat 10 bluefish to 8.4 pounds. Mitch Wergiles chunked up 10 bluefish to 12.12 pounds, along with a 40.3-pound striper! Jim Weber landed a beefy 38.8-pound linesider while fishing in 50 feet of water at the mouth of Hempstead. “It’s a great time to try different tactics and techniques,” John said.
• Captain Tim from the Northstar II had a bittersweet week. “We are doing very well with the bluefish and bass during our night trips,” Tim said. The unfortunate flipside to the awesome bluefishing is that the porgies are swimming for their lives! “It seems like all the porgies are just scattered and hiding in the shallow rock piles,” Tim said. Judging by the reports from the bait shops, his assumption is right. Hopefully with all the bunker around the bluefish will be keyed in on them and the porgies can get back to their normal feeding grounds.
• John Knight at Hudson Park B&T was happy to report that the fluke bite is on the upswing. “We are seeing good fishing coming off Hewlett’s, Barkers and Hart’s Island,” John said. There was also a good bite earlier in the week off Matinecock and Sand’s Point. The bass bite is still red-hot, but the fish seem to be smaller in size. There are also plenty of bluefish mixing in with these “cookie cutter” bass, so make sure you have your wire leaders handy for when they do start showing up.
• The porgies are starting to thicken up on all the local rock piles and small pieces of structure that they can hide behind! John had one scup come through his shop that measured 17 inches! “Now is the time to get out and beat the heat! Go fishing!” John said, and I couldn’t agree more. Don’t forget to stop in and see John for everything you need to catch that winning fluke in the Flukemania Tournament this weekend.
• Captain John Marino from American Sportfishing Charters enjoyed a great week of fishing. Not only was Captain John putting his clients on fish, he was also doing some of his instructional trips teaching good anglers how to become great anglers! Ken Torreggiani and his son Joe signed on for one of these trips and they weren’t disappointed. The father and son team ended up hammering bass to 23 pounds, along with a mess of bluefish, and learned a little bit about the ferocity of bluefish and how to capitalize on it! Congratulations to Dr. Greg Gulbranser, who landed his first ever striper, a nice 23-pounder on a live bunker. The group also landed bluefish to 14.5 pounds, and they had a ball with some top-water artificial action!
• Dave Palmer, his wife Sue, brother Phil and son Danny (9-years-old) had a great trip with Captain John. Phil was the first to hook up with a beautiful 20-pound striper. It wasn’t long after that first fish that Danny was on. After a long struggle the fish finally came to the net and it was another beauty at 23 pounds, and everyone couldn’t have been more excited! Captain John Marino is running these instructional trips all week long, and they are much more enjoyable without all the weekend traffic. Also give Captain John a call to book his boat for the upcoming Noreast Flukemania Tournament, where you cannot only learn a thing or two about fluking, but also take home the top prize!
• John at Jack’s B&T reported another awesome week of fishing in the western Sound. Tony “Sandpiper” and Jim Cedanio left John’s shop with squid and spearing, and returned a few hours later with 8 fluke to 23 inches. Cord and Freddy headed out with some fresh bunker and landed over 15 stripers to 30 pounds, keeping their limit. The bass and blues have been very thick off Orchard Beach, Execution and Hart’s Island. Ron Harding landed a beautiful 30-pound striper while fishing off Pea Island. There were also bluefish to 12 pounds attacking anything that was hitting the water. Captain Frank V. headed out to Matinecock with four of his clients and they returned with their limit of porgies to 3 pounds. Heavy chum has been the key to putting together a decent catch of scup. Stop in and see John and the gang for everything you need to take the top spot in the upcoming Noreast Flukemania Tournament.
• Captain Chris from the Island Current Fleet had a ball this week jigging up bluefish from 32A to Oak Neck. The night bite has also been very productive, with bass to 30 pounds coming over the rails. The best night of the week was Jeff Ruffler’s bachelor party, which ended up netting over 15 keepers in 35 feet of water outside Hempstead. Matty Budweiser and his group enjoyed a decent pick of fluke in the morning, then threw on the jigs and hit the bluefish off 32A. Samantha Dugan and her group also enjoyed some very good fluking off Sand’s and Prospect Points. Mark Eyman and his party did a night trip, where they hammered the bluefish just west of Hempstead. Friday was the best day of the week as far as fluke goes, with most anglers scoring their limit of quality fish. Captain Chris has both boats available for private charter, with some very good mid-week rates. You could also get your own group together and book the whole boat to fish the Noreast Flukemania Tournament this weekend.
• Captain Steve from the Molly Roze was happy to report that the bass fishing remains red-hot. “We had another great week, with fish to 40 inches becoming more common,” Steve said. These fish are stretched from Captain’s Island to Hempstead Harbor. There are also plenty of teen-size bluefish in the mix. Get out and enjoy the bass bite with Captain Steve before the water warms up too much and the fish move east. (Craig Koproski)

Noreast.com, Western, CT 7/8

• They say success is a matter of timing and that may be true even in fishing circles, especially when it comes to the cycles of arriving and departing species of fish. Imagine that just when anglers were starting to get concerned about the waning spring bass run, up comes a resurgence in the fluke population to take their place. And the fluke have arrived in a big way with flatties up to 11 pounds being caught all along western Connecticut.
• With the way that the fluke have rolled in, anglers should not forget to register for Nor'east.com's Flukemania Smackdown Tournament taking place on July 14 and 15. There is $20,000 in guaranteed cash prizes and the entry fee is $25 per angler. There is a $500 bonus to the first place winner if the angler that is a Noreast.com Club member. The winner will be decided by heaviest weight of one fluke measuring 20 inches or longer. For more information, call the hotline at 1-866-610-2246 or check our website at Noreast.com.
• Of course, porgies have made their presence known as well, with fish to 18 inches being caught at the Cows, Charles Island and Can 11. As the temperature rises so will the porgy activity. Bluefish are also vying for the bait with both cocktails and muscle-busting 20-pounders wreaking havoc pretty much everywhere right now.
• Nick Massaro of Fisherman's World in Norwalk had news of those fluke and reported that Eric Vickstrom cleaned up at Copps Island, where he used sand eels for 10 flatties to 5 pounds, while Scott Martin took his share of keeper fluke at the same location, along with a surprise 5.1-pound sea bass that just inhaled a sand eel. Rich Epstein is still chasing the sportfish with terrific success as he battled a 20.4-pound bluefish to the boat while live-lining bunker at Norwalk Island. He also reeled in a 20-pound bass. Pete Mirrol made a run at the title in the Montauk Marine Shark Tournament with a 200-pound thresher shark that was caught at the Horns. He came up a little short but the fight was one he won't soon forget.
• At Hiller's Hunting and Fishing in Norwalk, Paul Hiller did leave his mark in the Montauk Marine Tournament with a third place finish. Hiller's prize-winning fish was a 172-pound mako, which was a shock as it came alongside the boat. Hiller, who caught the fish west of the Ranger and fought it for 30 minutes, thought he had a thresher at first, and was then pleasantly surprised with the mako. Tyler Hiller captured the junior angler's prize in the tournament.
• In hometown waters, Janet DeScala proved Copps Island is the hot place for fluke and took a 6.5-pound fish using squid strips. Rocky Figoura caught a 15.4-pound bluefish on a bunker chunk at Norwalk Island, and Rich Arcomo hooked a 40-pound bass with a bunker chunk in Darien Harbor.
• Eric Johnson of Westport Outfitters in Norwalk said that inshore, the conditions continue to be good for bass and fluke, with much success coming through the use of sand eels, which are still in abundance. The fluke bite has definitely moved across the Sound and anglers should try Middle Passage, the Shoals, as well as around Sunken Island in Fairfield. Kayakers had some luck trolling tubes in and out of the boat traffic, with bass up to 22 inches grabbing hold.
• At Bobby J's in Milford, Jason Jadach spoke of Carl Schneider's catch of five fluke to four pounds in New Haven Harbor. Schneider used squid strips and killies to entice the fish to bite. Rob Jadach, fishing with Casey Stefco and Jason, took their limit of fluke at Can 11. The trio of anglers kept seven fish to 4.5 pounds and tossed back a dozen shorts. They also put 12 18-inch porgies in the bucket. All the fish were caught using squid and spearing. Dean Vogel fished from shore at Woodmont Beach with bunker chunks and was rewarded with a 13.9-pound bass. Capt. Joe Filenskowski was a second place finisher in the Montauk Marine competition with his catch of a 185-pound thresher shark and a 183-pound mako. What was really remarkable is that the day before the tournament in some pre-fishing preparation, he boated a 432-pound thresher. All of the fish were caught using bluefish 20 miles south of Montauk Light.
• Chris Fulton of Stratford B&T in Stratford had a mixed bag of news starting with Mark Casey fishing in New Haven Harbor where he used live killies to catch a 7.46-pound fluke and an 8.19-pound flattie. Chet Checkowski was out with his 2-year-old son, Chet Jr., and 5-year-old daughter, Lauren, at Penfield Reef where the family of anglers had their way with non-stop schoolie bass action. Then Dad introduced Chet Jr. to fishing in a big way with the youngster reeling in his first fish ever, a 12-inch blackfish. All the fish were taken with sandworms. Jack Wallace also fished New Haven Harbor and got a 12.25-pound bluefish which grabbed hold of a bunker head. Jim Butterworth caught 45 schoolie bass while trolling tube and worm in the Housatonic River.
• At Sportsmen's Den in Cos Cob, Mike Noyes told of the fluke action taking place at Todds Point. And that is exactly where Pete Farenelli took a 22-inch fish, while Bob McGreevy was a little better, catching a 23-inch flattie. Austin DeStanik chased the bass at Captain's Island and took two 15-pound fish using bunker chunks.
• Pete Miller of Pete's Place in Stamford said that the porgy fishing is starting to pick up, along with good size fluke action. Joe Horvath confirmed that with nine porgies averaging 18 inches that he took at the Cows with sandworms. Horvath also limited out on fluke to 5 pounds. John Crimmins fished in 30 feet of water at Todds Point with mackerel strips and promptly caught his limit of fluke to 24 inches, while John Friedman had a field day in Stamford Harbor where he caught a 12-pound bass, eight bluefish and three fluke to 3 pounds, with all the fish taking bunker chunks. Charles Hurty worked Stamford Harbor, using sandworms to catch 21 bass to 30 inches and Chris Poulos fished the same location with bunker chunks for eight bass to 25 pounds. Miller's 7-year-old son, Jonathan, caught a 30-inch bass with a bunker chunk at Wilson's Point, while Chris Miller fished from shore at Shippan Point and took a 24.5-pound bass using bunker. Frank Wasco and Wayne Sorbo combined for 12 bass to 36 inches while fishing with bunker chunks in Greenwich Harbor. (Rob Caluori).

Noreast.com, Eastern CT, 7/8

• Although many anglers hit a lull in the action over the past week, there are still plenty of good fish to be caught along the eastern Connecticut shoreline.
• I spoke with Pat from Rivers End Bait and Tackle on Saturday, and he described the bite as “fair.” For folks looking for bigger bass, Pat recommended Hatchett’s Reef, Long Sand Shoal, and Plum Gut. Most of the big fish are coming on live or chunked bait. Southwest Reef, on the other hand, has seen a slow-down leading up to the weekend. There is no shortage of fluke as many anglers are limiting out in popular haunts such as Black Point and Sound View. The Connecticut River is still holding a decent mix of blues and bass, but this has become a “nighttime game,” according to Pat. Niantic River is once again playing home for hordes of schoolie stripers and the occasional 20-pounder. The area near and around Kiddie Beach has been fantastic for light tackle enthusiasts.
• Kyle at J&B Tackle reported “fair to good” action in and around Niantic. Fluking has been very strong on the south side of Fishers Island near Isabella Beach. You still need to pick through the shorts to find the keepers, but they are definitely there. There is actually a better keeper-to-short ratio in Niantic Bay, but the number of fish can’t be compared to Isabella. Most of the bigger fish in Niantic Bay are only taping out at 20-21 inches. Bassing along Bartlett Reef and Hatchett’s Reef has been very strong for the recreational crew, but not enough to sustain the charter operations. Anglers utilizing the tube and worm at Black Point have bailed fish in the 30-40-inch range consistently.
• It appears some better fish are making their way in a bit closer to shore as many decent sized fish have been landed in tight. At The Race, there is no shortage of bluefish. Anglers are pulling up “ol’ razor lips” at an alarming rate using diamond jigs and three-wayed bucktails. On the other hand, Kyle has not been incredibly excited about the striper bite in the same location. The offshore scene continues to improve by the day. The areas around 35 Fathom Edge, east to the Acid Barge, and over to Ryan’s and Jenny’s Horn have been producing a decent bluefin bite. Blue sharks, threshers, and even a couple of mako’s in the 100 to 175-pound range were caught near Ryan’s and Jenny’s during the second half of the week. The action is not incredibly hot, but good enough to garner the attention of the shark fleet.
• In Stonington, Bill from King Cove Marina and Outfitters continues to be pleased with the bite. There has been no shortage of cow bass along the rips and reefs, as evidenced by Frank Mauro’s 51-pound striper, Ken Zwarko’s 58.55-pound bass, and Pat Mauro’s 46.33-pound linesider. Fluking along Misquamicut and Isabella has been “fantastic,” according to Bill. One angler walked into the shop on Saturday morning to claim the fish were “practically jumping in the boat” at Isabella. For surfcasters, the bite has been steadily improving with anglers picking up a mix of schoolies and large bass. A live eel under dark skies has been the ticket for most.
• Watch Hill Light continues to hold a lot of quality bass up to 50 pounds, while Sandy Point and the inner and outer breakwaters have also seen their fair share of hefty bass. If you are looking for live bunker, you may need to head west to the Mystic River or the mouth of the Thames. If live-lining shad is your modus operandi, you may run into a few at the northern tip of Sandy Point as the sun breaks the horizon. The porgy bite has also improved greatly and Bill doesn’t see that changing in the immediate future.
• On the charter front, Claire from Hel-Cat II Charters checked in with an encouraging report from this past week. Another week has come and gone and the fishing has gotten better each and every day. The daily 9AM trips for blues and striped bass are producing very well on both species, and the bass fishery really improved over the last three days. Our fluke trips sailing at 4 PM on Thurs., Fri. and Sat. afternoons have, as predicted, really cut loose this week. This fishery doesn't get any better than it was this week. On a side note, the Saturday, July 14th trip (4-8PM) fluke trip has been cancelled. This is the day of the Groton, New London fireworks. We have no choice but to run the annual fireworks cruise as Thames St. closes to vehicle traffic at 6PM and does not open again until after the fireworks are over. The next Saturday 4-8PM trip is also cancelled because of a 20+ year commitment to an Alcohol Anonymous group that charters us for their annual Sober Cruise. Other than that, our schedule remains unchanged. Fish of the week award goes to Rhys Stockwell of Avon, Connecticut for a 20-pound striped bass. Rhys' free trip is on its way via snail mail.
• Captain John Groff of Benmar Charters provided the following late week report. What a difference a day makes. On Friday, the wind was blowing about 15 knots out of the west and there were big swells coming in from the Atlantic. These two elements combined to make for difficult fishing. Despite excellent efforts from our anglers, we managed only a few small bass, a bluefish and a couple of porgies. It was the worst fishing day of the season and hard to take for me because we had a great group on board! So we have asked them to schedule another day at no expense to them and hope to show them how a day on the BENMAR is supposed to go!
• On Saturday, the wind backed off to about 5 mph and the ocean swells subsided quite a bit. These small changes in the local weather translated into a much more fishable day and the group aboard took full advantage of it. They boated over 25 stripers with 4 nice keepers. They also had 4 blues, including a HUGE chopper measuring out at 35 inches, and 8 porgies the size of dinner plates. So again I say, “what a difference a day makes!”
• People often ask me “when is the fishing going to be the best?” I say the fishing is really subject to the weather on your particular day. We don't go out if the forecast is bad, but the forecasters often get it wrong.....especially the speed of the wind. Once in a while, the conditions are tough and we don't catch much. If that happens we'll make it up to you! (Roland St. Denis)

Connecticut Post

Striped bass — Bunker schools continue to show up here and there from Milford to the New York line. Sometimes there are bass under the school, sometimes not, but they are always worth a try. Tube and worm trolling is a good way to cover a lot of water in search of bass, but chunks of fresh bunker on the weighted hook remain the top bass taker. With the bunker gone, bigger fish have moved into shallow water in search of crabs and lobsters. Most of the cows are hooked at night as they cruise the shallows.

Bluefish — Time to break out the wire leaders and bite-resistant lures as the bluefish picture took an upward turn this week. Plenty of those smaller Taylor blues about with bigger choppers still hanging out in mid-sound. Poppers and swimmers are doing the trick on the blues. Waders with light tackler for fly rods should look for a fish to break, cast to where the splash happened. Often the reward is a vicious smash from a feisty, if diminutive, blue. Then get ready for a bracing fight punctuated by breathtaking acrobatic jumps (by the bluefish, not the fisherman). One small blue makes a great meal for two people. Just slather the skinned filets with mayonnaise pop them on a hot grill and in five minutes you are in dining high. And no, bluefish are not a particularly oily fish. If you want oily, eat a false albacore.

Fluke — The bite seems to have shifted north to Connecticut shore from Long Island's. Eric at Westport Outfitters recommends Middle Passage, the shoals and Sunken Island off Fairfield Western shore. Snapper blues — Not many report from the Connecticut side as yet, but some big school were spotted off Long Island's north shore, so it won't be long before they are here. Porgies — Bigger porgies are being caught off Milford and Penfield Reef. Sandworms are the top bait. Chumming is almost a must.

FRESHWATER

Trout — Good early summer trout fishing can be found in the West Branch of the Farmington River and in the Saugatuck, Salmon, Housatonic, and Naugatuck rivers. Thanks to cooler temperatures and a rainstorm on Wednesday, conditions should remain good through the weekend, although storms Thursday may roil the water in some streams.

The return of hot weather predicted for the weekend is not good news for trout fishermen. The Department of Environmental Protection recommends Blue Wing Olive flies mid-to-late afternoon and Pale Evening Duns and Sulphers after that. In the upper Housatonic, Light Cahills and tan and green Caddis are the call for early mornings and evenings. The refuge areas (posted places were cold water tributaries empty into larger rivers) in the Housatonic, Naugatuck and Shetuket rivers are now closed to fishing. They reopen on Sept. 1.

Largemouth bass — Good to excellent fishing is reported in lakes Housatonic, Lillinoah, Saltonstall Plymouth, Bantam and Candlewood.

Smallmouth bass — Bull's Bridge in the Cornwall area of the upper Housatonic and the Tarrifville areas of the Farmington as well as the Colebrook Reservoir and Highland and Gardner lakes, are all reporting smallmouth action. (Charles Walsh, Connecticut Post).

Captain Morgan, Madison, CT

• Great weather and low humidity kicked off our holiday weekend as one of the best days of summer greeted anglers. Full moon tides brought intense fishing to many lower tidal rivers emptying into Long Island Sound as bait concentrated during a strong ebbing tide. Bunker schools were scattered and those looking for that prime bait had to search.
• Displays of fireworks painted the sky drawing onlookers to the shoreline. Those in anchored boats resembled a disorganized drive-in movie theater until bows gave way to the current. Needless to say, fishing close to these events produced little, however, offshore reefs offered better opportunities for success.
• The eel bite picked up as stripers struck those cast by structure and hit three-way rigs drifted over reefs. Except for smaller, hungry fish feeding on the flats and near mouths of tidal rivers, the best times continue to be predawn and late-day hours. Trolling deeper offshore reefs and shoals is also producing. Pulling 'brellas, trolling daisy chains/lures, and diamond jigging is the way to go. Try a banjo eye, feathered jig, or a grim reefer.
• Bluefish from 4- to 14-plus pounds are packing the Sound and are on tails of schooling baitfish. Gulls can be seen picking the spoils swooping and following the action as anglers try to stay ahead of blitzes. Keeping a top water rig at the ready will pay off as these feeding choppers erupt without warning and shortly disappear moving out of range. Kimberly, Faulkners, and Charles are good spots as are Six Mile and Sachems Head. Look for snapper action to surge as water temps move into the mid-60s.
• Porgy/scup catches remain good with two-pounders easily being caught off Clinton, Madison, and Guilford reefs. Time to get in on scup fever and spend part of a tide hooking into this popular saltwater panfish. En route to your favorite porgy hump, drift for fluke on the front/back side of the tide for a great fishing day combo. Cinder Bottom, Long Sand Shoal, Charles, and Kimberly Reefs are close to scup grounds.
• Ideal weather/water conditions make for very good trout fishing. Flies and natural baits are working best in rivers with deep-water trolling most effective in lakes. Largemouth action has picked up with pike, pickerel, panfish, catfish, crappie, and smallies holding steady. Rig up a Case Crawl, Whacky Jack, or Lil Sweet P for serious bass strikes.

Fisherman's World

• Striped Bass fishing continues to be good in our local area but it is starting to become to be a night time activity (Daybreak, dusk, and rainy days). With the exception of tube and worm fishing which you could do day or night but rememeber most of those fish are small with a few keepers. There have been fish caught on tube and worming in the Westport- Norwalk area. Largest fish this week that we know about is a 41incher caught in the Westport area. Remember the water is getting warm, and for large fish chunk on 80 -100ft of water. For example North-East of buoy 11B, and the west side of 28C, the reef's between Green's Ledge and 28C in deep water. But there are still plenty of bass in 20-50ft of water. Mackeral have been working some days. 3-waying worms at the OB Bouy is also a good spot to chunk fish on the out-going tide ,30-40ft of water. Casting slugos, poppers, swimmers, and other soft plastic, Norwalk
• Islands, fish up to 12 lb 30 inches. Drift with the boat and cast close to shore for blues and bass. Note: large bluefish 20lb 2oz on July 1st by Richard Epstein fishing with his brother Neil. Haven't seen a 20lb blue in the area in 20 years. We hope this is a good sign for the summer and fall. (WICC bluefish tournament) Anybody looking for large blues try the Norwalk harbor. By chunking you will catch bass and blues.
• Fresh bunker is key to bass and blues. They are mixing and can show up at anytime, watch for birds, in the Norwalk, Mid-sound, and between Norwalk and Smithtown Bay.
• Fluke fishing remains consistant. Note to remember: fluke do not bite well, if at all, wind against tide. It is not good to fluke fish with an outgoing tide or vice versa. It is best to fish on nice days not windy days. The best baits have been fresh squid strips in combination with spearing. Also fresh bunker strips, in 20 to 40ft of water. The best spots have been from Cockenoe island to Shefield island on the 30-35ft mark. Also northport and the golf course are still producing fish 6 1/2 lbs this week and 32A off of Stamford has been producing large fish.

Rivers End Tackle, Old Saybrook

• STRIPED BASS- Its on the upswing this week with the bite in the Race and Plum Gut picking up, however the night bite is strongly favored. Locally the reefs from Cornfield to Bartletts have been giving up some larger bass on live bait- bunker, porgies or hickory shad. The bunker have been moving east, New Haven to Westbrook have had very sparse schools of bunker for the past few weeks. The Connecticut River and Niantic have also been tough spots to get bait with the Thames being better. It seems that the usual population of menhaden the we've seen the last few seasons have shifted to the east. If you're set on daytime fishing its time for the tube and worm or fresh bunker. They're betting a few bass from the DEP Piers and Saybrook Point on bait.
• BLUEFISH- The Race, Plum Gut and Pigeon Rip have made a comeback this week for some daytime jigging for medium sized blues. The mouth of the Connecticut River has some mixed sizes including some monsters, mostly on bait for both boat and shorebound anglers. Theres a fair amount of sandeels around this year with smaller blues chasing them near the mouth of the River. Bait seiners have got some 2-3" snappers this week.
• FLUKE- Reports have been generally good all over thats overally generalized but a true assessment. Now its better in some spots than others, the RI Beaches from the Misquamicut and east to Matunuck have been very good with limits and doormats being common. There have also been some very good reports from the southeast waters off Fishers Island. Closer to home Long Sand Shoal, Soundview and the Millstone/Waterford have been good.
• BLACKFISH- Not too many reports this week, its still worth a try at Hatchetts and Black Point if you can get through the porgies.
• PORGIES- Still on the upswing as the schools get thicker. Hatchetts, Hens and Chickens and Bartletts have good populations. Some are being caught from shore at Harkness and Niantic.
• BLUE CRABS- Its been an early and good start to the season. Good sized crabs have been caught in both the Oyster and Connecticut Rivers. (Pat Abate, Rivers End Tackle)

CT DEP Weekly Fishing Report #10 7/5

• TROUT: Rivers & streams - Good early summer trout fishing reported from the West Branch Farmington, Farmington, Willimantic, Pomperaug, Salmon, Saugatuck Fenton, Housatonic and Naugatuck Rivers and Salmon Brook. Conditions for trout fishing should remain good through the weekend due to the very mild temperatures of the last week plus the much needed boost to stream flows provided by Wednesday night’s rains. However, temperatures less conducive to trout fishing are expected to return next week.
• Farmington River water temperatures are in the mid to high 50’s °F. West Branch flows should remain clear and fishable, currently about 260 cfs at Riverton. The Still River is currently providing an additional 45 cfs. Anglers can expect a temporary release of an additional 50 cfs from the Goodwin Dam (Hogback) for about 7 hours during the day on Friday (7/6). Releases are expect to be at 250-260 cfs for the weekend. There should be plenty of trout in the upper reaches, the West Branch (from Hogback to the upper boundary of the TMA) was stocked with a total of 2,500 brown trout (800 brooks, 1,300 browns and 50 tiger trout) last Thursday (6/28). Hatches/patterns include: Isonychia (#10-12, evening), Blue Wing Olives (#18-26, mid-late afternoon), Vitreus (#14-16; Pale Evening Dun), Sulphurs duns (#16-20, afternoon to early evening for spinners), Caddis (tan #16-18, all day; green #22-26, evening), Midges (#22-28, morning) and Hoppers (#10-16).
  
• Housatonic River – Morning water temperatures have moderated, dipping to about 67 °F (in the TMA) after reaching the lower 70’s °F earlier in the week. The river is clear and very fishable, flows have improved a bit due to Wednesday night’s rains, currently 350 cfs at Falls Village and 460 cfs at Gaylordsville. Insect hatches include Alder Caddis (#10-12, afternoon-evening near overhangs), Green/Brown Drakes (#8-12), Sulphurs (#14-16, evening), Blue Wing Olive (#18-26, early morning; spinner fall in evening), Isonychia (#10-12 evening), Light Cahill (#12-14, evening), and tan & green caddis (#14-20, early morning & evening).
  
• Lakes & Ponds – Good trout catches reported from Lake Saltonstall, Colebrook Reservoir, Crystal Lake (Ellington), East Twin Lake, Mashapaug Lake, Wononscopomuc Lake, Highland Lake, Beach Pond, the Maltby lakes and West Hill Pond.
• LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing is reported as good to excellent. Areas to try include Lake Housatonic, Lake Lillinonah, Lake Saltonstall, Plymouth, Bantam, Highland, Quonnipaug, Wononscopomuc, Amos, Billings and Candlwood Lakes, Upper & Lower Moodus Reservoir, the Maltby Lakes, and Ball, Mono, Mudge, Ashland, Batterson Park and Stillwater Ponds.
• SMALLMOUTH BASS action reported at Colebrook Reservoir, Highland Lake, Gardner Lake and Candlewood Lake. Some good river smallie action reported from the Housatonic (Bull’s Bridge to Cornwall area), Shetucket (Salt Rock area), and Farmington (Tariffville area) Rivers.
• NORTHERN PIKE catches reported from Mansfield Hollow Reservoir, Bantam Lake (good), Winchester Lake, Pachaug Pond and Ashland Pond.
• KOKANEE are providing some great action at West Hill Pond with many 12-16” fish being caught (trolling beads with corn between 25-30 feet).
• Connecticut River – Although STRIPED BASS are still being taken in the upper river, the majority of the activity is in the lower portion. NORTHERN PIKE catches are reported from many of the coves throughout the river. BLACK CRAPPIE also continue to provide excellent action in the coves.
• SMALLMOUTH BASS are being caught north of Hartford, especially near the confluence of the Farmington River.
• CATFISH (including a 11.4 lb channel catfish) are being taken by bottom bouncing frozen herring & shad (works very well) and cut/chunk bait.
  
• STRIPED BASS fishing for school stripers and HICKORY SHAD is good, especially in the lower Connecticut River (by the DEP Marine Headquarters fishing pier is very consistent). Other spots include the Pawcatuck River, Mystic River, Thames River, Sandy Point in New Haven Harbor, Milford Harbor jetties, Housatonic River including Milford Point, the Devon area up to the Derby Dam, Bridgeport Harbor (Seaside Park), and Norwalk Harbor including around the islands. Cow stripers continue to be good on the local reefs at the usual spots such as the reefs off Watch Hill, the Race, Plum Gut, Bartlett Reef, Black Point, Hatchett Reef, Long Sand Shoal, Southwest Reef, the reefs off Branford, New Haven Harbor, Milford Harbor-Charles Island area, Bridgeport Harbor, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground, and the Norwalk Islands. Live-lining bunker or hickory shad is the ticket for success.
• BLUEFISH fishing is good throughout LIS. The usual spots include fishing spots include the Race (most consistent spot), Plum Gut, the major reefs and rip areas in LIS, and the tidal rivers and harbors. Smaller bluefish are in the lower Connecticut River.
• SUMMER FLOUNDER (fluke) fishing remains good at Sandy Point in the Stonington area, lower Mystic River over to Latimer Point, Twotree Island Channel, Black Point, Long Sand Shoal, New Haven Harbor off the breakwaters, Charles Island to Stratford Point, outer Bridgeport Harbor, and off the Norwalk Islands.
• SCUP and TAUTOG fishing is good to excellent on the local reefs.
• WEAKFISH reports are still coming in from the Black Point area, New Haven Harbor to Charles Island –Milford area and off the Norwalk Islands.

Norwich Bulletin

• Freshwater: No one reported any particularly unique or large fish. Bass action is the typical summer time dusk-through-dawn bite, often with a short period of action around midday. Walleyes are most active under low-light conditions, with one neighbor reporting his brother caught an 1 1/2-pounder one night a couple of weeks ago from Gardner Lake. Walleyes that are pushing 20 inches or more are now present in Coventry Lake, Beach Pond and Mashapaug Lake.
• Striped bass: They are literally being caught along the entire coast at the moment with some real monsters in the 40- to 60-pound range being reported between Madison and Newport, R.I. Most of the larger fish have dropped out of salt ponds and the upper portions of coastal rivers, with the Thames River being an exception.
• Bluefish: Action continues to build as inshore waters heat up for the summer. No one was talking about any specific monsters lately, but all the shops from Newport to River's End on the Connecticut River are hearing about large schools of small bluefish with the occasional bona fide 10-pound plus chopper in the mix.
• Fluke: On Sunday I had the pleasure of finally fluke fishing with a fellow outdoor writer, Keith Reynolds, that Fisherman Magazine readers will know. We made a huge circle around Fishers Island into Waterford, then hit various spots from there to the Mystic River, where he keeps his boat. We caught fish every place we made a drift, but didn't kill them anywhere in particular.
• Scup/porgies: This year is starting off with excellent catches of jumbo porgies coming in from many areas. Most of the people we talked to this week were reporting fluke and striper numbers.
• Bait: There are still reports of menhaden, but in smaller numbers in the lower Connecticut River and the Thames River, with Narragansett Bay still holding the largest concentration of this primary food source for top end predators.
• Crabs: On Monday I saw my first crab while peering off a dock in the Mystic River. I was tempted to jump in and grab the darn thing, but it might have been a tad short.

The Day New London

• Hot weather is threatening to have the fish, especially stripers and fluke, scurrying for deeper, colder waters, and the fishing, both freshwater and saltwater, into the summer doldrums. In no way does that mean there are not plenty of fish to be caught.
• It is just that the tactics for hooking them require a bit more imagination. Live lining bunker, bottom fishing with baited jigs in deep water and iincreased flyfishing and spinning at night fishing are all good ways to do an end run around hot weather blahs. A good blast of cooler air could liven things up, however.
• SALTWATER: Striped bass — If the number of large bass being weighed in at regional tackle stores is any indication, the stripers did not get the hot weather memo. The BH (Bridgeport Harbor) Buoy and buoy's 18 and 20 have been yielding some pretty impressive fish, mostly on chunks. Again, chunking from jetties and from boats is the top choice when pursuing large linesiders.
  
• Gulf Beach and Charles Island are still, if not hot, warm.
• West Haven sandbar has coughed up some decent catches.
  
• In the Westport/Norwalk area, good bass fishing can be had at the spot where the Mill Pond empties into the Sound. Where there's bunker the bass are likely to be there, too.
• Bluefish — It is not that the blue fishing is slow exactly. It's just small. Blues in the 4- to 6-pound range are all over and a lot of fun as they smash small surface poppers and plastic baits. Larger blues are feeding on top on bunker schools flats off the coastal audubon center in milford and in milford point have had a stead pick of lively on.
• Fluke — It's getting to be a broken record, but if it's keeper fluke you are looking for, a trip to Long Island's north shore is still the place to go. One trip Wednesday produced a limit of keepers to six pounds in and around buoy 13. There were more released small fish that keepers but patience pays off.
• Porgies— The porgies season is just getting under way rolling with some good catches off Milford and off the golf course in Westport. Chumming is a must.
• FRESHWATER: Trout— Anglers are reporting good trout fishing in rivers and streams with a brisk flow of clear water, says the Department of Environmental Protection. So far the heat wave has not put the fish into hiding.
  
• The Farmington above the trout management area should have good to excellent fishing for the holiday weekend.
• Lake Candlewood and Bunnell's Pond in Beardsley Park have been yielding nice fish. Water temps in the Housatonic are near 70. Streamer flies are doing the most damage both mornings and evenings. Watch out for storms that will roil the waters.
• Largemouth bass — A number of lakes and ponds are reporting improved largemouth fishing this week. Lakes Lillinonah, Zoar and Bantam are doing well.
  Smallmouth bass Squantz Pond and the upper Housatonic have tons of these aggressive hitters. Try them on a fly rod with almost any brightly colored concoction in your box.
• Calico bass — Silver and Highland Lakes are producing some of the fish, as are some of the upstate laves and reservoirs. by Charles Walsh, pub Connectict Post)

(Tim Coleman, TheDay)

Noreast.com, Western Sound 7/1

• Western sound anglers fought through some tough tides and weather this week, but we still saw some very nice fish as a result of their efforts. Captain Chris from the Island Current Fleet reported an exceptional night of fishing on Thursday evening. “The whole week was decent, but Thursday it busted wide open with almost 20 keepers and a 30-pound striper taking the pool,” Chris said. Steve Henry and his group from Poughkeepsie had a ball jigging up some quality bluefish at the mouth of Hempstead Harbor earlier in the week. Father Mike and his group also did well on the bluefish, then switched over to fluke and landed some very nice fish off Peacock Point. John Cekack also had his party out for bluefish and fluke with everyone bringing some fillets home for the table! The porgy bite started slow this week, but things really heated up going into the full moon. Center Island has been producing some very nice scup. Captain Chris still has some room for the Flukemania Smackdown coming up, so don’t forget to give him a call. You can also book the Island Current Fleet for your own private charter, just call Captain Chris for details.
• John from Glen Cove Sports reported a huge influx of school bass and bluefish that range from 1 to 10 pounds, which anglers are having a ball catching on light tackle right off the local beaches. It also seems like the fluke have invaded the local points, and they have been taking everything from bucktails to bunker chunks! The porgy bite has also picked up a little, but the fish seem to be scattered with all the bluefish around. Charlie (a shop regular) fished clams off Pryibil Beach and landed a “mess” of porgies to 16 inches. Fred D. also did well fishing Pryibil, landing 3 fluke to 21 inches on squid and spearing. Louis Dillard hit the trifecta with a bucktail, landing a 3.12-pound fluke, 8 bluefish and a 20-pound striper! Rick Rydzewsik and his son Joseph (age 12) fished squid and spearing off Oak Neck and landed a bunch of shorts, a 3.25-pound fluke and a 5.11-pound fluke! Mike Mandorno drifted chunks in mid Sound after marking some fish, and landed 4 bass to 20 pounds. James Frazier chunked up a beautiful 28.2-pound striper while fishing the north side of Morgan’s Beach. Joseph Niemczyk and his son Kamil chunked up Kamil’s first bass ever, it just happened to be a 43.2-pound fish! Most of the bigger fish have been showing up at dusk and dawn, especially going into the full moon. Don’t forget to stop in and see John for everything you need for the Flukemania Tournament that is right around the corner.
• Captain Tim from the Northstar II reported on some erratic porgy fishing this week. “With all the bass and bluefish around, the porgies seem to be holding up further to the east,” Tim said. Bayville and Oyster Bay are still holding some quality fish, but Tim has also been hitting Eaton’s Neck and Lloyd’s. The bass and bluefish have been cooperating with Captain Tim; it’s the weather that’s been giving him a bad time! If you’re looking for some great western sound action, just hop aboard the Northstar II and enjoy!
• John at Jack’s B&T weighed in the biggest fish of the week on Thursday, it was a beefy 42-pound striper landed by Bobby McMurray off Hempstead Harbor on a fresh bunker chunk. Joe Perelli also did very well this week when a 35-pound bass inhaled his chunk off Execution. There are plenty of bass and bluefish stacked up off Hart’s Island, Execution and Hempstead Harbor. “The bite started two weeks late this year and now we are starting to see things really bust open,” John said. The porgies still have a stronghold on Bayville and Oyster Bay, with a few fish starting to show up off Matinecock and 32A. The fluke bite is very good right now, but it’s been a little tough to catch your limit. “We are seeing plenty of last year’s keepers being thrown back with this new limit,” John said. John has all the bait and tackle you need to catch the monster fluke that will win the Flukemania Tournament, so stop in and see him so you don’t get shut out!
• Captain Joe from Moontide Charters enjoyed a great day of fluking on Friday off Matinecock. “We had six keepers to 22 inches with a bunch of short fish,” Joe said. This was his first fluke trip of the year and Joe was very encouraged by the flurry of activity they saw. The bass and bluefish are still holding outside of Hempstead Harbor and the bunker are finally starting to get nervous in the morning and evening. There was also a good bite off Hen’s and Chicken’s outside Larchmont, which was producing some very nice fish. Captain Joe is available the weekend of the Flukemania Tournament, so give him a call to fish the tourney on a great boat with a great captain!
• John Knight from Hudson Park B&T was happy to report that the bass bite continues in the western sound! “We had some great action going into the moon, with plenty of bass and some alligator blues starting to show up,” John said. The back of Manhasset has been producing some very nice fish on artificials, especially at dawn and dusk. The porgy bite slowed considerably, coincidentally as soon as the bigger bluefish started making an appearance. The fluke bite is hit or miss right now, with some anglers doing very well off the points, then returning the next day with nothing to show for their efforts. Stop in and see John to find out where that winning fluke for the Flukemania Tournament will be caught. If anyone knows it’s John!
• Captain Steve from the Molly Roze was happy to report that he had the best week of striper fishing this season! “The bite just got red hot on Tuesday, and stayed hot for the entire week,” Steve said. The best fishing was off Mamaroneck, Hempstead and Matinecock. There are also plenty of bluefish of all shapes and sizes in the mix, which can make for some interesting nights. The porgies have been holding off Oak Neck and Bayville, with fish to 16 inches not uncommon. The fluke fishing has been very good, especially off Peacock Point, Matinecock and Hempstead. “The fluke fishing would be unreal if we still had last year’s limits,” Steve said. Steve is available for the Flukemania Tournament, so give him a call to book the tournament winning Molly Roze!
• Captain John Marino from American Sportfishing Charters was out hammering away at the bass again this week. John was in the middle of a trip so he gave me a quick rundown for the week. There are plenty of quality fish holding under the bunker schools. If you don’t see any action in 15 minutes, pick up and move. Live-lining with the schools has been producing the bigger fish. If you are looking for more action, tie on a popper or swimming plug toss it toward any point, rip or piece of structure and hold on to your pants! (Craig Koproski)

Noreast.com, Western, CT 7/1

• It seems like the reports for the week are starting to sound like a broken record, where the same news keeps coming in over and over and over again. But it is hard not to shout from the rafters, especially since this is probably one of the best bass fishing seasons of recent memory. In essence, everybody is catching stripers, and blues, and fluke, and porgies, and anything else that is inclined to jump on the hook, and this week has been no different.
• Chris Fulton of Stratford B&T in Stratford has echoed the same sentiments about the state of the fishing season and to prove his point explained how he weighed in the fish of the week at 2:30 a.m. (yes, that is pretty early in the morning) when Keith Covotos came calling with a 54-inch, 42.8-pound bass that he took on a bunker chunk at the BH Buoy. At first, Covotos thought he had his first 50-pounder ever, but while the fish had the length to support the weight, it just did not have the girth, not to mention an empty stomach. Milton Santos was on the troll in the Connecticut River with a tube and worm where he promptly hooked a 21.04-pound striper, while Ed Goodwin resorted to dragging bunker spoons in 40 feet of water at Middle Ground where he caught a 41 and 31-inch bass. Kevin Cornell resorted to the conventional chunking method at Buoy 18 where he used bunker to catch three stripers to 20 pounds. Bob Coyole picked up a 20-pound bass in New Haven Harbor where he was fishing with bunker chunks. And then added several bluefish to the mix, along with a 3-pound fluke.
• With all that is going on with bass and blues, anglers should not forget to register for Nor'east.com's Flukemania Smackdown Tournament taking place on July 14 and 15. There is $20,000 in guaranteed cash prizes and the entry fee is $25 per angler. There is a $500 bonus to the first place winner to the angler that is a Noreast.com Club member. The winner will be decided by heaviest weight of one fluke measuring 20 inches or longer. For more information, call the hotline at 1-866-610-2246.
• At Bobby J's in Milford, Jason Jadach had good news about the fluking in the area and said that the mouth of the Housatonic River is producing well. Pat Devine had a nice day there and caught seven keepers to 7 pounds using squid on a small bucktail, while Carl Schneider also fished the mouth of the river for 10 keeper fluke to 5 pounds using the same bait. Joe Gilbert joined the growing crowd for five keeper fluke to 5 pounds using squid and killies on a 1-ounce bucktail. Al Day also did well at the river with three keepers to 3.5 pounds, also using squid and killies on a 1-ounce jig.
• Brian Karchman of Ted's Bait in Bridgeport did not have much action on the saltwater side but did talk about the excellent largemouth bass fishing that is taking place at Lake Mohegan. Frank Garfano cashed in on that news and worked buzz baits for a 4.90 and a 5.10-pound largemouth bass.
• At Westport Outfitters in Norwalk, Eric Johnson said the near shore fishing continues to provide fly and light tackle enthusiasts with good action for schoolie bass and small bluefish. Anglers are catching fish up to 22 pounds using bunker chunks with areas up and inside the mouth of the Saugatuck River on the incoming tide producing nicely. A 34-inch bass was taken there by Nick Randme. Sand eels are still the main food source for shallow water stripers and bluefish and there are plenty of adult bunker in Norwalk Harbor, with a few fish pushing them around at daybreak and at dusk. There are some very large, 25-30-pound bass taking chunks in the vicinity of Can 2.
• At Fisherman's World in Norwalk, Nick Massaro had a mixed bag of results with good shore reports as he spoke of Jason Bernstein catching a 22-pound bass at Calf Pasture Beach on a bunker chunk, while Nick Randamere nailed a 15-pound striper at the mouth of the Saugatuck River, and Dave Redford took bass to 40 inches with bunker chunks at Fairfield Beach. Scott Martin cleaned up on the fluke at Norwalk Island where he used a squid and bucktail combination to catch 14 fish to 24 inches, while Kevin Valachi made the trip to West Atlantis and was rewarded with a 60-pound bigeye tuna while drifting chunks at night.
• Armen Borgus of Hiller's Hunting and Fishing in Norwalk said that the bass action is still solid around the islands and that 2.5-pound porgies and blackfish to 7 pounds are being taken on the shoals. Mark Hiller traveled a little further south to the Cows where he floated some chunked bunker for a 30 and a 35-pound striper.
• At Sportsman's Den in Cos Cob, Mike Noyes said that the fluke fishing is really picking up at Todds Point and Hen and Chickens with fish to 4 pounds the norm. Squid strips and spearing are the ticket to get these flatties to rise and take the bait. Andy Lyons left the fluke alone to pursue stripers and caught a 36-inch bass on a pencil popper while fishing at Matinecock Point. He also landed several bluefish to 10 pounds. John Windus, along with the father and son team of Jay and Austin DeStanik, fished mid Sound with pencil poppers where they caught 30 bluefish between them.
• Vincent Mirizio of Fish Tales in Stamford had a few good reports, starting with Louie Marroquin catching two blackfish, both 19 inches at the Hopson Street Pier using clam strips. Phil Vincoli was fishing in 40 feet of water in Stamford Harbor with bunker heads and caught a 36.1-pound bass, while Henry Alexandre hit Dolphin Cove for a 30.5-inch striper that inhaled a clam strip. Jason Monet had a big day trolling tube and worm at Rye and caught four bass to 28 inches and four bluefish to 25 inches. Francisco Ordonez took a 38.5-inch striper with a bunker chunk at Cobblestone Reef, while Kenny Byxby and Gene Barry teamed up for five bass and four bluefish that they caught at Porgy Reef using bunker chunks. (Rob Caluori).

Noreast.com, Eastern CT, 7/1

• Fishing over the first half of the week was slow for most anglers as a sharp cold front passed through the region which was immediately followed by a heat wave. When we experience fluctuating patterns like this, it is common to experience a slow bite. All we need now is to settle into a consistent pattern of weather and the bite will most assuredly improve. Judging from some of the late week reports, it appears we are on the cusp of a rebound in the action.
• In Old Saybrook, Pat from River’s End Tackle declared the action slow, but was hopeful of a strong bite leading up to Independence Day. “Bassing has been slow for most of our customers. Some folks are still picking up some good sized fish drifting chunks at the mouth of the Connecticut River, but the numbers continue to dwindle. There appears to be existing pods of bunker in this location, so not all of the bass have decided to leave the area yet.
• “There are some big bluefish around and a few are tipping the scales at 15-plus-pounds. Anglers are catching a lot of striped bass dragging the tube and worm near the mouth, but most fish are small. Southwest Reef, a hot-spot for many over the past couple of weeks, even saw the bite slow leading into the weekend. There were a couple of anglers who scored a half dozen bass in the 30-pound class later in the week, but overall it’s been sporadic at best.” On the fluking front, Pat described the action as “democratic” – meaning everyone is getting their fair share, but nothing extreme.
• Pat offered his personal theory on the bite as related to the full moon. “The trend over the past year has been that the fishing is slow on the front side of the full moon and better action on the back side, so we’re expecting improvement by the holiday.”
• “Trusty Lou” from Hillyers Bait and Tackle also described the first half of the week as slow, but the action improved leading into the weekend. On Friday, a customer arrived at the shop sporting two fat bass that tipped the scales at 36 and 26 pounds. Both fish were caught at Bartlett Reef drifting eels before sun up. On Thursday, a local charter nabbed two 30-pound bass at The Race near Valiant Rock. Black Point continues to hold a nice pick of 30-34-inch striped bass, with some larger fish mixed in, while Millstone has become a gathering spot for 3-4-pound blues and schoolie bass. Hatchet’s Reef, just south of the red can at the drop-off has been a great location to chunk bunker for big bass. There are loads of huge porgies between the bridges in Waterford that have measured out at an amazing 17 inches.
• On the fluke front, many customers are reporting a better keeper-to-short ratio. It appears these anglers are utilizing bigger baits to discourage the smaller flatties from taking their offerings. Sarah’s Ledge has been hot, the red can near Goshen Reef, and the Ruins are all highly productive.
• In Stonington, Bill from King Cove Marina and Outfitters said there was no shortage of fish in the eastern-most part of the state. On Friday, near Watch Hill Reef, Kevin McCarthy, the owner of King Cove, ran into hordes of feeding bass and had a ball catching a nice mix of bass from 25 inches to the high 30-inch range. The fish were apparently feeding on sand eels.
• On Friday, a 25-pound bass was weighed in by a customer who was fishing the same area as Kevin. Stonington Harbor is still loaded with a nice mix of small to large bass and medium sized choppers. The inner and outer breakwalls have been a fairly popular spot to chunk up some bass. Sandy Point continues to hold a motherload of sand eels, which has garnered the attention of the bass and blues.
• Fluking has been very good along Misquamicut and Isabella. During the second half of the week, there were numerous fluke caught exceeding the 20-inch range. Bill explained the anglers “in the know” are doing very nicely with keeper fish, so he knows there is still a nice pick of flounder for the taking. If Misquamicut or Isabella is slow - which is highly doubtful unless you experience a terrible drift or poor weather - try giving Latimer Reef a shot and you won’t be disappointed. (Roland St. Denis)

Westport Outfitters (Norwalk) Fishing Report

• Inshore we continue to have much success with the Sand Eels still in abundance but we do say that they are on the decline, so get out there while the getting is good before this bait disperses and our resident fish move to deeper waters and we have to break out the sinking lines. Sunday night we guided “Nat” from Maine on the flats and young Patrick got him into a bunch of blues and bass including a keeper striper off of Westport on a small sand eel epoxy fly hand tied by our own Pete Viviano, Jr. Good fun on the 8wts!
• Bunker schools were definitely in abundance in the Norwalk/Westport area over the weekend and early into the week. Continue to try and drift with these schools hopefully to find bass underneath. These fish still have yet to see the type of pressure that is typical at this time of year. Looking back to our reports from last year during this same time period, we already had juvenile snappers being pounded on. Although one of our scouts did see some small schools of snappers across over in LI last week, they have yet to show themselves on this side yet. At this time last year, the resident stripers had also begun to stack up on some of our local reefs, ideal for trolling tubes. We have yet to see this occur as of yet either, but get them trolling rigs ready and don’t forget about our seasonal pre rigged trolling combos with lead core.
• Saturday’s charters did well locally with stripers up to 30 inches on light tackle using Crystal Minnows and Rebel Jumpin’ Minnows. With the fireworks on deck for Tuesday we did not fish but were back at it on Wednesday. Despite what the fish probably thought was the end of the world on Tuesday night, Captain Chris managed a fat 37 inch fish on chunks outside of the Islands and then ventured back out for Fluke Wednesday afternoon. The fluke bite has definitely moved across the sound to our side. Try Middle Passage, the shoals, as well as around Sunken Island in Fairfield. No need to run across at this point, so save the fuel money and come on down to stock up on some hard baits and leaders since Mr. Bluefish is definitely making his presence more known recently.