Conn Post, 9/3/05

• Bluefish deserve more attention from anglers as these fish are easy to find between New Haven and Norwalk. Most of the local bluefish range in the 1- to 3-pound class. While they lack significant size, they will provide plenty of action on small poppers and casting spoons. Those willing to troll umbrella rigs are hooking several fish in a single pass.
• Striped bass fishing is fair to good at all the usual rocky spots. Because of the hot weather, the better action has been after dark. Drift fishing over the deeper reefs with a live porgy, hickory shad or eel on a three way rig is the top method for hooking keeper-size bass. Tube-n-Worms tipped with sandworms or eel skins are also very effective when fishing the shallow points and grass lines.
• Sorintino of Monroe traveled offshore last week and returned with a 76-pound wahoo, a 287-pound blue marlin and a 150-pound yellow fin tuna. His trip is an example of how good the deep sea action has been off Montauk and Block Island. Also, school bluefin tuna have been reported in eastern Long Island Sound at the Race, Sluiceway and Plum Gut. Anglers attempting to catch bluefin or other tuna species, billfish and sharks must possess a National Marine Fisheries Service highly migratory species permit. Permit information can be found at www.nmfspermits.com.
• Bottom fishing on Long Island Sound has been spotty lately. But Rob Litzie Jr. of Stratford still managed to catch a 2-pound porgy off Middleground. Chris Hannon, also of Stratford, weighed in a 3.92-pound black sea bass at Stratford Bait & Tackle. Fluke are providing modest angling in Stonington Harbor, the lower Mystic River, off Long Point, Long Sand Shoal, Faulkner Island and Can No. 22. The better porgy fishing is east of New Haven or west of Norwalk. Some weakfish have been spotted off Northport.
• Freshwater anglers are doing very well with the panfish species. Crappie action is good to excellent at Silver Lake, Park Pond, Lake Zoar and Pachaug Pond. Sunfish are aggressively attacking tiny jigs in Long Meadow Pond, Perry Mill Pond, Lake Mohegan, Lake Housatonic, Woodcreek Pond, Lake Lillinonah, the Maltby Lakes and Mamanasco Lake. Yellow perch catches are fair to good in Crescent Lake, the Bantam River, Candlewood Lake, Tyler Pond and East Twin Lake. The Connecticut River is giving up loads of catfish, many of which exceed 24 inches. [org pub Connecticut Post, Frank McKane, Jr]