One element in fishing that can be controlled is what is in our tackle bags. To be less reliant on the throes of the season, a small array of artificial lures of the time-tested variety, some T&T’s (teasers and trailers), leaders, and terminal gear will greatly increase your hookups. You will want a few surface plugs to pop, swim, or dart. In your bag should be some able to navigate fast or slow, as well as deep or shallow water. Spoons and jigs are a must. Sizes and weights should be adapted to your gear. We will leave colors for a different time, although white, black, and something in between should be included. The object here is to spend more time fishing and less time fussing.

Obviously, live and dead baits are cherished by many shore and offshore anglers. However, a simple emergency kit like the one described above should always be an option considering the inconsistent availability of some traditional baits. One can always plan a trip; however, some of the best ones are never planned.

On the Water

Offshore storms created high surf and angry seas stretching lines of moored vessels to their limits. Along with torrential downpours, bolts of lightning, and hard winds came damaging tornadoes and spectacular waterspouts. However, water temperatures in Long Island Sound held steady in the mid-70s, dropping a bit once a cold front passed through the area. Prior to the foul weather and shortly thereafter, a limited number of anglers experienced a brief spike in hookups, but all in all, most experienced a slow down.

Fishing for striped bass, especially, required patience, timing, and persistence. Small fish picked at bait in the tidal rivers while, on the reefs, deep water chunkers, jiggers, and trollers were most successful if they managed to overcome those lumpy seas. Nighttime eel bite has been the best bet. Obtaining live eels, once again, was a challenge since many trappers found their pots empty primarily due to the warm water and an ostensible shortage.

Contrasting, those in search of bluefish had little difficulty finding them. A slew of choppers in the four- to six-pound range almost became annoying. Once through them, anglers then had to deal with the bigger guys before even reaching the striper zone. Fly rodders enjoyed the blitzes whenever the wind subsided, whether from their kayaks or small vessels that, for the most part, were relegated to near-shore waters such as Cornfield, Hammonasset, Half Acre, Mulberry, and Outer Island.

Prior to the spell of rough weather, schools of snapper blues have been thick and being caught along most of the shoreline. Snapper poppers, small spoons, flies, and shiners are all catching limits of 10. Schools of juvenile bait-stealing sea bass and porgy and scup are all over. For the big ones, use bigger baits and hooks and fish deep, offshore reefs and wrecks. Local sharks and an assortment of bottom fish are scoffing up chunk baits and clams while inshore fluke are onto sand eels, squid, and spearing. The blue crab bite marches on with both hard and softies being caught. Sizes are mixed, however; keep a big ruler handy as meaty jimmies measuring more than seven inches are filling buckets.

Better water flows and levels and a touch of fall air temperatures have jolted the fresh water bite on all levels. Whether hitting the lakes and ponds or the rivers and streams, action is up, so take advantage of this week’s drop in air temps and rig up for bass, pike, pickerel, a load of panfish, early fall brown trout, and some evasive walleye.

Mark your calendar! Oct. 19 to 27 is the 24th Eddie Beauvais Blackfish Tournament. Cash prizes for first, second, third, and last place with a great raffle with loads of quality prizes. There will also be an outstanding buffet and a cool T-shirt. Registration by Sept. 30 costs $35; from Oct. 1 to 18, the cost is $40. Contact Captain Morgan for details.

For all things fishy including licenses, swing by the shop (203-245-8665) open seven days located at 21 Boston Post Road, Madison. Until next time from your Connecticut shoreline’s full-service fishing outfitter, where we don’t make the fisherman, we make the fisherman better...

Tight Lines,

Captain Morgan