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12/23/2015 11:00 PM

’Tis the Day Before Christmas


Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and best wishes for the New Year from Captain Morgan and Lori.

One thing that’s different about this year’s Christmas season compared to most others is that fishers, whether favoring the briny or sweet water, can actually go out and give their new gear a workout. Lake water is soft instead of iced over and the Sound still has catchable fish swimming around in it, including menhaden. To boot, the weather has actually been pleasant. In fact, the days will be getting longer now that the winter solstice has passed.

If your timing is good, you might even see birds working the baitfish at Hammonasset, horses and their riders out for a beach trot, harbor seals on the jetty, and a fisher casting his or her newly acquired rod and reel. Heck, you might even see a fish being caught or catch one yourself.

Remember previous holidays when the snow fell and the lakes were frozen over and all one could do was just imagine? Unless you drilled holes and fished through the ice or headed down south, your gear was stowed until the weather broke. This year, not only could your new reel be readily spooled, it could also be attached to a rod and actually tested! That also holds true for almost anything else gifted.

In the meantime, contemplate your neatly wrapped gifts under the tree. Wake up full of anticipation in the morning and, if you are fortunate enough to have your fishing wishes come true, no matter how simple or over the top, the water awaits your company. If you are inclined to be more serious than just trying out your new setup for fun, go out with the intention of hooking up before winter really takes hold. You might be surprised!

On the Water

Winter is officially here! However, the holiday season in Connecticut is primed to look more like the Florida Keys and feel like the Carolinas. A brief brush with the cold did little to move Long Island Sound water temperatures, which are still in the low 50s. Not only are we feeling more wind and seeing unsettled seas, but we’re also still experiencing some schools of bunker holding onto our shores.

The Atlantic herring run, coupled with the mild weather, is causing prolonged fishing opportunities for anglers. It’s also creating unusual open water striped bass feeding sprees both in the tidal rivers and the Sound. If you are looking for some holiday fun, make some casts with your light saltwater setup rigged with a jig, spoon, or soft plastic jerk bait. On the Sound, keep an eye open for any gulls and gannets that might give you a clue as to the action.

Also, consider a drive to the Shetucket or Naugatuck rivers to fish for Atlantic broodstock salmon. They’re biting and now you’re able to keep one for the holiday table. A bright spot is that there’s evidence a few wild spawning salmon have returned to the Salmon River and that hasn’t happened since 1991. Prior to that, it was during the Revolutionary War that they truly returned. With the recent rainfall, rivers have edged up and so trout fishing has improved and there are plenty of fish to try and catch.

Offshore, catches of humpback black sea bass were good and Coxes Ledge has been giving up some decent cod. Farther south, those fishing Atlantis have been knocking down bluefin tuna and a few bigeye. The weather has been so good that trips have been worthwhile. The only issue so far has been the wind.

We at Captain Morgan’s want to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a Happy New Year. As a reminder, your 2016 fishing and hunting licenses, as well as shellfish permits, are available at the shop. We will be open between Christmas and New Year’s and throughout the winter. Call ahead for shop hours. May your biggest catch of 2015 be your smallest in 2016!

Winter flounder are inshore, so get out and catch a few flatties before the 2015 season closes on Friday, Jan. 1 and reopens again on Friday, April 1—unless there is a change.

Note: Email us pics of your catches to share with our USA and international fishing friends who keep up with the latest fishing news and frequent social media.

For all things fishy including fishing trips, 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

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