Printer Friendly Version - Spring Fishing Keeps Getting Better and Better

Impressive sea trout are in as Robert Carranzo (left) of East Haven catches his 7.83-pound weakie and Robert Cifarelli (right) of Branford lands his 7.97-pounder while fishing together at a productive sandbar. Photo illustration courtesy of Captain Morgan

May’s air and water temperatures have been so erratic it appeared that the spring fishing season would never catch up—and that is discounting the effects of stiff winds. However, the sudden surge in unseasonably warm temperatures have altered the course and our migrating fisheries stood the course through it all, making inroads into the Sound, albeit on a somewhat relaxed schedule.

Striped bass up to 40 pounds have made it up the Atlantic coast, some of which have worked their way into Long Island Sound. Hunger and the need to replenish their metabolism is at work as they restore energy by foraging on available fish such as hickory shad, menhaden, eels, bottom fish, and crabs. As nearshore water temperatures moved from the high 40s into the 50s, the metabolisms of linesiders have shifted into a higher gear.

Schoolie bass that are moving out of north shore tidal rivers and those coming down from the Hudson River and up from the Delaware-Maryland-Virgina region are also joining in on the feed. Fishers aware of this transition have been taking advantage of the timing and breaking out their light-gear setups to fish the beaches, harbors, bays, and rivers. The class of schoolie bass that has been caught and released is impressive as they slurp up soft plastic imitations, hard lures, flies, seaworms, and other baits.

No doubt, a hard-fighting short striper on a light setup can be immense fun. However, there is nothing wrong with hooking into an oversized bass in skinny water as it is muddying for food, working the eel grass, or in ambush of a shad or bunker. Do not underestimate the impact a live eel presents to a striped bass in the shallows. It could easily result in one of your best catches, especially this time of the year.

Those of us who have recently wet a line know there are harbor-size and larger blues that have also made an appearance. They are formidable on light tackle, too, whether striking a topwater plug or something else tempting from down below. However, it is the early run of springtime sea trout (weakfish) that gets the attention of fishers either addicted to catching them or would like to check one off from their bucket list.

Criss-crossing the Sound on their way to their spawning grounds, weakies put up quite a tussle once hooked, often losing a couple of their sharp front teeth in the process. Do not be fooled. Their lips might be soft, but their aversion to being hooked and reeled in is anything but weak. These tide runners can be caught from shore adjacent to a tidal river or while working an offshore reef near the bottom as they make their way across the Sound. Try fishing a bucktail and squid combo or rigged seaworm close to the bottom while drifting or trolling.

Now is the time to seek out and catch a prize winner. Although weather has played a tough role, we are jumping into warmer conditions and a fishery that is bulking up. Now is the time wet a line and bend a rod!

A secondary cold front moved across the waters before high pressure returned. It was followed by a weak low-pressure disturbance as rain and a slow-approaching southwest warm front set up the weekend. Another cold front approached for the second half of the weekend, followed by a strong high-pressure system leading into the week. A mix of cooling and warming 60- to 70-degree air temperatures continued, while the Sound’s nearshore water temperatures have steadily climbed into the mid- to high 50s.

Increasingly warm water temperatures are cranking up feeding as holdover and fish migrating in from the continental shelf and up the Atlantic coast are settling into the Sound. The weakfish bite has picked up along the mid-Sound avenue, leading away from The Race, across Six Mile Reef, past Faulkner’s Island, and to the West Haven sandbar. Intermittent catches of smaller fish have been caught by minor tidal rivers and harbor channels, while larger weakies of around six to- seven pounds have given fight to fishers nearshore and in the vicinity of some popular key tidals. Bucktails, squid, and flies have been effective for these fish that are known to peel drag.

The striped bass bite is coming together as migrating fish make their way into the Sound and are mixing with our holdover fish. The rivers are a fun place to be during early morning and late-day hours, provided that the tides are cooperating. During May’s recent budding and egg-laying full moon, activity perked up in between weather fronts as stripers took live eels, top waters, swimmers, and jigs. Wind made it a challenge for fly rodders fishing the beaches, but fish still managed to be caught and released. As more vessels are splashed, fishers will find enough fish on the reefs to make a trip worthwhile.

Bluefish are in, but not many in the way of toothy critters with shoulders. Do not be fooled. Some may be thin, but still reach 34 inches and better. Most of the fish hooked were on chunks, jigs, spoons, and plugs, and were around three to- five pounds. As in the case of last season, double-digit ones have been moving up on the outside and are on the tails of baitfish heading north. With a few unseasonably hot days, that ought to bode well for summer flounder (fluke) as Memorial Day weekend should see a few doormats caught, but will be outnumbered by plenty of shorts. Three-way, hi-lo, and bucktail setups rigged with squid while drifting on the bottom are the way to go.

The bottom fishery is populating the reefs as jumbo porgy (scup) with a new 10-inch minimum length are moving in from the continental shelf and being caught as smaller scrappers move in, as well. Water temps are climbing and these reef dwellers are entering our waters pretty much on schedule. Squid and sea worms are the prime baits, but they will not snub a clam. Black sea bass (now at a 16-inch minimum length) had their season opener on May 19, welcoming fishers with a day of rain. It is still early, but catches of hefty humpbacks are in the offing considering that June is just around the corner. For now, we can limit out with quality keepers. Weather aside, anticipate another good sea bass season. If temps continue to climb, expect to see early blue crabs joining the hickories in the river.

This is the time of year when many inland anglers switch gears and bow more toward the briny. Still, the trout season continues to be full swing with quality fish being caught. The range of browns, brookies, bows, and tigers remains impressive with many of the stocked rivers continuing to produce, along with the trout parks and Wild Trout management Areas. Look for natural and scented baits, inline spinners, and swimmers to generate strikes. It is also the time to be on the lakes and ponds and key upper tidal rivers. Active fisheries continue to be large and smallmouth bass, pickerel, perch, channel catfish, carp, pike, black crappie, bullheads, and common sunfish. Worms are a catch-all, but open your tackle box to tie on a spinnerbait, crank, soft plastic, or jig for a bass.

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 the latest gear, swing by the shop (203-245-8665) open seven days located at 21 Boston Post Road in 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.

Surprise! This thin 15.4-pound, 34-inch early bluefish was caught by James Luce of Madison while plugging for tidal river striped bass in shallow water and accompanied by Capt. Mike Roy on this foggy morning. Photo courtesy of Captain Morgan