Printer Friendly Version - Black Sea Bass Had a Hearing Test

Some outstanding shore fishing experienced by Josh Sexton of Guilford, who caught and released Long Island Sound striped bass over 40 inches using top waters during the afternoon bite. Photo illustration courtesy of Captain Morgan.

Wind turbines under construction in the Block Island Wind Farm off the coast of Block Island. Photo courtesy of Deepwater Wind

Young osprey have grown and have learned to fend for themselves, taking advantage of the abundance of forage menhaden in Long Island Sound. Photo courtesy of Captain Morgan

As forage increases in the Sound, the likelihood of sighting juvenile humpback whales increases. For their safety and yours, maintain a distance no closer than 100 yards; 6kts within 400 yards. Photo illustration courtesy of Captain Morgan

It is interesting to note that black sea bass were the first fish species to have their hearing tested. While scientists were looking into how underwater noise pollution would impact sea life, they found that this species could hear the sounds of pile driving and construction—noise that would emanate from activities like building offshore wind farms.

“No one knew for sure how much black sea bass can hear and how that changes as they age,” said Beth Phelan, a fisheries biologist at the Northeast Fisheries Science Center’s laboratory in Sandy Hook, New Jersey. Like most fishers already know, Phelan also indicated that black sea bass are attracted to underwater structures and that they move away from noise.

The fish were exposed to various frequencies of sound from 80 to 2,000 Hz; a human’s range is from 20 Hz to 20 kHz. It was found that black sea bass can hear sounds in the 80 to 1,000 Hz range. As a comparison, small boat engines can produce sounds at low frequencies, whereas an outboard motor can range anywhere from a 65 to 75 dBA intensity level. However, engines operating between 3,100 and 4,800 RPM’s produced frequencies between 300 and 600 Hz.

How many times have you been anchored up fishing on an offshore reef when a motor vessel, piloted or on autopilot, came barreling through, leaving a wake big enough to rock the boat? How many times has the bite slowed or stopped?

Perhaps, the reason was a high-enough frequency to cause the fish to stress. Fishers are well aware that noise frightens fish, sometimes to the point of creating lockjaw. Something even as simple as an oar tapping the side of an aluminum hull will startle a fish. Not surprisingly, noise can even startle people. Well, now you might know what may have hindered your black sea bass or other bite. This is just another thought to ponder about what distracts from catching fish when out on the water.

Relief finally came to end the most-recent hot and humid heat wave as a cold front slowly moved across the region mid-week before heading farther north. Low pressure hit the area toward the end of the week, bringing humidity and some rain. High pressure followed for the weekend that built in from the west before it weakened and developed into a new unsettled week. Meanwhile, seas remained relatively calm as nearshore water temperatures eased from a high of 80 degrees and back into the 70s.

The drop in water temps, along with the recent Full Sturgeon Moon, caused the overall inshore bite to intensify. Nearshore became more active as the striped bass bite diversified into one of varied artificials and baits. Top waters and live eels dominated the dusk to dawn tides, although there were some impressive catches of fish over 40 inches from shore later in the afternoon. Large schools of Atlantic menhaden permeated the bays and offshore reefs, where live-lining them drew mixed reactions and jigs, at times, were a better choice. A mix of schoolie bass were caught in the lower tidal rivers as well as offshore, including linesiders within the slot limit.

Bluefish of varying sizes were taking chunks and whole baits, biting on spoons and top water plugs, as well as trolled umbrella rigs. Sizes were mixed from cocktails to choppers and were being caught by both onshore and offshore fishers. Although the daily limit for all bluefish is 3, that did not deter shore casters from pursuing the snapper blues that are increasing in size. Shiners, snapper poppers, and small spoons typically fished during a flooding tide have been productive along the beaches, bays, and harbors.

If you are trying to catch your first sea trout (weakfish), fret not. They are still feeding in the Sound and are taking squid and other soft baits, such as sea worms, along with some jigs and the occasional umbrella rig. Nearshore waters that are adjacent to tidal rivers and mid-Sound reefs have been productive spots to fish. Time to load those spools and tune up your albie gear. They are showing up in eastern Sound now that we had a few crisp mornings and have plenty of bait to chase.

The porgy (scup) bite is good. Sizes are mixed and catches are being made using seaworms, squid, clams, and other baits including some artificials. Just about every hump and reef are holding these delicious scrappers, which, incidentally, are fun fish to catch for the entire family. Some fishers may think that the black sea bass are thinning out. However, that’s far from the case as catches of quality fish are being caught in 75- to 95-foot depths using mostly squid, rigs, and jigs. Although caught nearshore, those hooked will mostly be shorts.

Flukers are into more keepers, but are still trying to stretch those that almost make the grade. In most cases, the deeper and larger the bait, the better. Granted, the Sound has fewer doormats and mini-mats to offer, but 7- to 9-pound fish are good catches. Working the bottom effectively with squid, spearing, bucktails, hi-lo rigs, or drift rigs during a moving and dropping or rising tide is quite effective and might even yield a surprisingly good bycatch like a weakfish.

For the fishers that like to chill out and lay back, soaking a chunk of bait on the bottom can bring up a catch of multi-specie fishes. Common ones are dogfish, clear nose skate, sea robins, and sand sharks. Now that some of the August heat has taken a break and dissipated, exploring the banks of estuaries can easily net you some blue crabs that are now molting and growing to be over 6.5 inches. Grab a net, hand line, or trap, and give crabbing a go.

Inland fishing remains typical for August with many fish seeking cover and cooler oxygenated water depths. This is definitely true for trout that can easily become stressed when forced to concentrate in a small pool. Larger lakes and ponds have more comfort zone opportunities and, therefore, anglers that are tuned in will find more fish and be more successful than those just casting a line. Overall, the bass activity, along with pickerel, catfish, and panfish, have been good when both artificials and live worms have been fished.

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.

(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.