Lately, there has been a noticeable uptick of over-the-slot-limit striped bass being caught, released, and just plain broken off as they worked bottom structure to their advantage. In some instances, powerful and unstoppable runs that proved too much for the gear at hands were enough to separate fish from fisher. It certainly is easy for a fish of this caliber to spool the most ardent fisher if line capacity suffers, let alone be turned.

This is the fall thrill that striped bass enthusiasts look forward to all season long. To be on the water as the temperature drops and bait surges undoubtedly energizes this fishery, prepping it for the big migration. Some will make the trek to the Chesapeake or up the Hudson, while others will stage in Long Island Sound at different intervals before heading up key tidal rivers to their winter holdover habitats.

The eastern Atlantic Ocean has been gearing up for the hurricane season. Danielle and Earl were the first storms to become hurricanes in the Atlantic this year. Despite getting out to a slow start, projections by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration indicted an above-average season in the Atlantic with 14 to 20 named storms expected.

Water temperatures in the Sound have been on the warm side, bouncing from the mid-70s and up into the 80s in some cases. However, this was during those excessive heat waves and periods of lack of rainfall. If water temperatures remain warm, that will increase the chances of a named storm to be drawn in and, consequently, would have a negative effect on the intensity of the fall run. For now, available baitfish and striped bass activity in the Big Pond, with all of its associated reefs, bays and harbors, looks promising.

Striped bass is singled out because of its historic popularity and significant following. Many striped bass enthusiasts fish the fall migration from coastal New England down to the Delaware-Maryland-Virginia region. Nevertheless, our fall recreational sport fishing season also relies on other species such as bluefish, weakfish, false albacore, and bonito—all of which can be abruptly altered by any serious storm or its influence.

The message is simple. We all know fall is coming and the migration of fish will take place. It is just a matter of timing. Keeping an eye of the weather, water temperature, baitfish activity, and potential influence of storms can make a big difference on your success, especially in terms of knowing the likelihood of fish bypassing or turning into the Sound.

On the Water

A post-Labor Day stationary front hung over the area, bringing fog, humidity, heavy rain, and flash flooding in places, before a wave of low pressure passed south and east. High pressure built through the weekend, followed by another frontal system that developed into the coming week. Air temperatures rallied to the mid-70s and low-80s as Long Island Sound water temps hung around the mid-70s and seas remained relatively calm amidst early morning fog.

The striped bass night bite dominated the shoreline as slot limit or better linesiders fed on Atlantic menhaden that gathered in the coves and bays. Feeding extended to live eels, plugs, and soft plastics, picking up as water temps dipped. It took a day or two for the shoreline waters to calm down and for fishing to return to normal September levels following the deluge that had a positive impact on drought conditions of inland waters.

For a while, schools of Atlantic menhaden scattered to deeper water. However, they returned to the bays and harbors with the help hungry bluefish that pushed them back to those waters and adjacent tidal rivers. The bite remains good as gators, racers, and snappers continue their late-summer feed. Chunks, plugs, spoons, and jigs are all chopper getters, including umbrella rigs. Snapper poppers, small spoons, and shiners are the way to go here. Weakfish and some Spanish mackerel are also in the mix, but those catches have been typically around mid-Sound.

A few more fluke are being caught from shore, but most have been caught drifting mid-Sound bottom structure and long drifts from Faulkner’s to Hammonasset, including areas of sand waves. Bucktails, squid, and large spearing have been a good combo, along with using a swimming mullet as a teaser. Shorts still prevail, but mini-mats are showing up more often.

The scup bite has intensified from shore, as well as out on the humps and reefs. Sizes continue to be mixed and hooking a daily dinner catch has been a rather easy task. As it stands now, scup fever will remain in place as more fall slabs aggressively take your bait and put up a fuss. If black sea bass is on the agenda, fish in waters of 90- to 100-foot depths for the humpbacks, although a 60-foot structure has also been yielding decent keepers. A fisher will most likely not need anything more than squid and something to attach it to whether it be a rig, hook, or jig. These fish store well, so think freezer.

Much of the remaining bottom fishery that inhabits the shoreline senses the fall and is cranking up their feeding on chunks, worms, and squid. Sizes and numbers have been impressive as dogfish, skate, northern kingfish, and sea robins inhale chunks and other soft baits, while blue crabbers have been having a really good couple of weeks in the estuaries with large jimmies and softies that are either trapped, hand-lined, or scooped.

Captain Morgan’s has the albie lures. Now, all we need are those speedsters to penetrate the Sound with a meaningful presence. The weather and water temperatures are heading in that direction, so it is just a matter of a bit more time before rain baits get chased along the rip lines and go down on the reefs.

Most of the state got a soaking, experienced runoff, and had inland waters disturbed during the most recent series of downpours. The upside was an increase in water levels and flows and some relief from drought conditions. This energized many of the rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds, resulting in an increase and spreading out of fish activity. Now would be a good time to revisit some of those waters to catch some fall fisheries such as large and smallmouth bass, pickerel, and panfish.

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 reels, swing by the shop (203-245-8665) open seven days, located at 21 Boston Post Road, Madison. Masks required inside. 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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