Printer Friendly Version - Fishing Year in Review for 2023

The year 2023 was a phenomenal multi-species one for fishers throughout the range of fish in both the marine and inland waters, as illustrated by several of these fine catches and releases. Photo courtesy of Captain Morgan

Outstanding near-shore blitzes occurred in Long Island Sound, with surface breaking double-digit bluefish, striped bass, and harbor seals vigorously competing for menhaden as gulls fought for their share. Photo courtesy of Captain Morgan. Video taken by Bruce Beebe

Memorable, unusual and rare catches come to mind when scoping out the twelve months of 2023. Taking into account that the year was the wettest on record, and following those downpours, strong gusty winds prevailed, it is astonishing to see the number of outstanding catches and releases recorded. From our small sliver of fish habitat within Long Island Sound (1,300 square miles) and its tributaries, compared to others from the Gulf of Mexico (600,000 square miles) to the Gulf of Maine (36,000 square miles), the Sound bears out its reputation as a vibrant, healthy and prolific ecosystem.

By the same token, Connecticut is a water-rich state inland as well, with 5,800 miles of rivers, including brooks and 2,000-3,000 lakes and ponds of 10 acres or more. These bodies of water contained fisheries that collectively produced terrific catches for such a small state. Additionally, they also saw an increase in young anglers and retirees that either fished for the first time, or returned after years of absence.

As one recalls, 2023 started on the rather mild side, with little or no safe ice developing along the shoreline. That opened the door for continued inland trout fishing, since the traditional Opening Day, as we knew it, was eliminated. Rainbow, brook, brown and tiger trout catches were consistently steady, with numerous sizable breeders caught. Likewise, large and smallmouth bass catches surged, along with species like pickerel, black crappie, yellow perch, some northern pike, channel catfish, carp, bowfins, bull heads, bluegills, etc. Fly fishing gained more popularity, while conventional anglers using artificials and natural baits had very little to complain about. This trend basically continued throughout the year, stalling only during the worst of weather conditions.

Spring blackfish (tautog) season got off to a better start than last year, due to warmer water temperatures. Togs were caught then, throughout the summer, and with fall producing double-digit whitechins, plenty of shorts and many keepers from 3-5 pounds, and fewer fish in the 7-9 pound range, were bulldogged to the boat. Crabs were the ticket as tog jigs gained in popularity. Winter flounder season opened, but there were more flatties feeding than fishers out there attempting to catch them. However, worms and chum pots did the trick for those looking for a few blackbacks.

As water temperatures reached into the high 40’s to low 50’s, striped bass enthusiasts were well into holdover schoolies and several fish approaching 40”. Late winter catches in key holdover tidal rivers mounted and only got better, as daylight gained and water temperatures rose. That basically highlighted the forthcoming season, when striper catches and releases were magnified to the nth degree.

Catches from shore and on the water reflected the young of year class of 2015, as hookups covered the over/under and full range of the emergency slot limit - 28-31.” Not only did linesiders get an early start, but stretched well beyond the fall season. Their nearshore blitzes were a sight to see!

Many feeding fish over 40” were fought, caught and released in shallow water under eight feet. Overall, they keyed on topwaters, swimmers, spoons and jigs, as well as natural live/fresh frozen baits - absolutely loving peanut bunker and live eels. Fly fishers were in their glory! This was an exciting striped bass season, despite the tightening of regulations.

Bluefish arrived in style! First the harbors, and then double-digit choppers, came onto the scene. Terminal tackle began being destroyed - more so than in the last few years. Plugs, spoons, diamond jigs and natural baits, like menhaden and shad, scored during spectacular recurring blitzes, while acres of menhaden stretched across the Sound. Documented bluefish to 20 pounds were caught, but most impressive double-digits were in the mid-teens. The snapper blue run was just okay, short-lived, and they were hunted by predators.

Weakfish also extended their run from the last few years. Early on, they were caught from shore, but many made their way across the Sound, into several tidal rivers and New Haven and the West Haven Sandbar. Bucktails and squid was a good combination when trolling, drifting or casting from shore. Again, fly fishers did well. If you were in the know and were drifting for fluke, you did well. Squid and any number of rigs produced some nice mini-doormats (7-9 pounds) and hefty doormats (10 pounds and over). Of course, there were enough shorts caught to be annoying until your rod takes a deep bend.

As the summer season progressed and water temperatures continued to rise, the rest of the bottom fishery took hold. Porgies and black sea bass mounted the reefs and catches soared. Impressive fish tipped the scales and stretched the tape measures. Scup were into worms and squid, and the sea bass took just about anything - but primarily quickly ate squid and attacked jigs. Sea robins, toadfish, northern kingfish and northern pufferfish vacuumed the bottom for food, while sizable dogfish and skate challenged light-to-medium gear.

It was the year of the sharks, as brown (sandbar) and sand tigers fed day and night - often close to shore. They were targeted or were incidental catches, but nevertheless, when hooked, put on a show. Unfortunately, striped bass were a favorite target of brown sharks (normally docile) as they repeatedly bit into a hooked bass while it was reeled in, leaving the fisher with just the head to show for the effort. Some of these stripers were easily over 45”!

Probably the most memorable catch was the one made by Eddie Carroll, when he hooked into an 8.5 foot brown shark and proceeded to fight it on a 12-foot standup paddleboard, while being pulled through Long Island Sound for over an hour. The nod for the most unusual catch would have to go to Hans Brings Jr., when he caught a near-six foot trophy tarpon while sharking from Mashpee Beach, just south of Nantucket. The rarest fish caught in the Sound this season has to be a poisonous southern smooth pufferfish (26.25”, 9.9 pounds) caught by Al Zuppe in New London waters. It was released. We are used to catching northern pufferfish, but smooth ones have just started to make an appearance in the region.

Well, there you have it! This recap of the 2023 season covers a few of the instances and stories that made their way around the shop, or developed from first-hand experiences. We are looking forward to an equally diverse, if not more aggressive, 2024, with coverage of our fisheries, and a few more surprises when we continue with the On The Water section of our weekly column. Until then, wishing you all a very Happy New Year from Captain and Crew. As always, “may your biggest fish of 2023 be your smallest in 2024.”

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