Printer Friendly Version - A Wintertime Fish Found in Long Island Sound

Atlantic herring catches from Long Island Sound during winter months are an opportunity to load up on food and/or bait for the days ahead.

The Kensington Hatchery is responsible for all the Seeforellen brown trout, from beginning to end, that are stocked in lakes and ponds throughout Connecticut.

Brian Kenny of Pensacola’s Coastal Worldwide outfitters hooked and reeled in this 12-foot, 1,200-pound Great White Shark while fishing Navarre Beach as business partner Dylan Wier (TR), his spotter, guided him with the assistance of a drone to end this hour-long battle.

Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) is one of the schooling fish species that can be fished recreationally during the cold months of December through February. During that period, water temperatures in Long Island Sound take a drop and will generally range from the high 30s to the low 40s. Feeding is limited to their normal forage, consisting of zooplankton, krill, and fish larvae. As a nutrition-rich food source, wild-caught Atlantic herring contains EPA+DHA, vitamin B12, selenium, protein, coQ10, vitamin D, iodine, phosphorus, mono-unsaturated fatty acids, and much more.

Primary competition in the Sound for these fast-growing fish will be from wintering seals as recreational fishers cast from shore in hopes of stocking up on bait for the upcoming season and/or food for the freezer. Rarely will these fish venture into the tidal rivers since they are considered to be found in coastal and continental shelf waters. NOAA Fisheries has the stock listed as being “overfished, but the fishing rate established under a rebuilding plan promotes population growth,” therefore, not subjected to overfishing even though “populations are naturally highly variable.”

Atlantic herring migrate in schools to areas where they feed, spawn, and spend the winter. Female herring can produce 30,000 to 200,000 eggs that winter flounder, red hake, etc., feed upon, and ultimately, juvenile herring fall prey to a number of fish species (including striped bass) due to their abundance and small size. ASMFC is tasked with coordinating the management of the herring fishery in state waters using an annual catch limit for the entire herring fishery based on stock status. This commercial fishery is very valuable to the Northeast USA economy in that 78% of the total herring harvest over the past decade was attributed to the US, with the balance going to Canada.

Considering the food Atlantic herring eat, coastal fishers should liken their lures to small flies, spoons, or jigs about the size of a shad dart. Working a Sabiki rig with either a 1/4-3/4 ounce weight or a metal lure at the terminal end of an 8-12 pound test line is just about right, depending on conditions. Adding a 7-foot medium light/medium rated rod will just about do it. Casting to and across a bay, cove, or along the shore will capitalize on any schools working the area, and when successful, one can expect more than one fish per hookup. Oh yes, bring along a bucket. Currently, there are no Conncticut recreational limits on Atlantic herring.

High pressure built from the north and west as daytime air temperatures rose from the 40s into the 50s with plenty of sun before shifting to the southeast and passing offshore. A frontal system approached, dropping temps back down into the high 30s as the lows dipped into the 20s after dark with increased clouds and wind during the day. A snowy mix of precipitation followed, which reminds us that winter is still around, causing gears to be somewhat shifted for a short amount of time. Foggy Long Island Sound responded with water temps dropping into the high 30s from 40ºF, winds fluctuating with the change in frontal systems, and relatively calm seas that perked up from time to time.

The sequence of weather events did little to deter anglers from converging on several inland lakes and ponds. On the contrary, word got out that Seeforellen brown trout were stocked, and that was enough to bring out the gear, load the trucks up with buddies and some munchies, and head out. Unfortunately, some of the northern inland waters were still crusty with ice from the cold nights, enough so that casting out or launching a small boat encountered challenges. Thus, the search for more favorable conditions continued, paying off for the persistent.

At first glance, it appears that more waters were stocked with Seefs from the Kensington Hatchery this season compared to last. Beach, Black, Long, Squantz, and West Hill were ponds that were stocked, while Cedar, Crystal, East Twin, and Highland lakes received recent stockings as well. As you know, Seeforellen European-strain brown trout are long-living, hearty fish that are ideal for fisheries’ stocking programs and put up quite a fight on light spinning or fly fishing gear.

Now that water levels and flows have subsided, river trout fishing (even native brookies), as well as Atlantic broodstock salmon, have been more attainable. The warmer weather has brought anglers out to test conditions and, more often than not, have hooked up or at least had their rods bent. When open water in either a lake or pond was available, bass and panfish were the key species caught - although a pickerel or a pike would be more than welcome. Live, natural, or scented baits attracted fish along with sinking flies and a variety of lures.

Of course, another option would be to set sail offshore on a party boat for some winter bottom fishing, providing sea conditions and bookings warrant it. Calling ahead to your favorite vessel is advisable. Then again, there is always a trip to the warm southern waters of Florida or the tropical Caribbean islands, where anglers can catch anything from reef fish to sharks as they swim around looking for an opportune meal. Whatever your choice, most will agree that it is time to do something related to fishing!

Fly Fishing Clinic: Now accepting reservations for 2024. An outstanding opportunity for the experienced or intermediate fly fisher! Booking inland and marine fly fishing lessons with top flight, highly experienced instructors and guides. From trout, salmon, steelhead, and sea-run browns to striped bass, bonefish, permit, and tarpon, etc., techniques learned and honed will improve your fishing. Gift certificates are also available.

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. Or, contact Captain Morgan for a fly fishing trip of a lifetime to a remote national or international fishing destination.

For all things fishy, including the latest gear, flies/fly fishing, rods/reels, clam/crabbing supplies, fishing trips, licenses/permits, and much more, swing by the shop (203-245-8665), open seven days located at 21 Boston Post Road, Madison. Face coverings are optional but recommended inside. Until next time, from your Connecticut shoreline's full-service fishing outfitter and Authorized Penn Premium Dealer, where we don't make the fisherman, we make the fisherman better.