Printer Friendly Version - Times Are Changing

Popular boys’ football coach Danny Carrol (left) of Madison hooked, reeled in, and released this over-the-slot striped bass while fishing The Race aboard the vessel skippered by Chris Rahn (right), also of Madison. Photo courtesy of Captain Morgan

Pairing up to experience a fabulous June fishing spree is Chris Vossler of Guilford (top) and Robb Vossler of West Hartford (bottom), who have been successfully fishing Long Island Sound for striped bass and other popular species. Photo courtesy of Captain Morgan

While nighttime fishing for striped bass, Eli Wexell of Clinton ran into a school of dogfish that changed the focus of his Long Island Sound shore bass trip. Photo courtesy of Captain Morgan

Over the years, people and places change. It is never more evident than when reacquainting past times with fishers that have drifted apart and circumvented the compass, either by land or by sea. With each passing year, there are more and more of those instances - some folks immediately recognizable, others take a moment. Some have kids as old as when they first started to catch fish and brought them to the shop to be weighed. Others have grandkids to start the cycle all over again.

The shock comes when we start to talk fish, such as changes to the fishery in Long Island Sound and its tributaries, the habitat, and, of course, the landscape. Some kept in touch with their roots or the weekly fishing columns, so the shock was minimized. Others went on to careers that took them on a roller coaster ride around the country, and perhaps, abroad.

They have noticed a positive change to the Sound’s waters and quickly become acquainted with how the fishery changed, including limited free access to shore fishing, some of which were childhood hot spots. Nothing was more apparent than when they began to hook up with striped bass, black sea bass, dogfish, and other species that have found their way into the Sound from southern waters.

Overall, impressions were positive but surprising when it came to marine fishing licenses and changes to the regulations. Standout comments referred to bluefish/snapper blue creel limits (three) and the striped bass creel and slot limit (one fish, 28-31”) but understandable. Out on the water, when the sun began to rise or at about an hour before sunset, when the tide was right, all thoughts of yesteryear’s changes became irrelevant, as the strikes and hookups of cow bass became the foremost thoughts. Returning home can often be rewarding in the most unexpected way, and often times, an eye opener.

High pressure stretched from the western Atlantic, remaining in control and resulting in a short three-day humid heat spell and near 90 degrees and above air temperatures. A frontal boundary then approached from the north, stalling just north of the area and bringing in a few rain breaks.That front lifted to the north, as a warm front approached, followed by still another cold front. Long Island Sound water temperatures remained in the mid-60s and better in some of the tidal rivers. Circulating winds on the Sound fluctuated around 5-10 knots, with seas mostly about a foot, but higher in and near any thunderstorms.

Summer came in hot. Some of the fishery responded in kind, while others bucked the trend. Striped bass looked for the cooler oxygen-rich waters of the Sound’s rips and depths, while blue crabs took a liking to the warmer estuary waters. Atlantic menhaden schooled up, and bluefish were right behind, chopping on their tails. The overall action took a few intermittent breaks during the warm and cold fronts. However, catches remained good throughout the conversion into summer, as the solstice occurred on June 20 at 4:50 p.m. eastern time during the Full Hot Moon phase - a time when a cinder worm hatch can occur in some back bays and tidal rivers during the high water change.

Those worm hatches definitely ignite the stripers in the area. To them, it is candy that is slurped up by the mouthfuls. A fly imitating a cinder worm that inhabits the marine estuaries can be deadly. Or something totally different, like a small topwater plug or jig with a trailer, can also be quite effective. At any rate, these striped bass change their feeding habits with the change in forage. Traditionally, live eels, seaworms, finfish (live or chunked), and a selection of plugs and jigs will produce hits this time of year.

Double-digit bluefish have been feeding in the rips and deep holes. Diamond jigs, squid, hickory shad, chunk baits, and jerking bucktails are fish-getters. Crank it up a notch and whip out a fly rod and popper when birds are spotted working the shallow near-shore water. Runs of small weakfish have been spotted more than once during the past week, speed-eating the rips. You might catch them there during the day for about a half hour or so. They need to be at least a minimum of 16” length to be dressed out.

Black sea bass have been particularly active on the Connecticut side, but New York opened on June 23, making the fishery that much more available to fishers in Long Island Sound. The caveat is that Connecticut briefly closes on Monday, June 24 and reopens again on Monday, July 8. Rigging up with squid is about as complicated as it gets once getting down to a reef or similar structure. Switching over to a diamond jig can offer a few surprise knotheads, if size matters. Try some of the same locations for hungry porgies around the time of a tripping tide. A few of the scup have been curve breakers and can provide a good meal.

There was not too much change in the summer flounder (fluke) bite. A couple of the popular tidal river channels are producing keeper-plus and mini-doormat size fish. Shorts are definitely mounting up on the reefs, shoals, and beaches. Getting into 80-100 foot depths or heading east to the islands is where many of the serious fluke hunters have been heading for doormats. Other than that, dogfish are putting up good fights, sea robins continue to be snippy but good eating, toadfish keep acting up, and it is getting to be time for a few southern fish to show up.

More channel catfish are joining in on the inland action, along with pickerel and crappie. The big draw continues to be large and smallmouth bass as feeding picks up. Frogs, poppers, and other topwater lures, along with soft plastics and a few assorted jigs, cranks, and spinnerbaits, round it off. Check out the backwaters of key tidal rivers for any white perch. Temperatures are rising, more hatches are occurring, and trout are responding from deep water pockets, even though water levels may be low. Go with light and small inline spinners, spoons, and floating swimmers. Occasionally, tie on a slow sinker or deep runner if trolling a lake or pond.

Tightlined Slam: Save Friday, Oct. 11 to Sunday, Oct 13 for this fly rod and light tackle catch-and-release western Long Island Sound fishing tournament. There are nine categories for team and individual competitions targeting striped bass, bluefish, false albacore, and bonito during this well-organized, multi-species event. For details and/or registrations for this popular tourney, contact tayloringraham@tightlined.com.

Fly Fishing Clinic: An outstanding opportunity for the experienced or intermediate fly fisher! Booking inland and marine fly fishing on-the-water 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 adventures. Gift certificates are available for your special angler!

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, 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. 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.