Printer Friendly Version - The Race to the Finish

Bluefish have been making inroads into Long Island Sound, as they move through The Race feeding while striped bass tail underneath and behind, eating a trail of food left in their wake - experienced by Asa Roberts of Madison. Photo courtesy of Captain Morgan

A turbulent body of water known for attracting bluefish, striped bass, and weakfish stretches from one side of the COLREGS line to the other and has been a bone of contention when establishing contest boundaries. Photo courtesy of Captain Morgan

Savannah (9) and sister Emmalyn (12), of Madison, topped off a good day of blue crabbing with this 8” Jimmie scooped up in the Connecticut River. Photo courtesy of Captain Morgan

Atlantic coast bluefish population (Pomatomus saltatrix) had become overfished and had been experiencing overfishing in almost every year since 1985. Due to management controls that have been implemented, their decline has been reversed. According to the NOAA 2023 stock assessment, bluefish are currently not overfished, are undergoing rebuilding, and are not subject to overfishing. Care must be taken in order to continue this trend, so these fast growing predator fish can continue to populate and live up to 12 years, reaching 31 pounds and 39 inches.

Tournaments must implement and/or adjust rules to not only take into account intentional/unintentional cheating, but also consider what is best for the fish that is the focus of competition. One of the upcoming major bluefish tournaments is securing registrations online and through registration/weigh-in stations. A word of caution to those fishers about to participate: Read the fine print before the bell rings for lines in.

The past two years of this event were plagued with disqualifications. In 2023, both first and second place weigh-ins were disqualified. In 2022, first place was disqualified. Last year was notable because the No. 1 ($25,000) bluefish that was weighed at 20.18 pounds was bounced and replaced by a 15.12 pounder - a 5.06 pound difference. Keep in mind that whenever a fish is disqualified, every fish down the line is moved up.

In an attempt to curb cheating, new rules implemented for 2024 address weigh-ins, photographing fish, reporting catches, elaborating on tournament boundaries, exact coordinates of the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 (COLREGS) line, and the exclusion of what is generally referred to as The Race, etc. Note that The Race bisects the COLREGS demarcation line. According to the new rules, does that mean what is generally referred to as ‘The Race’ is out of bounds? To avoid disappointment, know the rules, and know the location where you fished, hooked, and caught your bluefish.

Most tournament goers are in it for the fun and competition. Some eyeball the prize as the key motivator. A few want the money and fame and will go to great lengths to achieve both - even cheating. Fishing tourneys can range from a simple trophy of achievement to prize money in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, thus, the temptation.

Just as important as winning is to fishers participating, one must not forget that fish are participants, as well. Unfortunately, they are unwilling participants that gain no benefit - except the ones that escape mortality. At the very least, these types of tournaments should render additional recognition to the fish in the form of strengthening rules that go toward enhancing the stock’s health. This can be done by amending those rules to further reduce mortality and eliminate waste as much as possible.

During the heat of competition, certain hot spots, like eastern Long Island Sound’s The Race, become a twisted entanglement of boats paying little mind to the rules of the road at sea. The race to catch a big blue becomes a wild scene. Trolling wire is run over, vessel courses are impeded, while gulls and blitzes seem to have priority over courtesy and safety.

At times, there is hardly enough room to get out of the way, let alone get a fix on location. However, the best you can do (or instruct someone else on board to do) is that all the while, make certain you and your fish are within tournament boundaries. If not, you could sorely regret it later, if you caught a contender.

A surface trough moved across the area, making room for weak high pressure that was in control for the week, prior to a front moving in its place. That stretch of good weather came with a break in humidity that was felt both in and offshore. Sunny and milder weather was interrupted with bursts of rain and clouds, as temperatures dipped from the low 80s into the high 70s. Long Island Sound water temperatures fluctuated from the low to mid-70s, as predominately light to moderate westerly winds of 5-10 knots breezed through, elevating seas from under a foot to around two feet.

Bluefish are on the move. Look for the choppers in the eastern Sound and from The Gut to Race Rock. Some wild blitzing are occurring, with most catches coming from diamond jigging and deep trolling. Fishers are hooking up when soaking chunks in calmer moving waters. Topwater action is picking up steam with little rhyme or reason to it. Late morning to mid-day seems to be their time during a flooding tide. Shore casters are experiencing more opportunities this past week than previously, as blues infiltrate mid-Sound.

As blues raid feeding grounds of the Sound, striped bass have leaned back on the rumble seat. As these toothy critters chop away at bunker tails, linesiders dropped down, picking up the pieces while the blues continue to decimate the school. Some bass continue to work the tidal rivers for the peanut bunker spawn, while many have routed to the reefs and shoals and have fallen victim to a diamond jig, bucktail, or soaking bait. In the midst of some of the marauding bluefish runs, schools of juvenile weakfish that have been feeding along the nearshore jetties have spread out. However, some adult-sized fish in the mid-20-inch range that have showed up have been caught while trolling or drifting using squid.

The ground fishery remains quite active throughout the Sound including near and offshore waters. Keeper fluke catches have edged up, porgy remain a hot species producing fillet-able slabs, and northern kingfish are taking soft natural baits, as are sea robins, spot, toadfish, and skate. Schools of sizable dogfish are hounding fishers, as other shark species (mostly docile) are cruising the bottom for food. Toggers are also finding out that blackfish have not moved far from shore, as their summer season winds down. Blue crabs, though, are in the midst of their cycle, as catches mount.

It looks as though inland water fishing is going to jump right over any meaningful summer doldrums. Some of the stocked and natural trout waters are undergoing a few challenges due to water levels and flows, but nevertheless, fish are being caught on live and artificial baits. A majority of the lakes and ponds tell a different story regardless of the encroaching vegetation. Largemouth bass are biting on hard and soft baits, including live worms. Topwaters are doing just fine especially in low light conditions. Smallies are moving closer to shore late in the day as they follow food and are also smashing artificials in the process. Pickerel, bluegills, catfish, etc. catches will vary depending on the waters fished, but overall, fishing has been very good and excellent in less frequented locations.

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.