Printer Friendly Version - Exciting Times for Anglers as Fall Approaches

A myriad of vessels hit the rips of Long Island Sound in an attempt to legally hook and land a tournament qualifying and winning bluefish worth $25,000 to the winner. Photo courtesy of Captain Morgan

Edmund Deloughery of East Haven had a great day on Lake Lillinonah, when he caught this 19-pound Tiger Muskie (muskellunge and northern pike hybrid) while casting a lure for largemouth bass. Photo courtesy of Captain Morgan

Personal Best! A goal was finally achieved when ardent Deep River angler Tom Feiner (formerly of Madison) fished this 190-acre pristine Vermont lake and hooked into this five-pound, four-ounce, 20” smallmouth bass on an artificial worm. Photo courtesy of Captain Morgan

Long Island Sound water temperatures have been taking a dip coinciding with early cooler air that has been on a gradual roller coaster ride. It does not take much for fish to feel it and for schools of baitfish to move about in the rivers and adjacent bays. To see fishers dressed in sweats, hoodies, and light jackets in the early hours of near August’s end tells the story.

Surely the pendulum will swing in the other direction and then back again, but the race for chowing down and turning tails had its start. Explosive fall action is expected to take place in September, as the Sound shares its bounty with bigger and hungrier striped bass, chopper bluefish, and weakfish. The jury is still out on how hard tails will set up throughout our waters and whether they will task fly fishers and light spin casters targeting them with metals, epoxies, and soft plastics.

Taking a look at how the active stormy season is shaping up in the Atlantic and the near misses as named storms pass us by, shedding their influence across our waters, warning flags are quietly fluttering. Summer is flying by, and if the storms do not eyeball the southern New England coast, it appears as though the bulk of meaningful bluefish choppers will hit later on in September, when striking blitzes materialized.

As far as the WICC bluefish tournament that went off on Aug. 24-25, the setting was picture perfect - maybe too perfect. Coming off the last two tournaments hampered with disqualifications for rule breaking, adjusting to new changes was met with some uncertainty, confusion, and a lot of breath holding. Nevertheless, participants were up for the challenge - even in light of the scarcity of bunker and elusive bluefish. The leader board, ultimately and unofficially, posted First Place-$25,000 (15.49, Erik Auer, NY); Second Place-$7,500 (15.31, Chris Antonio, Jr., CT); Third Place-$2,500 (15.25, John Goodchild, CT); 20th Place-$100 (13.80, John Derosa, CT); Under 18-$1,000 (14.81, Colton Johnson, CT).

The unofficial tally is CT 19 - NY 1, which may have been different if Connecticut weigh stations did not have about a 2:1 advantage over New York (12:7). However, New York unofficially lays claim to the top prize.

A frontal system slowly approached the area, as an associated cold front moved across the waters. A secondary front passed then moved through, before high pressure built and continued through the weekend. The passing fronts brought unsettled weather mixed with heavy rain, clouds prior to the sun, and air temperatures rising from the mid-70s into the high 80s. Long Island Sound water temperatures fluctuated around the low to mid 70s, as light to moderate five to 10-knot north to south winds held seas to around one to two feet.

Long Island Sound is 113 miles long and approximately 21 miles wide at its widest point. The recent downpours dumped about 12.5 inches in the western part of the state and created six to eight-foot seas on the Atlantic side but only around one to two-foot seas within the protected Sound, affecting fishing conditions quite differently throughout. The shallower western sections saw greater turbulence and less fishing activity, while the middle and more eastern parts were less affected and experienced less of an interruption.

That certainly translates into more of a recovery time in the west and less in east for water conditions to recoup, giving fishers the edge in the east. At the very least, bait schools that had scattered needed more time to regroup, and the predators that chowed down ahead of the storm relied on their digestion to carry them through a tide or two before slipping back into a feeding mode. Regardless, some bonito and Spanish mackerel popped in the western Sound.

As it stands now, the Sound remains full of finfish, however, sordid the weather has been. Striped bass continue on their search for evasive adult and available juvenile menhaden and are inhaling any live eel that comes within reach. Diamond jigs and plugs are hard to beat as cow getters, while chunk baits that are drifted or soaked on the bottom will continue to get results. Coming off the Full Sturgeon Moon has had its benefits in the form of more hard-hitting fish. Seas calmed down, the surf cleared up, and the sun broke through - even though temperatures cooled.

Snapper blues are struggling to reach August’s peak of ravishing feeding, as intermittent schools run the beaches. It is a tossup as to whether sizable chopper blues will infiltrate mid-Sound, as they somewhat tapered off near the channels on both ends of the Sound. All that can change within a week or two - even a tide. Look for weakfish to take squid on rigs and jigs either while drifting or trolling the rips. Expect hookups with undersized weakies while trying for larger adults. Small to medium-sized fluke have been caught on squid and spearing along the beaches and where a decent drift can be set up further offshore. Doormats are still a sought-after prize - at least here in the Sound.

Scup fever is ongoing with a mix of slabs and keeper-sized fish caught. Most rock jetties, reefs, and humps are producing good fish on squid, clams, scented artificial sandworms, and strip baits, especially since the supply of live seaworms has been less than reliable. Quality black sea bass catches are better once fishers are fishing in deeper water or willing to wade through a bunch of shorts. Good numbers of smooth dogfish are chowing down on chunk baits, while other popular bottom fish (like skate, northern kingfish, sea robins, oyster, etc.) are liking a variety of natural baits. The last day to fish for summer blackfish (tautog) in Connecticut waters is Saturday, Aug. 31. Attention blue crabbers: 7-8” Jimmies are being caught.

Inland lakes and ponds are attracting quite a range of anglers spanning from children to adults. Not only are the dedicated diehards out there, but families are entering the arena either very willingly or with a little arm twisting. Regardless, fish are being caught by first time anglers as well as seasoned ones. Anything from a bluegill to freshwater bass, bottom dwellers, and tooth critters are on the list of fish caught. The trout bite continues to be variable but better than average for this late in the summer, while rivers like the Connecticut, Thames, Housatonic, etc., are seeing catfish, carp, bowfin, and other brackish to sweet water fish.

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.