Striped bass are setting up for an early fall run. It is in the air, and for the moment, water temperatures bear that out. To reinforce that statement, hard tails have already made an appearance in Long Island Sound. Furthermore, the long stretch of a deep water channel, running from the islands as far north as Nantucket to the Vineyard and Block Island, and flowing into the Sound, is feeling the pulse of fall quicken.

Labor Day 2024 is here. Similar to Memorial Day, when summer unofficially begins, to some, Labor Day unofficially ends summer, and to others, it ushers in expectations of The Fall Run. In the backdrop of fairs that are pitching tents, farmers getting produce ready, schools adapting to a new year, and shopping focusing on fall, fishers are all over developing migrating fish patterns.

This will be one of those years that the fishing will be remembered, for the most part, as being highly productive. Springtime had a solid wake up bite. The summer kept on going with a pace that the Eveready Bunny would be hard pressed to maintain. But the fall - that is a different story. Hunger runs deep within the fishery, as fish of all species look to pack as much protein in their systems for their migratory journeys ahead.

Careful monitoring of water temperatures and weather patterns will broadcast when certain fish will start to move and to where. To many fishers, fall is absolutely the best for hunger strikes and insane blitzes that result in phenomenal hookups and sustained runs. Whether it is the smashing attack of a striped bass, the tiring fight of a massive bluefish, or the speed with which a hard tail slashes through the water or the stealth of a blackfish before the tug of war begins, fall brings out the best of fish and fisher.

As vacationers begin to get in their last licks and pack up, fishers are looking at a new dawn. Some are scoping out the coastline from Maine to DelMarVa, while others pay more attention to southern New England with emphasis on Long Island Sound. Every bit of equipment is checked and double checked. Laser sharpened hooks are gone over to ensure a sticky point. Knots are scrutinized, and lines are felt for abrasions and/or replaced. Needless to say, reel gears must mesh smoothly, and spools must spin effortlessly - seemingly forever.

All of this effort is for one simple collective reason - because predator fish that run in the fall are the fullest, heaviest, and the most determined of the year. In short, they will gorge themselves on American eels, sand eels, silversides, menhaden, squid, herring, mackerel, and anything else naturally occurring in our waters, including crabs. So, when it comes to artificials (hard, soft, or flies) that can be made to simulate natural foods like any of the above, game on.

Labor Day may be set aside to celebrate American workers and to fire up the backyard barbie. But if not on, in, or near the water, it is a great time for workers to delve into fish stories that have highlighted their year of fishing and anticipate what is ahead. Happy Labor Day.

On The Water

Offshore weather remained in place after a run of spectacular days leading up to Labor Day. However, a weak low pressure trough developed within the region and prevailed before it moved farther south. A warm front followed then moved through the area before it was replaced by a cold front. High pressure then returned before unsettled weather brought the potential of thunderstorms and the possibility of lingering rain that realistically was expected to clear by daybreak. Skies remained mostly a mix of sun and clouds, as light southerly winds ranged from five to 10 knots with the occasional gust that kept Long Island Sound seas to around one foot or less. Air temperatures ranged from mid-70s to mid-80s, while marine waters remained in the low 70s.

From here on in, baitfish schools in the Sound should freshen up and fish activity intensify. It is a good time to keep a seine or drag net handy for silversides along the beaches and a cast net for when menhaden school up in the channels. There have been runs of juvenile bunker in and out of the rivers that have been keeping striped bass occupied, while fishers have been into those linesiders. Weakfish are setting up for September, but, like bluefish, schools of younger fish are now abundant. For the moment, schools of seven to nine-pound and smaller blues are stacked up and spread out. Most likely, double-digit catches will need working until about a week or so after Labor Day, when they and bait schools should be easier to track.

Black sea bass catches worth a dinner are up, as weather cooperated, and more vessels are going out to the reefs fishing for them. Depths vary, but 40-60 feet seems to be sweet. Porgies continue to be a hot draw, as their aggressive feeding has not let up. Shore based fishing and tapping scup schools magnetized to most reefs and humps is paying off in a big way. Similar to sea bass in their appetites for various foods, porgies have certainly been cornering the market on being feisty.

We have not seen a good fluke in awhile. Smaller fish to keeper size are around, and several crossing the 20-22” mark are not difficult to hook. Getting anywhere around six to eight pounds and close to 10 is another story and generally requires repeated good, long multiple drifts over somewhat rippled bottoms. However, covering that much ground can easily result in hookups with dogfish, skate, or another species of shark. Anchored or fishing the bottom close to shore can easily result in catches of northern kingfish, oyster toadfish, sea robins, and the like.

Blue crabbing is on a good streak. Many highly developed estuaries are producing excellent catches by scooping, hand-lining, and some trapping. Even herons get in the act with their keen catching technique. A crabber can make some really good crab sauce with 7-8” blue crabs, if they can hold off picking until the sauce is done. Weather aside, we have a long way to go before the season winds down on Nov. 30 - two days after tog season closes.

Trying to put the popularity of freshwater fishing this season into perspective using dictionary-busting adjectives is thought-provoking. Somehow superb, outstanding, or awesome does not cut it. Maybe transcendent works. It has been so good that it might be hard for the average person to grasp the meaning. Nevertheless, rig up some bait or tie on a lure, and you just might get the feeling. Fishing all through the water column at almost any time of the day can generate more than just a nibble. From the smallest first bluegill to a top water smash of a personal best or a lightning fast run of a toothy critter, an angler is sure to get pumped. Even better, take a kid fishing and pass it on.

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.

Tight Lines,

Captain Morgan

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