The topic on everyone’s mind this week is the impending wrath of Hurricane Irene. While issues of safety and protecting property were foremost, tackle shop talk is focusing on what effect the most serious tropical threat in two decades would have on the fishing scene. Those fishermen who have been enjoying good action are crossing their fingers that the storm won’t mess things up, while those fishermen frustrated with slow fishing and “summer doldrums” are hopeful that the storm will stir things up just enough to kick start some good fall-style fishing.
Rhode Island
Surfcaster Steve McKenna of Quaker Lane Tackle is hoping that the fishing picks up a bit as the storm approaches. The Jamestown surf has been consistent for small stripers at night, but with all the bait around, he thinks the fishing could improve with a little wind, wave and tide action. Steve also reported that OTW Insider Capt. Thom Pelletier was fluke fishing this week when a bonito grabbed his fishing partner’s fluke rig.
Over at Breachway Bait and Tackle, the mornings have been providing a slow pick of bass and blues for anglers fishing bait on the bottom. There has not been much action on swimming plugs or topwaters. Charter boats working just off the beaches are regularly picking up a mix of big blues and a few keeper stripers, so perhaps the coming storm will drive fish in closer to the shore. Fluke fishing has been consistent if not fantastic, with about 1 keeper for every 5 to 10 throwbacks. Porgy fishing has been excellent.
Block Island
Residents of the Block were more concerned this week with staying safe and preparing for the effects of Irene than they were about fishing. Earlier this week, there were bonito around the North Rip, and Dave from River and Riptide heard reports of good fishing for mahi and bluefin at the Fairway Buoy and the Mud Hole.
Connecticut
A few bonito and perhaps some small albies have been reported around Stonington. Whether the storm brings in more “hardtails” or delays their arrival in big numbers remains to be seen.
At Rivers End, they are reporting bluefish all over, from snapper-sized to larger specimens. Fluke fishermen have doing very well by catching a few of the snappers and sending them down on fluke rigs. Striper fishing has been quiet, but there was a 47-pounder caught at the mouth of the Connecticut River.
In the Western Sound, Nick at Fisherman’s World in Norwalk said deepwater chunking in 70 feet of water with fresh bunker can still produce a big bass. Farther west, the sound has been quiet, reported Rudy’s Tackle Barn in Greenwich. Trolling for bluefish has been the best action in town.
Best Bets for the Weekend
Top priority is to take the warnings about Hurricane Irene seriously and play it safe. Most shops this week were busy selling emergency supplies and talking about pulling boats, so it sounds like there won’t be many folks fishing this weekend. Surfcasting could turn on as the storm approaches, but beware of big waves and dangerous currents out ahead of the storm. After the storm passes, it’s anybody’s guess what conditions it will leave behind, but many fishermen are looking forward to finding out.