A solid fall run of striped bass continues to pick up the slack of a less than stellar summer season. Large schools of small bass can be found running the shoreline from the Connecticut River east through Rhode Island, and a few big girls are being picked off along the way. Blackfishing is also going strong across the region, but it is about that time to start fishing smaller, lesser-known spots.
Connecticut Fishing Report
At Rivers End in Old Saybrook, Joe also mentioned that the fall run for striped bass is going strong in South County. Schoolie blitzes have stretched from Misquamicut to Watch Hill this week, and larger bass keep coming for eel drifters after dark. The Connecticut River has also seen some large blitzes of 3-6 pound bass around the mouth, although the recent rains and cooling temps has started to kill that bite. The recent rains have also driven most of the bunker out of the upper stretches of the mouth, and while there are still some schools in the lowest portions of the river, they will likely be gone with this weekends’ chilly forecast. As the bunker moves out of the river it will disperse along the adjacent shores and should provide some good bass fishing from Long Sand Shoal east to Niantic. Large bluefish have already been seen blitzing along the Old Lyme beaches, which is usually a good indicator that the bait schools are on the move. Blackfishing remains excellent throughout Long Island Sound, but it is time to start thinking just slightly deeper as temperatures are dropping quickly.
Andrew, at Fishin Factory 3 in Middletown, also mentioned that the rain pushed most of the bunker out of the river; which has coincided with a few good reports of large bass around the sand shoal. That bite should remain strong through the weekend as the remaining bait and bass move out of the river. Blackfish limits remain easy to come by, but the short to keeper ratio is getting tough at the better-known reefs. Finding a small patch of hard-bottom with no other boats around has become critical for quick success with blackfish. Freshwater fishing in the upper stretches of the Connecticut River has improved as the river is starting to settle since the rains. The northern pike bite should be hitting its peak in the upcoming weeks, with large bright soft plastics, spoons and spinnerbaits being the artificials of choice. A large live or dead bait fished under a float remains the top choice for pike anglers and will usually spell success during even the toughest bites.
At Bobby J’s Bait and Tackle in Milford, Bobby reported another great weekend of blackfishing at the West Haven and Stratford breakwalls. Rough conditions have kept fishing pressure down a bit, and is keeping some of these spots from being fished out too quickly. Bottom fishermen are also finding success with black sea bass in deepwater and some scup, although the days are likely numbered for the latter. Striped bass fishing has been strong all month throughout the Housatonic River, with good reports coming from Caswell Cove north to Derby. Live eels and fresh chunks have worked best, but plug-fishermen usually find increased success as we move into November.
Best bets for the weekend
Mid-week temperatures in the 70s, coupled with weekend forecasts that will barely get out of the 40s, reminds us why we love (or hate) New England. Luckily, our diversity in weather can only be bested by the diversity of our fishery, and no matter what the weather brings there will be plenty of options available. A couple of cold nights will not be enough to reverse the mild trend we have been having and there will be plenty of striped bass and tautog around to scratch the saltwater itch as we hit November. If weather proves to be too much of an obstacle this weekend, there are plenty of inland opportunities, try stalking a recently stocked trout stream, chucking big plugs for northern pike or drifting a live bait for some fall walleye at the Saugatuck Resevoir.