Saltwater
We’re now into July and the fishing has been great lately, except fluke fishing is still on the slow side. Still lots of shorts to sift through locally. Some decent fish were reported from the Shoal, the CT river (at high tide) and in Clinton. You will really need to put in your time. We have a full moon so heavier lead will be needed to maintain bottom contact with the stronger current. Many anglers have taken a trip to Block or to RI for better fish. Striped bass fishing remains great and the mouth of the CT has been giving up a lot of good fish. Pencil poppers and other top water baits have been producing in that skinny water. However, the bunker are prevalent and the bass are on them. Find the bait and you’ll find the fish. Shore anglers have been snagging bunker as well. Dunking chunks and live lining fish has proven to be most effective. Bobby J’s reported that the Bridgeport/Stratford area was hot this past week. The two biggest fish reported from the area were a 44lb bass and a 65lb beast that was caught on a fresh bunker chunk. Bluefish are becoming more and more abundant and they can get in the way while targeting bass. Save your eels and use bunker if you run into a school of yellow eyed devils. Scup reports have really picked up locally and some dinner plates are being pulled from Bartletts, Hatchets and also from shore if you know the right spots. Tog season opened on 7/1 but I haven’t heard anything other than an 18″ from a shore angler. A lot of anglers overlook summer toggin as an option but there are some good fish to be caught. Seabass reports haven’t been abundant but the fish that have been caught sure are of great quality.
The Otter
The earlier part of last week was a bit slow but it picked up on Friday. The two largest fish on Friday were 39 and 40 inches trolled up on my Otter Spoons and the bigger one on one of my 16 inch Otter Eels. Saturday, Sunday and Monday we got a total of about 16 bass and released most. Also got some keeper fluke on the Otter tail and jig rigs. Not as much big of bait around the last few days. Ran into a blitz of bass and blues at Race Rock on Sunday. Mostly small 24 inch bass but some 29 and 30 mixed in. Not positive but looked like small sand eels. Water temp still off about 1 to 2 degrees from normal.
Middlebank II
We have been splitting our time this week on the CT side and NY side of the Sound. Both have been productive for us but the methods are a little different. Off the Norwalk Island in 30′ fluke and sea bass have been coming up on our bait rigs, those offering belly strips and bigger smelt have been rewarded with keepers to 6lbs as squid is the primary forage. The North Shore of Long Island, Bouy # 11 Mount Misery Shoal area is loaded with sand eels and those working bucktails and teaser rigs tipped with spearing and Berkley Gulps are usually putting bigger keepers in the box. We are seeing larger fish on the CT side but more action on the NY side.
Freshwater
Bass fishing has been good and some solid largemouth came from Batterson, Moodus, Bantam, Candlewood, Ball pond, East Twin lake and Saltonstall. Smallmouth action has been a bit on the slow side. Candlewood, Pocotopaug, Squantz, Colebrook and the CT river gave us some good fish. Anglers said they really had to work for their fish this past week. Crappie fishing remains good on places like Candlewood, Lillinonah, Hatch and Rogers. Fish are hanging in the weeds, be sure to drop a line along the edges and every little open pocket. Pike reports have been very quiet. Walleye are still being pulled from Squantz, Batterson and Saugatuck Reservoir in the early morning. These fish love to hug structure and weedlines. Live bait has been producing the best fish and depending on where you are, you may even find some quality crappie that way too. The Farmington continues to fish very well. Big fish are still being caught in the last hour or so of daylight. The bigger browns are more nocturnal feeders.
UpCountry Sportfishing
Sulphurs #16-18 are the strongest hatch and are out throughout the afternoon and evening. Sulphur Spinners #16-18 are showing after 8pm. Subsurface: Hot Spot Nymphs, Yellow Sparkle Prince #14-16, Caddis Pupa & Larva in both tan & olive/green #14-16, Pheasant Tails #14-20, Fox Squirrel Nymph #10-14, Prince Nymph #10-16 are all working well.