Fishing CT Report – August 20, 2015

Striped bass fishing remains consistent here in CT for this time of year, and there are some big fish to be had after dark. There have been a few fish over 50 inches and over 50 pounds landed the past two weeks. A lot of anglers are finding success in live-lining eels and bunker for bass. But some big girls did fall to surgical tube rigs trolled over humps. Captain Bruce of The Otter has been having excellent trips lately. Great bass at hitting the deck and are being taking on Otter tubes and tails. There are a ton of bunker around in the harbors and mouth of the Connecticut River still. They can be see frantically scattering while they are chased by schools of bluefish. Bass are also present but you’ll have to get through a mess of those yellow-eyed devils. The bluefish are prevalent and anglers are picking up some gators in harbors and as usual, the mouth of the CT on bunker chunks.

Fluke fishing has been good with better fish coming from deeper water. Snapper blues and peanut bunker have been irresistible to them. Black Point, Niantic Bay and the Polling Brothers II wreck have given up good fish this past week. It’s hot, so bigger fish are deep and around structure. Scup can be found just about everywhere and bottom fishing is fantastic right now. Bartletts, Hatchetts and Black Point have been giving up great fish. Shore anglers have found good success with Scup at Jennings and Rocky Neck. High-low rigs baited with squid or clam strips have been productive. The waters are loaded with sea bass, and fishing wrecks and reefs will produce fish. The big hump heads are being found deeper, in about 80 feet of water. Just about every harbor and tidal creek has snapper blues up to 6″. They are perfect for a snack or fluke bait. Blue crabbing is going strong still with better quality crabs in the mix now. Coves on the Lower CT and the Lieutenant River have been productive. Also try the DEEP dock in Old Lyme. Unfortunately, the popular spots get hit hard. Some anglers have been chasing bonito in RI waters, which is very exciting. Everyone is getting antsy for bones and little tunny now.

Middlebank II

It’s Porgy time! Middlebank II anglers put together some terrific catches of scup over the past week. There were a few “off” days especially during the flood of the new moon tide, but most trips saw the number of keepers in the hundreds. Drifting tandem hook bottom rigs tipped with fresh clam in 35′ of water focusing on mussel beds and other patches of rough bottom produced the best. Sea bass have been mixing into the catch along with a surprising amount of winter flounder, big butterfish and an occasional summer flounder.

The Otter

Last weds evening trip with Gregg and Lisa Hopkins was a limit of bass with Lisa landing and releasing the largest a 50 incher.Thursday we also got a limit of bass to 42 inches along with some seabass and fluke.Eric Daniels group limited out on bass to 43.5 inches and Sunday’s trip a bass short of a limit with small 34 to 37 inch bass.Most other trips saw plenty of action with blues and bass.Tuesday we landed a 53 inch 50.5 pounder caught by Randy Gadabois,our 2nd over 50 pounds in the last 2 months..Plenty of blues around and albies action to the east.Local fluke is slow but plenty of seabass.