Albies, albies albies. This seems to be the most common response I received from everyone I spoke to this week. The inshore speedsters have arrived and are providing another excellent angling opportunity, along with big bluefish and black sea bass.
Rhode Island Fishing Report
The Saltwater Edge in Middletown reports that albie fever has struck the island. Fish have been tight to shore along the beaches as well as the rocky shoreline, which has equaled a ton of success for shore anglers, as well as boat anglers. There has been a healthy mix of striped bass and bluefish in the same areas as well, so you don’t really know what you will come across when you get down to the beach. Bottom fishing remains very solid for all the open species, including tautog, while the offshore bite has gone quiet this week.
Howard, at Galilee Bait and Tackle in Narragansett, also reported some excellent false albacore and bonito fishing around the walls at the Harbor of Refuge. There has not been a constant bite, but the fish have been moving through quite frequently, and most anglers who make the trip have come away with a few bites. The striped bass fishing remained hot at Block Island last weekend, right up to the storm that blew through, and early reports are that the fishing picked right back up after the weather settled down. Local striped bass fishing has been decent for surfcasters along the beaches, and boat anglers working the reefs, but that remains a nighttime game. Fluke has slowed down locally, but sea bass, scup and tautog are plentiful in local waters.
Watch Hill Outfitters in Westerly saw a nice increase in striped bass activity this week, with surfcasters reporting good catches of 30- to 35-inch bass, and boat anglers seeing some quality fish on the reefs. Live eels have been the ticket from the shore and boat, but a few anglers have had success throwing small plugs around the bait schools. The false albacore and bonito bite has also picked up greatly on the local reefs, and most anglers are reporting better numbers each day. Fluke reports have been minimal this week, while black sea bass and scup have been excellent locally and at Block Island.
Connecticut Fishing Report
Andrew, at Fishin Factory 3 in Middletown, reports that bonito craziness from early last week has subsided a bit, but they can still be found around Watch Hill and Weakapaug. The first couple of albie reports have popped up from the same areas, but that bite has really not started to materialize just yet. Big bluefish can be found on all the usual hotspots throughout the sound, with Cranes Reef, Long Sand Shoal and Wilderness Point being good places to start. The striper bite has been slow around the river, and most anglers are finding much better results to the east. The Watch Hill reefs have given up some bass this week, while Napatree is starting to produce for surfcasters. The number of snapper blues in the river is still improving, while this may have been the best blue crab week of the season. Better late than never!
At Rivers End in Old Saybrook, James reports that local surfcasters are starting to see signs of life along the local coastline. Good mixes of bass and bluefish have been reported blitzing on small bait at dusk and dawn, and that should continue as the amount of bait we have now is unreal. A few keeper fluke have come from the river this week, but overall reports have been quiet unless you head to Montauk. Scup fishing is very good from Rhode Island to Old Saybrook, and so is the bluefishing. Big bluefish from Watch Hill to Niantic provided some exhilarating topwater action this week. Crabbing in the Connecticut River has been very good, and there are still good numbers of snapper in the usual spots.
Captain TJ, of Rock and Roll Charters in Clinton, reports that the local bluefishing has been excellent, but noted that it is taking some time to locate them at times. There is such a wide abundance of bait in the area that these fish have plenty to feed on, so you must work each school until you find the motherlode of bluefish. Striped bass fishing has still been decent as well, as most trips are coming home with a few bass in the 15- to 25-pound range. As has been the case most of the season, the bottomfishing has been excellent, with sea bass and scup limits coming very easily.
Mike Roy of Reel Cast Charters, spent most of the week throwing artificials to a number of different species. Mike was happy to report that the false albacore found their way to Connecticut waters earlier this week, and fishing for them has been very good. Along with the albies, Mike has had bluefish to 15 pounds and stripers to 30 pounds on topwater plugs this week. With a favorable forecast for the weekend, things should only continue to improve. Be sure to contact Mike for a trip as the fall run approaches.
Fishing Forecast
It’s that time of year again, as the false albacore have invaded our waters and could now be found from eastern Connecticut to Block Island and everywhere in between. Despite August-like temperatures during the day, our nighttime temperatures are dropping and the days are getting shorter. This is almost certainly the recipe for the start of the “fall run” and early indications are that it’s starting off great. Take advantage of the favorable weather this weekend, and try your luck at locating some speedsters. Be sure to bring your sea bass gear for the down time, as their numbers don’t appear to be declining anytime soon.