Connecticut Fishing Report - May 25, 2017

Keeper fluke are starting to be found at every corner of southern New England, and the first rumblings of cow stripers hitting the reefs are coming in.

Connecticut Fishing Report

According to Andrew, at Fishin Factory 3 in Middletown, the first few weeks of the fluke season has been even better than anticipated. Isabella, which is generally one of the first hot spots for CT anglers, is seeing big waves of squid and producing some nice fluke limits to 7-pounds or so. Closer to home, there has been a decent amount of fish in Niantic Bay, but you have to weed through more shorts. Striped bass action remains strong in the Connecticut River, with a good deal of 20-30 pound fish in the upper stretches. The river has finally started to clean up, and fish are a bit more willing to hit topwater plugs. A lead head/soft plastic combination is also still a very good way to find fish, and the worm dunkers are still finding keepers throughout the river. Andrew hasn’t been out just yet, but word is the black sea bass season has started out relatively strong in deeper water.

Over at Hillyers in Waterford, word is the striped bass numbers are very solid in the area. Most fish are schoolies that are just under the legal length, but keepers to 32-inches are getting more consistent. The fish have been taking all sorts of offerings, and are providing good light-tackle action for both shore and boat anglers. The tube and worm, fresh bait, plugs and soft plastics are all catching, and those dropping baits on the local reefs are starting to see a few bigger fish here and there. The best fluke reports this week have come from across the pond in Peconic Bay, but Isabella seems to be improving, along with the hotspots in Niantic Bay. A few porgy reports are also starting to trickle in from Millstone Point and Black Point.

Gene, at Blackhall Outfitters in Old Lyme, told me that the weakfish bite has been strong up and down the Connecticut coastline. The sizes are a bit down from last year, but 6-8 pound fish have been relatively common. Daiwa SP Minnows fished after dark has been the ticket for those targeting weakies. Some bigger striped bass have entered the region, and anglers are hooking up on fish to 45-inches in the river and occasionally out front. Fresh chunked or livelined bunker seems to be the best producer of big bass. The local fluke season started off strong, with plenty of keepers coming from local waters in 30-50 feet of water. Freshwater anglers are starting to report a very good largemouth bite on black hula poppers and spooks, as the bass start to move off their beds.

Stephanie Ortiz, of The Fancy Fluke, told me that large schools of bunker have invaded the western sound in areas such as: Bridgeport Harbor, Black Rock and Fairfield. For the most part they are not being harassed, but livelining a bait in 15-20 feet of water has produced some nice fish throughout their migration lanes. Before the east winds moved in there was a steady fluke bite in the western sound, with fish to 22-inches coming on squid, spearing and otter tail combinations.

The Compleat Angler in Darien provided a good fly-fishing report for central and western Connecticut. The West Branch of the Farmington River has reduced flows making wading much easier and increasing water temperature. The Hendrickon hatch is nearly over – just a few stragglers left in the Riverton area, with some rusty spinner falls taking up the rear. There are small Olives (#18-#22), as well as caddis (#14-#18) in tan and olive.) Sub-surface, Hendrickson nymphs, Pheasant Tails (#12-#18), Caddis Larva (#12-#16), Stonefly nymphs (#8-#12), as well as Mop flies, Green Weenies, and Wooly Buggers are all effective patterns. The Housatonic has come down nicely as well and is currently running clear. Today (May 24th) there is a big stocking of large Rainbow Trout taking place! The streamer bite is still on, with Muddlers, Zonkers, Wooly Buggers and other streamer patterns taking fish. Sub-surface flies to bring with you are Caddis pupa and emerger imitations, Hare’s Ear (#12-#16), BH Prince (#12-#16), BH Pheasant Tails (#12-#16), Mop Flies, San Juan Worms, and Egg patterns as well. In the Salt, the action on Long Island Sound has slowed slightly from the past couple of weeks. There are still lots of schoolies to be found along the river mouths and off the beaches in the morning. Bluefish are moving in closer and some of the guides and regulars have been crushing them. There is still lots of bait and some really nice bass a bit further out. I was out last Friday and we rode a huge ball of bait with an even bigger school of bass tearing it up – an hour of non-stop action. This is a great time to be out on the water!

Rhode Island Fishing Report

The Frances Fleet in Narragansett has been able to start getting out after some fluke rather consistently, and the results are steadily improving. Captain Mike started out the weekend close to home last Saturday, and was rewarded with a good deal of hungry fish. A big chunk of the fish were shorts, but they kept the rods bent; while most anglers were able to manage a couple keepers a piece to 4-pounds. Tuesday’s trip saw similar results, with a slightly better keeper to short ratio. Wednesday’s trip was the best of the year so far, with fluke limits for many of the anglers on board. The pool fish size also started to climb, coming in just over 5-pounds. The upward trend is encouraging, and the fleet announced that they will be starting their weekend half-day trips this upcoming weekend. Trips set sail from 8AM to 12PM, and again from 1PM to 5PM.

At The Saltwater Edge in Middletown, word is that the fluking is really starting to pick up around Block Island, and also closer to home in the bay. A good slug of 8-10 pound fish was reported from the island this week and squid numbers seem to be improving out there and around the south shore beaches. The striper fishing in the Upper Narragansett and in Mount Hope is going strong; but don’t expect the same bite more than a couple of days in a row. There is a good deal of bait all over the area, but the bass seem to be moving from school to school rather consistently. When you find a moving school of bass, fishing a topwater just ahead of the school has produced. The Sebile Stick Shad has also been a top producer of quality striped bass early this season.

Dave, at Ocean State Tackle in Providence, reported that the local fluke fishing has been picking up quite a bit over the past few days. The bay is producing some nice fish for Larry Norin of Flippin Out Fluke Rigs, and he is seeing more keepers each day. Rob Taylor of Newport Sportfishing Charters has also had very good success on his recent fluke trips, with a couple 10+ pound fish on each trip. Striped bass action also remains consistent in local waters around the bay, and the Cape Cod Canal is also starting to put up some better bass. Mike Galanti recently managed a 44-inch bass on an un-tipped bucktail from the banks of the canal.

Mike, at Watch Hill Outfitters in Westerlyy, reports that the striped bass action has been strong along the south shore beaches, the breachways and inside the Pawcatuck River. Most of the fish are schoolies to small keepers, but a few bigger fish are tailing the bunker in the river. Block and Fisher’s continue to put up the best numbers of keeper fluke, but recently the Misquamicut beaches are starting to put up some better fish to 24-inches.

Connecticut Fishing Forecast

The early word from the fluke season has been encouraging, with quality keepers being taken throughout the region. Targeting larger fish may mean traveling a bit, but there seems to be plenty of keeper fish close to home at this point. The rivers and tributaries are still holding some heavy striped bass, and in the next week or so it would be a safe bet that some cows will be settling into their summer haunts on the reefs. For both species, being the first one to dial in a bite on a quality spot usually pays dividends, as you’ll have your pick of good fish before the crowds find them.