Connecticut Fishing Report
Heather, from Blackhawk Sportfishing reported a great week of fishing! They had limits of jumbo porgies on most trips and the bluefishing has been successful when they transitioned from bottom fishing. Last week’s fluke trips saw a solid number of keepers, and they will be adding more fluke trips as the season progresses. Their after-work trips have also seen good numbers of bluefish and some nice bass whenever the weather has allowed. Their trips remain by reservation only, with tickets for the week being posted on Monday evenings at 8 pm. Be sure to check their website for tickets or to schedule a private charter before those fill up!
Mike Roy of Reel Cast Charters told me that the striped bass and bluefishing remains steady. Action has been good in and around the river on topwater plugs, soft plastics and live bunker. There are also a few more fish setting up on the reefs out front, and those numbers should multiply quickly as the water warms up. Mike still has openings on July 7, 11 and 20, so be sure to book before it’s too late!
Evan from Black Hall Outfitters reports that the CT River has remained a hotspot for big stripers on topwater offerings. Some bigger fish are taking 24/7 Mullys and the fish stick pencil, while smaller fish are taking soft plastics on light tackle in the creeks. The reef bite has been up and down as the fish are still moving around, but those who have put some time in are getting some big bass on live eels and GT Eels. The seabass bite is starting to improve, with keepers coming in 70-80 feet of water on Daiwa FK jigs. Porgies are being caught in all their summer haunts from both the shore and boat, while some better fluke are being taken around Fishers and Faulkner’s Island.
Joe, at Diorio Guide Service told me that the fishing has remained so good in the river he hasn’t had to leave yet. There are plenty of fish from 32-42-inches, along with a few in the 45-50-inch range. They are still getting quite a few on topwater offerings and when that bite has shut down, they are finding them on live bunker. When they get really picky look to a small soft plastic, but regardless of what you’re throwing, you will probably find a few. The bluefish have been coming and going in waves, but most days are seeing a good pile of 5-8-pound choppers!
Captain Chris Elser told me the striped bass and bluefish continue to hold in deeper water near mid sound and oddly enough, they haven’t really set up on structure yet this season. Generally, if you can find the bunker schools around mid-sound you’ll find some fish, otherwise there is not a lot of nearshore activity. Fluke and sea bass fishing has been slow in the west, with most of the fish being caught west of Fairfield. Chris was able to find some keeper fluke to 23-inches feeding on sandeels in shallow water around Bridgeport, but it’s inconsistent. Water temperatures remain on the low side from Milford to Bridgeport, so we should be seeing an increase in activity as the water warms.
Over at Fisherman’s World in Norwalk reports of the big bass bite in the western sound have picked back up. City Island to Stamford has been producing some big fish on the troll around the bunker schools. 30-40-pound fish have been fairly common, and a few have come in over the 50 mark. Closer to home, anglers are finding some bigger fish soaking fresh chunks at nights in the usual haunts. The bass still seem to be tight to the bunker schools, but as the schools disperse through the sound the bass should start to set up on structure. The local bluefishing has been strong, with tons of fish in the 8-12-pound mark and some monster gators pushing 18-pounds. The local fluke bite has picked up around cans 24 and 26, in roughly 30-60 feet of water. Keeper fish around the 5-6-pound mark have been more common and a few pushing 10-pounds hit the scale last week. The scup bite has exploded through the area and any patch of hard structure should be holding some.
Rhode Island Fishing Report
The Frances Fleet in Point Judith has reported mixed results for fluke this past week, with most trips being on the slower side. Limits could be tricky, but there has been some nice-sized fluke on most trips. There has been more bait showing up each day and the sea bass season is opening, so things should be improving in the coming weeks. Reservations are still required for trips so check their website or call before heading to the dock.
Cheri, at C-Devil II Sportfishing in Narragansett, told me that the fishing continues to be as reliable as ever, with plenty of big fish and species diversity! There are massive schools around of sand eels around the island that have drawn in gator bluefish, doormat fluke, and large schools of striped bass. There has been nearly nonstop action, with dozens of 30-40-pound bass, a few 50s, and plenty of slot fish. The bass and bluefish are coming easily on eels and on the troll, so customers have started throwing some topwater offerings for a bit more of a challenge. That topwater bite has also not disappointed, as it’s accounted for a few true “cows”. The customers have been all about the bass bite, so they haven’t targeted tuna just yet, but there remains some school bluefin close to home.
Dave, at Ocean State Tackle in Providence, reports that stripers haven’t left the Providence River just yet, with fish to 45-inches taking live pogies and fresh chunks. There are some good schools of bluefish chasing pogies at Fields Point, while bottom fishermen have reported a good scup bite around Tiverton, Newport, and Jamestown. Fluke anglers have been picking away at keepers both locally and at the island, and most are excited to be able to put some sea bass in the cooler starting on the 24th. Freshwater anglers are some nice largemouth on shiners at Olney Pond, Stump Pond, and Turner Reservoir.
Connor, at Tall Tailz Charters has seen some good fishing this week, both inshore and offshore. The temps in the bay are quickly approaching the 70-degree mark, and the bigger bass are moving towards deeper water. They’ve been able to stay on the big girls, landing fish from 25-40-pounds with regularity. The Newport and Sakonnet areas are loaded with sea bass, so the season opener should be a strong one. The better fluke are mixed in with the sea bass on the deeper drops and ledges. A nice push of bluefin tuna have congregated in RI nearshore waters, with fish from 30-60-inches taking topwater plugs in the morning and feeding on the troll throughout the day. The deep-water thresher bite is picking up, and it shouldn’t be long until the makos arrive.
Jay, at Pamela May Charters in Narragansett, said that the striped bass remain stacked up in the usual haunts around the Point Jude light and the Narragansett shoreline, while the Block Island bite remains the mecca for those looking to score a cow. You can find 40-inch class fish and some gator bluefish in the bay, with chunking or trolling live bunker producing the best. Fluking has been a grind along the south shore and is a bit steadier around Block. Luckily, the sea bass season opens on the 24th, as there have been plenty of big ones mixed in with the fluke.
Dustin, at RI Kayak Fishing Adventures, reports that the bass and bluefish bite has heated up for him, with slot-sized fish being caught with some regularity throughout Narragansett and Buzzards Bay. The fluking has been a bit of a grind, but it seems to be improving, with better numbers of keeper fish this week. The largemouth bass are in full post-spawn mode and some nice fish are being caught in slightly deeper water.
Nick at Big Bear Hunting and Fishing told me that saltwater anglers have been finding some bass and bluefish feeding on bunker in the bay, but most of the better fish have come on fresh bait on the deeper structure. Fluke fishing has been spotty, you should look for small pieces of structure on the edge of shoals and drop-offs. There are still plenty of weakfish willing to take fluke offerings in the deeper water, and there should be no shortage of sea bass with the season opening. The trout fishing has hit the summer lull, but the bass bite has been solid. They have been selling more shiners than ever, with most customers reporting a good evening bite.
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Connecticut Forecast
The summer means a lot of different things to different anglers, but those in the know fully realize that the start of summer is usually a sign of great water temperatures, influxes of bait, and great multi-species fishing. We are at the point right now, where big bass can be taken in the usual haunts like Block Island, but there are still big fish to be had on the inshore reefs and in the tidal rivers that they haven’t left just yet. It’s the same for bottom anglers, who can consistently rely on scup and can now rely on sea bass in both states, along with an uptick in summer flounder fishing. For those that like to dabble in the offshore game, or for those that just love tuna, there are some school fish that don’t seem to want to leave and they are easily in range; even for those with smaller vessels.
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