(Above) OTW reader Kevin Schock has dialed into a consistent and quality nighttime bass bite in western Connecticut using Tsunami sand eels and swim shads.
Connecticut Fishing Report
Matt, at Black Hall Outfitters in Westbrook told me that he has been able to get out a few times on some sheltered structure and has still been finding a good tautog bite. Forty-plus feet of water has been the ticket for larger fish, as the shallower structure is now inundated with short fish. The water temperatures are starting to drop quickly, but we should still have a couple good weeks of strong blackfish action on the deeper structure. Matt also reports that there is still a good school striped bass bite along the beaches, and the bite is really starting to materialize in the creeks and rivers as well. Small soft plastics have been the ticket for hungry bass, just continue to slow down the presentation as the temps drop.
Heather from Black Hawk Sportfishing reports that it’s really starting to feel like fall fishing, as the water temperatures continue to drop. Their combo trips continue, with part of the day spent blackfishing, and the rest of the day being spent bottom fishing for everything else. They’ve had some wind to contend with on most trips, but they are still finding some great fishing! They’ve had good numbers of blackfish most days, along with a strong showing of cod. The cod numbers have really started to increase of late, so hopefully that continues. Limits of big sea bass are still common, and there are a few nice scup still in the mix. They will continue to run combo trips Monday through Friday, while running their dedicated bottom fishing trips on the weekends. New trips will be posted on their website on Monday nights, so be sure to lock in a date as soon as possible!
Captain Mike Roy at Reel Cast Charters is still seeing great fishing in his neck of the woods, including a variety of striped bass from schoolies to 30-pound class fish. There has been a recent big push of 20- to 30-inch fish all over the area, which are providing great light-tackle action. There a still a few big bluefish in the mix, which are keeping anglers busy and ripping up their soft plastics. Blackfishing has been good, although you have to weed through shorts to find a limit, and there is still an abundance of sea bass in the area for the coolers. There’s still some time to get a trip in before the season ends, so be sure to contact Mike ASAP!
Daniel’s Bait, Tackle and Charters in New London reports:
“High risk high reward! It’s been cold enough to see the some of the birds in the flying heading down south, but not all of them. Finding working birds has been the key all along to finding it fish, but with temperatures dropping having them doing the scouting for you, if a much more efficient way to make sure when you do decide to brave the cold, you’re right on top of some fish. The small one to two degree difference between the Sound and mouth of the Thames mean that anglers were having luck finding the bunker schooled up and bunched near the shore to take advantage of that warmer water. Anywhere from the mouth to Gold star bridge has been decent for boats and shore anglers taking advantage of the striper blitzes while peanut bunker were trapped along the rocks. While you’re over there, or when the top water cast bite dies down, stay out and drop down to the bridge piling for some solid keep Tog. All the way down to Ocean Beach and around to the State Park have had good Tog found in kayak friendly alcoves – these will be where you want to venture with braided line to try these rocky areas that provide good cover for crab hatches and protection from predators. The beach has a few tidal streams which hold bass looking for easy meals at outgoing tide so key an eye on the time when you decide to cast paddle tails into the running current.”
Fisherman’s World in Norwalk reported that things have remained pretty consistent, despite the gale winds last weekend. The blackfishing is going strong, especially for anglers fishing the deeper structure, including a couple fish around the 10 pound mark being weighed in this week. The cooler water seems to be getting the fish to move deeper, but also seems to be causing the bigger fish to start getting more active. You can still find some nice fish in the shallows as well, but you have to pick through loads of short fish. Sea bass fishing is still good, with many anglers reporting quality fish while targeting blackfish. There are still some porgies hanging around this week as well on structure over 20 feet deep. Anglers targeting striped bass are reporting fantastic results, with loads of peanut bunker still fueling large daytime blitzes. The bluefish have started to thin out, but some 15-pound gators are still hanging around. The deep-water striped bass bite has picked back up for anglers working diamond jigs around 11B and 28C, with bigger fish being reported each day. The Saugatuck Reservoir is still the main draw for freshwater anglers. Anglers dunking shiners under slip bobbers are reporting steady smallmouth bass action, along with some big walleye, which have shown up on a few trips. The best trout fishing in the area is coming from the recently stocked bodies of water, especially the Mill River TMA in Fairfield.
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Connecticut Fishing Forecast
The days are shorter, and the temperatures are dropping, so fishing options certainly feel like they are starting to dwindle, however we should still have a few strong weeks of saltwater fishing ahead of us, along with some great freshwater options.
Connecticut anglers also continue to see plenty of light tackle action, with a huge abundance of peanut bunker continuing to fire up topwater blitzes throughout the sound. Some bigger bass are starting to make their ways to the tidal river mouths as well, and we should have some excellent holdover fishing right through the winter. The tautog fishing has been steady for most anglers, with anglers working deeper structure finding bigger fish, and dealing with less shorts. Sea bass and scup are helping to fill the coolers, although both seem to be transitioning to deeper water. The DEP has recently stocked Atlantic Salmon in the Naugatuck and Shetucket Rivers, which provide a great fall fishing opportunity for freshwater anglers.
Tons of albies at cornfield point