Connecticut Fishing Report
Matt at Black Hall Outfitters in Westbrook told me it has been rinse and repeat fall fishing across Connecticut, with not much changing since last week, except for the tautog dropping a bit deeper to close out the season on the 28th. You should still start fishing around thirty feet, but you may have to transition to 60 feet or deeper. Outgoing tides have been better over the last week. There are tons of schoolies around, both out front and in the tributaries. They are taking small paddletails and some small topwaters, too. Trout fishing is picking up with the flows after recent rains. Overall, fishing is solid, so get out there now for that last keeper tog!
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Heather from the Blackhawk in Niantic provided the following report: “While we lost a good chunk of the week, the days we did get out were pretty spectacular. The tuna were around, and we had a few great trips, loading up on sea bass and porgies, and a nice bonus of bluefin tuna! We hit the tuna grounds again on the way out and picked up some nice fish; a first-time experience for many onboard. Afterwards, it was lock and load on the sea bass and porgies. They were flying over the rails making for an easy boat limit of sea bass and plenty of scup to go around. We also saw a nice mix of codfish and a few bonito. We rounded out the coolers with a few tog to cap off another awesome mixed bag trip. Wednesday was even more epic, with excellent sea bass fishing—it was harder to get away from fish then it was to catch them! Don’t forget about Small Business Saturday! As usual, we will have our gift certificate sale that day, so give us a call to get a deal on a gift certificate to use next year. And don’t forget to support your local small businesses when doing your holiday shopping! Your local tackle shops, bookstores, toys stores, and specialty shops can all use the support, so be sure to shop local this year! As always, new tickets for each week will be posted online on Monday night at 8 p.m. Grab your tickets online and come fill the freezer before the winter.”
Hillyers Tackle in Waterford reports that fishing has slowed down locally, though there is still plenty of traffic coming through the shop. There have been some bass and blues at Millstone, and more stripers are moving into Niantic Bay as well. Most of the fish are under the slot, but it’s always nice to connect with a late-season striped bass. Other customers were heading out with various headboats and having good luck with tog, cod, sea bass, and a few porgies. We’re approaching the end, but the fall tautog season is the main draw in town until tomorrow. Dedicated tautog anglers who still have their boats in are reporting some of the best blackfishing of the year, although the forecast wasn’t very kind for anglers looking to scratch the itch one more time. The sweet spot appears to be inching closer to the 50- to 60-foot range, but starting at 30 feet and working as deep as you desire is a smart play. The shop will be open weekends throughout the winter and now is the time to come in and grab your holiday gift cards to brighten the season of the anglers in your life. They’re already stocking up for next season if you’re looking for a little holiday gift for yourself as well. They carry all the necessities for clamming and will be selling scallop licenses, too.
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Anthony from Game On Lures provided the following report for the week: “With the daytime temps finally dropping, winter patterns have begun to set in pretty quickly. I had a small weather window to get out for my final blackfish trip of the year, and the vast majority of the larger fish have definitely begun their transition out to deeper water. I had most of my success in 45 feet or more with a 2-ounce Rock Bottom jig. With the local season closing on the 28th, anglers looking to scratch the tog itch must take the trip over to RI waters. Reports of “fun-sized” bluefin in extremely shallow water out east have been swirling around, giving the offshore guys a second wind. They will most likely be making their way out any day now, but what a crazy sight for this late in the season! Most of the striped bass in the area have made their way into their wintering holds by now. Game On Duratech Paddle Tails and soft jerkbaits are ideal for targeting these bass in the earlier stages of the holdover bite. I like to rig them with a 1/2- to 1-ounce jighead, such as our WideEye or Unleaded head, and slowly bounce them along the bottom. For anglers who have made the transition to freshwater, the recent rains breathed life into the rivers, lakes and streams. The trout/salmon bite is a go, and it is the best time of the year to target them! As for bass and pike, they are starting to transition into winter mode. Live-lining shiners in deep pockets of backwaters is going to be your best bet for targeting pike this time of year. For bass, find whatever grass remains, or fish around steep ledges and “offshore” rocks… and fish slow! One of my favorite and most effective lures to target winter bass is a “CT Fish Nerd” Hair Jig in black. Jerkbaits, football jigs, and blade baits are also cold-water killers!”
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Rich at Fishermen’s World in Norwalk reports that there is still a major focus on striped bass for anglers in the area. Much of the action was centered around the rivers, harbors and estuaries where migrating fish have been piling in to feed, and where a percentage of them will remain for the winter. Surfcasters can target the mouths of these backwaters with large soft plastics, darters, and plastic swimmers to intercept these fish as they move in and out. Boaters and kayakers, particularly those with electronics, have a distinct advantage in that they can find and stay on the schools. The Housatonic is the most popular spot, but you can find them other places, if you’re willing to look around. Togging is still in play for another day, as the season closes on the 28th, and with some ugly weather in the forecast, it’s going to require some dedication to stick that last tog of the season. It is worth noting the shop has weighed in two double-digit tautog over the past week. The local reefs are holding some big blackfish and sea bass at the moment. The shop is open seven days a week year-round and will be selling gift cards for the holiday season.
Connecticut Fishing Forecast
The only thing holding back Connecticut anglers from excellent tautog fishing to end the season is the persistent wind. The fishing is as good as ever right now, with steady keeper action coming in 40 to 100 feet of water, along with a sharp increase in double-digit fish being reported this week. Hopefully, as you’re reading this, you’re getting your gear ready for a final tautog outing before your Thanksgiving dinner. The weather may not be perfect, but it may be worth it for one more great trip! The water is finally starting to cool down, so look to some deeper structure this week, but be willing to bounce around. Fall run fishing for stripers has mostly died down, but there’s been an uptick in reports of school bass moving into the tributaries. Numbers of mixed sized bass have been good in the Housatonic and Connecticut Rivers, along with Niantic Bay. Holdover striped bass are setting up in all their usual haunts, and the numbers will only increase from here! Freshwater anglers saw much better trout results in the TMA’s this week, as we finally received some much needed rain and flows improved.