Connecticut Fishing Report
Matt Stone, at Black Hall Outfitters in Westbrook, told me that fishing this week was very similar to last week. The blackfish bite has been very good at all depths, but most of his buddies are focusing on 30 feet and shallower for some fun fishing. Finding a little current helps as well, and locating the spot within the spot becomes increasingly important as the season progresses. Reports have been solid throughout the area, but fishing east of the Connecticut River seems to be improving more than it is to the west. There are still plenty of striped bass around, too, although he hasn’t been hearing as many reports as he had over the previous few weeks. Glide baits like the Game On X-Chop have been flying off the shelves, and Lunker City Slug-Gos are also selling quickly. Overall, there’s a lot of fun to be had out there, and it was an incredible October.
Heather from the Black Hawk in Niantic reports: “As we mentioned last week, we’ve started our Block Island combo trips. Our early-week trips showed great fishing, with plenty of blackfish, lots of sea bass, and jumbo porgies coming over the rails. We had some ups and downs after that. Last Thursday was a little slower to start, but those who stayed by the rail were able to get limits if they wanted them. On Friday, we gave in to Mother Nature and stayed tied to the dock due to the heavy wind and rain. Saturday, we had a private charter with several kids, and they all had a blast! We had an easy boat limit of sea bass, with some nice blackfish and porgies rounding out the coolers. Mother Nature won again on Sunday and Monday, as we were tied to the dock due to heavy winds. Our trips are now very weather-dependent, so be sure to get your tickets in advance so we can notify you of any changes due to the weather. Now is the time to come fill the freezer for winter. Don’t just read the reports; get out there and make them!”
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Captain Mike Roy at Reel Cast Charters said that, as water temperatures have cooled, they are focusing much of their attention on blackfish. The action should continue to improve as the water cools, and fishing has been consistently good so far. Waves of migratory striped bass are also pushing through the region. While they’re mostly focusing on blackfish, it makes sense to have a bass rod on board and keep an eye out for working birds. They plan to offer trips through November 25 and still have some openings. Give Captain Mike and his team a call to take advantage of those open spots while they last!
Anthony Charnetski, from Game On Lures, provided the following report for the week: “Water temperatures have remained steady, and fish are pretty much exactly where they were last week. Some of the popular blackfish spots are starting to get pressured a little more, but there’s still plenty of good days to be had, especially with the colder weather on the way. Once temps start to dip, I would focus on deeper structure. Holdover bass spots are starting to produce steady action, and I would imagine this weekend’s storm should kick things up.”
Geno, from Total Tackle in Old Saybrook, said that while there have been some notable signs of things slowing down, there are still plenty of opportunities to get out and enjoy some local action. As has been the case over the last couple of weeks, the best fishing right now is for blackfish and striped bass. Tog fishing has been steady for the diehards who have been out slugging it out in the wind. The shop recently wrapped up its inaugural tournament, with the winning two-fish total weighing in at 18.33 pounds. Striper fishing around the mouth of the river has been good on most days, with fish blitzing on small bait. Epoxy jigs have been effective in those conditions, as have glide baits like the Game On X-Chop. The shop is still open seven days a week. Monday through Friday, they’re there from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday hours are 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday hours are 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Hours will be shortened later in the month, so keep an eye on the shop’s Google Business profile and social media pages for updates.
Tyler, at Fisherman’s World in Norwalk, said fishing for blackfish and striped bass continues to be good throughout the region. Blackfish action has been good overall, although some days seem to be better than others. While the overall number of fish being caught appears to be down slightly, the quality of the fish is improving. This week, the largest fish weighed at the shop tipped the scales at 9.6 pounds. The water is still running on the warmer side, so fish can be found across a variety of depths, with customers catching them anywhere from 20 to 40 feet of water. The deeper wrecks are holding both tog and keeper sea bass. Tyler said anglers can essentially choose whether to fish deep or shallow right now, depending on their preferences, and still find a limit.
Striper fishing is also good, with sporadic blitzes continuing along the shorelines. The fish are on the move, so you might not find them where you left them on your last trip. Early mornings have been seeing the best blitz activity, with bass working schools of adult and peanut bunker, anchovies, and silversides. One thing Tyler noted is that birds aren’t always the giveaway, and working likely spots along the shoreline can be a productive strategy this time of year. All of the local rivers and harbor mouths are worth checking at one time or another. The Housatonic River is also producing bass up to 35 pounds on both bait and artificials. The shop is open seven days a week.
Connecticut Fishing Forecast
Tautog fishing remains the main draw for saltwater anglers across Connecticut, although anglers still need to keep an eye on the forecast and pick their days. The bite has been as consistent as ever for those who have managed to get out, but most reports suggest looking for pockets of cleaner water whenever possible. The fish have really started transitioning into deeper water, with the best catches coming from depths of 40 feet or more this week. That said, they can still be found anywhere from 15 to more than 100 feet, so don’t be afraid to bounce around.
As for gamefish, anglers in the eastern and central Sound are still seeing some schoolie bass blitzes, but the action has definitely quieted down since last week. Western Sound bass fishing has remained steady, with good reports of bass feeding on peanut bunker along much of the rocky shoreline. It won’t be long before the Housatonic starts fishing really well, and I expect to start hearing more reports from there before Thanksgiving.
Flows are generally low to moderate in the trout streams despite the recent rain, and fall trout fishing has been solid. Don’t let the windy weather discourage you, as we still have plenty of freshwater and saltwater options to explore before the long winter ahead!