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03/17/2016 12:00 AMWith both lobsters and lobster catchers having such a difficult time in Long Island Sound, it was a welcome treat to crack open a few homegrown ones the other day. The recent moon tide turned on a couple of local reefs and filled a few traps with this rare bounty. I’m not sure whether a taste test could have differentiated ones caught in the Sound from the ones caught anywhere else, but they sure were sweet and had the Big Pond written all over them.
Apparently, something is cycling through our waters this season. After the harsh winter of 2014-’15 that shocked the fisheries and slammed shellfishing, there’s a rejuvenating rebirth taking place this year.
In addition to a few lobsters being trapped, there are small blue crabs in the rivers and coves. Peanut bunker and adult menhaden, not normally seen this early in the season, are swimming freely until they bump into holdover stripers or diving fish birds. Add river herring and limited numbers of winter flounder and you have the formula for a happy fishing community.
Of course, if one was preoccupied with anything but the outdoors, one would be missing this transition. A walk along the banks of an estuary or trout management lake without a fishing rod or a pair of binoculars would cause regret before the end of the short journey. Being unable to cast to feeding springtime schoolies or hunting brown trout would only result in frustration.
With each cast made toward the river bank and retrieved in a slow, steady manner, a soft white swim bait was whacked. This was the pattern for the last several casts. The fish that were chasing and biting were all schoolie bass, some of which thought they were much larger.
As this action repeatedly took place, a thought kept recurring. Only once before, many years ago, did I dare venture into a similar environment just to check out the surroundings and see if there were any fish activity indications. What was thought at the time to be one big fish startled the you-know-what out of me. Of course, reaching for my rod was not an option because there was none. It was a lesson learned and that never happened again.
On the Water
It was a fabulous pre-weekend to St. Patrick’s Day as spring sunshine showered the southern New England coastline. Air temps hit the 70s, while the water temps tapped 44 degrees. March is known for a few surprises, but if there are any, they will be short-lived.
Not only was it thought to be an early spring, but now, reality has set in—at least if you’re listening to Mother Nature. Our tidal rivers are teeming with fish, both holdovers and spring runs. We’re seeing adult Atlantic menhaden that made it through the winter and also witnessing runs of peanut bunker. River herring and some hickory shad are other indicators that the ecosystem has awakened. However, with the mild winter season, one can’t be sure if it actually ever fell asleep.
Striped bass are feeding in the upper stretches of the main tidal rivers with juvies spilling out into the Sound. Soft baits, whether live or artificial, are scoring the most fish, while some hookups are coming from effective use of small top-water poppers and swimmers worked near riverbanks and deep channels. For the most fun, bring out your lite gear. However, if you are fishing farther up river, there some 40-inch linesiders being landed.
Mid-March has been recording exciting early freshwater action. Trout are hitting nymphs and streamers in the Trout Management Areas and the Wild Trout Management Areas are also responding to casting and trolling lures in the Trout Management lakes. Largemouth bass and pickerel are charging large shiners and swimmers, including some spinner baits on the drop. The colors of these early fish are just as deep and brilliant as their fight when hooked.
Recent moon tides have brought the shellfishers out to scratch up those early season bivalves. Low tide has cooperated by falling during the early morning hours. Based on the clam beds being worked and the bycatch uncovered, we could be into a fairly good blue crab season considering the mild winter. It seems as though Callinectes sapidus is rearing its claws from their muddy hibernation early.
If you haven’t gotten your gear ready or appropriate fishing licenses, it’s time to get on the bandwagon. Bait is here, fish are pursuing it, and one can anticipate an early migration moving up the coast. If you need rods and reels serviced or a line spooled, now is the time to drop them off at the shop to ensure their readiness in time.
Trout Contest
It’s time once again to celebrate the life of our two departed friends and young fishermen. Starting this week, we will be registering anglers for our annual Codi and Bubba Opening Day Memorial Trout Contest to be held on Saturday, April 9. There will be prizes for the three heaviest trout caught anywhere and weighed in at Captain Morgan’s, as well as drawings for all non-winning contestants. Fishers under 12 years of age fish free with a registered adult. Let’s get it on!
Note: Email us pics of your catches to share with our USA and international fishing friends who keep up with the latest fishing news and frequent social media.
For all things fishy including bait, swing by the shop (203-245-8665) open seven days located at 21 Boston Post Road, Madison. Until next time from your Connecticut shoreline’s full-service fishing outfitter, where we don’t make the fisherman, we make the fisherman better...
Tight Lines,
Captain Morgan
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