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05/19/2016 12:00 AMMost anglers weren’t aware that highly coveted black sea bass (Centropristis striata), a sportfish and delicious table fare, had already slipped into Long Island Sound. We aren’t referring to the two-pounds-or-less variety (they’re already here), but rather, the five-plus-pound humpbacks. By all accounts, anglers look for warmer water before they begin fishing for this prize.
Sea bass addicts know that these fish can be found in the inshore shallows and also in depths exceeding 400 feet. Due to this wide range, it takes some skill, experience, and perhaps a tip or two in order to locate these large marine bottom-huggers. That is generally harder than actually hooking up.
With water temperatures struggling to first break 50 degrees and then climb into the mid-50s, many reef hunters figured that the run would hit a bit later. Unfortunately, like everything else this season—and to the surprise of many—these guy-gal fish that usually spawn in mid-May showed up a bit early. Certainly, there were plenty of the little gals (most mature as females, some later develop into males) to be caught, but it was the larger class of fish that most anglers hunt. These are not what one would call big fish, considering that the world record caught at Virginia Beach in 2000 is 10 pounds, four ounces.
Another aspect of fishing for these beauties is that gear is rather simple. For the Sound, it requires a basic hook arrangement or pre-made rigs, a setup or two (the lighter the better) that can handle inshore reefs and ones to about 100 or so feet, a variety of weights, plus a good reef anchor, although they can be caught while drifting. Sea bass are not necessarily fussy eaters, however, squid is often the preferred bait.
On this cool and somewhat breezy morning, the kind during which anchoring on a special spot becomes a chore, hardly a boat could be seen. Sea bass season just recently opened and a few words regarding small fish have already made the rounds. Based on that, most fishers decided to wait a bit longer until water temperatures rose. Upon returning to the docks, one docksider shouted, “Quiet, eh?” The retort was, “Kind of.” After that, the cooler did all of the talking. The next day, a few more boats left the dock. Funny how things work out.
On the Water
Two top-10 days crept into otherwise windy ones before taking a downward path to the weekend. Long Island Sound managed to creep up to 54 degrees and waters flattened out after being churned by easterly winds. Some rain and fog did slide into the picture, yet the mornings were calm and pleasant. During this time of the first quarter to a waxing gibbous moon, fish activity spiked with only a few reef hunters taking full advantage of it.
This marked the early stages of the black sea bass season and one that saw a change in regulations. We can now fish for them from May 1 through Saturday, Dec. 31, retaining five fish daily at an increased minimum length of 15 inches. At first, many smaller fish were the norm, but with a little perseverance, humpbacks in the five-plus-pound class were caught. Squid and hi-lo rigs fished at 60 feet, plus depths, were typically the winning combo.
Striped bass showed no letup in their feeding binge and progress made in migrating. Stripers are still being caught in the holdover rivers, however, many smaller schoolie-size fish are now thoroughly spread out all along the shoreline. They are being joined by 20-plus-pound fish that have gathered along the inshore reefs in pursuit of menhaden, herring, and, soon, the squid run.
These bass are falling for live eels, seaworms, soft plastics, and jigs. With all the menhaden around, fishers are finding that linesiders may snub the obvious and turn their attention to something more intriguing. Nonetheless, they are hungry and looking to replenish protein, often paying little attention to another bunker in favor of even a topwater plug. Fishing the minor tidal rivers, coves with sluiceways, and inshore reefs during flood or ebb tides should be considered.
Winter flounder catches have eased during the turbulent weather, but continued with average catches along the shoreline, bays, and in popular channels. Chumming will increase hookups and is recommended when fishing with clams and seaworms. Fluke season is now open, so know the difference in these flounders and their minimum keeper lengths. Bluefish are poking around the reefs and are taking sub-surface artificials and bait. Top water is sparse, as are inshore hookups. Porgy (scup) catches are limited, but improving. Their time on the inshore reefs is short and interrupted by marauding predators.
Reminder
The 2016 International Fly Fishing Film Festival is going on this Friday, May 20 at 7 p.m. at the Yale University Whitney Humanities Center on 53 Wall Street in New Haven. The event is hosted by Yale Fly Fishing to benefit Take a Vet Fishing and Rivers of Recovery. The cost is $20 (credit only). For more info, contact Yale Fly Fishing at 203-444-3651.
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 fly fishing, 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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