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12/08/2016 11:00 PMEven if fishing isn’t in your blood, it would be uncanny to have not heard how great it was this past season. Whether living by or frequenting the shoreline, there’s no doubt that one overheard at least one conversation or saw firsthand how productive our fisheries were. Fish were plentiful in restaurants, at the docks, and in fish boxes. Now, with the holidays fast approaching, tables will have platters filled with this season’s catch.
Keep in mind that when we refer to fish, inclusive in our thought is the family of shellfish: clams, oysters, and lobsters, a few more in the harvest this year than last. That said, almost anything gifted to your special fisher will be happily received, considering that whenever there’s an exceptional fishing season, the gear supply is diminished in one way or another. Fishing has a way of doing that.
Sometimes, the sea bottom reacts like a magnet capturing a lure. Other times, a fish decides that it would rather keep it than let a fisher have another cast. Maybe a tree branch along a river bank reaches out and plucks it in mid-flight, taking a length of line along with it. Whatever the reason, the contents of an angler’s tackle box is reduced and those empty spaces need to be refilled.
Perhaps those vacant cubbyholes in the tackle box came about through no fault of its owner. In order to be accommodating, gear that’s often shared may never make the return trip to its previous home. That might be the impetus to pick up some lures, rigs, or miscellaneous accessories that accidentally took a deep-six dive to the sea bottom—a sort of a, “Thank you. I’m sorry. Merry Christmas,” type of gesture.
On occasion, the “oops” follows a clash with a piling, or a splash as something more important hits the drink. That happened to fishers more often this past season than one would imagine. There’s nothing quite like the expression on a fisher’s face when a treasured rod and reel disappears into the depths below. The same holds true as a foot or car door meets one’s favorite trout rod. Something else to consider for the list!
With an ocean of products available to be gifted, knowing just a little bit about your special fisher will go a long way in selecting that unique item. It could be anything from a functional fillet knife to a quality clam rake or a gift certificate. If stumped, trust the experience of your local tackle shop guru to steer you in the right direction. A little thought goes a long way, especially with those who wet a line.
On the Water
As expected, the rain did come, helping to replenish our water supply while raising levels. Those few inches will help river fishers and, if ice sets up this year, bodes well for the hard water hole drillers. During that weather episode, the Sound took on an angry appearance as seas swelled and waves battered the shore. Water temperatures waffled from 51 degrees offshore and 48 degrees inshore as fishing activity gradually slid into pre-winter mode, even though, meteorologically speaking, winter started on Dec. 1.
There have been a few nice striped bass caught in the rivers and few more farther out in deeper water during the new moon. Baitfish like Atlantic menhaden seemed to have thinned, with some small schools gravitating to warmer and more protected waters. Bluefish have split, reducing the bite to almost nil, while many of the seasonal bottom fish turned their tails south or toward the deeper water of the shelf.
A few humpback whales are still feeding in New York waters and so the food supply is holding, but for how much longer remains to be seen. Meanwhile the blackfish (tautog) bite continued until the season closed on Dec. 7. The only hindrance was the uncooperative weather that relegated boaters to inshore waters to avoid the winds. ‘Togs, though, were caught in depths from 15 to 50 feet with some even at 90 feet, where they were readying for their semi-hibernation mode.
Black sea bass can be legally caught through the end of the year and, for what it’s worth, other species like scup and weakfish are also open through then, although pickings are slim. From shore, one might try a few casts for winter flounder or white perch—two more species open through the end of the year.
Word has it that the Atlantic salmon have been keeping fishers busy at the Shetucket River between the dams and along the banks by the fields. Single swing hook spinners, spoons, jigs, and flies have been good attractants. ‘Tis the season to catch one per day for the creel. One should also consider trout fishing at one of the main trout rivers while using a small floating swimmer or streamer.
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 fishing trips, 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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