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07/27/2017 12:00 AMJuly is slipping away and, as the water in Long Island Sound warms up, fishing methods need to change. Fish, like humans, have a comfort zone that they prefer. Biologically, their system can tolerate extremes, but fish will still seek out a place where water temperatures and oxygen levels are preferable.
In order to successfully catch fish on a regular basis, a fisher has to learn to respond to a fishery’s habitat in the same manner a fish would. One must enter into its underwater world and imagine what a fish feels and how it hunts. Think about what would bring a predator to your hook or what could get a fish to react to something invading its space.
Some fish are streamlined and built for speed, like bonito, bluefish, tuna, or musky. Some are built for short bursts and powerful turns, like striped bass, grouper, giant sea bass, or largemouth bass. For speedsters, fishers should look to the open water or straightaways. For ambush fish like the basses, fishers need to look for underwater structure. When summer temperatures warm up the water, fishers need to be conscious of the water column and how it’s affected.
In order for fish systems to perform at their maximum efficiency, temperatures need to fall within optimal ranges. Although this range may be similar among fish that can be found together, they often enter their seasonal domain at different times and leave accordingly. For a fisher to be into fish early and be one of the last to wind up the season with a hookup, he or she needs to be privy to these temperature ranges. To be successful in season, one also needs to pay close attention how those water temperatures stratify throughout the column and then fish those depths accordingly.
When water temperatures are warm, fish metabolism slows, activity simmers down, and they seek cooler water. In this case, fishing those cooler waters in a way that will not cause excess expenditure of energy, such as chunking, could lead to better results, especially when striped bass fishing. Patience is key.
On the Water
We weathered the third heat wave of the season and, during that time, temperatures in Long Island Sound and its tidal rivers rose several degrees. Inshore waters saw temps in the mid-70s, while out in the Sound, the surface was four to six degrees cooler. These conditions brought about fog, followed by winds that ushered in a cool-down.
With the rise in water temps, Atlantic menhaden seemed to pour into the Big Pond and many of its harbors. When the striped bass were not on live eels or artificials, they fed on live bunker indiscriminately and, oddly, even ignored them altogether at times. There were stripers gathered on the reefs, although good catches were made inshore within the boulder-strewn shoreline. Most of the quality catches were made pre-dawn or late in the evening, however, smaller bass have been picked up on surface lures, bait, and soft plastics.
Large schools of bunker are schooling in and out of the Sound, and bluefish are right on their tails—more so than last week. Activity from shore and at the reefs has increased. Most of it has been from bottom fishing (live bait, chunks, and jigs), although there has been a noticeable increase in topwater feeding—and that means poppers. Daytime fishing by any of the rip lines will probably now require wire leaders. Downsizing a bit, it’s time for those snapper rods and poppers to get into action.
Keep fishing deep for black sea bass in excess of four pounds. Both the Connecticut and the New York sides are producing fish on squid and clams, but still, the shallower one fishes, the more apt you are to hook into small ones or scup. The reefs are abundant with these bottom feeders that are even being hooked while drifting. Unlike the sea bass, sizable porgies are being caught from the shore and out on the reefs with simple rigs. Another fish starting to pop up is the northern kingfish, which is usually found in the channels and close to shore. These are fun on light gear and they’re tasty, too.
Fluke have been getting mixed reviews. It all boils down to location and timing. The common denominators are whole squids, fillet strips, or scented baits drifted in depths more than 75 feet. Shorts will outnumber keepers, but there will be some good fish to 10 pounds. For those drawn to the ’togs, there have been fish caught in the boulder patches outside most harbors on worms and crabs that are easily found along the shore. Fishing the bottom with chunks will also get you some large sea robins, twisting sand sharks, and skate. The molt is on. Take a turn into one the shoreline’s tidal rivers and you should be able to catch some shell-filled blue crabs. Find the coolest depth for the best results.
The freshwater lake and pond scene has basically been the three P’s: pike, pickerel, and panfish. One had to work a bit harder for the pike, but the other two were rather easy to catch. Top water night bass fishing was best. The river conditions were improved and trout catches came from solid hookups in the cooler pools and riffles. Both flies, small swimmers, and select spinners produced fish.
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 flies, 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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