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08/17/2017 12:00 AMFinally, the birds began working. Really working. Yes, we had some money-class choppers early on, but no real winners. In fact, most of those were caught below the surface on fresh bait, chunks, or out by the reefs while diamond jigging. When jigging was on the agenda, working the entire water column from top to bottom was the most effective way to aggravate and entice these voracious predators to the hook.
Even though Connecticut regulations are limiting recreational fishers to one striped bass, many people fishing for these fish are sportsters who often release their catch. It’s true that these linesiders captivate the angler not only with their size and fight, but also by the way they hunt. They always seems to offer a challenge with their elusiveness and selectivity.
Pound for pound, however, it’s hard to beat the fight of Pomatomus saltatrix (bluefish). When they are in town, watch out! Bluefish will scout out, chase down, corral, and methodically dispatch a school of bait in such a fashion that the entire fishing community is alerted. Their surgically precise bites are well known, while their relentless pursuit of schools of Atlantic menhaden is documented year after year. When a bluefish is hooked, it won’t stop fighting until it is thoroughly overcome.
When released, it will swim away as if nothing even happened. During a feeding frenzy, lures cast to the school will be devoured and wire leaders shredded as gulls dive for pieces of bunker strewn about. While down below, out of range, a striper or two will take advantage of the morsels that slip through and drift past with the current.
As we wait for flurries of dynamic action that only a hungry school of bluefish can provide, we remember the bent rods, crazy runs, stubborn standoffs, and tail walks of years past. The best way to energize fishers is to place them in front of blitzing blues, especially as fall approaches and contests begin to unfold. Who knows if the International Game Fish Association world record bluefish of 31 pounds, 12 ounces caught on Jan. 30, 1972 will ever be broken? James Hussey secured that accomplishment while fishing the Outer Banks of Hatteras, North Carolina. Hussey passed away on July 10.
On the Water
Inshore water temperatures have significantly reduced their spread to only two or three degrees of separation between west, central, and eastern Long Island Sound. Recently, that range has been fluctuating in the low 70s. How much of an effect that has caused remains to be seen. However, during this time, the fishery has become energized.
Weather moderated, along with the Sound’s sea conditions, giving fishers more of an opportunity to fish the pond. There have been more instances of varieties of fish reaching larger proportions than in the recent past. Usually, there are runs of large and small fish, but this season, size seems to matter. Dogfish have reached excess of five feet, sea robins have almost doubled in size, and the normal 10- to 12-inch northern kingfish far exceeded that.
Meanwhile, small harbor blues flooded the Sound, giving rise to the question, “Where did those big choppers disappear to?” Well, they haven’t left. They’ve just been cruising around deeper offshore waters. They’re showing up at The Race, Six Mile, and even Kimberly. Also, weakies approaching 30 inches have been caught, with some smaller and released by anglers not realizing the minimum legal length is 16 inches. Only one of these fish can be kept daily, though. If small is OK, then cast out a snapper popper or spearing. The little blue rascals have been in!
Striped bass rejoined the party just before and after the full moon. Most of these linesiders have been under 25 pounds, but do not be fooled. Some 40-plus pounders are around the rip lines and calmer structure, taking advantage of whatever forage is available. Live eels have been good producers when either casting to structure or drifting the humps, as have fresh bunker and a few select artificials. Check out Faulkner’s, Goose, Charles, and the areas around Guilford harbor, but move around before hammering one spot too long.
Fluke catches are improving as large fish move into shallower water, pursuing snapper blues and spearing. Shoals, beaches, harbor channels, and lower tidal rivers are seeing some mini-doormat size fish. Squid rigs have been producing large fish in deep water on a slow drift. Be prepared to run into schools of shorts on your adventure. Sea bassers continue to score decent humpbacks in 65-plus inch depths, but if you’re any shallower, be prepared to go through more than your share of shorts. Catching these black beauties is not the issue—hooking into a prize is. Competing for the morsels will be schools of scup, with some dinner-plate size and others small bait stealers.
If you are looking for August freshwater action, largemouths are onto jitterbugs after sunset, cranks in early morning, and soft plastics along weed lines. Try a countdown for smallies or a craw imitation. Catfish and carp are in the rivers and lakes, pickerel are really active, and panfish are hot. You will work for trout, but those caught are being coaxed from deeper and cooler haunts.
Bluefish Tournament
The registration deadline for the WICC 600 $25,000 Big One Fishing Contest is on Friday, Aug. 25, with the contest on Saturday, Aug. 26 and Sunday, Aug. 27. Swing by Captain Morgan’s to sign up for it and the shop’s piggyback. T’s are still available.
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 permits, 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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