This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
08/29/2017 12:00 AMAs the weekend approached and the weather looked promising, fishers began to focus on the WICC Bluefish Tournament. Lately, only small harbor blues had been making a splash. The heavier choppers that were tearing up the shoreline a short time ago headed for deeper water before the bad weather hit. This was going to be a guessing game, although early indications pointed favorably toward mid- to eastern Sound since more larger blues began showing up.
Registrations ended before attention was directed toward what would be needed to bring in a winning fish—or least one that was tied to some cash. Due to this odd season in which fish have been constantly moving—sometimes feeding and other times under bait schools doing nothing—the old salts were tight-lipped. Both strategies and locations were not easily given up, if at all, as conversations persisted.
Lines in was Aug. 26 at 12:01 a.m. Long Island Sound weigh-ins for the first night were light, with only three fish recorded by 6 a.m. The heaviest at 14.19 pounds came from eastern Connecticut, the next at 11.77 pounds from western New York, and the third at 10.22 pounds from western Connecticut waters—a ways to go to surpass last year’s winner of 18.52 pounds. And thus, the battle of the two states began.
Action picked up as the tide flipped Saturday morning from ebb to flood and more fishers elected to fish the incoming tide. Seas were about one foot, but only because of a 5- to 10-knot easterly wind, which does slow down a bite at times. By 8 a.m., a 15.02-pounder from central Connecticut waters hit the scale, setting us up with the top four fish. By 9 a.m., only eight had been weighed, representing fewer than half of the weigh-in stations. Come noon, Connecticut had 7 of the top 10 and New York had 3.
Shortly before 1 p.m., two more Connecticut fish were logged: one at 15.96 pounds and the other at 15.39 pounds, with the bottom fish at 13.04. The leader board now showed fish from the 13- to 15-pound pound range. Score: Connecticut 10, New York 0. Then a 17.04-pound blue was logged in New York. Would this be the big one?
The day ended with the leader board giving Connecticut an 8-2 edge. While the 17.04-pounder was still holding on to first, a 16.63-pound blue jumped into second. The last eight slots fell within 15 pounds, with 10th now resting at 15.17. “Hard fishing” was an expression heard throughout the day.
The significant change occurring overnight was a 17.39-pound Connecticut blue that regained first place from New York by 0.35 pounds. By 10 a.m., another 17-pound New York blue was logged, as well as a 15.46-pound blue from Connecticut, making it Connecticut 8, New York 2. Early- to mid-afternoon featured another couple of 15-pound changes that ultimately saw 15.53 pounds in 10th. With two hours to go, Connecticut led 7-3. By 4 p.m., a 17.16-pounder and a 16.10 pounder were added to the board moving, 15.78 into 10th. The score was now tied at 5. By the 5 p.m. cutoff, a 16-pound Connecticut blue was added, dropping 15.80 to 10th and bouncing out New York’s 15.78. The unofficial final score was Connecticut 6, New York 4.
The complexion of WICC Bluefish Tournament certainly changed when the number of competing places was reduced from 20 to 10 and the prize structure revamped. In terms of the final individual results, which are unofficial and subject to change, first place went to Chris Hines from Connecticut at 17.39 pounds, Andy Locascio of New York took second at 17.16, and third place was claimed by New York’s Francis Kenny with his catch of 17.04 pounds. The bottom weight (10th place) was pulled in by Danny Bocchino of Connecticut and weighed 15.78 pounds. For Captain Morgan’s port prize and shop contest, Guilford’s Keith Staschke took top honors at 15.10 pounds.
On the Water
One couldn’t ask for a better way to slip into a fishing weekend: cool mornings, low humidity, and pleasantly warm afternoons. Inshore water temperatures have been holding around 74 degrees with fairly good visibility, aside from some morning patchy fog. With a couple of minutes of daylight being lost, the summer is slowly waning, opening the door for brisk fishing on the horizon.
Schools of Atlantic menhaden have become more predictable, showing up in select harbors. Those scattered along the reefs gave way to more top water bluefish activity, while chunkers, jiggers, and trollers had to go deep for any sizable ones. Inshore bluefish catches leading up to the weekend’s tournament were inconsistent, forcing fishers on a chopper hunt, usually having to seek out deeper waters. Chum has been a key ingredient for bottom fishers.
Striped bass have been a bit more aggressive around the bunker schools, but not overly committed. The night bite has been the best bet for landing a decent linesider, either on a live eel, bunker, or plug. However, much of the local fishery has been laying low prior to the temperature drop and perking up just after. Light gear enthusiasts have been picking up smaller bass, as are those diamond jigging the drop-offs.
Sea bass continue to be prolific throughout the Sound, with the results of the spawn being felt due to the numbers of smaller fish available. Hooking up is not the issue; getting past the juvies and the undersized scup is. Humpback sea bass are being caught in 60-plus feet of water on mostly squid setups.
Although larger fluke have been caught while drifting bottom in offshore waters, some are following the snapper blues that are now six- to nine inches and spearing into much shallower water and lower tidal rivers. Mid-Sound doormats are being caught in the 12-pound range, but fishers will have to scour the sea floor for them.
Blackfish (tautog) have been caught while fishing the rocky areas of the shoreline. Fishers will be able to catch their creel limit of two to 16 inches through Thursday, Aug. 31 until it re-opens again on Tuesday, Oct. 10 at four fish. Sea robins, sand sharks, northern kingfish, and other bottom fish are also being caught, as well as blue crabs that are being scooped, trapped, and brought in with throws.
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
captainmorgan.fish@sbcglobal.net
captainmorgan-fish.blogspot.com
twitter @captmorgan_usa