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Some of the Best Fishing Lies Just Ahead

September is here! Most schools are back in session and a change in the air is upon us. To fishers, it is the beginning of the pre-fall bite, a time when air temperatures begin their slow downward spiral and fish begin fattening up. To others, Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer. Soon, foliage will take on its familiar seasonal transition as Long Island Sound becomes a haven for fish seeking to fill their gullets.

During the last few weeks, we have seen larger fish give way to new year classes of fish. We have caught smaller scup, black sea bass, and a load of snapper blues. We are beginning to see the re-emergence of the older class of fish that are staking their claim in the food chain. They are keying in on schools of Atlantic menhaden, shad, squid, shrimp, some chub mackerel, snapper blues, spearing, and the like in preparation for their seasonal migration.

What lies ahead are the golden days of the year for the serious fisher, one who can approach the surf with confidence or cruise to a favorite reef, anticipating catching some of the largest, speediest, and toughest fish of the season. Unlike the spring run of local holdovers that are a bit lethargic and very hungry, this variety has loosened their muscles, gotten used to the water temperatures, and are looking for ample protein to bulk up for what’s ahead.

September and October offer some of the best fishing in New England. Reefs explode with feeding frenzies and, anywhere along the rips and shoreline troughs, fishers may stumble upon that food chain at work. It is a raw nature scene that repeats itself over and over again until a drop in water temperatures dictates departure to a more tolerable zone, generally south or out to the depths of the continental shelf.

A fisher’s gear takes on a different look. It becomes beefier, line is heavier, and hooks are stouter. Fish fight hard and fishers even harder. Although many are released to swim again, those fillets that qualify as table fare are thicker, juicier, and quite tasty. Thus, dodging the unpredictable and sometimes inclement weather makes it all worthwhile when following the fall run as it develops.

On the Water

Nights have been getting cooler and the days brisk as Long Island Sound inshore water temperatures hover around the low 70s. Some effects of the mid-Atlantic weather have made their way to New England, creating overcast windy days and episodes of rain. That may have temporarily hampered some shore fishing adjacent to a tidal river, but overall, we are entering a transition period and fishing continues to be good.

Atlantic menhaden schools have bunched up in some harbors and reefs, whether with or without any action below, before abruptly moving out. Lately, they have been chased by bluefish in the mid- to high teens, so that when escape is possible, they are gone. Mid-Sound reefs and lower tidal rivers have been productive between The Race and Faulkner’s, where choppers have taken to both bait and lures. Generally, any top water activity has been relegated to smaller cocktail blues. Snappers have been fairly consistent during flood tides all along the shoreline.

With the drop in temperatures, striped bass have shown more inclination to break out of their early morning-late night pattern. Smaller linesiders have been taking some topwater plugs, sub-surface lures, and worms along drop-offs and near tidal outflows. Mid-size stripers have poked around Hatchet’s, Charles Reef, Faulkner’s North Rip, and, more recently, Brown’s. Drifting live eels or bucktails can entice a bite from deeper water haunts like outer Southwest and the S’s.

Black sea bass are all around the Sound. If it is the five-pounders you are after, fishing 65- to 85-foot depths is where they will mostly be found. Fifty feet has been holding keepers, but in the four-pound range. The shallower you fish, the more apt you are to run into small scup, another fish that is pretty much found throughout the Big Pond. Fluke, the other jointly managed species, is another fish that is more readily being caught than previously. Fish in the eight- to 10-pound range are being hooked with whole squids, strips, or swimming mullets, and are being found from mid-Sound waters to the lower tidal rivers during flood tides.

Sea robins, kingfish, and local sharks are still quite active and are taking worms and chunk baits. Hickory shad are showing up, as are albies and some bones. Blackfish (tautog) season is closed until Tuesday, Oct. 10. Blue crabs are a toss-up. Some rivers are giving up numbers, while others are presenting a challenge. We have seen good males, decent females, and soft shells, but numbers have varied with the location, tide, and temperature. September could go either way.

Get ready for the post-Labor Day bite in the lakes, ponds, and rivers. Basses are responding well to the cooler temps and are taking artificials and worms. Pickerel are quite active, pike are getting more interested, crappie are suspended, and panfish are gorging. Catfish and carp are being caught. Breakout the fly rod or light spinning gear for river trout. Catches are improving!

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 crabbing supplies, 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

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