Printer Friendly Version - This Fall is Offering Great Fishing, But...

Determined to catch a striped bass, Anna Storino, 12, of Madison finally lands this fine fall one on a live bunker after going through a school of bluefish.Photo illustration courtesy of Captain Morgan

Storms have a tendency to throw fishers off. They wonder if their planned trip will go on, if their vessel will need tending to, and, above all, if the fish will scatter or alter course. We are certainly having an extremely active hurricane season on the Atlantic side and it’s not over yet. Officially, the season ends on Thursday, Nov. 30, so technically, we have a ways to go.

Tucked in on Long Island Sound, somewhat shielded from the bare Atlantic, fish and fishers can enjoy limited protection from the wind and surf. At least winds from the north are dampened for up to a mile offshore before impact is felt. On any given day, striped bass, for instance, might be found in the shallows or farther out on the reefs. If bait is thick, bluefish will be on the school, driving them to the harbors or chasing them down from rip to rip. If the gulls are lazily basking in the sun, bobbing with each series of waves, they soon will awaken and transform into their dive bomber mode.

Fall is a great time to be a fisher and not such a great time to be a fish. A fish’s attention is now geared more toward food or anything similar and, therefore, attack mode is the highest priority. One of the few instances that would interfere with feeding is weather. A combination of turbulent weather and rough seas could do just that.

However, there are those days when the sea beckons. When those windows of opportunity prevail, the unexpected happens. It can happen at any time and to anyone. It could occur when sourcing for bunker to tempt a striped bass during a day when bluefish are also on the prowl.

The rod is jerked and a bass bait is snagged. A single bunker fights and then shifts gears, fighting more erratically before the line goes slack. Then, half a fish is cranked up—the remnants of a bluefish attack. Not to be deterred, the pursuit of Morone saxatilis continues and, finally, you have the catch of the day. A fine Long Island Sound striper is hooked and landed during one of those windows of opportunity typical of fall. There is great fishing ahead, but you must choose your days more carefully during this season.

With hurricanes pounding the Atlantic coast extending wind tentacles that unleashed rough surf, rip tides, and high seas, fishers found little solace in remaining dockside. From Maine, where 10-footers hammered the bays, to Connecticut, where protected waters like Long Island Sound fought back waves half that size, mariners thought twice before venturing out. Despite some cooler air temps and windy conditions, water temperatures held in the high 60s to low 70s, even as small craft warnings were periodically posted.

Bones and albies are stripping line into the backing from eastern to western Sound and are being hooked with epoxies. Conventional fishers are scoring with 10- to 12-pound class setups using deadlies, crippled herrings, and soft plastics. Rip lines during flood tides are hot spots, as are certain reefs that will hold small baits. In most cases and once past windy conditions, the birds will direct you. As an aside, Montauk has been hot!

The striped bass bite has been good, especially the evening one. Live eels and plugs have gotten steady early fall action, however, don’t be fooled by daytime low tides. Inshore activity has been surprising around rocky, shallow water structure. Look to throw some top waters that gurgle. Farther out by the reefs, try drifting some bucktails and chunks or even slow-trolling with soft plastics, spoons, and swimmers.

Bluefish are being found throughout the Sound. Bunker schools have been in and out and so have the choppers. There are some alligators out there, but now, you’ll have to work for them. Check out the bird activity and scan the surface for telltale signs of any blitzes. Small blues are scattered, but can been found along the reefs mixed in with some weakfish chasing bait in and out of harbors. Flood tides around Faulkner’s, Charles, Guilford harbor, Outer Thimbles, and The Beacon have produced catches even in less than ideal conditions.

Scup fishing has been absolutely fantastic. Hubcap size porgies are bending rods and are putting up quite the fight out on the reefs. Fall is their time and they are living up to their reputation. Many of those deep reefs are loaded with black sea bass—large ones approaching five pounds, at least. Closer to shore, one will be reeling up both smaller black beauties and scup, although a dinner plate size porgy is not unusual. Squid is the main bait, but clams and sea worms are readily taken. To round it off, Northern kingfish are taking worms, snapper blues are hitting poppers with small flashy lures, hickory shad are showing in some lower tidal rivers, and the blue crab bite has garnered more attention as catches continue to improve in the rivers and estuaries.

Fall trout stocking took a breather due to the warm weather and will continue as temperatures cool down. Fishing has been challenging, except for the cooler key rivers. Meanwhile, large and smallmouth bass are into their early fall bite and being the aggressive fish they’re known to be. Bottom dwellers like catfish and carp are quite active, black crappie are gaining, pike are on the move, pickerel are feeding, and panfish remain hot.

Registrations for the 29th annual Eddie Beauvais Blackfish Tournament are being accepted. The tournament runs from Saturday, Oct. 14 through Saturday, Oct. 21 and will culminate with a fantastic VFW banquet at Fireman’s Field in Guilford, with the venue donated by its commission. There will be cash awards, trophies, great raffle prizes, a cool T-shirt, super food dishes, and a keg all for $40. You can’t beat it!

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 rod repairs, 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...