Printer Friendly Version - Mid-Week Holiday Sparks Patriotic Celebrations

Proud moment when Johnny Jillson (6) of Guilford caught his first saltwater fish—this 16-inch porgy—on his very first boat fishing trip, while out by Faulkner’s Island with his dad John. Photo courtesy of Captain Morgan

The recent Fourth of July holiday saw flags flying high, but not much in the way of tall corn stalks. Perhaps, though, it was the tall ships and their fully rigged masts that drew onlookers to the seas to catch a glimpse of any that might sail through on their way to one of our nearby harbors. Or, maybe, the draw was the Sound itself. Either way, it was a week that saw summer finally latch onto the shoreline.

The holiday falling mid-week often forces people to adjust their celebratory plans. However, there is so much to do on or around the water that finding enough time often turns out to be the dilemma. No doubt, state beaches will be full with fine weather forecast, although Long Island Sound itself always has plenty of space for all. The one caveat is that fireworks and the local harbors do draw crowds.

It is during this time that the red, white, and blue holiday-goers are always on the lookout for something new to try. Fishers fill that goal to no end, looking for unique methods of fishing, new spots to try, or fish to catch. It’s a time for dads and moms to take the little ones fishing for the first time or venture out in their seasonally prepped vessel to a new gunk hole.

There are porgies, sea bass, and fluke to catch during a relaxing tide, along with plenty of bottom fish to raise eyebrows, and striped bass and bluefish to get the adrenaline flowing. Clammers and crabbers relish in seeing what the flats and estuaries have to offer, all of which makes for a fun day on the water and a great food sampler.

Above all, let us not forget that on July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was published and has been celebrated hereinafter on this day. So, Happy Fourth of July to everyone and please give a celebratory salute to Old Glory.

A few great days before the holiday brought fishers out to the Sound, although that was interrupted by some fog and badly needed rain. Seas were roughed up earlier in the day due to some easterly winds, but leveled off later in the afternoon. That kept inshore water temperatures in the mid-60s, although fish kept entering the Big Pond, while those already here continued to settle into their summer home. However, the holiday week saw fine weather and a heat wave that followed the strawberry full moon.

During the fluctuation in weather adjustments, some fish took a brief hiatus until wind and seas calmed down. Striped bass resumed their bite on the reefs and in the lower tidal rivers. They continued to have an appetite for live eels, menhaden, and chunk baits. Sea worms were working well with trolling tubes and casting from shore, while drifting bucktails and jerking chutes did well on the popular inshore and mid-Sound reefs.

Black sea bass saw a bit of a change as more fish in the two- to three-pound class became the norm, with fewer humpbacks weighing four- to five pounds boated. Plenty of small fish were caught closer to shore in depths less than 40 feet that easily translated into daily limits of five and good meals. However, this is about par for this part of the season. Hi-lo’s, jigs, and squid for bait keeps on working on the humps and bumps.

The scup bite is getting better and better. Sizes continue to amaze many fishers both inshore and on the offshore reefs. Porgies in the high teens and more than two pounds are taking sea worms and squid on simple setups. Most reefs and rock piles are seeing action throughout the Sound, especially around Faulkner’s Island, Kimberly Reef, Charles Reef, Half-Acre, and Goose Rocks.

Catch the incoming tide for some eating size harbor blues. They’re not quite ready to target by themselves, but they are out there taking spoons, jigs, chunks, and umbrella rigs. Track the bunker along the beaches and put your 12-pound class setup to work for some of their typical rod-bending and zip-lining action. When trolling, there is a good chance of picking up one of those late spring weakies if working the lower water column. Drifting low enough would, in all probability, put you in touch with a run of summer flounder. Most of the followers will be on the short side, although fluke in the 24- to 30-inch range are taking squid and scented baits. Sizes will vary with depth and cuts of bait used.

Shore fishing has varied from spot to spot. Those areas inundated with bottom structure or adjacent to a tidal river have been highly productive. There has been a variety different species caught from sea robins and fluke to bluefish and dogfish, especially schoolie bass on flies and various hard- and soft-bodied lures. The rivers are seeing periodic runs of hickory shad and an increasing number of small legal-size blue crabs.

Lately, lakes and ponds have had variable bass activity, with some waters outpacing others by a good degree. Live shiners, as well as artificials, offered an array of choices. Working a live crawler near the bottom, very slowly, has done wonders. Pickerel are still aggressive, catfish are bottom feeding, carp are slow to respond, sunnies are nibbling, while perch and crappie are biting on worms and small jigs. Trout have slowed, but perked up after the recent rain.

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...

Far from the typical short, this fine 30-inch, 12.5-pound Long Island Sound doormat fluke was caught by Metages ‘Tag’ Ivy (right), accompanied his father Mike (middle) and brother John (left), aboard Flying Connie during an ebb tide. Photo courtesy of Captain Morgan