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08/17/2018 12:00 AMLately, the Big Pond has been acting more like the small inland ones. The heat spell has taken its toll on the overall fishing scene, although relief finally came to both the fish and fishers. Air temperatures took a dip from the sweltering heat and the humidity lowered, despite periodic thunderstorms. One could feel it on the water and see it in fishing results.
On a recent trip, it was noted that more baitfish were flourishing, more surface action was apparent, and even the blue shells along the banks seemed to have smiles on their crabby faces as the vessel pointed south. It was one of those days where striped bass fishing took a back seat to a more relaxing daytime type of fishing. It was a time without moonlit excursions, early morning bait collecting, or using red lenses to improve night vision.
Plain and simple, this was to be a bottom fishing tide and, if gulls highlighted a bluefish blitz, so be it. One can always justify a slight detour, right? Seas were rather flat (less than a foot), the tide was trickling in, and there was about a five-knot southwesterly breeze. Other than that, it was typically August. This combination was right for drifting for fluke, leading into some sea bass, and, perhaps, polishing things off with a few porgy (scup).
We rigged up a simple fluke rig tipped with a whole local squid on one setup and tied off the other with a jig head topped with one of those gulp mullets. The first hit was a nice small sea bass on the gulp, followed by a slightly bigger one. Back they went. It took about a half-hour before we hooked into a fluke on the squid. It also went back. Only managing one 24-inch fluke at slightly more than eight pounds on the squid, we moved from about 60 feet to more than 100, where things got a little more snappy.
From here on in, it was sea bass—mostly on the mullets. After once again moving to shallower inshore waters, fluke became more active, but there were still too many shorts. Just before heading to a porgy spot off Faulkner’s, we spotted a school of blues slicing through a large school of small bunker. A commotion erupted, causing gulls to gather and giving us the incentive to abruptly alter course.
It was those feisty bluefish that broke up the day with a mini catch-and-release marathon that woke us up. We did manage to pick up several porgies after everything simmered down and the tide topped off. All in all, it was another relaxing and fun-filled morning simply because we used a little fish sense and followed the tide that led us to the fish.
On the Water
It has been hot and humid as Long Island Sound water temperatures hit 78 degrees with tidal rivers hitting the 80s, while landlubbers sweltered in heavy air more than 90 degrees. There has been fog, rather calm seas, and blistering heat to contend with as fishers baked in the sun and determined where the hot spots would be. Unfortunately, for some people the hot spot was at the helm. Even a few intermittent showers and downpours did little for relief, other than fill the reservoirs.
Nevertheless, porgy fishing remained steady and even intensified. Although catches of dinner-plate size fish are being caught, smaller fish are infiltrating the reefs and the shoreline’s rocky structure. These feisty fighters are taking everything from worms (lugs and sands), clams, squid, and even small jigs, while providing great fun on light gear. Fishing many of the same areas can also land striped sea robins (another tasty fish), northern kingfish, and some serious sand sharks.
Black sea bass continue to be plentiful throughout the Sound, yet as a result of the recent spawn, most fish being caught near shore are small. To reel up a humpback or two, run farther offshore and fish deep. The summer bite of blackfish (tautog) has eased in the heat. They are still catchable, although patiently coaxing one out from a nearby rock pile may prove too daunting for some. If you want to go for it, try a little chumming using smaller hooks. If fluke are gaining your attention, then more of them between 17- and 24 inches are schooling near the bottom. Squid remains the main attractant with perhaps a spearing as a teaser.
Gator-size bluefish continue to be sparse, with the exceptions being the extreme ends of the Sound into Block Island and beyond. Jigging eastern Sound in 120-foot depths has been producing larger blues. Still, central Sound has been seeing mostly harbor-size ones blitzing new schools of Atlantic menhaden—until now. That’s because snapper blues have been more active. They are in the bays, harbors, and along the beaches, biting snapper rigs and shiners.
Drifting or trolling for striped bass has produced fewer fish during the heat spell, unless working the deeper cooler rips. However, in some instances, the effort has produced a weakfish or two to the delight of a fisher. Diamond jigging or soaking bait while chumming has helped in the quest for a keeper-sized striper; the ones that are being caught have been sizable. Live eels played a part in that effort. There has been more bait activity in some tidal rivers that brought in the schoolies taking top waters, soft plastics, and small jigs, but those successfully chasing 50-pound cows have found them on Block Island.
Hickory shad appearances are improving and blue crabbing is getting better as the days go by. Jimmies more than six inches are being scooped, hand-lined, and trapped successfully. The banks and pilings are seeing more crabs. Cruising those by spots is a good bet.
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
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