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Have You Seen Nervous Water Lately?

Surviving a heat wave requires water and lots of it. The hotter it gets, the more liquids your body loses and the more fluid it needs to replenish. Taking a dunk in Long Island Sound—a favorite among beach-goers—is another way to cool off. And getting behind the controls of a vessel as you head out to a popular gunk hole is surely another way to beat the heat.

Fishers, though, have another thought in mind. Early to bed and early to rise can easily not only beat the heat, but also put a nice catch in the fish box. Pre-dawn can easily be the coolest part of the day. That in and of itself is a reason to hit the briny to test one of your prized spots.

There is a certain time in the summer when the sun bakes, the air hints of menhaden schools, and the water shimmers. When that happens, hardly a gull can be seen in the vicinity, nor is there any frothing visible on the surface. However, something is causing the bunker to create nervous water. What is it?

Most of the time, these schools are so thick that predators like bluefish and striped bass are under them picking off one fish at a time. That nervousness travels up and, by the time it reaches the top, what we see is shimmering or nervous water. Unlike when predators tear into a school, creating havoc where bunker break the surface and gulls dive for the pieces chopped by the blues, this scenario creates a condition that is hardly noticeable.

Unless a fisher takes his or her offering deep enough, chances are that catches will be limited. Jigging here could be a good option, as well as dropping a live bunker to the bottom. If and when this nervous water turns into a frenzy, then it is topwater time and the fun begins. Lately, with the increase in water temperatures, large schools of Atlantic menhaden have moved or have been driven into some harbors. Certainly, that will create some excellent inshore fishing and energize the lower tidal rivers. So, if you are trying to beat the heat, not only should your body be doused with water inside and out, but wetting a line can also go a long way in accomplishing that goal.

On the Water

Along with July’s Full Thunder Moon came air temperatures in the 90s. Needless to say, Long Island Sound inshore water temps took another hike, flirting with the mid- to high 70s and causing the fishery to react accordingly. Brief periods of rain did little to quell the heat as east winds gave way to south and southwest ones. Still, seas remained relatively calm, cresting to about a foot.

The fluke fishery made some headway as more fish approaching double digits were boated. Deep water bordering the 100-foot mark seemed to be the key with squid being the main attractor. The closer to shore you drifted, the smaller the fish. As in the past few weeks, shorts are still outnumbering the keepers, but they, too, are showing better sizes. Do not rule out a mini-doormat that you may intercept as it works the beach heading for a tidal river. Try Six Mile Reef, Faulkner’s area, and a drift line from there to Hammonasset using a bait-rigged heavy bucktail as a bottom weight.

Porgy (scup) are definitely commanding respect as the bite continues to draw attention. As shore access becomes prime turf and some popular spots are fading away along the shoreline, fishers are becoming more creative. If there is a way to fish for one of a family’s favorite fish, porgy pounders will find it. These little salt water scrappers are taking clams, worms, and scented artificials including small jigs.

Striped bass have perked up during the full moon cycle, especially around the wee morning high tide cycle when temps cooled. Add the recent surge of menhaden that hit the Sound and it is no wonder the bite responded. Inshore catches were generally in the 36- to 38-inch range, although schoolie action continued. Live eels have been productive, along with chunk bait, plugs, and jigs. There were also some runs of small harbor bluefish chasing those several fresh menhaden schools—not exactly a frenzy, but a feeding spree nonetheless. Run to The Race for some double-digits as some make their way into the Sound. For now, they are not overfished and overfishing is not occurring. Let’s keep it that way by releasing those that won’t be consumed.

Bottom fishing continues to roll on as numbers of sizable sand sharks are being caught. Skate, sea robins, northern kingfish, and periodic catches of good size blackfish (tautog) are happening all along the shore, while black sea bass catches are easing—go deep for the humpbacks. Weakfish are being caught, snapper blues should be showing up really soon, and blue crabs are filling buckets.

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. In the interest of protecting the species, starting on Sunday, Sept. 1, and pending new 2020 regulations, the shop will no longer weigh striped bass (Morone saxatilis) in excess of 40 inches (head tip to tail tip), but will still accept on-the-water catch-and-release photos.

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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