This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
09/12/2019 12:00 AMWhen key parts come together to form a perfect storm, a fall bite is typically energized. Monday, Sept. 23 marks the beginning of the astronomical fall season, which is when the September equinox occurs. In order to have a perfect striped bass bite, we need a cooling of water temperatures, a food supply, and the sense of a seasonal change that generates the need to feed.
Aside from any serious storms that might temporarily alter conditions, when these three elements come together, the invisible switch is flipped and fishing rods begin to bend—seriously begin to bend! At this point, striped bass will be caught in the bays, lower tidal rivers, and structure-based ambush points. Here, they feed while baitfish like Atlantic menhaden are flushed with the outgoing tide and into the waiting jaws of hungry linesiders in need of protein for their southern migratory journey or their winter respite in local holdover tidal waters.
Not only are striped bass affected in this manner, but just like a domino effect, other species of fish sense the need to move into a more ideal habitat. As water temperatures drop, different species sense the change as those temperatures approach the lower end of their optimum range. Those that do not act in accordance with these signals generally perish or seek out warm water outflows of power plants, where they remain for the winter.
Recently, we have started to see fish feed more aggressively, even being fooled more readily and with less caution to a fisher’s offering. This is typical for this time of year. To many, this is considered the best time to be fishing. We have gone through the seasonal changes when holdovers woke up. Schools of fish have migrated up the Atlantic coast, fed essentially to recoup lost energy, spawned, and then fed again to bulk up for their next journey, only to repeat the cycle the following season. This is the life of a fish and the path that fishers follow in pursuit of an adventure.
On the Water
Hurricane Dorian overstayed its welcome while churning the waters along the eastern seaboard. Nevertheless, its brush with Long Island only momentarily disrupted the fishing pattern in the Sound during periods of wind-driven surf. All the while, inshore water temperatures remained in the low 70s as fishers looked for windows of opportunity to wet a line.
Large schools of Atlantic menhaden continue to spread out throughout the waters and into bays with not much in the way of topwater blitzes appearing. Harbor blues are the ones generally being caught mid-Sound, along with some double digits being hooked in deeper water and occasionally near shore. Check out the lower tidal rivers for the peanut feeders. Diamond jigging, trolling umbrellas, chunking, and flashy tins are the way to go. It is the snapper blue activity that has many shore-goers joining in groups. Catches have been good as each day adds size to these family favorites.
The best striper bite has been occurring during daybreak or around sundown and later. Live-lining eels in the bays continue to be a choice method, especially this time of year. Both the rips and the offshore reefs are beginning to light up with catches being made using jigs, chunks, and trolling gear. Plugs and soft plastics have also been productive in shallow water, by structure, and in the harbors. Six Mile, Southwest, Faulkner’s, The S’s, and several inshore structure-filled feeding areas gave multiple catches. If you have not switched to inline circle hooks when bait fishing, now is the time to do so.
Weakfish continue to be caught from Six Mile to Faulkner’s and into the New Haven-West Haven area. Trolling rigs, drifting bucktails, and soaking worms or squid in the deeper part of the water column are getting the best results. Sizes have been ranging from less than 16 inches to slightly more than 24 inches, giving fishers the opportunity for a tasty meal. Searching for albies and bonito continues as fishers hook into more of these speedsters each day with epoxies, metals, and flies. Catches of black sea bass remain good with more shorts being released and the four- to five-pound fish harder to catch. For those, deep water is still the answer and squid is the bait of choice. Large porgy (scup) more than 15 inches are feeding on the main reefs and sucking in sea worms, squid, and clams—even small jigs and scented baits. This fishery is going bonkers! Kimberly, Goose, Charles, and Madison reefs are offshore spots to try. Actually, it would be difficult to find any substantial reef or rock pile that would not have these scrappers around.
Hickory shad are hitting the tidal rivers, the inshore northern kingfish bite is great using worms or clams, and sand sharks are taking chunk bait fished on the bottom. A mix of blue crabs are on pilings, along the banks, and down river. Incidentally, fall trout stocking begins this week in the trout parks, management areas, and many of the popular waters.
‘Tog Tourney,
Blackfish (tautog) season opens in one month and, on Saturday, Oct. 12, the 31st Veterans Memorial Blackfish Tournament begins. As usual, there will be prizes for the winning fish, a raffle, a cool T-shirt, and a fantastic buffet put on by Guilford’s VFW. Tickets are $40 and will be available at the shop and the VFW. For details, call 203-245-8665.
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 permits, 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
captainmorganusa@hotmail.com
captainmorgan-fish.blogspot.com
twitter @captmorgan_usa