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11/11/2020 11:00 PMWe are heading toward mid-November and still in the throes of an unusually mild fall. Let’s see how long the season stretches out since this fishing weather is new territory for most.
There’s no doubt that air and water temperatures will eventually fall, causing it to feel as though winter is again approaching. Upon observing storage areas of New England marinas, you can see an increasing number of vessels being readied for their season-ending rests. The result is scattered empty spaces where boats once berthed. These can be key to some good fishing and, if the spots are along a tidal river, all the better.
Areas such as these can be a source of prime forage for striped bass. They are usually found around structures like empty docks, pilings, uneven river bottoms, and bends in the rivers—all things that can amount to productive ambush points. As fall baitfish gather, many smaller stripers can be found feeding incessantly on schools of baitfish like silversides, shad, crabs, and the like. Most of these linesiders will eventually hold over in one of our key rivers for the winter. Some will migrate out of the Sound.
Until then, water temperatures will continue to drop, fewer fishers will brave the colder air, and fishing, although at times challenging, will be worthwhile and rewarding. Actually, the diehard fishers will refuse to quit until they are thoroughly convinced that the striper Sound is done for the season. And that will not be until cast after cast results only in chills to the body and a lifeless rod.
For the most part, gear will be on the light side, the use of bait will vary, and lures will range from soft plastics to hard ones including the ever-popular and revered bucktail. From the Thames to the Housy, the schoolie action has been good. We may be targeting what mainly is running now, yet we cannot rule out slot limit qualifiers or better. After all, schoolie-size striped bass aren’t the only class of stripers that hold over in our rivers for the winter. So, if you are near or on the water, this is the time to definitely have a rod handy.
On the Water
Back into a warming trend, the shoreline enjoyed air temperatures into the high 60s. This was quite a relief from the prior cold and first snowfall of the season. Long Island Sound inshore water temps dipped into the low 50s after resting at about 61 degrees for a bit. However, they did climb back into the mid 50s again as fishers returned to calmer seas and south-southwest winds—a turnaround from the gale warnings and 35- to 50-knot wind gusts.
There is no dampening of fisher enthusiasm as the season continues to roll on. We had a good run of striped bass and catches remain good, although down a peg or two. Loads of Atlantic menhaden are still filling the shoreline, along with schools of hickory shad. More fish are on them as stripers forage in the tidal rivers, the bays, and along the shoreline. There has been plenty of action on light gear (10-to 12-pound class), even though fishers using bait like live eels or chunks have been experiencing hookups with larger fish. Opt for diamond jigging or drifting bucktails out on the reefs and one-ounce sizes when casting inshore or larger sizes when out on the jetties or beaches. There is quite a bit of life for this fishery before the season fades.
Catches of larger bluefish hit the Sound prior to the latest blows, but fizzled out soon thereafter. With air and water temps bouncing back over the week, hooking into a few smaller fish could be realistic considering the amount of bait around. As we roll into November, fishing days have seen slim pickings for any sea trout (weakfish) chasers. However, not so for the porgy (scup) pounders who have been working the offshore reefs for some slabs. The same holds true for the black sea bass fishery. These beauties are spread out with deeper water remaining the best place to dunk some bait, especially if you are looking to avoid the aggressive shorts.
Well, the hot fishery is none other than blackfish (tautog). The stories are many, the fish are cooperating, and the ’toggers continue to be taken to the cleaners. Short fish less than 16 inches are plentiful and the root cause of many hookups and releases. There some good white chins approaching double digits, but not like the good ol’ days. Although catches continue to be made from jetties and nearshore rock piles, fish seemed to move farther out a bit following the temperature drop and inshore sea conditions. Nevertheless, if the weather holds, fishing should remain decent through Saturday, Nov. 28, which is the last day of the 2020 season.
As the weather broke and rainfall continued to reduce our nine-inch water deficit, trout fishing improved. Many trout rivers (including Trout Management Areas), parks, and lakes have already received multiple stockings, bringing out even more anglers. There have been nice catches of tiger trout as well as the normal rainbows, brookies, and browns. Atlantic salmon catches have also improved with some very colorful and outstanding fish caught both on flies and spoons. Lake and pond fishing took a turn upward as air and water temps rose, giving more life to bassers, along with anyone enjoying pickerel, pike, and catfish. It is recommended that boaters check the seasonal drawdowns before heading out to see the affect that the boat launches.
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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