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10/21/2021 12:00 AMWith a lot more fishing left to the 2021 season, anglers are doing their best to stretch it out as long as they can. When thoughts of a rushed holiday season materialize in an attempt to make up for lost time due to COVID-19, fishers are suddenly faced with unseasonably warm air and water temperatures. Those welcome days are stopping them in their tracks. What’s more, fish are biting and don’t seem to be in a hurry to leave their summer abode.
The unofficial end of summer, Labor Day, typically sparks an exodus from the water by many boaters to begin their hauling ritual. Not this year, though. In spite of all the hoopla generated through all sorts of media and under the cloud of upcoming delays and shortages, fishers aren’t willing to relent until their bones tell them that it’s time to make their last cast in the briny.
Catching the season’s last fish would be nice, but this time of year, especially now, it’s more than just a fish. It’s hanging on to a relationship with the water that offers as much space as desired, along with fresh air, a venture without crowds, and an opportunity to relax and clear one’s head.
There is still plenty of fishing to go. Blackfish (tautog) season is in full swing and, with the Long Island Sound’s warm water, these favorites are spread out. Overfished and smaller than most ‘toggers would like, they are nevertheless one of a fisher’s choice species. The albies and bonito are still challenging one’s skill, dexterity, and stamina. The bluefish will soon be gone, although our beloved striped bass will remain in the Sound until it’s time for that last cast, which is still quite a ways off.
New Englanders love to hang on to their time-tested traditions and, likewise, thoroughly enjoy the change of seasons. Unlike any other part of the country and often missed when moving away, the four seasons give us the opportunity to regroup, morph into different modes, and add spice to our menus. So, as long as we’re still able, let us enjoy as much of this prolonged season as possible, along with the extra bonus days of just being on or near the water and catching (or not) those fish still binging on the Sound’s forage. After all, this is the time of the year known to give up prize catches.
On the Water
It was mid-week following the opening of the fall tautog season that sea conditions finally moderated to around a foot, winds calmed down, and inshore Long Island Sound water temperatures gained a bit back to 69 degrees. The cold front passed as high pressure took over until the weekend, when a stronger frontal system and higher winds affected the area, followed by the return of high pressure.
There were some great days for ‘tog pullers, but also ones where playing the lee side was a must in order to dodge a rocky mishap when fishing the walls. The nearshore reefs got plenty of play and also did well when wind wasn’t a factor. As the season progressed, ‘togs were generally caught were in the three- to five-pound range, providing enough for table fare and the freezer. Combinations of single hooks, multiple hook rigs, and jigs baited with crabs were the mainstay for most fishers. Some opted for clams, mussels, or sea worms, but crabs were the predominate bait.
Striped bass are biting! With breaks in the weather, calming winds, and cooler dawn and dusk air temperatures, schoolies and slot limit bass are onto flies and surface plugs, as well as swimmers. Reading the water is advantageous when picking a spot, because it will give a fisher an edge in determining a feeding pattern. The Sound’s reefs are producing linesiders on diamond jigs, trolling swimmers, and spoons, while live eels and chunk baits are doing well from shore and on vessels working the rip lines. Check out Long Sand Shoal, Southwest, and Faulkner’s.
We are seeing more bluefish being caught in the 8- to 12-pound range on plugs, jigs, umbrella rigs, and chunks. These fish have been aggressively feeding. Large schools of Atlantic menhaden remain throughout the Sound, as well as in many of its bays and harbors, but are thinning out. Additionally, hickory shad have been making runs along the beaches and tidal rivers that have added additional forage and generated much feeding with both the blues and bass.
Most of the albie and bonito action still remains east and west, although there have been more interactions occurring mid-Sound lately. Be it fly or spin, epoxies and speedy metal lures have been connecting with these speedsters as one minute they are chasing rainbaits through the rips, then will suddenly dive down and ultimately succumb to a jig.
October always cranks up bottom fishing. Despite of this month’s normal weather trends (warmer temperatures aside), the porgy (scup) bite rages on. Shore goers and reef seekers are into both slabs and smaller fish. Squid, sea worms, and clams have been good baits. Black sea bass are all over the board when it comes to depths with 19- to 20-inch fish being picked up from 40- to 60 feet, and of course, larger knotheads in more than 95 feet. The bottom is still holding plenty of quality dogfish, good triggerfish, skate, sea robins, northern kingfish, and toadfish. You may have to work a bit harder, but blue crabbers are finding keeper-sized crabs and better.
Word spread fast around trout circles about stocking and the quality of fish being caught. Trout Management Areas are seeing numbers of anglers hitting the sweet water, where flies and conventional tackle are finding their marks. Catch-and-release areas have been hot. Check out the lakes and ponds for the bass and perch families, as well as pickerel and other panfish and catfish in the upper tidal rivers. Northern pike have also began showing their teeth.
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 the latest gear, swing by the shop (203-245-8665) open seven days located at 21 Boston Post Road, Madison. Masks required inside. 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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