Printer Friendly Version - Fishing Hand Lines—Way Back Then and Now

Diego Rodriguez of Guilford made the last day of the spring blackfish (tautog) season count by connecting with nearshore ‘togs that certainly would put a smile on any angler’s face. Photo illustration courtesy of Captain Morgan

It was not long ago during the pre-pandemic era that one of our jaunts was to an island in the Caribbean, more specifically St. Kitts, where one could go back in time to sugar cane mills and plantations that date back to 1643. It was a place where iguanas, geckos, and land crabs outnumbered the native population, and the water was crystal-clear, surrounded by coral-laced reefs and multi-colored fish rarely seen in far north New England.

Lining the town’s main street were happy, talkative folks displaying the morning’s catch spread out on top of outdated newspapers—something that was carried over to many of the general store’s expired labels. Following a dirt road that eventually led to an out-of-the-way local watering hole and neatly blended into the island countryside, it was a place where strangers rarely ventured without being accompanied by a respected local.

His name was Rupert. He knew everyone in town and, more important, knew the local fishing waters and the fishers who fished them. I walked in to a room bustling with typical bar conversation that suddenly ceased until Rupert popped in. We immediately sought out one individual named Sammy, who I later learned captained a wooden skiff painted in island colors that sorely needed a makeover. The paint had been chipped away, revealing several different colors slapped on over the seasons. However, it still floated, and the old Johnson got us to the reefs and channel where a volcano was in clear view.

The gear I brought was well-used and in good shape, but drew some interesting looks and comments. My comment was “Just put me on fish!” Sammy replied, “I will, but not with that stuff!” “We’ll see,” I thought. After all, it performed well in other island ventures. I gave Sammy a little needling when I finally saw the vessel, motor, and an old Penn Senator that had a wobbly handle in need of work attached to a rod missing one guide and another wired and taped.

The scenery was absolutely breathtaking and, as we motored to the reef, Sam explained that the reef we just passed would not be good to fish since it was known to contain copper that contaminates and could cause ciguatera, a fish poisoning. Certain other reefs would be OK since these island fish did not swim from reef to reef. The motor was shut, anchor set, and out came a drop line with multiple hooks attached—about 10. A little fresh bait bits were impaled on each hook and, within about 5 to 15 minutes, every hook had a fish. Those were put into a cooler and off we went in search of barracuda, mahi-mahi, and king mackerel. We fished the channel overlooked by Mount Liamuiga, a 3,792-foot stratovolcano that last erupted 1,800 years ago.

Sammy looked at my gear and then handed me his semi-broken-down Senator as we began trolling the channel. It did not take long to hook up when Sammy yelled, “Wahoo, wahoo! Don’t lose him!” Boy, was he ever excited. A fish like this one would feed his family for a week, let alone fetch a nifty price in town. Just before landing this 76-inch rod-bending jumper, I quipped to Sammy, “You chose the gear!” He laughed.

Thinking back, one of the first fish I ever caught was on a hand line. I have been to other islands where fishermen would even use line wrapped around an old Coke bottle successfully. It was a good day when adding in the other reef fish caught in the process—yes, most on a hand line. Sammy was gifted the wahoo for he and his family, given some well-earned Eastern Caribbean Dollars and, oh yes, left with some of my gear as a memento.

High pressure built in from the coast as the next frontal system and low pressure approached and moved across the waters mid-week, creating cloudy and rainy conditions. High pressure returned as another frontal system developed and influenced the weekend just as another high pressure brought more seasonable temperatures with mixed cloud, sun, and rainy conditions. Additionally, Long Island Sound water temps have moved into the low 50s under southwesterly seas that generally remained calm with periodic gusts from the east.

As the Sound’s water temperatures rise, migrations intensify. Striped bass continue to spread throughout the Sound both from Connecticut’s holdover population and now up from the Delaware-Maryland-Virgina region whose stock will merge with the Hudson River fish heading northwestward. Depending on whether they are coming in from the coast or the rivers, along with where fishers will fish, the sizes of baits, lures, and flies used will vary. In any case, these linesiders are primed to feed, so be prepared for anything from a short schoolie and slot limit fish to one more than 40 inches. Live or chunked, bucktail or jig or plug, soft plastic or fly, be prepared for some fast action if time and tide are in line.

Water temperatures need to be primed for some species like summer flounder (fluke), which prefer temps closer to the high 50s. That picture should change within a week or two when the shorts pile in and the doormats hang off the beaches in 90- to 110 feet, eyeballing bigger baits like whole squid or large strips. Looking ahead just a bit, we can anticipate the opening of the black sea bass season on Thursday, May 19. These fish are hardy, more active in warmer water (50- to 65 degrees) due to a faster metabolism and, therefore, use more energy and require more food. They prefer moving water where the current pushes small fish, crabs, and squid into their path. Make no mistake about it. These scrappy fish will be here ahead of Opening Day, which happens to coincide with when they congregate to spawn in water depths of 10- to 40 feet, typically in late May to mid June.

If you have been out on the reefs, you might want to keep an eye open for some early blues. Baitfish have arrived and there have been a few harbor bluefish catches on light tackle around spots of sparse bird activity. Small spoons, bucktails, and even epoxies, as well as chunk baits, have landed a few, even though topwater action has not fired up. Try the harbor entrances on the incoming tide when bait schools would most likely be driven up river or be corralled by a bridge abutment. Work the channels and bays where there is clean sand and moving water for winter flounder and get ready for a run of sea trout (weakfish).

Trout are more than holding their own in the rivers and trout parks. The Trout Management Areas and trout parks are producing good fish as stocking continues. That holds true for the wild trout areas, too. Look at soaking worms, grubs, and especially scented baits. As water temps get warmer, largemouth bass are chowing down as pre-spawn advances and hunger pangs prompt feeding before the beds get occupied. Jerk baits, spinnerbaits, jigs, and soft plastics are drawing explosive strikes, whereas early and late day fishing has been productive using topwaters. Other lake and pond species are on to worms, grubs, and small jigs.

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 fly fishing, swing by the shop (203-245-8665) open seven days at 21 Boston Post Road in Madison. ntil next time, from your Connecticut shoreline’s full-service fishing outfitter, where we don’t make the fisherman, we make the fisherman better.

Gary Wahl of Killingworth nailed this nice 6-pound, 25-inch rainbow trout using an artificial lure that this beauty could not resist during our action-packed season. Photo courtesy of Captain Morgan