Printer Friendly Version - Pre-Fall Bite Signals Some Great Fishing Ahead

A dual effort by John DeSarbo of Branford and Dan Lamberton of Guilford hooked and released this sandbar (brown) shark in excess of 7 feet as it was feeding in the waters by Faulkner’s Island. Photo illustration courtesy of Captain Morgan

Hunter Emma, 10, of Old Lyme, hooked into this striking specimen of a 23-inch largemouth bass on an artificial lure while fishing Tiffany Pond located within the Essex Land Trust Preserve. Photo courtesy of Captain Morgan

Can you quickly spot the striped bass in the curl? This is precisely what is occurring close to shore as this feeding linesider is foraging on silversides to bulk up for its migratory journey. Photo courtesy of Captain Morgan

When the next column breaks, it will be fall. Both air and water temperatures will continue their gradual drop, much as a rollercoaster climbs and descends until, eventually, all is quiet. Between now and then, there is much in the way of chasing and fishing to accomplish. This undoubtedly means that a few bruised knuckles and various telltale cuts and scratches will be added to the canvas.

Excitement has a way of interfering with common sense and acquired knowledge. Putting pressure on braided line with bare fingers as its being pulled from a singing spool is one classic example. Another is ignoring the teeth of a bluefish or the tail of a thresher. And one more might be procrastinating with replacing those comfortable but well-worn deck shoes until your elbow and bottom sends a special delivery reminder.

However, all of those missteps are worth it for that one remarkable run and, if the fish gods are generous, a photo-op to follow. The albies have turned the corner. They will make some look foolish and others heroes. Cow linesiders are already in the curls with more attention to fleeting schools of silversides than the potential sting of a hook. While bluefish may get a thumbs down as a gourmet dish by some, other fishers claim that pound-for-pound, they are one of the best sport fish adversaries to be played.

Each one of these species makes a fall run to a warmer winter seasonal habitat. The process of them bulking up during their migration south offers a short-lived unique opportunity for fishers to engage in the ultimate recreational sport fishing. It is the thrill of the chase, the adrenaline rush of the fight and, absolutely, the memory left behind embedded for all time.

Bands of thunderstorms and downpours moved across the state, followed by a cold front and dropping temperatures that set up the coming weekend. Replacing that system was a weak high pressure and another cold front as high pressure once again began building for the coming week and air temperatures wavered from the 70s to the 80s with a sudden drop into the 40s. Seas fluctuated from less than a foot to around 2 feet with periodic gusts to 20 knots, while Long Island Sound water temps took a dip into the low-70s.

As water temperatures gradually edge downward, daylight shrinks, and fall is upon us, we are seeing more of what is setting up to be a promising fall run of fish. Already, cow striped bass are being observed in the curls, chasing baitfish as nearshore troughs are being worked by these same fish. Whether it’s peanut bunker or other baitfish, one could tell the fish have a purpose and are aggressively feeding. It is a good time to fish the shoreline with lures and plugs or to switch over to a fly rod when winds are calm or favorable.

In addition to shore fishing, reefs like Six Mile, Southwest, and The Beacon, as well as several others including some shoals that dot the shoreline, are cranking up with both bass and blues. Diamond jigs, the old standby, are scoring. We still are not seeing a lot of bird and topwater bluefish blitzes, but that could change as temps cool. Certainly, there is more than enough Atlantic menhaden to go around. Keep those top water plugs ready to cast, some chunks for the bottom, and live eels for the linesiders.

Meanwhile, snapper blues are growing and are becoming regular sights along the shoreline during a flooding tide. Cast a snapper popper, small spoon, or work a shiner. They are getting bigger by the day! But, where are the albies? Right now, water temps and weather conditions are prime for a meaningful run into mid-Sound as they are stirring the Rhode Island waters and crossing the Connecticut border. Keep your eyes peeled.

Fall should bring on more weakfish catches, especially on the reefs and toward the eastern and western parts of the Sound. Typically, hookups will come near the lower part of the water column whether trolling or jigging, unless one is feeding near a lower tidal river or sandbar. Big fluke are still evading most fluke hunters, but catches of less than doormat-size (10 pounds) are accumulating. Shorts are still creating more throwbacks, but on the other hand, more keepers are being caught despite their numbers being off.

Two reef or bottom fish that need no introductions or showcasing are scup and black sea bass. Both are found throughout the Sound and in varying depths. Sizes now are mixed, but fall does bring on the slabs and humpbacks in each species. Both will aggressively eat squid, clams, and sea worms. Most of the time they will take a jig with or without bait attached. They can be found near or off shore on most reefs, humps, or bottom structure. Both are fun to catch and friendly to the palate. However, if the slabs are your target, select a section of deeper water with an associated reef. If they are there, it will not take long to find out.

If you enjoy shark fishing in the Sound, then chunk up some bait, put some chum together, and fish the bottom. The water temperature is right and so is the season. There are sand sharks and dogfish cruising the bottom. There are also other species, both familiar and unfamiliar, to be caught—some quite tasty, others edible with a qualifier, and some just for sport.

Blue crabs took a brief hiatus during the recent downpours, but clawed their way back with just as big an appetite or better than before. Sizes are good, softies available, and numbers are keeping trappers, hand liners, and scoopers busy, depending on the estuary.

Lakes and ponds are producing quality largemouth bass on lures and live bait. Smallie action is not far behind, while pickerel and panfish are quite active. Fall channel catfish are being caught in the key tidal rivers, along with some Northerns. Water conditions are somewhat better in the trout rivers, but hooking up requires thought, persistence, and attention to those fish that are stressed.

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 rods, swing by the shop (203-245-8665) open seven days at 21 Boston Post Road in 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.