2009 DEP Fishing Report Number 14, 7/23/2009
MARINE FISHING REPORT
Special notice to saltwater anglers concerning the marine waters fishing license:
Public Act 09-173, the legislation that includes a saltwater recreational fishing license requirement, was signed into law on July 1st. A marine waters fishing license is now required for fishing in the Marine District (this includes Long Island Sound and tidal rivers south of the freshwater demarcation lines as listed on page 46 of the 2009 Connecticut Angler’s Guide).
Environmental Conservation Police will be checking for licenses and initially focusing their efforts on education and outreach. Saltwater anglers need to purchase their license as soon as possible.
The new licenses are available online (www.ct.gov/dep/fishing) and at all current vendors and DEP offices where the existing freshwater fishing and hunting licenses are sold. Please refer to the DEP website for additional information.
Water temperatures in Long Island Sound (LIS) range from the mid 60’s °F to around 70 °F. Water temperatures should rise slowly as we finally get into a more summer like weather pattern. Check out the following web sites for more detailed water temperatures and marine boating conditions:
http://www.mysound.uconn.edu/stationstat.html
http://marine.rutgers.edu/mrs/sat_data/?nothumbs=1
http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/
http://www.wunderground.com/MAR/AN/330.html
Remember to check the 2009 Connecticut Angler’s Guide for tidal information (page 52) and pages 49-51 for saltwater trophy fish award information.
STRIPED BASS fishing remains good for cow bass especially for anglers live lining bunker, eels, hickory shad, and scup, or using cut chunk baits. Striper spots include the Watch Hill reefs, the Race, Sluiceway, Pigeon Rip (south of Plum Island), Plum Gut, outer Bartlett Reef, Millstone Point (power plant warm water discharge), Hatchett Reef, Long Sand Shoal, DEP Marine Headquarters fishing pier, Cornfield Point, Southwest Reef, Sixmile Reef, Falkner Island area, New Haven Harbor, Bridgeport Harbor, and the Norwalk Islands.
BLUEFISH fishing is fair to good overall depending on the location and tide (in other words avoid slack tide if possible). Bluefish spots include the Watch Hill area, Ram Island Reef in Fishers Island Sound, the Race, Pigeon Rip, Plum Gut, lower Connecticut River, Long Sand Shoal, Sixmile Reef, New Haven Harbor, Charles Island area to Milford Point, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground area, Penfield Reef, and the Norwalk Islands. Basically during this time of year, bluefish can be found anywhere in LIS.
SCUP fishing remains good at any of the rock piles in LIS.
2009 DEP Fishing Report Number 14, 7/23/2009
SUMMER FLOUNDER (fluke) fishing remains fair to good with a lot of sub-legal throwbacks being reported. Fluke spots include the Stonington area, Ram Island Reef to Groton Long Point, Niantic Bay area, Black Point, off Hatchett Point area, White Sands Beach, Connecticut River on the flood tide, Long Sand Shoal, off Hammonasset Beach State Park, Falkner Island area, New Haven Harbor, Milford area, Stratford Point to Bridgeport Harbor breakwaters and around the Norwalk Islands. Fishing deeper water in the 90+ ft range increases your chances of catching a doormat.
There have been reports of some big TAUTOG on the local rock piles/reefs, pilings and other structure in LIS.
HICKORY SHAD are in the Niantic River and lower Connecticut River (DEP fishing pier).
For regulation updates, please check our website
www.ct.gov/dep/fishing
DEP WEEKLY FISHING REPORT
CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106
www.ct.gov/dep