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 low70’s °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 still remains good at 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,
2009 DEP Fishing Report Number 15, 7/30/2009
Sixmile Reef, Falkner Island area, New Haven Harbor, Bridgeport Harbor, and the Norwalk Islands. Live bait (bunker, eels, hickory shad, or scup) and cut chunk baits have been the ticket for big bass.
BLUEFISH fishing remains good overall with fish ranging in size from about 4 to 10 lbs. Look for diving terns and gulls (especially early in the morning) which is a good indicator that bluefish are ravaging bait near the water surface. Chopper 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.
SCUP fishing is good on the local reefs throughout LIS. Scup fishing is easy with constant action making it a great way to introduce kids into saltwater fishing.
SUMMER FLOUNDER (fluke) fishing remains fair to good. Doormats over 10 lbs have been reported! The usual fluke spots include the Stonington area, Ram Island Reef to Groton Long Point, Niantic Bay area, Black Point, off Hatchett Point, White Sands Beach, Connecticut River on the flood tide, Long Sand Shoal, Falkner Island area, off the New Haven breakwaters, Stratford Point to Bridgeport Harbor breakwaters and off the Norwalk Islands. Again deep water in the 90+ ft. range is your best bet for catching a trophy doormat.
Also, don’t overlook TAUTOG on the local rock piles and reefs. Fishing has been pretty good for these scrappy fighters.
HICKORY SHAD fishing is good in the lower Niantic and Connecticut Rivers.
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
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 low70’s °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 still remains good at 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,
2009 DEP Fishing Report Number 15, 7/30/2009
Sixmile Reef, Falkner Island area, New Haven Harbor, Bridgeport Harbor, and the Norwalk Islands. Live bait (bunker, eels, hickory shad, or scup) and cut chunk baits have been the ticket for big bass.
BLUEFISH fishing remains good overall with fish ranging in size from about 4 to 10 lbs. Look for diving terns and gulls (especially early in the morning) which is a good indicator that bluefish are ravaging bait near the water surface. Chopper 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.
SCUP fishing is good on the local reefs throughout LIS. Scup fishing is easy with constant action making it a great way to introduce kids into saltwater fishing.
SUMMER FLOUNDER (fluke) fishing remains fair to good. Doormats over 10 lbs have been reported! The usual fluke spots include the Stonington area, Ram Island Reef to Groton Long Point, Niantic Bay area, Black Point, off Hatchett Point, White Sands Beach, Connecticut River on the flood tide, Long Sand Shoal, Falkner Island area, off the New Haven breakwaters, Stratford Point to Bridgeport Harbor breakwaters and off the Norwalk Islands. Again deep water in the 90+ ft. range is your best bet for catching a trophy doormat.
Also, don’t overlook TAUTOG on the local rock piles and reefs. Fishing has been pretty good for these scrappy fighters.
HICKORY SHAD fishing is good in the lower Niantic and Connecticut Rivers.
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