MARINE FISHING REPORT
Water temperatures in Long Island Sound (LIS) still range from the low 60’s °F in the east to near 70 °F in western LIS. 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 (as in last week’s report) is definitely more consistent during low light periods. Once the sun rises in the sky big cows head off into deeper water. However, live lining bunker, eels, hickory shad, and scup, or using cut chunk baits, trolling the tube and worm, and fishing bucktailed jigs on three way rigs have been effective and will produce a cow during daylight hours. But using these
2009 DEP Fishing Report Number 13, 7/16/2009
methods during low light will vastly increase your success rate. 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, Cornfield Point, Southwest Reef, Sixmile Reef, Falkner Island area, New Haven Harbor, Bridgeport Harbor, and the Norwalk Islands.
BLUEFISH fishing has improved as more fish invade LIS cursing striper anglers! Choppers range in size from 2 to 6 lbs but some monsters in the 12+ lbs range have been taken. Bluefish can be found in the same places mentioned in the striper section with the addition of the Charles Island area to Milford Point, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground area, Penfield Reef, and any of the coastal state parks or access areas for shore angler.
SCUP fishing remains good at any of the rock piles in LIS.
SUMMER FLOUNDER (fluke) fishing is fair to good although catching a legal size fish is a challenge. A lot of sub-legal throwbacks have been 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, Stratford Point to Bridgeport Harbor breakwaters and around the Norwalk Islands. Anglers fishing deep water (80+ ft) have fared better for keepers but you have to be extremely patient.
Also, don’t overlook TAUTOG on the rock piles and structures throughout LIS. With the cooler water temperatures they can still be found in shallow inshore water.
HICKORY SHAD are still hanging out in the Niantic River. Early morning and dusk are the best times.
For regulation updates, please check our website www.ct.gov/dep/fishing
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.
DEP WEEKLY FISHING REPORT
CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106
www.ct.gov/dep
Water temperatures in Long Island Sound (LIS) still range from the low 60’s °F in the east to near 70 °F in western LIS. 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 (as in last week’s report) is definitely more consistent during low light periods. Once the sun rises in the sky big cows head off into deeper water. However, live lining bunker, eels, hickory shad, and scup, or using cut chunk baits, trolling the tube and worm, and fishing bucktailed jigs on three way rigs have been effective and will produce a cow during daylight hours. But using these
2009 DEP Fishing Report Number 13, 7/16/2009
methods during low light will vastly increase your success rate. 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, Cornfield Point, Southwest Reef, Sixmile Reef, Falkner Island area, New Haven Harbor, Bridgeport Harbor, and the Norwalk Islands.
BLUEFISH fishing has improved as more fish invade LIS cursing striper anglers! Choppers range in size from 2 to 6 lbs but some monsters in the 12+ lbs range have been taken. Bluefish can be found in the same places mentioned in the striper section with the addition of the Charles Island area to Milford Point, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground area, Penfield Reef, and any of the coastal state parks or access areas for shore angler.
SCUP fishing remains good at any of the rock piles in LIS.
SUMMER FLOUNDER (fluke) fishing is fair to good although catching a legal size fish is a challenge. A lot of sub-legal throwbacks have been 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, Stratford Point to Bridgeport Harbor breakwaters and around the Norwalk Islands. Anglers fishing deep water (80+ ft) have fared better for keepers but you have to be extremely patient.
Also, don’t overlook TAUTOG on the rock piles and structures throughout LIS. With the cooler water temperatures they can still be found in shallow inshore water.
HICKORY SHAD are still hanging out in the Niantic River. Early morning and dusk are the best times.
For regulation updates, please check our website www.ct.gov/dep/fishing
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.
DEP WEEKLY FISHING REPORT
CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106
www.ct.gov/dep