By Tim Coleman
If you want a chance at a larger striper in nearby waters you have two choices: the Greenville Dam area down river along the Shetucket River or down river from the Baldwin Bridge over the lower Connecticut River; the former accessed from shore at night, the latter perfect for a small boater during the day.
Captain Jack Balint at the Fish Connection reported larger bass caught during the week by locals out after dark along the Shetucket, fishing shallow running plugs or large plastics like the Slug-Go or Fin-S Fish. Bunker schools have arrived in Norwich Harbor, some moving up into the Shetucket where they are in range of the shore anglers at Norwich.
Jack was good enough to give me the nickel tour of shore spots Wednesday afternoon along the upper Thames; those access points sorely needed as our shore population grows and more people want the fun of catching a bass or bluefish.
A few blues were caught from Gales Ferry to Buoy 27 or you might try your luck for winter flounder at Bluff Point, the potential is a few for supper, that reinforced by a two-fish-per-day limit.
Down at River's End Tackle in Old Saybrook, I spoke with a gent nicknamed "Q" that said the spring run of bass in the lower Connecticut River is now at its peak. It was very common for two anglers in a small boat to land a dozen or more bass in a tide, maybe one of them a 38-incher. Those were caught on all manner of top water plugs or plastic lures, a few of those hit or chopped in half by the first blues of the new season.
The local runs are holding plenty of herring but unfortunately the once-grand flounder fishing in the river is very poor, so bad almost no one is trying. There are also some bass from time to time along the local beaches like the Saybrook Town Beach.
Roger at J&B Tackle said you might catch some winter flounder off the Groton Airport by drifting rather than anchoring, moving spot to spot looking for the smaller pods of fish that are the norm today. He also had a reliable report of the first couple medium bass trolled up at Six Mile Reef but not anything confirmed from The Race.
We have some flounder in the Niantic River said Captain Howard Beers at Hillyers but the hot news of the moment is all the school bass and some keepers in the lower Connecticut River from Saybrook Point up to the 95 Bridge-and points north if you want to travel.
Red at Bob's In Uncasville said he hasn't heard word one about any bass from The Race though some locals said they intended to try. Bluff Point and outside Ocean beach offers a few winter flounder or you can catch schoolies in the river from Gales Ferry up to the Greenville Dam, the last spot better right now for chances at something bigger, mostly after dark.
Captain Allen Fee at Shaffers Marina is selling lots of worms for striper fishing in the Mystic River but not word one about any flounder caught. Fluke season starts in Connecticut waters on May 15 and Allen expects a busy launch weekend as people get their boats ready for another year on the water.
Our last stop is King Cove in Stonington, there to get a report from Don about some bass caught from shore behind CC O'Briens in Pawcatuck and Cemetery Cove in Westerly on high tide. From Tuesday through yesterday Don got news about school bass in the Mystic River, some as far up as the 95 Bridge. Worm hatches have started in the Rhode Island salt ponds; those occurrences eagerly sought by fly rodders and spin fishermen alike.
Tim Coleman is The Day's saltwater fishing columnist
If you want a chance at a larger striper in nearby waters you have two choices: the Greenville Dam area down river along the Shetucket River or down river from the Baldwin Bridge over the lower Connecticut River; the former accessed from shore at night, the latter perfect for a small boater during the day.
Captain Jack Balint at the Fish Connection reported larger bass caught during the week by locals out after dark along the Shetucket, fishing shallow running plugs or large plastics like the Slug-Go or Fin-S Fish. Bunker schools have arrived in Norwich Harbor, some moving up into the Shetucket where they are in range of the shore anglers at Norwich.
Jack was good enough to give me the nickel tour of shore spots Wednesday afternoon along the upper Thames; those access points sorely needed as our shore population grows and more people want the fun of catching a bass or bluefish.
A few blues were caught from Gales Ferry to Buoy 27 or you might try your luck for winter flounder at Bluff Point, the potential is a few for supper, that reinforced by a two-fish-per-day limit.
Down at River's End Tackle in Old Saybrook, I spoke with a gent nicknamed "Q" that said the spring run of bass in the lower Connecticut River is now at its peak. It was very common for two anglers in a small boat to land a dozen or more bass in a tide, maybe one of them a 38-incher. Those were caught on all manner of top water plugs or plastic lures, a few of those hit or chopped in half by the first blues of the new season.
The local runs are holding plenty of herring but unfortunately the once-grand flounder fishing in the river is very poor, so bad almost no one is trying. There are also some bass from time to time along the local beaches like the Saybrook Town Beach.
Roger at J&B Tackle said you might catch some winter flounder off the Groton Airport by drifting rather than anchoring, moving spot to spot looking for the smaller pods of fish that are the norm today. He also had a reliable report of the first couple medium bass trolled up at Six Mile Reef but not anything confirmed from The Race.
We have some flounder in the Niantic River said Captain Howard Beers at Hillyers but the hot news of the moment is all the school bass and some keepers in the lower Connecticut River from Saybrook Point up to the 95 Bridge-and points north if you want to travel.
Red at Bob's In Uncasville said he hasn't heard word one about any bass from The Race though some locals said they intended to try. Bluff Point and outside Ocean beach offers a few winter flounder or you can catch schoolies in the river from Gales Ferry up to the Greenville Dam, the last spot better right now for chances at something bigger, mostly after dark.
Captain Allen Fee at Shaffers Marina is selling lots of worms for striper fishing in the Mystic River but not word one about any flounder caught. Fluke season starts in Connecticut waters on May 15 and Allen expects a busy launch weekend as people get their boats ready for another year on the water.
Our last stop is King Cove in Stonington, there to get a report from Don about some bass caught from shore behind CC O'Briens in Pawcatuck and Cemetery Cove in Westerly on high tide. From Tuesday through yesterday Don got news about school bass in the Mystic River, some as far up as the 95 Bridge. Worm hatches have started in the Rhode Island salt ponds; those occurrences eagerly sought by fly rodders and spin fishermen alike.
Tim Coleman is The Day's saltwater fishing columnist