Time is right for light-tackle casting at Watch Hill Reef
By Tim Coleman Publication: The Day
Published 06/11/2010 12:00 AM
Updated 06/11/2010 03:24 AM
If you like light-tackle casting with either a fly or spinning rod, now is the time to head over to the Watch Hill Reef from Wicopesset Island to the Outer Reef. On most tides the fish are up on top chasing squid and a variety of bait around, ready to hit a variety of artificial lures.
Last evening this writer had the opportunity to fish with Captain Ben DeMario on the flood tide from 6 to 8:30 p.m. from Lord's Passage over to Sugar Reef, landing 16 bass from 25 to 37 inches on six-inch Slug-Gos and DOA Jerk Baits in squid color on ½-ounce heads, the latter fooling the largest fish. We were back at the ramp in Westerly by 9 - a great time, the only drawback being the light to moderate rain.
Captain Allen Fee at Shaffers got good reports about casters throwing an assortment of lures on the Watch Hill Reef for bass from the mid-20s to 30-inch range. Fluking is still best off the Pink House in 45 to 50 feet. Closer to home, it's been mostly short fish from White Rock to the Monastery. Porgies are starting to bite in spots from 12 feet of water right off Enders Island to some of the rocky bumps on the south side of Fishers Island.
Al Golinski of has been catching keeper fluke to 7 pounds on a steady basis off Misquamicut since last weekend; all the fish just chock full of squid. The wife of a friend landed perhaps the biggest of the week, a 10-pounder on Tuesday. He hasn't tried striper fishing, that coming up this weekend.
Over at King Cove in Stonington, Don reported the night striper crew had one excellent night on fish to 35 inches with eels but caught almost nothing their next time out. You can plug up some schoolies or use a fly rod off Sandy Point, maybe some spots inside Stonington Harbor, early in the morning or maybe through an overcast, rainy day. Bluefish have arrived though not in the catches each and every day.
Porgies are also in the picture, caught not only in small boats but also at various times from the Stonington docks. Fluking off Rhode Island is best right now versus Fishers Island Sound and Isabella Beach. You'll get more action in more shallow water but far less keepers. You might also have a chance at some black sea bass while fluking. A handful were brought back over last weekend, said Don.
Joe at Fish Connection reported some bunkers in Norwich Harbor that at times head up into the Shetucket River, drawing stripers with them. Down river you will find tiny blues, the biggest about 17 inches along with some bass on the tube and worm. One customer had a nice catch of stripers on Wednesday trolling from the Gold Star Bridge up toward the Sub Base on the east side of the river. Another fished below the bridge on the Groton side, also trolling the red tube and worm, also catching well.
Joe's grandson has been chunking up some bass on the inside of Napatree from the Kitchen over toward Watch Hill Harbor. George Boulay and a friend limited out on fluke to 6 pounds on their last trip to Misquamicut. Other fluke reports from Seaflower, Shelter Island and Montauk were not very good, said Joe.
Red at Bob's in Uncasville said he heard about smaller bass trolled up in the lower river and some porgies caught from small boats and shore spots along the lower Thames and Ocean Beach. A few of the fluke crew had 5-pounders from local waters but many are catching only a keeper or two if that for their troubles.
Captain Kerry at J&B said the striper fishing in The Race has been steady for their charter boat while the fluking in the eastern Sound is fair at best, with low numbers of keepers. Blues are still on the slow side in The Race, they caught only two on their Wednesday trip. Sea bassing over at Block Island is fair also just yet, nothing like the summer numbers of last season.
Tim Coleman is The Day's saltwater fishing columnist.
By Tim Coleman Publication: The Day
Published 06/11/2010 12:00 AM
Updated 06/11/2010 03:24 AM
If you like light-tackle casting with either a fly or spinning rod, now is the time to head over to the Watch Hill Reef from Wicopesset Island to the Outer Reef. On most tides the fish are up on top chasing squid and a variety of bait around, ready to hit a variety of artificial lures.
Last evening this writer had the opportunity to fish with Captain Ben DeMario on the flood tide from 6 to 8:30 p.m. from Lord's Passage over to Sugar Reef, landing 16 bass from 25 to 37 inches on six-inch Slug-Gos and DOA Jerk Baits in squid color on ½-ounce heads, the latter fooling the largest fish. We were back at the ramp in Westerly by 9 - a great time, the only drawback being the light to moderate rain.
Captain Allen Fee at Shaffers got good reports about casters throwing an assortment of lures on the Watch Hill Reef for bass from the mid-20s to 30-inch range. Fluking is still best off the Pink House in 45 to 50 feet. Closer to home, it's been mostly short fish from White Rock to the Monastery. Porgies are starting to bite in spots from 12 feet of water right off Enders Island to some of the rocky bumps on the south side of Fishers Island.
Al Golinski of has been catching keeper fluke to 7 pounds on a steady basis off Misquamicut since last weekend; all the fish just chock full of squid. The wife of a friend landed perhaps the biggest of the week, a 10-pounder on Tuesday. He hasn't tried striper fishing, that coming up this weekend.
Over at King Cove in Stonington, Don reported the night striper crew had one excellent night on fish to 35 inches with eels but caught almost nothing their next time out. You can plug up some schoolies or use a fly rod off Sandy Point, maybe some spots inside Stonington Harbor, early in the morning or maybe through an overcast, rainy day. Bluefish have arrived though not in the catches each and every day.
Porgies are also in the picture, caught not only in small boats but also at various times from the Stonington docks. Fluking off Rhode Island is best right now versus Fishers Island Sound and Isabella Beach. You'll get more action in more shallow water but far less keepers. You might also have a chance at some black sea bass while fluking. A handful were brought back over last weekend, said Don.
Joe at Fish Connection reported some bunkers in Norwich Harbor that at times head up into the Shetucket River, drawing stripers with them. Down river you will find tiny blues, the biggest about 17 inches along with some bass on the tube and worm. One customer had a nice catch of stripers on Wednesday trolling from the Gold Star Bridge up toward the Sub Base on the east side of the river. Another fished below the bridge on the Groton side, also trolling the red tube and worm, also catching well.
Joe's grandson has been chunking up some bass on the inside of Napatree from the Kitchen over toward Watch Hill Harbor. George Boulay and a friend limited out on fluke to 6 pounds on their last trip to Misquamicut. Other fluke reports from Seaflower, Shelter Island and Montauk were not very good, said Joe.
Red at Bob's in Uncasville said he heard about smaller bass trolled up in the lower river and some porgies caught from small boats and shore spots along the lower Thames and Ocean Beach. A few of the fluke crew had 5-pounders from local waters but many are catching only a keeper or two if that for their troubles.
Captain Kerry at J&B said the striper fishing in The Race has been steady for their charter boat while the fluking in the eastern Sound is fair at best, with low numbers of keepers. Blues are still on the slow side in The Race, they caught only two on their Wednesday trip. Sea bassing over at Block Island is fair also just yet, nothing like the summer numbers of last season.
Tim Coleman is The Day's saltwater fishing columnist.