Marine Fishing Report For The Week Of Sept. 26, 2013

From the CT Department of Energy & Environmental Protection: 

Surface water temperatures in Long Island Sound (LIS) remain in the mid to high 60’s °F. 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

BLUEFISH fishing remains good to excellent as the fall migration kicks in! Some big “alligators” weighing more than 16 lbs were taken over this past week! Bluefish spots include the reefs off Watch Hill, Ram Island Reef in Fishers Island Sound, the Race, Pigeon Rip, Plum Gut, Thames River, Bartlett Reef, Black Point, Connecticut River, Long Sand Shoal, Sixmile Reef, Southwest Reef, Falkner Island area, the reefs off Madison to Branford, New Haven Harbor, Charles Island area, Housatonic River, Bridgeport Harbor, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground, Penfield Reef, around the Norwalk Islands, and Cable and Anchor Reef. Also, snappers are still around in the tidal rivers and creeks.

STRIPED BASS fishing remains good. The only problem is getting by those big alligator bluefish! The usual striper spots include the Watch Hill reefs, Ram Island Reef in Fishers Island Sound, the Race, Sluiceway, Plum Gut, Bartlett Reef, Black Point, Hatchett Reef, Long Sand Shoal, Cornfield Point, Sixmile Reef, outer Southwest Reef, the reefs off Madison to Branford, New Haven Harbor, Charles Island/Milford area, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground, Bridgeport Harbor, Penfield Reef, around the Norwalk Islands, and Cable and Anchor Reef.

SUMMER FLOUNDER fishing has slowed down. Fluke spots worth trying include the south side of Fishers Island, Bloody Grounds off Black Point and the Falkner Island area.

SCUP (porgy) fishing is good to excellent at any of the major rocky reefs.

BLACK SEA BASS fishing is also good to excellent on the rocky reefs, wrecks and areas with gnarly hard bottom.

HICKORY SHAD fishing is good to excellent and snapper blues are mixed in with them in the lower Connecticut River (DEEP Marine Headquarters fishing pier).

ATLANTIC BONITO and LITTLE TUNNY (false albacore) are hit or miss off the Watch Hill area, Pine Island area to the Race including Little Gull Island, Bartlett Reef, Hatchett Reef, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground, Penfield Reef, around the Norwalk Islands, and Cable and Anchor Reef.

BLUE CRABBING is slowing down as water temperatures drop. SPECIAL NOTE: This is a good time of year to check out our coastal state parks for some fine surfcasting.

Bluefish and striped bass are within easy cast as they put on the feed bag before heading south!

DEEP WEEKLY Fishing Report

Connecticut Department of

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106 www.ct.gov/deep

For Current Connecticut Recreational Fishing Regulations: Anglers should consult the 2013 Connecticut Anglers Guide which is now available at most Town Clerks Offices, DEEP offices and at tackle stores selling fishing licenses. Current regulations, electronic versions of the Angler’s Guide and additional information can all be accessed on the DEEP website at: www.ct.gov/deep/fishing.