Captain Morgan's Bait and Tackle

Captain Morgan’s emailed over their report to say, “Striped bass continued to defy disbelievers who questioned the good season. Although the recent heat wave thwarted some days on the water, all the stripers did was to move around to cooler more oxygenated water that in fact drew forage. Menhaden schools became spread out in some spots and in others, dense schools formed. Linesiders fed on them, live eels and diamond jigs without much hesitation. They also tried to eat bucktails that were either jerked or three-wayed. Prior to sunrise and around sunset hours stripers could be found in shallower water along the beaches, in bays and key tidal river channels. As the weather broke, sparse large weakfish took a back seat to runs of small weakies near shore, along jetty rips, beaches and in bays. Bluefish on the other hand have been hit or miss. Although snappers have shown up and sporadic schools of blues have been feeding, overall, choppers have been running late when taking in the Sound as a whole. If the stormy season doesn’t really ramp up as expected, fall could easily bring about some serious bluefish blitzes. Good scup are being caught offshore however closer in, porgy fever set in and these scrappers are going at it on most reefs and humps. Squid, sea worms and scented strip baits are being used successfully. Fluke catches are mounting up, but shorts still dominate the hookups. Both shore and boat catches are being made however, the Sound is not producing the numbers of mini-doormats and doormats as in the past. Putting in the effort in the main tidal rivers and in the Sound has been netting keepers. Conversely, the rest of the bottom fishery as a whole has been very active with dogfish taking the lead. Northern kingfish, skate, toadfish, striped sea robins and the like fall for chunk baits and seaworms, when seasonal shortages compounded by over-exporting are not affecting the supply. By now, one would think there would be a slowdown in demand and catches inland. Yet, freshwater keep on drawing a diversified group of anglers that are pursuing trout, bass, panfish and other species with and without meaningful dental work. Overall, the freshwater scene is ahead of the curve as anglers use everything from live natural baits to artificials and scented ones - including flies. Pay us a visit at 21 Boston Post Road, Madison and you will see why we say, ‘We don’t make the fisherman, we make the fisherman better.’”

Captain Morgan’s emailed over their report to say, “Depending on which part of Long Island Sound one fished, weather played a part. Where most waters saw light to moderately gusty winds with seas around 1 to 2 feet, farther east caught more wind, and higher seas. We had our share of morning fog, intermittent rain and few T-storms that played into fishing results. Shore and nearshore fishers continued to reel in striped bass as Atlantic menhaden stacked up. Catches exceeding 40 inches were almost routine and plenty of linesiders under 28 inches bent rods. That 28 to 31 slot still remains a challenge but very doable. Live eels, bunker, diamond jigs, swimmers and plugs on calmer days generally produced. Offshore rips and shoals held bass while lower tidal rivers saw action both at flipping ebb and flood tides. Small weakfish fed along several rips including those by the shore. We have seen some good size adults being caught over the past few seasons so, these byproducts are a good sign. Feeding has varied but for the most part, they have been taking squid, seaworms near the bottom and a few have been taking small bucktails and/or spoons. Bluefish are being caught but frenzy action seems to be running late in our mid-Sound waters. The list of fish being caught goes on to include good blackfish (tautog) catches both from shore and boat. Seaworms, crabs and tog jigs have been winners. Along with togs, black sea bass have been foraging all they can find in depths of 40-plus feet for the better ones while shallower water is more apt to hook into juveniles. Look toward the soaking squid on a rig, jig on most any pronounced reef or hump in the Sound. And with marine waters around 74 degrees, scup fever has taken hold. You know they are being caught in numbers, some easily over dinner plate size. Fluke hookups age getting better but many still need stretching to make the minimum size limit. Flip a coin as to whether a keeper will come from shore a boat. However, generally the larger fish are being caught offshore slow drifting a rig dressed up with squid. Try Long Sand Shoal, Six Mile Reef and some of the main tidal rivers or the enhanced areas where the size limits are more relaxed. Keep fishing healthy chunks of cut up fish and one can expect a good menu of bottom feeders. Dogfish, sand sharks, skate and sea robins while others like northern kingfish, toadfish, puffers, etc. with take smaller softer baits. Hickory shad will go for sabiki rigs, darts or small spoons. Crabbing the estuaries is now producing quality blue crabs and getting better. Ovewerall, as air and water temperature climb, fish are getting finicky so, searching out optimal depths and locations is more of a consideration than in late spring. Same should be a thought when anglers fish the sweet water. The freshwater bite is not laying back. Trout anglers are catching fish as are the bassers, pan fishers and after bottom fish and toothy ones. NOTE: Protected Shortnose sturgeon are near the surface around the Connecticut River and routes in and out of eastern LIS so, be cautious when motoring and prepare for a safe release if hooked up with an unusually fast and strong run. Long Island Sound water temperatures have been around 70 degrees near shore which is bolstering blue crabbing. Pay us a visit at 21 Boston Post Road, Madison and you will see why we say, ‘We don’t make the fisherman, we make the fisherman better.’”