High winds limit some activity out on the seas
By Tim Coleman Published on 10/9/2009
Blackfish season got off to a good start, people eager to get out more, but unfortunately the high winds and seas forced many to cancel their plans and stay home or put an extra dock line on their boats tied firmly to the docks.
Capt. Jack Balint at the Fish Connection started his report by saying the buoy in central Long Island Sound recorded a wind gust yesterday at 9:45 a.m. at 55 mph, obviously keeping many people on the shore. On Tuesday they landed 24 false albacore on their charter trip, but that number dropped to six the next day. Hopefully those fun fish will be around once the wind drops.
Blues and a few bass are on the Watch Hill reefs for casters but they don't seem to coming into the Rhode Island beaches in any numbers. Twenty to 30 feet of water seems best for blackfish right now, maybe anchored up to the northwest of the red can at Race Point or off North Hill. Norwich Harbor has bunkers that hold the blues in place, the fish coming within range of shore anglers, probably at sunrise and then again in the evenings.
Don at King Cove in Stonington said people without boats caught some keeper blackfish from shore at Stonington Point, a Connecticut shore access location with legal parking. Shore fishermen also caught striped bass at times from the commercial dock thanks to the bunkers schools not far away. Blackfishing was fair to excellent at Latimer Light and the West Breakwater.
”We weighed in a 14-pound blackfish caught from shore around the Niantic Bridges,” said Mark at Hillyers Tackle. Small boaters seemed generally pleased with their tautog results though many wished they could keep more than their four fish per person limit. Albies are out around Plum Island and Bartletts at other times, hitting Swedish Pimples or small, white Zoom Flukes on a small lead head. To date we haven't see a repeat of all bunkers and hickory shad of 2008 in the Niantic River, hence no blitzes of blues or bass there.
Al Golinski of Misquamicut fished for bass on Tuesday, catching three to 20 pounds along with too many 10 to 12-pound blues on the south side of Fishers after getting his bait in the Pawcatuck River. Al noted the bunkers there seemed to be thinning down.
Shore anglers in the lower Thames River were not landing any keeper blackfish, said Red at Bob's in Uncasville. Boat anglers on the other hand, dropping green crabs in the deeper holes did just fine on days the wind let them get away from the dock. Bunkers are spread around between Norwich and buoy 27. Find the bait schools and you'll probably find some blues under them.
Capt. Allen Fee at Shaffers reported a good opener to the blackfish season at places like Middle Clump and Ram Island Reef, with biggest so far weighed in here around 9 pounds. Albies are still around, people waiting for the wind to let up to get back out after them. Bass on the other hand were on the slow side, numbers down for the time being. If you want bunker for bass bait, try Stonington Harbor, not the Mystic River said Allen.
Down at River's End in Old Saybrook, Mark Lewchick said the Sand Shoal is full of large blues that make getting a bunker past them for bass a very iffy deal. There are schoolies along the local beaches, more people out now that summer traffic problems are past. Blackfishing though has been on the slower side with small fish or lots and lots of big porgies taking the crab baits at places like Outer Southwest Reef.
The Hel-Cat reported good blue fishing this week, fishing right through the nasty weather during at mid-week thanks to their large party boat. Blues were “as good as it gets” along with a mix of bass. The National Marine Fisheries Service has closed down sea bass fishing in federal waters for 180 days so that action stopped plans for another trip for sea biscuits. Please keep in mind sea bass fishing is still open in state waters. Big fish of the week honors went to Rachael McCabe with a 16-pound striper.
Tim Coleman is The Day's saltwater fishing columnist. He can be reached at thewreckhunter@aol.com
By Tim Coleman Published on 10/9/2009
Blackfish season got off to a good start, people eager to get out more, but unfortunately the high winds and seas forced many to cancel their plans and stay home or put an extra dock line on their boats tied firmly to the docks.
Capt. Jack Balint at the Fish Connection started his report by saying the buoy in central Long Island Sound recorded a wind gust yesterday at 9:45 a.m. at 55 mph, obviously keeping many people on the shore. On Tuesday they landed 24 false albacore on their charter trip, but that number dropped to six the next day. Hopefully those fun fish will be around once the wind drops.
Blues and a few bass are on the Watch Hill reefs for casters but they don't seem to coming into the Rhode Island beaches in any numbers. Twenty to 30 feet of water seems best for blackfish right now, maybe anchored up to the northwest of the red can at Race Point or off North Hill. Norwich Harbor has bunkers that hold the blues in place, the fish coming within range of shore anglers, probably at sunrise and then again in the evenings.
Don at King Cove in Stonington said people without boats caught some keeper blackfish from shore at Stonington Point, a Connecticut shore access location with legal parking. Shore fishermen also caught striped bass at times from the commercial dock thanks to the bunkers schools not far away. Blackfishing was fair to excellent at Latimer Light and the West Breakwater.
”We weighed in a 14-pound blackfish caught from shore around the Niantic Bridges,” said Mark at Hillyers Tackle. Small boaters seemed generally pleased with their tautog results though many wished they could keep more than their four fish per person limit. Albies are out around Plum Island and Bartletts at other times, hitting Swedish Pimples or small, white Zoom Flukes on a small lead head. To date we haven't see a repeat of all bunkers and hickory shad of 2008 in the Niantic River, hence no blitzes of blues or bass there.
Al Golinski of Misquamicut fished for bass on Tuesday, catching three to 20 pounds along with too many 10 to 12-pound blues on the south side of Fishers after getting his bait in the Pawcatuck River. Al noted the bunkers there seemed to be thinning down.
Shore anglers in the lower Thames River were not landing any keeper blackfish, said Red at Bob's in Uncasville. Boat anglers on the other hand, dropping green crabs in the deeper holes did just fine on days the wind let them get away from the dock. Bunkers are spread around between Norwich and buoy 27. Find the bait schools and you'll probably find some blues under them.
Capt. Allen Fee at Shaffers reported a good opener to the blackfish season at places like Middle Clump and Ram Island Reef, with biggest so far weighed in here around 9 pounds. Albies are still around, people waiting for the wind to let up to get back out after them. Bass on the other hand were on the slow side, numbers down for the time being. If you want bunker for bass bait, try Stonington Harbor, not the Mystic River said Allen.
Down at River's End in Old Saybrook, Mark Lewchick said the Sand Shoal is full of large blues that make getting a bunker past them for bass a very iffy deal. There are schoolies along the local beaches, more people out now that summer traffic problems are past. Blackfishing though has been on the slower side with small fish or lots and lots of big porgies taking the crab baits at places like Outer Southwest Reef.
The Hel-Cat reported good blue fishing this week, fishing right through the nasty weather during at mid-week thanks to their large party boat. Blues were “as good as it gets” along with a mix of bass. The National Marine Fisheries Service has closed down sea bass fishing in federal waters for 180 days so that action stopped plans for another trip for sea biscuits. Please keep in mind sea bass fishing is still open in state waters. Big fish of the week honors went to Rachael McCabe with a 16-pound striper.
Tim Coleman is The Day's saltwater fishing columnist. He can be reached at thewreckhunter@aol.com