2009 DEP Fishing Report Number 25, 10/8/2009
IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ANGLERS AND ALL OTHER USERS OF OUR AQUATIC RESOURCES-
CHINESE MITTEN CRAB ALERT
Please be on the lookout for this invader. Beginning in 2006, a small number of these crabs have been found on the east coast from Maryland to the Hudson River in New York.
Report any sightings to DEP (Inland Fisheries: 860-424-3474, Marine Fisheries: 860-434-6043).
The Chinese mitten crab, a non-native species from East Asia, is a costly and environmentally damaging invader. THESE CRABS MAY BE FOUND IN BOTH FRESHWATER AND SALT WATER. They are walking crabs that can emerge from the water to move upstream of barriers and are capable of moving several hundred miles upstream from saltwater. They spend most of their lives in freshwater rivers, migrating to brackish or salt water to reproduce.
MARINE FISHING REPORT
Water temperatures in Long Island Sound (LIS) remain in the mid to upper 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
Fall is prime time for saltwater fishing as fish put on the feed bag before the onset of winter!
STRIPED BASS fishing is good and BLUEFISH fishing remains excellent throughout LIS! Stripers measuring in the 40 plus inch range and choppers weighing in the mid teens are being reported. Consistent fishing locations include the Watch Hill reefs, Napatree Point, Ram Island Reef in Fishers Island Sound, the Race, Sluiceway, Pigeon Rip, Plum Gut, outer Bartlett Reef, Hatchett Reef, lower Connecticut River, Long Sand Shoal, Cornfield Point, Crane Reef, Southwest Reef, Sixmile Reef, Falkner Island area, the reefs off Branford, New Haven Harbor, Charles Island to Milford Point, Bridgeport Harbor, Penfield Reef, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground, the reefs around the Norwalk Islands and Stamford Harbor.
SNAPPER BLUEFISH fishing is still going strong with snappers measuring 6 to 8 inches in length.
TAUTOG (blackfish) can be found on the local reefs and rock piles. Fishing is rated good for these hard fighting bruisers. Green crabs, hermit crabs and Asian crabs work well on three way bottom rigs.
HICKORY SHAD fishing is fair in the lower Niantic River and Connecticut River (DEP, Marine Headquarters fishing pier).
LITTLE TUNNY (false albacore) and ATLANTIC BONITO (green bonito) fishing is fair to good at the old reliable spots: Watch Hill area, south side of Fishers Island, Pine Island area, Race Rock (the Race), Little Gull Island, Sluiceway, Plum Gut, Bartlett Reef, Black Point, Hatchett Reef, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground area and off the Norwalk Islands.
BLUE CRABBING is still hanging in there with some nice size jimmies in the 7 inch range being reported.
Remember to check the 2009 Connecticut Angler’s Guide for tidal information (page 52) and pages 49-51 for saltwater trophy fish award information. For regulation updates, please check our website www.ct.gov/dep/fishing
DEP WEEKLY FISHING REPORT
CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106
www.ct.gov/dep
IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ANGLERS AND ALL OTHER USERS OF OUR AQUATIC RESOURCES-
CHINESE MITTEN CRAB ALERT
Please be on the lookout for this invader. Beginning in 2006, a small number of these crabs have been found on the east coast from Maryland to the Hudson River in New York.
Report any sightings to DEP (Inland Fisheries: 860-424-3474, Marine Fisheries: 860-434-6043).
The Chinese mitten crab, a non-native species from East Asia, is a costly and environmentally damaging invader. THESE CRABS MAY BE FOUND IN BOTH FRESHWATER AND SALT WATER. They are walking crabs that can emerge from the water to move upstream of barriers and are capable of moving several hundred miles upstream from saltwater. They spend most of their lives in freshwater rivers, migrating to brackish or salt water to reproduce.
MARINE FISHING REPORT
Water temperatures in Long Island Sound (LIS) remain in the mid to upper 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
Fall is prime time for saltwater fishing as fish put on the feed bag before the onset of winter!
STRIPED BASS fishing is good and BLUEFISH fishing remains excellent throughout LIS! Stripers measuring in the 40 plus inch range and choppers weighing in the mid teens are being reported. Consistent fishing locations include the Watch Hill reefs, Napatree Point, Ram Island Reef in Fishers Island Sound, the Race, Sluiceway, Pigeon Rip, Plum Gut, outer Bartlett Reef, Hatchett Reef, lower Connecticut River, Long Sand Shoal, Cornfield Point, Crane Reef, Southwest Reef, Sixmile Reef, Falkner Island area, the reefs off Branford, New Haven Harbor, Charles Island to Milford Point, Bridgeport Harbor, Penfield Reef, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground, the reefs around the Norwalk Islands and Stamford Harbor.
SNAPPER BLUEFISH fishing is still going strong with snappers measuring 6 to 8 inches in length.
TAUTOG (blackfish) can be found on the local reefs and rock piles. Fishing is rated good for these hard fighting bruisers. Green crabs, hermit crabs and Asian crabs work well on three way bottom rigs.
HICKORY SHAD fishing is fair in the lower Niantic River and Connecticut River (DEP, Marine Headquarters fishing pier).
LITTLE TUNNY (false albacore) and ATLANTIC BONITO (green bonito) fishing is fair to good at the old reliable spots: Watch Hill area, south side of Fishers Island, Pine Island area, Race Rock (the Race), Little Gull Island, Sluiceway, Plum Gut, Bartlett Reef, Black Point, Hatchett Reef, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground area and off the Norwalk Islands.
BLUE CRABBING is still hanging in there with some nice size jimmies in the 7 inch range being reported.
Remember to check the 2009 Connecticut Angler’s Guide for tidal information (page 52) and pages 49-51 for saltwater trophy fish award information. For regulation updates, please check our website www.ct.gov/dep/fishing
DEP WEEKLY FISHING REPORT
CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106
www.ct.gov/dep