MARINE FISHING REPORT
Reminder to saltwater anglers concerning the marine waters fishing license:
A marine waters fishing license is now required for fishing in the Marine District (this includes Long Island Sound and tidal rivers south of the freshwater demarcation lines as listed on page 46 of the 2009 Connecticut Angler’s Guide).
Environmental Conservation Police will be checking for licenses and initially focusing their efforts on education and outreach. Saltwater anglers need to purchase their license as soon as possible.
The new licenses are available online (www.ct.gov/dep/fishing) and at all current vendors and DEP offices where the existing freshwater fishing and hunting licenses are sold. Please refer to the DEP website for additional information.
Water temperatures in Long Island Sound (LIS) are in the upper 60’s to around 70 °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
Remember to check the 2009 Connecticut Angler’s Guide for tidal information (page 52) and pages 49-51 for saltwater trophy fish award information.
STRIPED BASS fishing remains good especially during low light periods (dusk through dawn, clouding days, etc.). Drifting live bait is key on the reefs and rip areas, trolling the tube and worm combo in shallow water, and casting eels from shore have produced quality cow bass. The usual striper spots include the Watch Hill reefs, Napatree Point, the Race, Sluiceway, Pigeon Rip, Plum Gut, outer Bartlett Reef, Hatchett Reef and the humps to the south, Long Sand Shoal, Cornfield Point, Southwest Reef, Sixmile Reef, Falkner
2009 DEP Fishing Report Number 21, 9/10/2009
Island area, the reefs off Branford, Bridgeport Harbor, Penfield Reef, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground, and the reefs around the Norwalk Islands.
BLUEFISH fishing has slowed down over the past week in eastern LIS. Bluefish spots include Watch Hill, Ram Island Reef in Fishers Island Sound, the Race, Pigeon Rip, Plum Gut, Harkness Memorial State Park, Hatchett Reef, lower Connecticut River (DEP Fishing Pier), Long Sand Shoal, Cornfield Point and along the beaches from Westbrook to Clinton, Sixmile Reef, Southwest Reef, Hammonasset Beach State Park, Falkner Island area, the reefs off Branford and Branford Harbor, New Haven Harbor, Milford Harbor jetties, Charles Island area to Milford Point, lower Housatonic River, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground area, Penfield Reef, and Norwalk and Stamford Harbors.
SNAPPER BLUEFISH fishing remains good in the tidal rivers and coves.
SCUP fishing is good to excellent on the local reefs and the time to go is now!
HICKORY SHAD fishing is fair to good in the lower Niantic River and Connecticut River.
LITTLE TUNNY (false albacore) and ATLANTIC BONITO (green bonito) have hit LIS like gang busters over this past week. Eastern LIS including Watch Hill, south side of Fishers Island to Race Rock, the Race, Little Gull Island, Sluiceway, Plum Gut, Bartlett Reef, Black Point, and Hatchett Reef were loaded with these speedy torpedoes. Other locations include off Stratford including Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground area and off the Norwalk Islands – just look for flocks of diving gulls and terns! But, you never know the whereabouts of these inshore tunas – here today, gone tomorrow!
BLUE CRABBING is prime time with jimmies over 7 inches (measured spike to spike) being reported.
Reminder to Marine Anglers: In Connecticut waters, the BLACKFISH (tautog) fishing season is closed from September 1st through September 30th.
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
Reminder to saltwater anglers concerning the marine waters fishing license:
A marine waters fishing license is now required for fishing in the Marine District (this includes Long Island Sound and tidal rivers south of the freshwater demarcation lines as listed on page 46 of the 2009 Connecticut Angler’s Guide).
Environmental Conservation Police will be checking for licenses and initially focusing their efforts on education and outreach. Saltwater anglers need to purchase their license as soon as possible.
The new licenses are available online (www.ct.gov/dep/fishing) and at all current vendors and DEP offices where the existing freshwater fishing and hunting licenses are sold. Please refer to the DEP website for additional information.
Water temperatures in Long Island Sound (LIS) are in the upper 60’s to around 70 °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
Remember to check the 2009 Connecticut Angler’s Guide for tidal information (page 52) and pages 49-51 for saltwater trophy fish award information.
STRIPED BASS fishing remains good especially during low light periods (dusk through dawn, clouding days, etc.). Drifting live bait is key on the reefs and rip areas, trolling the tube and worm combo in shallow water, and casting eels from shore have produced quality cow bass. The usual striper spots include the Watch Hill reefs, Napatree Point, the Race, Sluiceway, Pigeon Rip, Plum Gut, outer Bartlett Reef, Hatchett Reef and the humps to the south, Long Sand Shoal, Cornfield Point, Southwest Reef, Sixmile Reef, Falkner
2009 DEP Fishing Report Number 21, 9/10/2009
Island area, the reefs off Branford, Bridgeport Harbor, Penfield Reef, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground, and the reefs around the Norwalk Islands.
BLUEFISH fishing has slowed down over the past week in eastern LIS. Bluefish spots include Watch Hill, Ram Island Reef in Fishers Island Sound, the Race, Pigeon Rip, Plum Gut, Harkness Memorial State Park, Hatchett Reef, lower Connecticut River (DEP Fishing Pier), Long Sand Shoal, Cornfield Point and along the beaches from Westbrook to Clinton, Sixmile Reef, Southwest Reef, Hammonasset Beach State Park, Falkner Island area, the reefs off Branford and Branford Harbor, New Haven Harbor, Milford Harbor jetties, Charles Island area to Milford Point, lower Housatonic River, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground area, Penfield Reef, and Norwalk and Stamford Harbors.
SNAPPER BLUEFISH fishing remains good in the tidal rivers and coves.
SCUP fishing is good to excellent on the local reefs and the time to go is now!
HICKORY SHAD fishing is fair to good in the lower Niantic River and Connecticut River.
LITTLE TUNNY (false albacore) and ATLANTIC BONITO (green bonito) have hit LIS like gang busters over this past week. Eastern LIS including Watch Hill, south side of Fishers Island to Race Rock, the Race, Little Gull Island, Sluiceway, Plum Gut, Bartlett Reef, Black Point, and Hatchett Reef were loaded with these speedy torpedoes. Other locations include off Stratford including Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground area and off the Norwalk Islands – just look for flocks of diving gulls and terns! But, you never know the whereabouts of these inshore tunas – here today, gone tomorrow!
BLUE CRABBING is prime time with jimmies over 7 inches (measured spike to spike) being reported.
Reminder to Marine Anglers: In Connecticut waters, the BLACKFISH (tautog) fishing season is closed from September 1st through September 30th.
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