Autumn ‘20 Report

I am longggg overdue for a report here. Instead of recapping all spring/summer let’s get right into the fall report. Water temps are low to mid 60s. Pretty typical, Although it certainly feels a good bit warmer than usual and like a mild fall.

There have been a few random “rogue” pods of false albacore in our waters (CT side and LI side), but by and large they have been missing this fall, which is sad. In Rhode Island: they had an epic run of them in early October which I was lucky enough to get in on. Still keeping fingers crossed that they will push into the Fairfield County waters but generally they’ve been in Middle ground area and Port Jeff. The bigger issue is getting out when it isn’t blowing hard… not easy for my fellow office monkeys glued to computers during weekdays.

As for tautog, it business as usual. Doing well in 15ish foot depths now. The “move” in my opinion is to fish new areas that aren’t crowded and get creative. Any old rock pile will do.

Bass fishing has been so so. I know of one guy who has been doing damage on quality fish in the islands the past week, and I’ve found plenty of fish myself, but size is lacking sadly. This is unusual for me as usually even late summer and early fall you can find a few good bites with quality fish.

There has also been a good jig bite mid sound on the reefs and behind the islands. Find the birds, mark the fish on your finder, and start jigging: then repeat. Generally blues 5ish pounds and some striped bass and sea bass mixed in. There were some reports of really epic bass bites on fish to 40 pounds (yes 40) on jigs at certain times since late summer out there. Certainly an old school technique coming back in popularity.

Here’s to hoping we get calm weather, a shot at some fatty albertos, and some sizeable bass mixed in with their dinky cousins. Tight lines.