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As the title states, I don’t really have bad news to report. Fishing this Past weekend was on fire. The bass have been blitzing for weeks. Mostly small fish, sure, but fun easy fishing. From the rivers and estuaries in your backyard to out front in the sound around islands shorelines and open water. If you want big fish, skip the blitzes under birds and find the rips and fast current areas, nastiest rockiest most treacherous ones you can find. The full moon turned things on for us this past week. Now we have another storm rolling in making it unfishable until the weekend (nice how it worked out that way 2 weeks in a row!).

The blackfishing was pretty great for me on Saturday. I only know what I know, but it was good for me. 15 feet of water roughly, mostly incoming tide. Limit to 21 inches / 8 lbs and threw back keepers . Had a spot in mind, it was packed with boats. Tried a new one (albeit close to a very well knon spot), had some really good structure on the fishfinder, gave it a shot and did well.

As for Albies, they’re still here but they are on the ‘strong island’ side of the pond. I hope they come here, I’m tired of the long bumpy runs and refueling every few days with my small tank. I’ve spotted a few really sparse pods on the CT side but that’s it.

Tight lines, send me your reports if you got ’em, and enjoy the fish porn

First and foremost, for those of you who don’t know, there is an awesome local tournament this weekend organized by an acquaintance of mine Taylor Ingraham, the Tightlined Slam. Link here: https://www.tightlinedslam.com if you’re fishing this weekend, you may as well grab a few buddies, join the tournament to benefit conservation, and give yourself a chance at the cup. The prizes and entry Schwag is awesome in and of itself.

Now, for the report. As I predicted in my last post, this was THE year we had the return of Bonito. We also had Spanish mackerel in our waters. Really exciting for the fishery. They may be all gone for the year but it’s the first time they’ve been around in about 12 years so pretty cool stuff. FYI I wasn’t fishing hard that long ago, this is what I’m told. Pics below.

Not many people are focusing on Bass this time of year. But I’ve had some great mornings/nights, particularly when we get a cold front. I’m looking forward to more striper fishing using flies and lures, mostly topwater, this fall. The bassing in the islands has been better than it was all spring and summer in my opinion.

And last but definitely NOT least, the Albies are in! What a great time of year it is. The action has been moreso on the Long Island side of the pond, but not completely. I would say it’s been an open water bite for sure, tough for shore based anglers or kayakers unfortunately. If past years predict this year, we should soon have the funny fish local in the islands though. Even in shallow water, pushing bait against shorelines. It can be pretty wild and unique. Pics of fat alberts below.  If any readers are interested in a charter to do the kind of fishing I’m writing about, check the guiding section of my site.

Tight linesi

Labor Day has come and gone. This marks the time of year when most people pack away their speedos and bikinis, white pants, stow away the swim ladders, paddleboards and small boats, and prepare the Pleasure Vessels for winter storage. Cheese and cracker boating is close to an end. The nighttime/morning temperatures are getting down to the 50s. But, for others, things are just beginning. This is the beginning of the 2nd season for hardcore fisherman. The fall run. Bass and blues will start making their way south, baitfish will leave the rivers and estuaries as well, and mayhem will ensue. Our seasonal visitors, Bonita and False Albacore, will start moving in any week now. And for bottomfishing we have Blackfish season opening in October. It’s a glorious time of year.

So what’s the game plan? Well first off, the bassing is gettin’ good during colder mornings. There is a ton of peanut bunker, and cocktail blues around as well. More than I have seen in some years which bodes well for the future I hope. I managed a 33 inch striper in the islands last weekend, and it’s only getting better. It has not been calm enough to go look for tailing blues in a while, and they seem to do that on really hot days anyway. If you want to weed out small fish and target the big boys, chunking fresh bunker or small bluefish, particularly at night, can yield some monsters. You don’t have to go far, right in the islands and harbor will produce big fish.

On the tuna front, the rule of thumb is September 15th. I am told the last 5 years before 2018 that Albies showed up on the 15th, just easy of us in Milford/Stratford area. My good friend Mat over at ctangler.blogspot.com tells me this, and this guy loves to hunt these fish. Last year I found them September 28th, and I don’t know of anyone catching them before that rough time period. Load up on jigs and soft plastics for these speed demons, and even some baits imitating peanut bunker. On the fly side, surf candy flies are my favorite. Clousers will get it done too. Right now guys are consistently getting them in Nantucket/the vineyard, buzzards bay/north shore Mass, and Narragansett area. Also guys going offshore are seeing huge schools of them. So they are heading west right for us. Sit tight, and keep your eyes out! I fished Rhode Island last weekend and the number of Bonita is astounding. This very well may be the year they show up locally, for the first time in years.

Tight lines

James