DEEP Marine Fishing Report

Surface water temperatures in Long Island Sound (LIS) are in the low to mid 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/   

BLUEFISH fishing is good to excellent as long as the weather cooperates. This is about near peak for slammer blues! Chopper spots include the Race, Sluiceway, Plum Gut, the reefs off Watch Hill, Ram Island Reef in Fishers Island Sound, Millstone outflow, Bartlett Reef, Black Point, Pigeon Rip (area north of Plum Island), Hatchett Reef, Long Sand Shoal, Southwest Reef, Sixmile Reef, Falkner Island area, the reefs off Guilford and Branford, New Haven Harbor (Sandy Point), Charles Island area to Milford Point, Buoy 20 off Stratford, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground, Penfield Reef, around the Norwalk Islands, and the reefs off Stamford.

STRIPED BASS fishing continues to improve on the local reefs and tidal rips as water temperatures cool off and bluefish migrate off to more southern and offshore waters. Live lining eels, hickory shad, bunker (Atlantic menhaden) or scup is still the most effective fishing method for landing that “Slob” bass. Don’t forget about using circle hooks when using live baits and cut chunk baits. Circle hooks reduce “gut hooking” and most of the time the hook lodges just in the
corner of the fish’s mouth for an easy release.

SCUP fishing is also near peak so with weather permitting the time to go is now! Squid, sand worms, conch and small crabs are the baits of choice! Any bottom structure or rock pile will attract these gamesters.

TAUTOG fishing season is in full swing on the local reefs. Green crabs, hermit crabs, and Asian shore crabs are preferred baits. Position is the key for being successful for catching these bullies.

Regulations reminders:

SCUP - The scup fishing season has been extended through to the end of the year. The daily creel and length limit remains the same (10 fish per angler and 10 1⁄2 inches). Note that the party/charter boat creel limit is now 10 fish per day (the length limit remains unchanged at 11 inches).

BLACK SEA BASS – The black sea bass season is now closed (will re-open November 1st).