Striped Bass Fishing Good Throughout Long Island Sound; Remember To Use Circle Hooks To Avoid Gut Hooking

This information was provided by the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection:

Surface water temperatures in Long Island Sound (LIS) range from the mid 50’s to low 60’s °F. Check out the following web sites for more detailed water temperatures and marine boating conditions:

• MySound
• Rutgers
• NBDC at NOAA
• Wunderground

STRIPED BASS fishing is good throughout LIS. Squid are abundant in eastern LIS while schools of bunker (Atlantic menhaden) are in western LIS. Live lining bunker or eels on three-way rigs or fish finder rigs is the ticket. Just remember to use circle hooks to avoid gut hooking. Striper spots include Watch Hill reefs to eastern tip of Fishers Island, the Race, Plum Gut, Millstone outflow, outer Bartlett Reef, Black Point, lower Connecticut River (DEP fishing pier) and along Great Island, Long Sand Shoal, Southwest Reef, Six Mile Reef, Falkner Island area, Thimble Islands to the Branford Reefs, New Haven Harbor (including Sandy Point), Milford Harbor breakwaters and Charles Island area including the tombolo, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground, Housatonic River (up to the Derby Dam), Penfield Reef, around the Norwalk Islands, and the reefs off Stamford and Greenwich.

BLUEFISH fishing is better in western LIS with fish weighing in the double digits being reported. Bluefish spots include the Race, Millstone outflow, Plum Gut, Gardiners Bay, New Haven Harbor (Sandy Point), buoys 18 and 20 off Stratford Point, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground, Penfield Reef, and the Norwalk Islands.

SUMMER FLOUNDER (fluke) fishing is good. The north side of Long Island from Horton Point over to Port Jefferson has been yielding big numbers but most are sub-legal size fish. Other spots include the south side of Fishers Island, Black Point/Niantic Bay, Westbrook-Clinton area, and off the New Haven breakwaters.

WINTER FLOUNDER can still be caught in the Pine Island area (Groton) and Niantic Bay. Just as a reminder, THE WINTER FLOUNDER FISHING SEASON CLOSES MAY 31.

For Current Connecticut Recreational Fishing Regulations: Anglers should consult the new 2012 Connecticut Anglers Guide which is now available at most Town Clerks Offices, DEEP offices and at tackle stores selling fishing licenses. Anglers can purchase their fishing licenses online (www.ct.gov/deep/fishinglicense) or at participating town halls, DEEP field offices and fishing tackle vendors. Current regulations, electronic versions of the Angler’s Guide and additional information can all be accessed on the DEEP website at: www.ct.gov/deep/fishing .