Casting Call: DEEP Fishing Report

Reminder: Free Fishing Day Saturday

DEEP has designated this Saturday, October 8th, as a “Free Fishing Day” where no license is required to fish recreationally in Connecticut waters (both inland & marine).

This is a great opportunity for experienced anglers to both share their passion for fishing and protect its future by introducing a family member, friend or acquaintance to the sport of fishing, and a great time for visitors to our state to try out the many fishing opportunities found in Connecticut.

Fall Trout Stocking Update –

This week DEEP stocked a total of 2,950 brown trout (12 inch and larger fish). The West Branch Farmington River (from Goodwin Dam to the upper boundary of the TMA) was stocked with 1,200 fish, the lower Farmington River TMA was stocked with 550 fish, 600 fish were released into Squantz Pond and 600 fish into Beach Pond. These stockings bringing the total number of brown trout stocked this fall to 17,800 fish. So far this season, 7,500 standard size (9-10 inch fish) rainbow trout have also been stocked and DEEP will be stocking another 7,500 rainbows next week in eastern CT.

Marine report:

Surface water temperatures in Long Island Sound (LIS) are in the mid to high 60’s. Check out the following web sites for more detailed water temperatures and marine boating conditions:

http://www.mysound.uconn.edu/stationstat.html

http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/

http://marine.rutgers.edu/mrs/sat_data/?nothumbs=1

http://www.wunderground.com/MAR/AN/330.html

BLUEFISH fishing remains excellent. The usual fishing 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 has improved on the local reefs and tidal rips as water temperature cool. Live lining eels, hickory shad, bunker (Atlantic menhaden) or scup is the ticket for that trophy cow bass. Just to remember to use circle hooks when using live bait. 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 excellent on the local reefs and rock piles. The time to go is now! Fish in excess of 17 inches in length have been reported. The registration is free.

TAUTOG fishing season is now open. Green crabs, hermit crabs, and Asian shore crabs are preferred baits for hooking these hard fighting fish. Any rock pile/gnarly hard bottom or wreck is perfect tog habitat.

LITTLE TUNNY fishing has been hit or miss for these torpedoes of the sea. Fishing spots include Bluff Point, Pine Island area, the Race (Race Rock to Little Gull Island), Bartlett Reef, Millstone Point, Black Point area, and the Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground area.

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 ½ inches). In the party/charter boat fishery, the current 40 fish creel limit remains in place through Tuesday, October 11th. After October 11th and through to the end of the year, the creel limit returns to 10 fish (the length limit remains unchanged at 11 inches).

BLACK SEA BASS – The black sea bass season is now closed.

For regulation updates and fishing/crabbing information, please check out our web site at: www.ct.gov/deep/fishing or pick up the 2011 Angler’s Guide. The guide contains all current marine fishing regulations and more.