Connecticut Fishing Report: Albies Arrive, Bluefish Stay Active & Offshore Tuna Bite Continues
Albies Are Officially Here
The main inshore news this week is that false albacore are officially here. Watch Hill has been fishing well, and the first push of albies reached Seaside and Bartlett’s Reef on Wednesday, September 9.
Anglers should also keep an eye on Avery Point, Sarah’s Ledge, Ocean Beach, Harkness, Niantic Bay, and Black Point. The next four weeks are traditionally the best part of the fall albie run, so now is the time to get out there.
When targeting albies, locate breaking fish, determine which direction they're moving, and set up ahead of them rather than chasing the school.
Best Lures & Tackle for False Albacore
Recommended albie lures include:
Moderate-action medium or medium-heavy rods will help cast lighter albie lures, while smaller reels with smooth drags are best suited for handling that initial run.
Fluke & Black Sea Bass Fishing
Fluke and black sea bass fishing had a strong push two weeks ago, but the bite slowed last week as water temperatures began dropping.
The slowdown has been noticeable in our local waters, at Cerberus Shoal, and around Montauk.
Striped Bass Fishing Continues to Improve
Striped bass fishing is improving around dawn and again in the evening.
More bait is entering the area, so keep an eye on reefs and other structure for blitzing striped bass. As the fall fishing season develops, daytime feeds should become increasingly common.
Bluefish Remain Active Throughout the Area
Bluefish are spread throughout the region, with several large fish mixed in.
Fish have been reported at Watch Hill, Montauk, The Race, Sluiceway, Black Point, Rocky Neck, and Plum Gut.
The shop crew found excellent topwater action at Vixen Ledge on Labor Day afternoon, while Niantic Bay continues to hold plenty of bluefish.
Snapper blues are also thick in the Niantic River around Golden Spur and Keeney Cove. The snapper bite is a great opportunity to introduce younger anglers to fishing, with Kastmasters producing fish.
Offshore Fishing Report: Bluefin & Midshore Tuna
Bluefin and midshore activity remain inconsistent, although a short bite developed at the end of last week around Habbs, CIA, and the Block Island Wind Farm.
Coimbra Wreck produced both yellowfin and bluefin tuna. Poppers produced fish between the windmills and high flyers, while jigging worked at Habbs and CIA when the fish cooperated.
Best Bluefin Tuna Lures & Baits
The most productive bluefin offerings have included:
-
Squid
-
Whiting
-
Bait fishing with squid or whiting continues to produce alongside jigging and casting presentations.
Mahi, Yellowfin & Swordfish
The lanes continue to hold mahi, including many fish weighing more than 20 pounds.
Yellowfin tuna action remains slow, with very few bites being reported from The Dip through West Atlantis. A handful of swordfish have also been caught at night during the past several days.
Hydro, Veatch Canyon & Atlantis Fishing
Fishing remains good around Hydro and Veatch Canyon.
A clockwise eddy off the shelf is pushing water into Hydro and spilling into Veatch, with the potential