Connecticut Fishing Report: Fluke & Sea Bass Stay Strong, Bonito Move Closer & Offshore Tuna Action Continues
Fluke & Black Sea Bass Fishing Remains Good
Fluke and black sea bass fishing remains good throughout our area. Anglers are picking through plenty of short fish to find one or two keepers.
Black Point, Niantic Bay, and Two Tree Channel all produced a few keeper fluke and black sea bass this week, with larger fish being reported from the Montauk area.
Striped Bass Fishing
Striped bass fishing continues to be best around dawn and in the evening. For anglers looking for a bigger bass, live lining eels at night continues to produce some of the largest fish.
Bonito Continue Moving Toward Local Waters
Bonito continue to work their way down the Rhode Island coast and closer to our local waters. Last week, good numbers of bonito were reported near Point Judith, along with scattered reports of bones around Watch Hill.
We expect to see more bonito showing up in our area this week or next.
For bonito, use small peanut-style epoxy jigs or fast-retrieved metals. Keep an eye out for working birds and fast-moving blitzes, which can help you locate actively feeding fish.
Apples are falling, so bonito fishing is a great way to brush up before the false albacore arrive.
Offshore Fishing Report
Fishing from Fishtails to East and West Atlantis remains very good.
Haabs produced some of the best fishing of the season two days before last week's major storms moved through. Since then, the fishing has gone back to being good for some boats and much tougher for others.
Sand eel jigs produced extremely well due to the incredible number of sand eels present on the tuna grounds. A few anglers also hooked up using poppers around feeding whales.
Anglers continue to report seeing whales, dolphins, and large amounts of bait spread throughout the tuna grounds.
This season has been tougher than usual because consistent, long-lasting patterns haven't developed and the fish and bait remain spread out. However, with the amount of fish, bait, and sea life currently present, there is still plenty of potential for an excellent offshore trip when the timing is right.
Conditions and the bite are changing daily, so call JB Tackle for our most up-to-date offshore intel before planning your trip.
JB Tackle Events: Joe Baggs Vendor Day & False Albacore Seminar
On August 20, JB Tackle will host a Joe Baggs Meet-and-Greet Vendor Day from 3:00–6:00 PM, featuring in-store specials on bonito and albie gear.
Following the vendor day, Captain Joe Diorio will present a False Albacore Fishing Seminar from 6:00–7:30 PM.
This is a great opportunity to talk with experts in the fishing and tackle industry, brush up on tactics, and gear up for the upcoming false albacore season.
You do not need to attend the seminar to participate in the vendor day or shop the in-store specials.
There are still a few spots available for the seminar. Email tim@jbtackle.com if you would like to sign up.