Connecticut Fishing Report: Striped Bass Stay Hot, Fluke Continue Strong & Offshore Tuna Bite Fires Up
Striped Bass Fishing Continues to Shine Across Eastern Long Island Sound
Happy 4th of July from everyone at JB Tackle!
Striped bass fishing continues to be outstanding throughout Eastern Long Island Sound, with anglers finding success using a variety of techniques depending on the tide.
The Race continues to produce excellent fishing, with jigging, trolling, and casting all proving effective during different stages of the tide. Sunrise and sunset remain the most productive times to fish areas including Hatchetts Reef, Black Point, Bartletts Reef, Fishers Island, and the Watch Hill Reefs.
Best Striped Bass Lures and Techniques
Top-producing lures this week include:
As water temperatures continue to rise, live eeling around sunset remains one of the best techniques for anglers looking to connect with a true trophy striped bass.
Fluke Fishing Remains Consistent with Keeper Fish Around
Fluke fishing continues to be productive, although many anglers are reporting just-missed keeper fish throughout our local waters and around Montauk.
The keeper fluke are here... finding them simply requires covering water and locating productive structure. A great starting point is fishing depths around 60 feet before gradually moving deeper into the 80-foot range.
Best Fluke Baits and Rigs
Successful anglers continue to rely on:
- Fresh squid
- Berkley Gulp!
-
Bucktail jigs
- Hi-low rigs
Stay persistent, as quality fish are being caught every day by anglers willing to adjust their location and presentation.
Black Sea Bass Fishing Update
Black sea bass fishing has been slower than many anglers expected this season. While keeper-sized fish are being caught locally, reports remain somewhat limited compared to previous years.
Bait Report
One of the biggest reasons for the excellent fishing has been the abundance of bait throughout the region.
Current baitfish include:
- Squid
- Mackerel
- Bunker
- Sand eels
Of these, sand eels continue to be the dominant forage and are driving much of the striped bass action.
Offshore Fishing Report: Tuna Action Continues to Build
Excellent water conditions and favorable weather windows continue to move into the Northeast canyons, creating outstanding opportunities for offshore anglers.
Fishing from Fishtails to the East Atlantis Canyon and West Atlantis Canyon has been exceptional, with many crews returning to the dock early after filling their fish boxes.
Midshore Bluefin Continue to Show
Closer to shore, the Ranger Wreck has produced excellent action on topwater lures, while large concentrations of bait around Haabs and Butterfish Hole suggest these areas could begin producing quality tuna action at any time.
With fishing improving almost daily, now is an excellent time to stop into JB Tackle for the latest offshore reports, tackle recommendations, and up-to-date fishing information before your next trip.
Important NOAA Regulation Updates
Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Regulations
NOAA has announced an important change for recreational anglers fishing aboard vessels with an Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling Permit or HMS Charter/Headboat Permit.
Beginning at 11:30 p.m. on July 3, 2026, through December 31, 2026, anglers are prohibited from retaining, possessing, or landing large medium or giant Atlantic bluefin tuna measuring 73 inches curved fork length (CFL) or greater in the Southern New England management area.
The good news is that anglers may still legally retain school and medium bluefin tuna measuring 27 inches to under 73 inches CFL, subject to current federal regulations.
New Striped Bass Measurement Method
As of May 17, 2026, NOAA has updated how striped bass must be measured for both recreational and commercial fisheries.
Striped bass are now measured as the greatest straight-line distance from the tip of the jaw (or snout) to the farthest tip of the tail with the upper and lower lobes of the tail squeezed together.
Anglers should review the NOAA Fisheries website for the latest regulations before heading out on the water.