Connecticut Fishing Report, Trophy Surf Stripers and Fall Species Hold After the Nor’easter

Before and during the nor’easter, surf anglers in Rhode Island put together some of the best striped bass reports we have heard this fall. Several J&B Tackle customers caught personal-best bass measuring more than 50 inches. The conditions were demanding, but the anglers who stayed with it found quality fish.

The storm cost boats several fishing days, but it did not end the fall run. Striped bass, bluefish, false albacore, and even bonito have remained in the area. The fish are moving, so anglers who stay mobile and keep several presentations ready have the best chance of staying with the action.

Trophy Striped Bass in the Rhode Island Surf

The standout reports came from the Rhode Island surf before and during the nor’easter. Multiple customers reported personal-best striped bass over 50 inches. These were not easy-weather fish. The anglers who connected were committed surfcasters willing to fish through difficult conditions.

Post-storm, striped bass are still moving through eastern Long Island Sound and the waters around Fishers Island. Race Point, The Race, Plum Gut, Black Point, and the stretch from Millstone Point east to the mouth of the Thames River are all worth watching as bait and fish move through the area.

Inshore Fishing Report

Striped Bass Stay in the Fall Mix

Striped bass remain active after the storm. Early morning has been the most productive time, although fish can be caught throughout the day. Most of the current action is taking place on the surface, so watch for visible feeds and be ready to move when the fish change direction.

The south side of Fishers Island, Race Point, The Race, Plum Gut, Black Point, Millstone Point, and the mouth of the Thames River give anglers a wide area to cover. There is no single stationary bite to depend on right now. The fish are on the move, and the best approach is to locate activity and adjust with it.

Bluefish Remain Active

Bluefish are mixed into the same general areas as the striped bass and other fall species. Most of the action is on top, but diamond jigging at The Race remains a dependable backup when the surface activity slows or the blues are holding deeper.

Keep a Tsunami Diamond Jig rigged and ready if you are fishing The Race. It gives you a quick way to work below the visible surface activity without completely changing your setup.

False Albacore and Bonito Hold After the Storm

False albacore and bonito have also stayed in the area. The south side of Fishers Island and the eastern end of Long Island Sound remain the primary water to watch. Early morning has produced the best reports, but these fish can show at any point during the day.

Epoxy jigs remain one of the most useful presentations when albies or bonito are moving quickly. A Hogy Epoxy Jig gives you the casting distance needed to reach fish without running through the school. Make the cast ahead of the direction the fish are moving and work the lure through their path.

Keep Several Presentations Ready

The mix of species makes preparation important. The majority of the action has been on top, but one presentation will not cover every situation. Keep these options ready before the first fish shows.

• Hogy Epoxy Jigs for albies and bonito moving on small bait
• Hogy Charter Grade Slider Topwater Plugs for visible striped bass and bluefish feeds
• RonZ Original Series soft plastics when fish are below the surface activity
• Tsunami Diamond Jigs for bluefish holding deeper at The Race

Having each rod rigged before the action starts saves time when the fish switch species, direction, or depth.

Connecticut Tog Season Opens October 10

Connecticut’s fall tog season opens Saturday, October 10. Boats fishing around Fishers Island and the state line need to remember that New York’s Long Island Sound region opens one day later on Sunday, October 11.

Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New York do not share one set of tog regulations. Season dates, possession rules, and other requirements differ by state. Check the official regulations before leaving the dock, especially if your trip may cross state lines.

• Connecticut saltwater species regulations
• New York recreational saltwater fishing regulations
• Rhode Island marine fisheries regulations

Get Ready for the Tog Opener

The week before the opener is the time to check leaders, hooks, sinkers, jigs, and crab tools. Tog fishing around local rock piles and ledges can require several jig and sinker weights as the current changes. Jigs are most effective around the end of the tide and slack water. Traditional rigs give you a better option when the current is moving too hard to keep a jig in the strike zone.

Asylum Blackfish Bug Jigz are one option for presenting crab around structure. Bring multiple weights so you can maintain contact without using more lead than the conditions require. You can also review J&B Tackle’s complete blackfish fishing guide and gear selection before the season opens.

Offshore Fishing Report

A few customers took advantage of the midweek weather window and headed offshore. We heard that several boats hooked up in the canyons, but we have not received enough complete reports to call a dependable pattern.

The nor’easter took away a full week of offshore fishing. There are still good opportunities, but the current report is limited because fewer boats have been able to get out and report back. We will update the fishing report as soon as we receive better information from the offshore fleet.

Call or stop by J&B Tackle before heading out. Offshore conditions and the bite can change quickly, and the shop will have the most recent information available.