Listener's Reports:
Ray Gaugan Report May 9: Been out several times in the last few weeks with just about the same results each time. Schoolies, schoolies, and more schoolies. In the Housey they are mostly out of the river feeding on the tons of bait that is around now. I am seeing adult bunker with nothing going after them along with herring and what I believe to be sand eels. Spotted Herring (Alewives, see Jimmy O’s report) going into a contributory to spawn. Nice to see them making a come back. Find these little creeks and fish out in front of them at night. If big girls are around they will be on these spots. Schoolies have been taken on just about ever lure I have chucked out. They readily have taken Storm shad on every outing. Couple on top took plugs. Dragging a T&W will help you locate areas to fish if you’re not on fish. Not much on top. I’m seeing most fish at 8 to 10 feet down or on the edges of sandbars/rips. Tried for Flounder 4 times with ZERO results.

Dickey Ritter Report: Jim Izzo ,Dick Ritter, and a friend won (for the third year in a row) The south Norwalk boat club flounder tournament this past Sunday. Congrats guys. They weighed in 8 fish totaling over 12lbs with our biggest at 2lbs 3oz caught by Jimmy Izzo. Per Dickey “We also caught the largest black fish I've ever seen in the 10 to 12lb range which we released” They weighed in 8 fish totaling over 12lbs with our biggest at 2lbs 3oz Jimmy Izzo caught the 2.3oz flounder and Per Dickey “ I say that with a grain of salt because I don't like to admit he beat me ,though I did catch more than him.” ( Don’t worry Dick Sam and I say the same about the blue wave, although it rarely happens) They were caught in the Channel to Cockennie Island in 11feet of water on the incoming tide

Jimmy O reports he landed a Weakfish 8.22 lb on 5-07 on a 5 inch white finess (white zoom.) I off the Fairfield beach that is all he would say. This was a surf caught fish on 8 lb test. In that I am not a true loyalist to the Blue Wave he would tell me no more to pass on to the club. Jimmy 0 will bring a picture to the next meeting. Lots of Aliwives are in the Mill and Sugatuck River. Some nice fish and bunker in Bridgeport harbor behind Bushwick Steel. Flounder Fishing tough.Bass out front on the beach mostly schoolies. It is a start.

My Pennies: Ok, lots of schoolies around but what about the big ones. My friend in New Rochelle reported he was in City Island the other day when a 55 lb (yes 55lb) was caught and weighed in at Jack Bait and Tackle. Caught in middle of the day under a bunker school, near the Thogs Neck Bridge. I saw a report of another 39 lb bass in the middle off of Rye. In that I have the next three Fridays off, I was going to travel West last night (Thursday) but Sam bailed and said the weather was going to be shit. So I decided to go locally until the Weather was going to drive me in. Make a long story short, it was calm up to 7 AM this morning. I slept most of the night, I guess I was tired, but did wake up to bait the rods 3 or 4 times, not a practice I would recommend. But nice to be on the water all night. Anyway, 2 AM pulled in my whole bunker that was out there for two hours, looked at it, and was so tired I just tossed it out again with out refreshing. Two minutes later a 32 inch bass. Landed the fish went back to bed and work up at 6AM, when the light rain was just making it through the sleeping bag I was under. The moral of the story, the Weatherman sucks.

Plenty of Bunker in Norwalk and Westport for Netting. I had a couple in the lines last night and landed one, but I did not hear much slapping. Then I don’t hear much of anything including my rods when I’m asleep. Last year, I had a bass spool me with the ratchet on, the knot held and in the morning, after reeling the line in from around a mooring and a pilling I landed a 15lb bass that gave the look that said “ about time”

Take Our Angler Survey: The Fishing Line in conjunction with Southwick Associates has put together a series of Angler Surveys to gather important info on your angling habits in order to present to the powers that be, detailed info on why we should be getting more recognition from local, state and federal government and authorities. Just click on the banner at left to be transported to register and take the survey for The Fishing Line. As incentives for people to respond to each monthly survey, ten $100 gift certificates are awarded each month to randomly drawn respondents to the outdoor retailer of their choice, including local shops. For each month a person takes the survey, they are entered into the year-end drawing for a $1,000 gift certificate to the outdoor retailer of the winner’s choice. The online surveys are partnering with The Fishing Line to help learn more about anglers’ needs and opinions on conservation and fisheries management issues.

Western CT: The fishing is easy come, easy go. Although last week with the east winds the bass seemed to have moved out of the Housatonic River, on Wednesday morning they were back in where Jim Koutas was fishing the point at first light with soft plastics fishing closer to the bottom with no luck. After switching up to a white Super Spook he landed and safely released six fish with the largest just shy of 29 inches.

Bridgeport to Stratford: The word sounds like more small bass then large. Schoolie bass are in the river with a couple of keepers at the Derby Dam on plugs. Bluefish are hitting at Orient Point and Jamaica Bay (NY) from 8 to 10-pounds. Anglers have to use a lot of chum to get any sort of bite for the remaining flounder. Pods of bunker are scattered across the region as well. Bobby J’s in Milford reports bunker are sporadic at best. A few anglers got lucky at the West Haven Beaches, especially Gulf Beach on fly action. Short bass in the 15 to 24-inch range are the normal size. No weakfish and no bluefish to speak of just yet but they are on the lookout for them any day now.

New Haven to Madison: Reports are leaning toward small bass here as well. Schoolie bass are in and around the reef but some anglers found keeper bass in New Haven Harbor. Bluefish have been showing up all week and some anglers used white parachutes and red pork rinds to catch them in addition to a few bass. Trout action in the local streams and pond has been OK, not spectacular.

Eastern CT:
CT River and the Race: Pat spoke of limited bass action of late. Some anglers have caught bass to 24-inches on sandworms and jigs in the Thames River. With bunker showing up everyday, the surface action is bound to start coming alive. The CT River is one of the more productive areas lately with a few keeper bass being caught on either jigs or sandworms.

Niantic River and Thames River: The reports state small bass are the norm. Short bass are in supply over at the Millstone Power Plant and the Niantic River on plugs with the Bartlett’s area being productive in about a week. Bluefish are taking plugs on top now with some bunker pods being worked over in the area. Flounder are still active in here on sandworms and plenty of chum. Bob suggests stripers are hitting tubed worms and eels. The Thames River Striper Tourney is this weekend with many anglers using eels as their first bait. Some anglers are reporting a few fluke already over in the Montauk area.

Make sure you register (free) for our Discussion and Message Boards so you can discuss this and other hot topics right now! Remember it is always important to say you heard, saw or read it on "The Fishing Line." and the boats and shops listed here are the only official reporting stations for "The Fishing Line."

Copyright © 1997-2008 The Fishing Line