BIG-BLOCK POWER

Yamaha’s award-winning 4.2-liter V6 four strokes set the standard for offshore performance. Not only do they feature class-leading 4.2-liter displacement, but they’re also:

FLEXIBLE — Both the 4.2-liter V6 225 and 250 are available with either mechanical or digital controls, for ease of repower

LIGHTER — At 562 pounds (digital) and 551 pounds (mechanical), they’re up to 73 pounds lighter than other four strokes in their class

FASTER — Up to 19 percent faster than other 300-hp competitors, planing offshore boats with ease*

SMARTER — Up to 17 percent better fuel economy, at cruise RPM, than comparable outboards* ou’re definitely not in Kansas anymore. Or New England, for that matter. When you’re floating some 1,000 feet above what might loosely be considered terra firma, you can’t help but feel a little, well, out there. Welcome to the North Atlantic canyons. These great underwater fissures on the edge of the continental shelf, carved by meltwater-fueled rivers during the last ice age, comprise an altogether different realm. Appropriately, the waters are populated by creatures not encountered by mortal men—at least not those who fish inshore waters.

Learn more about the powerful performance of our 4.2-liter V6 Offshore F300, F250 and F225 at YamahaOutboards.com/V6offshore.

TEXT

The warm, deep-blue Gulf Stream waters that flow along the shelf edge carry with them everything from triggerfish to blue marlin. Yellowfin tuna, wahoo, mahi mahi, bigeye tuna and hammerhead sharks also travel the great bluewater river, and far below, along the steeply sloping canyon walls, are colorful tilefish and that most mysterious species of all—the broadbill swordfish.

Of course, you need the right boat to fish the canyons, which lie anywhere from 80 to 120 miles offshore. The weather has to be stable, the seas manageable. And even when the elements align, success is never guaranteed.

But that’s okay, because fishing the canyons is really about visiting a place few others get to experience, and you’ll be excused if you find yourself feeling like the ancient mariners who were sure the dark seas contained ship-crushing beasts.

Here, truly, there be monsters!

SOME PEOPLE THINK TUNA IS CHICKEN THAT COMES IN A CAN.

CONNECTICUT

Branford River Marine Branford, CT 203-488-8921 branfordrivermarine.com

Defender Industries Inc Waterford, CT 800-628-8225 defender.com

Guilford Boat Yards Guilford, CT 203-453-5031 guilfordboatct.com

Niantic Bay Mobile Marine Repair LLC Mystic, CT 60-848-2628

Oak Leaf Marina Inc Old Saybrook, CT 860-388-9817 oakleafmarina.com

O’Haras Landing Salisbury, CT 860-824-7583 oharaslanding.com

Spicers Marina LLC Noank, CT 860-536-4978 spicersmarina.com

MASSACHUSETTS

Action Marine & Water Sports Inc Holyoke, MA 413-534-8000 actionmarineholyoke.com

Bill’s Outboard Motor Service Inc Hingham, MA 781-749-1303 billsoutboard.com

Captain Bub’s Marine Inc Lakeville, MA 508-763-4000 captainbubsmarine.com

Doug Russell Marine Worcester, MA 508-791-4917 dougrussell.com

Essex Marina LLC Essex, MA 978-768-6833 essexmarinallc.com

Grey Lady Marine Acquisition Company LLC Nantucket, MA 508-228-6525 greyladymarine.com

Hank’s Marine Cherry Valley, MA 508-892-4788 hanksmarine.com

The power and reliability of the Verado 350 will take these people to an aisle they won’t find in any grocery store. Sorry, Charlie. Ahi’s on the menu tonight.

Learn more at mercurymarine.com or visit your local dealer, today.

McLellan Brothers Inc Everett, MA 617-389-5508 mclellanbrosinc.com

Merrimac Marine Supply Methuen, MA 978-682-7291 merrimacmarine.com

Obsession Boat Sales East Falmouth, MA 508-540-0877 obsessionboatsales.com

Portside Marine Service Danvers, MA 978-777-5727 portsidemarine.us

Rick’s Outboard Marine Inc Fairhaven, MA 508-992-4888

Riverfront Marine Sports Inc Salisbury, MA 978-462-7755 riverfrontmarine.com

Slips Capeway Marine Inc Raynham, MA 508-822-6948 slipscapewaymarine.com

USA Marine Inc Worcester, MA 508-791-7116 usamarineinc.com

Wareham Boat Yard & Marina Inc West Wareham, MA 508-748-1472 wareham-boatyard-marina.com

MAINE

Branch Pond Marine Ellsworth, ME 207-667-2268 branchpondmarine.com

Clark Marine Manchester, ME 207-622-7011 clarkmarinemaine.com

Mid Maine Marine & RV Inc Oakland, ME 207-465-2146 midmainemarine.com

Oquossoc Marine Inc Oquossoc, ME 207-864-5477 oquossocmarine.com

Parker’s Boathouse George, ME 207-636-2722 parkersboathouse.com

Port Harbor Marine Inc South Portland, ME 207-767-3254 portharbormarine.com

Royal River Boat Repair Inc Yarmouth, ME 207-846-9577 royalriverboat.com

RPM Service Inc Naples , ME 207-693-3014 rpm-services.com

South Port Marine South Portland, ME 207-799-8191 southportmarine.com

TW Willard Inc Caribou, ME 207-493-4507

White Rock Outboard Inc Gorham, ME 207-892-9606 whiterockoutboard.com NEW HAMPSHIRE

Dover Marine Dover, NH 603-742-5453 dovermarine.com

Green’s Marine Inc Hooksett, NH 603-485-5131 greensmarine.net

Monadnock Boat Store Rindge, NH 603-532-5911 Stoddard, NH 603-847-9300 monadnockboatstore.com

Paugus Bay Marina Laconia, NH 603-524-1233 paugusbaymarina.com

Ward’s Boat Shop Inc Center Ossipee, NH 603-539-4563 wardsboatshop.com

Winnisquam Marine Belmont, NH 603-524-8380 winnisquammarine.com

RHODE ISLAND

Billington Cove Marinainc Wakefield, RI 401-783-1266

CL Marine Inc Warwick, RI 401-732-6764 clmarineri.com

Jamestown Distributors Bristol, RI 401-253-3840 jamestowndistributors.com

VERMONT

Boat Headquarters Swanton, VT 802-868-4444 boatheadquarters.com

Fairlee Marine Fairlee, VT 802-333-9745 fairleemarine.com

Vermont Home & Marine Williston, VT 802-658-5427 vthomemarine.com

Woodard Marine Inc Hydeville, VT 802-265-3690 woodardmarine.com

NEW YORK

Canada Lake Store & Marine Caroga Lake, NY 518-835-6069 canadalakemarine.com

Capital District Marina Cohoes, NY 518-237-3442 capitaldistrictmarina.com

Chic’s Marina Inc Bolton Landing, NY 518-644-2170 chicsmarina.com

CR’s Marine Service Inc Schenectady, NY 518-370-3596 crsmarine.com

Day Brothers Boats Plattsburgh, NY 518-562-2628 daybrothersboats.com

E-Z Marine & Storage Inc Brant Lake, NY 518-494-7381 ezmarineandstorage.com

Point Breeze Marine Saratoga Springs, NY 518-587-3397 pointbreezemarina.com

Snug Harbor Marina Inc Ticonderoga, NY 518-585-6685 snugharbormarinainc.com estled in the southwest corner of the Nutmeg State, busy Candlewood Lake, which bustles with pontoon-boating families and wake-riding teens through the summer, doesn’t seem to be the type of fishing spot that would garner the attention of pro anglers. Yet in 2015, the massive manmade lake was ranked as one of the top 25 bass waters in the country by Bassmaster Magazine.

Candlewood Lake features prominent structure that provides cover for both smallmouth and largemouth bass.

Bustling with wakeboarders and pontoon boats, Connecticut’s largest lake also happens to host some of the best freshwater bass fishing in the Northeast.

“What really makes Candlewood shine is the abundance of big bronzebacks,” explains local guide T.J. DeFelice of Bloodline 203 Fishing and Guide Service. “We’re talking tons of quality fish pushing the four-pound mark, plus a surprising number of largemouths weighing six to seven pounds.”

BY TOM SCHLICHTER

Manmade Mecca

To be sure, this honey hole is no secret. Recreational boaters of all types flock to the lake in summer to relax and pursue assorted watersports, while anglers mine every nook and cranny. Yet Candlewood, the largest lake in Connecticut, manages to absorb the pressure. Created in 1928 as a source of hydropower, the lake is 17 miles long by two miles wide, with roughly 100 miles of shoreline shared by the towns of Danbury, New Fairfield, Sherman, Brookfield and New Milford.

“When they flooded this valley to create a lake,” says Pete Planer, a tournament angler who fishes Candlewood frequently with his partner, Norm Izzy, “they left the old buildings, stone walls, junk cars and farm stuff right where it was. What a break that turned out to be for future generations of fishermen!”

TRACTORS, PLANES & CARS

Indeed, divers have found all sorts of artifacts from before the valley—and a small village named Jerusalem—was claimed by eminent domain and intentionally flooded. Among some of the more interesting discoveries have been the remnants of covered bridges, a small plane, farm tractors and even a Model T, parked on the muddy lake bottom.

“I’m not sure how it turned out for the villagers,” says Planer, “but it all adds up to plenty of structure for bass and other species these days.”

Planer, who runs a series of open “buddy” bass fishing tournaments on both Candlewood and Greenwood Lake, New Jersey, notes that such an abundance of structure requires good electronics.

“If the bite goes soft,” he reveals, “you can bet the bass have either suspended or are relating to some kind of bottom mess. A quality fishfinder can eliminate a lot of the guesswork.”

A bass-stacked boulder.

Topwaters work

Ask the pros on these waters to talk about their favorite bass seasons, lures and techniques, and you’ll get surprising variety of responses. In early spring, when the water temperature is below 55 degrees, DeFelice throws a floating fly hair jig he designed specifically for targeting suspended smallies. It matches up well to yearling bluegills—a primary prey of earlyseason bass.

As the water warms, Planer and Izzy favor three- to five-inch Big Hammer square-tail swimbaits. Cast them out, let them settle just above the bottom then retrieve them slowly. DeFelice likes swimbaits, too, but switches to twoinch Keitech Swing Impact softplastics fished on six-pound line once the bass move onto their beds.

Come June, tournament angler and fishing scribe Mike Iovino, who guides out of Candlewood Bait and Tackle in Danbury, likes to “walk the dog” early in the morning. “Don’t be afraid to throw big surface lures,” he advises. “It’s okay to go with a saltwater-sized Zara Spook. These bass aren’t easily intimidated.”

Candlewood Fishing Charters

Bloodline 203 Charters (910) 381-8304; bloodline203fishing.com

Candlewood Lake Guide Service (203) 948-5054; candlewoodlakeguideservice.com

Paul Mueller Fishing (203) 910-3676; paulmuellerfishing.com

Bassman Tours (203) 570-7952; bassmantours.com

The Valley Angler (203) 792-8324; thevalleyangler.com

BAIT & TACKLE

Candlewood Bait & Tackle (203) 743-2221; candlewoodbait.com

QUICK TIP: When the waters heat up, try a drop-shot rig with a live alewife or soft-plastic worm for tempting smallies.

Midsummer Producers

Once the summer heat moves in, some anglers switch over to live shiners and alewives fished on drop-shot rigs around structure, while others prefer Senko worms fished either “wackystyle” or Texas-rigged. “Think about using 10- to 12-pound-test mono line instead of thin-diameter braid or dense fluorocarbon when worming,” advises DeFelice. “That extra thickness will slow your worm’s descent, giving the bass extra time to pounce.”

Drop-shot rigs work well with either live bait or soft-plastics. Iovino likes to drop-shot a 4 1/2-inch, straight-tailed Roboworm. He fishes this setup in 25- to 30-foot depths once the water temperature tops 75 degrees. By that point, the smallies and baitfish have mostly moved out of the weeds to suspend offshore. The largemouths, however, stay in thick vegetation throughout the summer, so you’ll need to toss weedless frogs or punch jigs with trailers to reach them.

Top Lake Spots

Hot spots change with the seasons, of course, but are more related to water temperature and depth than any specific piece of structure or location. As a soft rule, you’ll find the most bragging-sized largemouths from Chimney Point south, including Squanz Cove and Turtle Bay. The smallies are everywhere, although the New Milford arm of the lake, towards Candlewood Dam, is especially consistent.

For such a big lake, Candlewood’s shoreline access and wade-worthy stretches are limited. The area around 11-acre Candlewood Town Park off Hayestown Road, however, can really rock for both species of bass in the spring, plus it’s pretty good for trout, crappie, yellow perch and sunfish. There’s a fee to use the beach here, but fishing is free.

After a morning of fishing, many Candlewood anglers head for DOWN THE HATCH , the lake’s only dock-and-dine restaurant. Located on Echo Bay in Brookfield, the casual restaurant opens for lunch at 11:30 a.m., and features plenty of guest slips. That said, be prepared to wait for a space to open up on busy summer weekends.

The restaurant offers indoor and outdoor patio seating, and serves a wide range of menu items, ranging from burgers, sandwiches and wraps to more elaborate entrees, including steak and seafood dishes. It’s the perfect place to wrap up a great day on the water!

(203) 775-6635; downthehatchrestaurant.com

RAMPS & REGS

If you wish to launch a boat, the Lattins Cove ramp at the southern end of the lake is free of charge, as is the ramp on Squanz Cove in Fairfield. Both are good, but Lattins may experience low water in the fall due to drawdowns. Gas is available at Pocono Point Marina in Danbury, Echo Bay Marina in Brookfield and Gerard’s Water’s Edge Marina in New Milford.

Trailer-boaters should note that there is a 26-foot maximum boat length limit on Candlewood, a 45-mph daytime speed limit, and a 25-mph nighttime limit from a half-hour after sunset to a half-hour before sunrise. A six-mph speed limit applies to all waters within 100 feet of shore, docks, moored vessels and hazardous areas. No-wake zones exist in both Lattins and Squanz Coves.

Lastly, keep in mind that this is big water. Light winds from the west make for great fishing, but gusty northerlies can churn up four-footers. Pay attention to the forecast before launching.

“At the very least, choose your days wisely,” cautions Planer. “Reschedule if you suspect a significant chop. The bass will still be there tomorrow.”

Enjoy Your View From The Top

With beautiful lines, sleek new flybridge and legendary Tiara accoutrements, the F44 Flybridge will put you on top of the world. A graceful profile and elegantfinishesmayberefined,buttheVolvoPentaIPS600sstillprovidesuperiorperformanceasneeded.Sitbackcomfortablyinample,inclusivespaces that connect captain and guests. Enjoy the views from an easy-to-access flybridge, featuring bridge and guest lounges. It’s the perfect combination of styling and efficiency of space that make the Tiara a sleeker, more sophisticated 44-footer that others can only look up to.. quite literally. The Tiara Flybridge series also includes the F 53 Flybridge model, which boasts a grander flybridge, larger galley and salon, and optional third stateroom below deck.

POWERED BY

IT’S MORE THAN PERFECTION. IT’S TIARA ELEGANCE IN EVOLUTION. DISCOVER AT WWW.TIARAYACHTS.COM

BY TOM RICHARDSON PHOTOGRAPHY BY TOM CROKE

What’s not to like about bluefish? They fight hard, are readily available through much of the season and are easy to catch. About the only knock against them is that they don’t make good eating.

Just don’t tell that to Helen Rennie, a French-trained professional chef who happens to hold blues in high regard. Indeed, they’re her favorite fish to grill.

“Most fish are difficult to grill,” explains Rennie. “Cod, haddock and flounder are all very flaky, so they tend to break apart. Bluefish, on the other hand, have a very moist, firm meat that sticks together nicely on the grill.”

Rennie’s method for grilling bluefish fillets is fast and simple, and works with any standard propane-fueled gas grill (propane is preferred, as it burns hotter than charcoal). She likes to serve this summer dish accompanied by grilled corn and panzanella salad.

Try her recipe and we think you’ll end up keeping a few more bluefish this season!

To learn more about Helen Rennie and her many recipes, visit helenrennie.com.

4)

CILANTRO LIME BUTTER:

• 1/2 stick unsalted butter at room temperature (but not melted)

• 1 tsp. lime zest

• 1 tsp. lime juice

• 1/2 garlic clove, mashed

• 1 tbsp. minced fresh cilantro

• Pinch of chili flakes

• Pinch of salt and pepper

BLUEFISH:

• Disposable aluminum pie pan

• 4 pieces of scaled bluefish fillet, skin on (6-8 oz. each)

• 1 tsp. ground coriander

• Salt and pepper

• 2 tsp. canola oil, plus more for grill

COOKING:

Make sure to start with a clean grill surface. Place a large disposable aluminum pan upside down over the grilling surface. Cover the grill and preheat on high for 10 minutes. Do not remove the pan until you are ready to place the fish on the grill.

Dry the fish thoroughly with paper towels. Lightly score the skin on a diagonal at half-inch intervals (without cutting through the flesh) to prevent the fish from curling.

When the grill is at peak temperature, sprinkle coriander, salt and pepper on both sides of the fillets. Coat the fillets with canola oil.

Remove the pan from the grill. Dunk a wad of paper towel in canola oil and, using tongs, wipe it over the cooking surface.

Place the fish on the grill, skin-side up, diagonal to the grill grates. Cover the grill and cook for three to four minutes per inch of thickness, or until the fish displays grill marks.

Slip the tines of a fork between the grill grates and gently push up on the fish to separate it from the grill. Flip the fish and grill on the skin side three to four minutes per inch of thickness.

Check to see if the fish is done by separating the flakes in the thickest part of fillet with a fork. The fish is done when a trace of translucency still remains in the center. Remember that the fish will continue to cook after it’s removed from the grill.

Remove the fish by first dislodging it with a fork then lifting with a spatula.

Top with the cilantro-lime butter and serve.

TEXT & PHOTOGRAPHY

BY TOM RICHARDSON

Plentiful and delicious, haddock are a great way to shake off the winter rust.

o the general public, there seems to be no shortage of doom and gloom concerning New England’s oncevaunted groundfish fisheries. Yet while cod stocks have foundered over the last several decades, Gulf of Maine haddock are becoming more abundant, to the point where anglers are all but guaranteed a limit (12 fish per person in 2017) of these tasty, white-fleshed bottom fish.

This is especially true during the spring run of haddock on Stellwagen Bank. Beginning in April and running through May, haddock gather on the bank in large numbers to spawn and feast on the abundance of sand eels, crustaceans and other prey. It’s game on for anglers who have their ship and tackle together!

REEL

Heavy: Penn GT 320 or Shimano TLD 20

Light: Shimano Calcutta B or Maxel Hybrid 25

ROD

Heavy: 6 ½’ , 30-80 lb. class Shimano Trevala

Light: 6 ½’, 20-40 lb. class Tsunami Trophy Jigging

LINE

Heavy: 50 lb. test PowerPro braid

Light: 30 lb. test PowerPro braid

Take It To The Bank

“It’s like the old days of cod fishing,” states Captain Rich Antonino of Black Rose Sportfishing. “And, somewhat sadly, it’s really the only viable early-spring fishery we have north of Cape Cod.”

Antonino begins targeting haddock in mid-April, launching his 25-foot C-Hawk cuddy cabin out of Green Harbor in Marshfield, some 15 miles from the southern portion of Stellwagen. This port, as well as nearby Plymouth Harbor, also puts anglers reasonably close to the middle and northern parts of the bank should the fish be staging farther north.

Antonino points out that haddock move around quite a bit, so it’s helpful to have some local intel on their whereabouts before making the run. “That said, I usually find that the fish start off on the western side of the bank and make their way to the eastern side as May progresses.”

Where To Find Them

In recent years, haddock have gathered in good numbers on or near the southern edge of Stellwagen by early May. The easiest way to pinpoint them is to look for the fleet of drifting boats. Otherwise, Antonino recommends starting at the southwest corner of Stellwagen and working north along the western edge of the bank in a zig-zag pattern. Drift from deep water to shallow, or vice versa, depending on the current and wind, and use your plotter trail to mark your progress. Continue making drifts along the bank edge and onto the bank until you find the fish.

Naturally, the presence of bait is a good sign that you’re in the right place, so watch your depthsounder for clouds of sand eels coming off the bottom or dimpling the surface. “I know it sounds strange, because haddock are bottom feeders, but look for working birds,” adds Antonino. “The birds indicate bait, and that bait can be spread all the way from the surface to the bottom.”

Down To Business

Once you’ve found the fish, catching them isn’t too difficult. Simply lower a metal jig, such as a Vike, Gibbs, Daddy Mac, Crippled Herring or diamond jig, to the bottom and make gentle lifts of the rod to give it some action. It usually doesn’t take long before a fish climbs aboard.

“Haddock in particular seem to be attracted to turbulence on the bottom,” Antonino says. “I’ve put a GoPro camera on the bottom in front of a jig, and when we dragged the jig along, kicking up mud, the haddock swarmed it and really attacked.”

If you’d like to learn the basics of haddock fishing, especially with light gear, book a trip with Capt. Rich Antonino of Black Rose Fishing Charters. Capt. Rich is an enthusiastic host, and loves to fish with families. Give him a shout at (508) 269-1882; blackrosefishing.com.

Haddock Light

Antonino loves the spring haddock fishery because it allows for the use of light gear. “In some cases, you’re only fishing in 70 feet of water on top of the bank,” he says. “Plus, the average size of the haddock is four or five pounds, so there’s no need for heavy gear. And lighter gear encourages kids and grandparents to come out and have some fun with these fish.”

As long as the drift speed isn’t too extreme, fluke and sea bass gear is perfectly suitable for spring haddock fishing. Start with a 6 ½- or 7-foot rod in the 15- to 30-pound-class range and match it with a light conventional reel filled with 30-pound-test braided line.

The terminal rig is equally basic: Tie a barrel swivel to the end of the main line then tie on four to five feet of 40- to 60-pound-test mono leader. One to two feet above the end of the leader, tie in a six-inch dropper loop for attaching the teaser. For the teaser, Antonino prefers flies tied on 5/0 to 7/0 Gamakatsu octopus circle hooks, as they last longer than soft-plastic grubs and shrimp tails (which are also effective). In both cases, pink, red and orange colors generally get the job done, but bring a variety in case the fish show a preference for one type. If bites are hard to come by, try dunking the teaser in a fish-attractant, such as Berkley “Gulp!”

Tending Bottom

To fish effectively with light gear, Antonino has his anglers cast “into the drift” (downwind or downcurrent) and free-spool their jigs to the bottom. This allows the jig to reach bottom by the time the boat is directly overhead. “When the line is vertical, slowly lift the rod tip, just enough to stand the jig on end. That’s usually enough to draw a strike.”

If you choose to stick with more traditional, heavier gear, you’ll want to fish on the upcurrent/upwind side of the boat. The main goal is to make sure the jig is tapping bottom, which means letting out more line every so often as you drift along. When the angle of the line exceeds 30 degrees from the rod tip, reel in and repeat the process. Also important is keeping the rod tip low to the water, allowing plenty of room to set the hook when you feel a bite.

Once you hook up, hold the rod at a 90- to 45-degree angle to the water and

Cod Alert

Speaking of hooks, Antonino rigs his jigs with single hooks, which usually result in less damage to undersized fish or any cod his clients happen to catch. He also points out that haddock and cod caught and released in relatively shallow water have a much higher rate of survival than fish taken in very deep water.

In recent years, the number of codfish on Stellwagen seems to be increasing too, and you’ll likely catch a few while jigging for haddock. However, check the regulations before making your trip, as they change often, and you may not be allowed to keep any cod in federal waters. This has been the case in the last two seasons. If you find yourself hooking a bunch of cod, try moving to a different spot that only contains haddock.

Also note that all fish racks (carcasses) must be retained if you choose to fillet your haddock on the way to port, so that law-enforcement officials can determine the species and size of the fish if you happen to be inspected. The alternative is to leave a portion of skin on each fillet to allow identification. Oh, and remember that you’ll need a saltwater fishing license for all anglers over age 16.

Yes, there’s no shortage of complicated regulations governing today’s fisheries, but at least there’s some good news where the haddock fishery is concerned. Give it a try next spring and you could find a new way to start the season.

If you plan to fish the spring haddock bite starting in April, check your boat-insurance policy. Standard polices for New England boaters only cover the period from May through October, so you may need a rider to extend coverage before the policy start date. Fortunately, such riders cost very little, if anything at all, and can usually be established the same day.

Your guide to finding and catching these colorful, hard-charging, high-flying summer visitors.

BY LARRY BACKMAN

Does it get any better? In the case of mahi, not really.

n many respects, mahi mahi are the perfect game fish: they fight hard, they jump like mad, they taste delicious, they reproduce like rabbits and they come in a rainbow of surreal colors. It’s too bad you have to travel to Central America, Baja, Florida or the Caribbean to catch them. Or do you?

While it’s true that the biggest mahi—specimens of 50 pounds or more—roam deep-blue tropical waters or the Gulf Stream far offshore, plenty of fish in the threeto ten-pound range can be caught relatively close to shore in southern New England starting in July. When 75-degree water spins off the Gulf Stream and pushes inshore, mahi can be found within 25 miles of Point Judith, Westport and Falmouth—and even closer to harbors on Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard and Block Island. In rare years, they have even been caught within five miles of Newport.

QUICK TIP: Once you hook a mahi, keep it swimming next to the boat. This will draw its schoolmates within easy casting range and keep them in a feeding mood.

Mahi Hunting

Locating mahi usually isn’t hard. Simply head south until you hit clear, warm blue water. In midsummer, this usually occurs near the 25-fathom line, some 20 miles south of Martha’s Vineyard. Once your temperature gauge shows water of 70 degrees or more, set out a trolling spread.

My standard spread comprises a pair of Joe Shute/ballyhoo combinations on the long ‘riggers (40 and 50 yards back), a pair of small squid bars off the short ‘riggers (25 yards), a pair of ballyhoo off the transom corners (5 and 10 yards) and a bird/ Black Bart Tuna Candy combo off the center ‘rigger (100 yards). Trolling speed is around five to six knots.

This spread will work for bluefins, as well as mahi. In my mind, it’s more important to have a simple, weedless spread that’s easy to manage than having more lures in the water, especially if fishing short-handed.

Flotsam Patrol

As you troll, keep a lookout for any type of floating structure, such as logs, weeds and pallets. Mahi gravitate to any kind of object, and even something as small as a five-gallon bucket can hold several dozen fish. When you find any of the above, troll the spread within 10 yards of the flotsam and watch for gold and blue streaks.

Of course, lobster pot buoys are among the most reliable mahi magnets, and there are a number of areas within 25 miles of shore where you will find good concentrations of pot buoys equipped with radar reflectors, also known as “high fliers.” Once you reach the 25- to 30-fathom lines, you will start to see the odd pair of fliers. If you run another 10 miles to the southern half of the area shown on charts as the “dumping grounds,” you will start to see long lines of fliers set around its borders. Find them and you will find mahi.

CHUNKIN’ FUN

In addition to the spinning gear, bring a pair of slightly heavier conventional outfits filled with 40-pound-test braided line and rigged with two to three feet of 50-pound-test leader and a 5/0 bait or circle hook. Once the mahi school is chummed close to the boat, hook a chunk of bait, flip it out a few feet from the boat and leave the reel in free-spool. The idea is to let the hook bait sink at the same speed as the chum. Once a fish picks up the bait, flip the reel in gear and hang on.

If you can keep the mahi interested with a slow but steady stream of cut bait, you might be able to pull at least a half dozen fish off a single pot buoy before the school becomes wary. Once that happens, find another high flier and start the game all over again. Note that not every flier holds mahi, so keep moving if you don’t raise some fish after a throwing out some cut bait.

HOOK UP! NOW WHAT?

Once you hook the first mahi on the trolling gear, bring in the rest of the spread and break out some buckets of fresh bait, such as squid, butterfish, pogies or mackerel. Cut the bait into twoinch cubes and toss out a few chunks every 30 seconds. This will hopefully draw the rest of the school close to the boat and keep them in a feeding mood.

Now grab some light spinning outfits filled with 12- to 20-poundtest line and rigged with a two-foot trace of 50-pound-test leader, to prevent cut-offs from the mahi’s small, raspy teeth. Tie a rubber shad on one outfit and a white or yellow bucktail on the other and start fan-casting the area. Small, metal and epoxy jigs also work well.

Trusted

Look For High Fliers

You can also find mahi by “pot hopping,” or running from one high flier to another and casting small lures around them until you locate a school of fish. In many cases, you can see the fish swimming around the pot line before you even make a cast. And if you don’t, try sending a small, shiny spoon or jig into the depths below the buoy and working it back to the surface with short, jerky motions.

If you succeed in hooking a fish, bring it close to the boat and let it swim around. This will often keep its schoolmates swarming around the boat for a minute or two while the rest of the crew casts spoons, jigs chunk baits—or flies.

Mahi On The Fly

Catching mahi on fly gear is a blast, and the fish are suckers for a variety of flashy patterns. Many anglers use flies tied on circle hooks, which are virtually guaranteed to set in the corner of the fish’s mouth.

Eight- or nine-weight rods rigged with intermediate or full-sink line are ideal for most of the mahi you’ll encounter, and a large-arbor reel makes it easy to stay tight to these frenetic, mad-dashing fish.

One last piece of advice: Bring a large cooler and lots of ice on a mahi trip. When you locate a concentration of fish, it’s easy to catch a bunch—and you’ll have plenty of takers when it comes time to hand out fresh fillets.

Black sea bass numbers have exploded in recent years, with plenty of big fish available.

Four charter captains share their advice for scoring more and bigger black sea bass from Cape Cod to New York.

BY TOM SCHLICHTER

even years ago, I was snorkeling along a stretch of sandy beach in eastern Long Island Sound when I saw something ususual. It was July, and the waters were clear, warm and teeming with dozens of small, olivechecked fish.

“Those look like baby sea bass,” I thought, although it seemed unlikely, given the species’ affinity for rocky bottom. But sea bass they were, and their numbers kept increasing. There were hundreds of them the following week, and uncountable numbers by the start of August. A giant swarm of so-called “sea biscuits” had invaded the inshore waters of eastern Long Island!

In The Black

It was the beginning of a sea bass explosion in the Northeast. Within three years, the famed Block Island fluke grounds were crawling with two- and three-pounders, while New England’s bays and sounds saw catch rates swell to unprecedented levels during spring and early summer. In Maine, lobstermen were catching so many incidental sea bass that the state opened a commercial fishery for the species.

Fisheries managers confirm that sea bass stocks are at sustainable levels, are not overfished, and that the species is expanding its range. It’s as rosy an outlook as you’ll see for any food or game fish species these days, and will hopefully lead to more liberal season, size and catch limits over the next few years.

Buzzards Bonanza

“It’s as close to ‘can’t miss’ fishing as I’ve ever seen—and it’s likely to get even better!” says Captain Eric Morrow of the Bounty Hunter Fleet based in Fairhaven, Massachusetts. “We’ve got tremendous numbers of fish here in Buzzards Bay. Big fish, too. Many are in the three- to fivepound class.”

“The season kicks off in late May,” Morrow continues. “The fish initially show up to spawn over mud bottom in 12 to 35 feet of water before moving to deeper areas with more structure in late June. During that early-season period, try the waters off Bird Island, north of Cleveland Ledge and off Scraggy Neck. Just follow the fleet and you’ll find some fish.

“There’s not much current here, so you can get away with your favorite freshwater bass outfit—either spinning or baitcasting. I like to fish 20-pound-test braid with a 10-pound-test top shot of mono or fluorocarbon.”

Morrow favors small Crippled Herring jigs, Ava 007 diamond jigs and bucktails. “You’ll rarely need more than two ounces in these waters, except in very windy conditions. With the metal jigs, free-spool them to the bottom, crank up a few turns at a moderate speed and repeat until you get smacked. With bucktails, keep them on or near the bottom and keep the rod tip moving to give them action.”

Spring Fling

A bit farther north and east, Captain Mike Bosley of Dragonfly Sportfishing calls the spring and early-summer sea bass fishery in Nantucket Sound “spectacular.” “Sea bass love structure,” explains Bosley, “and we have tons of it.”

Nantucket Sound contains scattered rock piles, along with several artificial reefs. Just last year, in fact, the concrete rubble of a local school-demolition project was distributed over a well-defined area now known as the Harwich Artificial Reef. “There’s your sea bass honey hole,” laughs Bosley. “The GPS numbers are right online. It’s a big area and no secret. Nearby Yarmouth Reef is another great spot.”

From late May through mid-July, Bosley targets sea bass up to six pounds in 15- to 40-foot depths. Since currents in the Sound are a bit stronger and the fish tend to hold slightly deeper than in Buzzards Bay, he prefers to use a larger reel filled with 20- to 30-pound-test braid and a 30- to 40-pound-test fluorocarbon leader. His lures of choice include a one- to three-ounce chartreuse or green-over-white Spro bucktail jig tipped with Berkley Gulp! or a small strip of scup belly, usually adding a high hook with another piece of Gulp! or squid for bait. If the bite is hot, he might switch to small diamond jigs, which also “serve as a good handle for lifting sea bass out of the water.”

Catching is easy these days, notes Bosley, so it’s okay to be selective. With so many three-pound-plus fish around, there’s no justification for keeping anything much smaller. “We don’t keep anything less than 18 inches long on my boat,” he states, “and no one gets short-changed on fillets.”

Sound Off

The waters of Long Island Sound are also loaded with sea bass, but the fishing here has a split personality. The best action occurs to the west off Clinton, Bridgeport and Norwalk from late May through June, while fishing from Niantic to Fishers Island and the Race peaks from August into September.

“Sea bass catches have been phenomenal the past few seasons,” says Captain Jack Bucchi of the charter vessel Priority One out of Clinton. “We drift for them in 100-foot depths over a mix of sand and gravel bottom. We actually avoid structure so we can get in a long drift and keep fish coming over the side.”

Fluke rigs baited with strips of squid are all you need, notes Bucchi, but to make things more interesting, he recommends a five-ounce Williams Yabi jig or Shimano Lucanus jig. If the current is running strong, you can tie a foot of 30-pound-test mono to the bottom eye of the jig and add an appropriate sinker. That will get your offering down to the bottom while ensuring the lure stays just above the rocks. Tip the jig with a piece of squid and keep it bouncing.

In the eastern Sound, from Niantic to Fishers Island and across to Long Island’s North Fork, the best sea bass action runs from August through September. Here, however, standard high-low rigs and squid baits are favored for fishing over wrecks, rock piles and submerged boulder fields in depths of 80 feet to over 100 feet.

Style, Seating, Storage -- The Sailfish 245DC is Compact and Complete!

The Sailfish 245DC is the latest entry in our exciting dual console line-up. It boasts comfortable seating for up to 14 people, our high performance sixth generation VDS hull, highly ergonomic deck layout, and enough storage space to accommodate whatever your crew brings on board. The Sailfish 245DC is another “leader in its class” of dual consoles.

The 245DC is extremely versatile, family friendly and yet respectful of Sailfish’s proud 30-year fishing heritage. It features a spacious well appointed step-down head, optional retractable ski-pole, in-floor and above deck storage, plenty of cup holders, and an optional galley with a sink, counters and a refrigerator. These features make the 245DC a fantastic, fun-on-the-water day boat.

Deep bow seating, a three position, port-side passenger lounge, adjustable captains chair and fold-up seating surrounding the cockpit provides comfortable seating for all while allowing for maximum fishing space. Adding to its fishing credentials is a transom live well, in-floor and bow-seat fish boxes, and transom, gunwhale and hard top frame rod holders.

BUZZARDS BAY:

Bounty Hunter (774) 766-1228; fishbountyhunter.com

NANTUCKET SOUND:

Dragonfly Sportfishing (774) 212-0712; dragonflysportfishing.com

BLOCK ISLAND:

Block Island Fishworks (401) 466-5392; sandypointco.com

LONG ISLAND SOUND: Priority One Charters (860) 916-4586; priorityonecharters.com

Rocking The Block

If there’s an epicenter to the recent sea bass explosion, it’s probably the waters surrounding Block Island. “There’s obviously a ton of fish here,” says Chris Willi of Block Island Fishworks. “How could all those boats from Montauk, Connecticut and the Rhode Island mainland be wrong?”

All kidding aside, Willi notes that the rocky bottom surrounding the island is covered in mussels, making the area a sea bass dreamscape from late May right into August. Combine that with the ecosystem developing around the recently installed wind farm southeast of the island, and there’s an even greater draw.

You’ll find plenty of fish holding over and around structure in this area, but Willi adds that some of the best action occurs over patches of open bottom. On the south side of the island, for example, there’s a large, sandy stretch that gradually slopes from 40 to 70 feet deep. It’s a favored spot for doormat fluke, but flounder anglers catch plenty of huge sea bass there as bycatch.

“I love working that stretch, because it gives up big fish and you don’t lose any rigs,” explains Willi. “I’ll rig up with a Hogy Sand Eel jig tipped with Berkley Gulp! or Fishbite products and score almost at will. All you have to do is get your lure down to the bottom and keep it hopping along. The sea bass, some topping five pounds, will take care of the rest. Just be careful to avoid the gillnets in this area.”

Tons of sea bass over sandy bottom? I think I’ve seen that before, even if only on a very small scale near a very special beach!

Remember hile there’s seemingly no end to the list of strategies concocted to fool big stripers— with new ones cropping up all the time—the fish themselves haven’t changed. That’s good news for anglers, because those tried-and-true striper-catching techniques invented by our fishing forbears remain viable in modern times. To make things easier, let’s simplify the game plan for finding and catching big bass on a consistent basis. ant to see something cool? Feast your eyes on the miles of corrugated sand that is the Brewster Flats at low tide. Aside from an occasional gull pecking at some piece of detritus, there’s not much to see. However, as the tide advances, flooding the flats through a labyrinth of guzzles and channels, the keen-eyed observer will notice ghostly shapes meandering through the shifting web of light and shadow.

It has been said a million times, and for good reason: big bass like big baits. The largest bass are also the laziest, so they aren’t going to waste their energy chasing down a mouthful of bay anchovies. Rather, the only thing that’s going to get them off their aquatic couches is a super-sized meal that’s rich in fat. An adult menhaden (bunker), herring or mackerel is the food they crave, so find some big baitfish and you’ll be one step closer to glory.

Stripers like structure, be it a rock pile, ledge, bar or single big boulder. That’s no secret, of course, but you need to narrow it down somewhat to find the honey hole. Look for areas with strong current, as they serve as good places for stripers to ambush a critter that can’t fight the flow. Depth is also important. While you may find big bass in five to ten feet of water in May and June, you’ll have to move deeper as the season progresses. The exception is the waters north of Boston, where cooler temperatures often keep the bigger fish feeding in shallow water through midsummer.

Despite the fact that current plays a big role in locating prime striper structure, consider that some of the biggest bass on record have been taken during the small window of slack tide. The theory is that these monster fish find slack water the optimum time to patrol the rocky bottom around their lair without having to fight the current. It may also be why eels perform best on record-setting stripers.

The best fishermen keep detailed logbooks of their trips, as it helps them discern patterns that lead to repeated success. For example, if you happen to score a large fish at a certain rock pile, using a certain bait, at a certain time of year, in certain wind and tide conditions, chances are you’ll find fish again when all those elements realign. The only trick is that you have to put in your time to amass enough data in order to gain meaningful information—but that’s not such a bad thing, is it?

While plenty of trophy bass have been caught during the bright, mid-day hours, your bets improve considerably at first light. False dawn is when stripers have a big advantage over baitfish such as menhaden and herring, as these baits are vulnerable to attack from the dark waters below and appear clearly against the backdrop of brighter sky. The take-home lesson: Whether you’re fishing from a boat or shore, be at your designated fishing hole just as the eastern sky is beginning to brighten.

While the old chestnut “don’t leave fish to find fish” is good advice, it doesn’t apply to the quest for a trophy bass. If you’re catching small fish in a certain spot, but have your sights set on a cow, it’s best to pull stakes and head for greener pastures. Bass typically school by size, so you’re not likely to find a 50-pounder hanging with a bunch of hyperactive schoolies. Plus, the more aggressive, smaller fish tend to out-compete the larger, slower lunkers.

If you uncover a pocket of large bass, do everything you can to fish it hard. You may enjoy several days of outstanding fishing as long as the conditions remain stable. And you’ll surely kick yourself if you wait a week and find the spot empty upon your return.

Don’t bring a knife to a gunfight. Unless you love risk, using featherweight gear to battle a 30-pound-plus fish is asking for trouble. If a big bass is your goal, bring your “A-team” tackle and make sure your line and leader are fresh and nick-free. Similarly, test all of your knots (twice), and give your hook point a touch-up with a file before making a cast.

Sometimes it’s the little things that make a big difference in fishing. Similar to checking your hooks, line, rods and reels, take the time to wash your hands of sunblock or insect repellent before handling a bait or lure. These products can ring the warning bell for suspicious stripers. Along the same lines, make sure you have a good-sized landing net onboard and keep it ready for action. After fighting a fish, check your leader for signs of wear and tear, or play it safe and tie on a new one.

Never randomly launch a trip and hope to catch a monster fish. Instead, take a look at tide charts, log books and weather conditions before launching. Create a game plan for the day based on your comfort range and the conditions—and stick with it. Be methodical. That way you won’t waste time in your search for a trophy.

For a truly eye-opening fishing experience, plan a spring trip to Cape Cod’s Brewster Flats.

These are your quarry—stripers and bluefish, themselves hunting prey in some one to three feet of water. To catch them in such an environment requires stealth, careful observation and perseverance, as these are not the same fish that inhale foot-long menhaden with abandon or eagerly crush parachute jigs in the comfortable depths of a rip.

But that’s what makes this fishery so remarkable, so alluring. For many anglers, flats fishing is the only fishing, and the reason they make the pilgrimage to this seven-mile stretch of Cape Cod each spring.

BY TOM RICHARDSON

PHOTOGRAPHY BY CATHY BECK, BARRY BECK & DAVE SKOK

Fly fishermen flock to the flats each spring, intent on sight-casting to skinny-water stripers.

GEAR UP

REEL

Sage 6200 fly reel ROD

9’ 9-weight Sage Method fly rod

LINE & LEADER

RIO InTouch Intermed. Line

9’ 16 lb. RIO Striper Tapered Leader

On foggy or overcast days, flats anglers must be attuned to the slightest surface disturbance.

SHALLOW-WATER PARADISE

The fishery begins in mid-May, triggered by the migratory run of stripers entering Cape Cod Bay via the Cape Cod Canal, according to Captain Dave Steeves, a guide with Goose Hummock Shops. Steeves says that the main push of fish depends on water temperature, but adds that the flats usually hold good numbers of stripers by late May, with mid-June being prime time for both bass and bluefish. Come summer, the fish thin out as the water warms and boat traffic increases, although dawn can still produce dependable action, even if it’s not necessarily a sight-fishing game.

Steeves prefers to fish the low incoming tide, when it’s easier to intercept the bass. As the water slowly covers the sand, the fish move out of their deep, low-tide haunts and spread out over the flats, looking for prey, which includes silversides, sand eels, squid and crabs. Good intercept points include the edges of bars and channels, which the fish use as highways to access the flats and as escape routes when danger looms. Once the water gets high enough, the fish roam the flats in large schools, which are easier to spot, but also travel alone and in pairs. These individual fish can be exceptionally hard to detect, even on sunny days, so polarized sunglasses are a must.

Flats Clues

The higher stages of the tide can present a challenge, because once the majority of the flats are covered by water, the fish could be virtually anywhere. To help find them, look for bird activity, particularly any circling, dipping or diving terns and gulls. Also look for the swirls and boils of feeding fish, or the wakes and ripples of fish cruising or lazing just below the surface. In very skinny water, you may even see the broad tail fins of stripers as they root on the bottom for crabs and sand eels. Approach any potential fish-holding areas slowly and carefully to avoid spooking your quarry.

Once you spot the fish themselves, the next goal is to put yourself in the right position for a cast. Ideally, the sun and wind should be at your back and the fish swimming either toward or parallel to you. Drop the lure or fly 10 to 20 feet ahead of the fish and let it sink to the bottom before beginning the retrieve.

Note that flats fish can be understandably fussy, given the clear water and their heightened sense of vulnerability. If you have trouble drawing a strike, slow your presentation, try a different lure or fly, or keep changing your retrieve until you find the formula that works. Reducing the size of your leader and using fluorocarbon can also turn the trick.

Of course, it could also be that the looming presence of the boat or kayak is putting the fish on alert. If you suspect that’s the case, drop anchor and try fishing on foot. You may be surprised by the fish’s change in attitude.

FLATS TIP: If you have trouble drawing a strike, slow your presentation, try a different lure or fly, or keep changing your retrieve until you find the formula that works.

Flats Tackle

Effective spin tackle for fishing the flats includes a 7- to 7 ½ -foot graphite rod with a flexible tip for throwing light lures, paired with a light spinning reel filled with at least 200 yards of 30-pound-test braid or 12-pound-test mono. The leader can be three feet of 12- to 16-pound fluorocarbon connected to the main line via a Bristol knot, Slim Beauty knot or uni-to-uni knot to create a wind-on leader system.

For tossing flies, a nine-foot, nine-weight or eight-weight outfit with sink-tip or intermediate-sink line will do the job nicely. Finish with a nine-foot tapered leader ending in two feet of 12- to 16-pound-test shock tippet, although you may need to reduce the tippet size if the fish are selective.

PLASTICS, PLUGS & FLIES

Top lures for flats fishing include five- to eight-inch, soft-plastic baits like the Slug-Go, Cape Cod Sand Eel, Hogy, RonZ, Fin-S-Fish and Got Stryper. “Walk-thedog” plugs such as the Zara Spook and Rebel Jumpin’ Minnow are also effective, as are poppers such as the Rapala Skitter Pop. Good colors include pearl, bubblegum and olive-over-white. And on many days, fresh sand eels fished on the bottom can’t be beat!

In the fly department, the Clouser Minnow, Half-and-Half, Mushmouth, Gurgler and any number of sparsely tied epoxy sand-eel patterns will take fish on the flats. And since crabs are high on the menu of flats stripers, bring some patterns such as the Red Hackle Crab and Merkin. These should be heavy enough to reach bottom quickly in three to five feet of water.

Safety First

While flats fishing seems pretty tame, a potential source of danger for wade fishermen is being trapped by the rising water. It’s important to monitor the tide and plan your escape route back to shore, especially in the early season, when the water is very cold and fog is common. Pack an inflatable PFD, a cell phone, handheld compass or PLB, as well as some type of sound-signaling device in case you find yourself in trouble.

Kayakers and paddleboarders have a ready means of escape—as long as they stay near their ride. Also, both vessel types serve as convenient gear-transport systems, and allow you to access different parts of the flats without having to wade through deep channels. For many anglers, a shallow-draft boat is the preferred flats-fishing platform. A skiff not only gives you a higher perspective on the surrounding water, allowing you to spot the fish more easily and from a greater distance, it lets you investigate distant parts of the flat in an efficient manner. However, fishing from a boat requires close attention to the tide, as the water drains surprisingly quickly from the flats. Failing to make your ebb-tide retreat could mean a long, dull wait until the next tide.

Don’t let the dog days get you down! Try these warm-water tactics and you can enjoy action with a variety of game fish in Narragansett Bay through the steamy summer months.

BY CAPTAIN DAVE MONTI

t’s midsummer and the heat is on. It’s the dog days of summer, the period between July and August when the water temperature in Narragansett Bay can climb to 75 degrees—and even higher in the shallow coves and salt ponds.

When the water gets that warm, compounded by poor flushing of the bay’s north-facing coves, the oxygen level drops and fishing in many areas can be challenging, to say the least.

So, what’s a summer angler to do?

As a charter captain, I’ve often had to find fish for customers during the toughest conditions, so I know it can be done. Here’s some advice on beating the heat in Narragansett Bay.

Believe it or not, keeper-sized fluke can be caught in parts of the bay through the summer.

Fish Where The Fish Are

A major key to catching fish during summer is water movement. The bay water is warm, so you have to fish areas that are flushed often and feature deep structure or “edges.” This includes channel drop-offs, bridge abutments, rock clusters, jetties, outcrops, points of land and wrecks, preferably in 20 feet of water or more.

The deep shipping channels, from the southern tip of Prudence Island to Providence, serve as “fish highways” as they sweep baitfish in and out of the bay. Productive spots with good current flow include Warwick Point, Providence Point, Sandy Point, the T-Wharf on the southern end of Prudence Island, Popasquash Point in Bristol, Sally’s Rock in Greenwich Bay and Quonset Point in North Kingstown. The Jamestown and Newport Bridge abutments also serve as fish magnets, as they are washed by swift currents and provide good structure for game fish and their prey.

Bottom Line

Perhaps the best way to score during the height and heat of summer is to target bottom fish such as black sea bass, scup and summer flounder (fluke). This can be great fun for the entire family, and may even yield some fish for the table. Bottom fishing can be done while drifting or anchored over structure. Moving water is most important, which is why I like to fish two hours before or after high tide. Some of my favorite places to bottom fish during the dog days are the waters off Warwick Neck Light, Providence Point, the northern tip of Prudence Island and the T-Wharf.

Another good spot to anchor is General Ledge, a third of a mile northeast of the Jamestown Bridge. The current here is strong, and the ledge sits in about 30 feet of water, surrounded by 45to 60-foot depths. This is one of my go-to places to catch scup and sea bass when I have children onboard and need to hold their interest. Similar ledges, humps and rock piles are scattered throughout the bay. Indeed, it’s often rewarding to study a chart and investigate likely areas where the bottom rises to within 20 or 30 feet of the surface from much deeper water. These spots almost always hold bait and game fish.

Bridge Games

Drifting under and around the Jamestown and Newport Bridges can also be a great way to score with fluke and sea bass. A favorite spot is the area just south of Rose Island in 20 to 30 feet of water, near the G C “1” can, where the water drops abruptly to 60 then 90 feet. The rocky bot tom on the south side of Rose Island, closer to shore, also holds scup and sea bass in summer.

Fishing for fluke below the Newport Bridge can be good, too. Depending on the wind and current, I will fish either the north or south side of the bridge. Both ends of the bridge are pro ductive. The idea is to stay close to the bridge abutments at the start or end of the drift. Strikes often occur along depth breaks and where the current is strongest.

BEST TACKLE, RIGS & BAIT

The tackle side of the equation is pretty simple. All you need is a double-hook (high-low) rig above a bank sinker, or a standard fluke rig on a three-way setup. You can buy pre-made scup, sea bass and fluke rigs at most tackle shops for about three to five dollars apiece.

The natural bait you’ll need is readily available, too; seaworms, squid or clams will all do the job. I often start out with multiple rigs and bait types, with each angler fishing a different bait until we figure out which one the fish want. Only use small pieces of bait when fishing for scup and sea bass. Both species are master bait-stealers, so you need to set the hook quickly when you feel them tapping.

When targeting fluke, I believe in larger baits. I typically fish three- to five-inch strips of squid, with some other type of natural bait to hold the squid in place, such as strips of fluke belly, bluefish, sea robin or scup—basically, whatever incidental species I happen to catch that day.

For summer bottom fishing, I generally use light tackle. Spinning or conventional reels matched to light- to medium-weight rods and 15- to 20-pound-test braided line is all you need. Use just enough weight to hold bottom.

DOG DAY BLUES & BASS

To catch bluefish and striped bass during the summer months, the same rules apply: find a combination of structure and moving water. However, it’s also critical to locate a concentration of bait, be it juvenile menhaden (peanut bunker), bay anchovies, silversides or adult menhaden (bunker, pogies).

I’ve had great success by trolling tube lures on leadcore line and weighted with a one- to two-ounce keel sinker rigged between the line and a five-foot monofilament leader. The keel sinker helps get the lure down to where the fish are holding, and also prevents line twist. I find that red, amber or bubblegum-colored tubes work best, especially when the hook is tipped with a live seaworm.

Tube-and-worm trolling works well along the steep channel edges at Popasquash Point off Bristol and the fast-moving water off Conimicut Point. Once again, you need to be there when the water is moving, not at high or low tide. The best period is two hours before or after slack water. Trolling in Greenwich Bay works well for bluefish, especially in the northern part of the bay along the 15-foot contour line. The waters off Sally Rock, on the south side of Greenwich Bay, are also worth trolling. The edges of Ohio Ledge, which extends north of Prudence Island, can hold fish as well.

Go Live

Live eels are one of the most effective summer baits for stripers, day or night. Hook the eel through the roof of its mouth and out one eye. I use circle hooks, which generally catch in the corner of the fish’s mouth, making release much easier. Some good spots to drift eels for summer bass include the jetty at Coddington Cove in Middletown, the Newport Bridge abutments, Brenton Reef and Seal Ledge.

Live menhaden and scup are other top summer baits. The latter can be caught on small pieces of squid fished over hard bottom or rock piles, but need to be of legal size to use for bait. Menhaden can be snagged with a weighted treble hook or gathered with a castnet. With menhaden, hook the bait through the bridge of its nose and let it swim around with the bait school. You can also anchor and chum the fish in with chunks of bait, or drift chunks of cut menhaden or scup around the bait schools. Some anglers use a nylon fishfinder weighted with a bank sinker to get their chunks to the bottom in deep water.

No matter what technique you go with, fishing early in the morning—preferably before dawn—will yield the best results during the summer dog days. Also, don’t forget to try different spots, and look for new places that other anglers run past on the way to so-called greener pastures. These could be summer day-savers for years to come!

A season-long smorgasbord of game and food fish awaits the angler in and around the beautiful Norwalk Islands in southwestern Connecticut.

BY CAPTAIN TOM MIGDALSKI

he Norwalk Islands represent some of the best fishing structure in Long Island Sound.”

So states Captain Chris Elser, a man who has fished this glacial archipelago off southwestern Connecticut for over 30 years. “Glance at a chart and you’ll notice many areas with extremely tight contour lines indicating abrupt depth changes,” Elser adds. “That translates to prime holding areas for bait and game fish.”

Today, a few of the Norwalk Islands are privately owned, some are held by the cities of Norwalk and Westport, while still others are part of a national wildlife refuge. But for anglers, it doesn’t really matter, as the waters surrounding them are open to the public and comprise a vast network of fish-attracting channels, bars, boulders, reefs and rips.

Season Starters

Fishing among the islands heats up when surface temperatures push past 50 degrees and the big stripers move in, followed closely by other species. “The large migratory bass typically arrive by early May,” says Elser, “but I’ve had excellent fishing with 20-pound fish as early as the second week of April. These fish are chasing schools of bunker. As the season progresses, sand eels move into the island chain. The two- to four-inch baitfish are necessary for consistent shallow-water striper and bluefish action, and they also affect the fluke fishery. Fluke move in among the islands in mid- to late May, and they feed heavily on sand eels.” especially blues and bass, as the current flows over the shallows. It’s also an excellent spot for blackfish and sea bass. These two species are also abundant around Greens Ledge, Great Reef and the boulder fields near Chimon and Goose Islands.”

While all of the islands hold fish, Cockenoe (pronounced “ko-kee-nee”) is a good place to start, given its easternmost position in the chain. Because of its rugged shoreline and proximity to the Saugatuck River, Cockenoe consistently produces good catches of blackfish, porgies, striped bass, bluefish, weakfish and flounder.

Use caution when fishing this area, however, as the water is extremely shallow and rocky. Don’t attempt to run between Cockenoe Harbor and the Saugatuck at low tide, or you’ll soon find yourself in a foot or less of water. Instead, stick to the deeper water amid the boulders and reefs of Georges Rocks and Cockenoe Shoal, marked by Buoy G “1” and the R “24” bell. Both spots are good places to cast, troll or drift natural baits, including live bunker.

Chimon and Sheffield Islands form the core of the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge, which encompasses 145 acres of the Connecticut shoreline. At 70 acres, Chimon is home to the largest heron rookery in the state, as well as other nesting shorebirds. For this reason, access to much of Chimon and Sheffield is prohibited during nesting season (April 15 to August 15). However, Grassy Island, Shea Island and the beach on the west side of Chimon are open to the public from sunrise to sunset.

SKINNY-WATER STEALTH

The Sound-side edges of the islands offer many prime spots for live-lining eels and bunker, chunking, slow-trolling and plugging for bass, weakfish and blues. “You can work these shallows from almost any boat,” says Captain Ian Devlin, another local guide who has spent his life plying these waters, “but the fish are easily spooked, so your best approach is with a pushpole or trolling motor.”

Devlin likes to work rocky outcroppings or crescent-shaped bights where deep water abuts the shallows. He drifts through the prime zone while blind-casting until he finds the fish then circles back upwind to repeat the drift. Devlin also looks for concentrations of sand eels, silversides and herring, and pays close attention to working birds. His favorite lures for fishing the shallows include big Zara Spooks and Slug-Gos, which he works with a side-to-side sweeping motion to give them a lifelike action.

Tube Trolling

“If you prefer trolling,” says Elser, “the Norwalk Islands are ideal for tubeand-worming. Look for rips and reefs that run north-south then troll parallel to and slightly upcurrent of the structure. “I have my best success with red and bubblegum tubes trolled on No. 27 colored leadcore line. Given average tide and sea conditions, I deploy one color [10 yards] of leadcore for every four feet of depth. Since I almost always troll tubes at depths of 18 to 35 feet, which is a good general depth zone for big bass in general, I feed out anywhere from four to eight colors of line.

“It’s important to troll the tubes no faster than two knots, to give the lure the best action and achieve the proper depth. Try to stay near the reef, but don’t allow the lures to hit the high bumps. It’s a fine line between fishing in the strike zone and getting hung up.”

Blackfish and fluke also gather around many of the islands, with the south side of Copps Island being especially productive. This includes Copps Rocks, which extend about a half-mile east of the island toward Buoy R “26.” Shea Island’s eastern shoreline is also strewn with rocks that provide excellent habitat for bass, blues and blackfish, especially in October.

Fishing the Norwalk Islands can leave one with a craving for seafood, so if you can’t wait to get home and cook your catch, set a course for SoNo Seaport Seafood, a dock-anddine establishment of the old-fashioned kind, hard on the gritty Norwalk Harbor waterfront. The venerable (since 1984) eatery and fish market offers six slips for boaters in midsized craft, although larger vessels can dock at the nearby Norwalk Visitor’s Dock (for a fee) and either walk to the restaurant or take their dinghy over.

SoNo Seaport offers indoor and outdoor “family-style” dining, and serves the typical seafood fare, ranging from boiled lobster dinners to delectable whole-belly fried clams. Other popular items include fresh local oysters, shrimp, calamari, steamers, chowder, lobster rolls, king crab legs, fish & chips, hamburgers, sandwiches and more. Entrée prices range from $17 to $25.

QUICK TIP: During periods of slow current, try anchoring in the rocky areas and fishing green crabs for big fall blackfish.

Albie Action

Copps Rocks, Beers Rocks and Goose Island are known for attracting bonito and false albacore starting in September and running through October. Indeed, fall offers a good shot at the coveted “Northeast Grand Slam,” or catching a bonito, false albacore, striped bass and bluefish in the same day. Proven lures for the albies and bones include four- to six-inch white or pearl soft-plastics like the Slug-Go or Zoom Fluke, or small, metal lures such as the Deadly Dick.

The shoreline of Grassy Island is mostly gravel and fine sand, and provides several sheltered boat-landing areas. While you may find some bass here, the area appeals more to bluefish, weakfish, flounder and porgies.

Sound Advice

If the action is spotty among the islands, which is often the case in midsummer, head for the deeper, cooler waters of the open Sound. About ¾-mile south of Sheffield Island are the submerged tugboat Celtic and the barge Cape Race. The wrecks appear on charts as a 32-foot high spot surrounded by 70 feet of water, and provide prime structure for blackfish, sea bass and porgies. The edges of the wrecks are often patrolled by big fluke.

The rocky bottom surrounding Buoy “28C,” about two miles south of Greens Ledge on the western end of the islands, is a great spot for a number of species. Explore the area 100 yards south of the buoy in about 45 feet of water. Blackfish are numerous here, especially in the 30- to 60-foot depths, through Thanksgiving. Start in the shallower spots and work your way deeper until you find fish.

Buoy “11B” (marked as Eatons Neck Point), about a mile southeast of R “28C” and three miles south of Sheffield Island, marks a high spot in 15 to 30 feet of water that serves as a perennial hot spot for stripers and bluefish in the fall. If the fish aren’t holding here, work nearby areas along the sloping reef drop-off in 35 to 90 feet.

BAIT & TACKLE

Fisherman’s World

(203) 866-1075; fishermansworld.net

GUIDES

Capt. Chris Elser (203) 216-7907

Capt. Ian Devlin (203) 451-9400

BOAT LAUNCHES

Saugatuck River state ramp

Compo Beach & Marina town ramp

Veterans Memorial Park

Calf Pasture Beach

FISHING LICENSE

A saltwater fishing license is required to fish the coastal waters of Connecticut. Purchase one online at ctwildlifelicense.com. Anglers who hold a saltwater license from New York, Rhode Island, Massachusetts or Maine are exempt from having to purchase a Connecticut license.

Fall Favorites

Mid- to late fall usually sees a hot bite on the mid-Sound reefs. Look for bird and bait activity from Buoy “11B” west to “28C,” then triangulate toward Eatons Neck Point. This area holds lots of baitfish and provides excellent diamond-jigging action.

Just over a mile south-southwest of “11B” is the Obstruction Buoy. The rip here, along with the rips that make up along “11B” and “28C,” are the best spots south of the Norwalk Islands for trolling lures, drifting live baits and chunks, and diamond-jigging for striped bass and bluefish in autumn. During periods of slow current, try anchoring in the rocky areas and fishing green crabs for big fall blackfish. They catch some big ones off Norwalk!

Chunking and diamond-jigging take big bass in the fall.

BY STEVE WYMAN

The headwaters of the Connecticut cast a spell over anglers seeking world-class action with trout and salmon in a spectacular North Woods setting.

grew up fishing the New England surf with my dad, a member of the old-school beach buggy crowd, and have lived the salty life since the day I donned my first pair of hip waders. Yet even with 50-plus years of salt flowing through my veins, I recently found myself drawn back to the sweetwater destinations I fished as a college student in New Hampshire—more specifically the town of Pittsburg in the northernmost part of the state.

Once known as the “Indian Stream Territory,” Pittsburg comprises a vast swath of forest, lakes, streams and rivers. In 2002, the state set aside 25,000 acres between Clarksville and Pittsburg as conservation land, in part to protect the system of lakes that forms the headwaters of the Connecticut River, which flows for 410 miles to Long Island Sound.

Source Of Power

Beginning as a trickle some 300 yards below the Canadian border, the river initially flows into Fourth Connecticut Lake—really just a spring-fed bog—before continuing south into Third, Second and First Connecticut Lakes. At 2,800 acres, First Connecticut is New Hampshire’s fifth largest lake, and is home to several cold-water game species, including lake trout and northern pike.

To catch lakers, which can weigh up to 30 pounds, you normally need to think deep, the exception being the period just after ice-out. In early May, these fish often hold within ten feet of the surface—but not for long. As the water quickly warms, the lakers transition to the 35- to 45-foot depth zone. In summer, the trout move deeper still, seeking water in and around the magical 53-degree mark.

Traditional lake trout techniques involve trolling flashy spoons on downriggers or leadcore line, although some anglers also score by deep-jigging. Lakers tend to congregate at the same depth and in the same areas, so when you catch one, drop a waypoint so you can return to the spot.

The Upper Connecticut offers steady action through the summer months.

River Rewards

Of course, most visiting sportsmen—particularly fly fishermen—are drawn to the river and its robust population of trout and landlocked salmon. Each section of river between the lakes is unique, and offers a multitude of opportunities for catching brook trout, landlocked salmon, rainbows and trophy browns. The 2 ½ miles from First Connecticut Lake to manmade Lake Francis is known as the “Trophy Stretch,” for obvious reasons. The tailwater dam at the base of First Connecticut delivers cold water from the bottom of the lake, supporting phenomenal fishing all season. The spring and fall can be especially productive times to fish the Trophy Stretch, highlighted by runs of big salmon and behemoth browns that push upriver from Lake Francis.

For dry fly enthusiasts, summer is a great time to fish the Upper Connecticut, as this time of year sees a lot of insect activity. Bill Bernhardt, head guide at Pittsburg-based Lopstick Outfitters, says the most important thing to remember when searching for fish with dry fly patterns is a slow drift. If your fly is drifting slowly, the fish should at least rise to check it out. If this continues to happen without the fish eating, it’s time to change flies. “Be ready to change your fly on the fly,” says Bernhardt. “The fish will tell you what to do; you just have to pay attention.” Some go-to dry fly patterns for the Upper Connecticut include the Elk Hair Caddis, Pale Morning Dun, Olive Soft Hackle and Sulphur Comparadun.

Deep Thoughts

While nothing beats the thrill of seeing a trout or salmon take a dry fly, it’s important to remember that two-thirds of the fish’s food is consumed below the surface. Hence, the effectiveness of nymphing.

Nymph flies imitate the immature stages of insects that eventually make their way to the surface. To learn what the fish are eating, simply look at the underside of a river rock. This will provide clues as to what color and size nymph fly to tie on. Popular patterns for the upper river include the Flash-Bang, Hairs Ear, Beadhead Pheasant Tail, Hatching Pupae Olive, Gummy Worm, Elk Hair Caddis and CDC Emerger Slate Olive. At certain times, large stonefly patterns such as the Golden Stone will also take fish.

The trick, of course, is getting your imitation down to the level of the feeding fish— normally a few inches above the river bottom. This can be accomplished by means of a heavily weighted stonefly pattern or a small split-shot or two pinched onto the leader about 15 inches above the nymph fly. A drag-free drift is often critical to getting a fish to eat, something that high-sticking or mending of the line can accomplish. Your fly should never float faster or slower than the current. Strike indicators can help keep the line from snagging bottom, and a light tippet is often necessary to induce a strike. Many guides recommend a 4X or 5X tippet.

During my last visit to the Pittsburg area, my family stayed at the Cabins at Lopstick, which also features an on-site guide service. One day we were greeted on the front porch of the Lopstick office by a friendly Quebecois named Dany Dassylva, the newest member of the Lopstick family of guides. While Dany’s north-of-the-border accent and big smile had my kids at hello, I was digging his Ford Transit. This rig would have made MacGyver proud!

Dany is a river lover, wired for exploration. “Rivers and lakes are the true essence of life,” he likes to say. When not guiding, Dany can be found portaging a canoe to stretches of unexplored whitewater and catching wild brook trout on flies.

We booked Dany to give my kids, Emma and Ben, a fly-fishing lesson on the Lopstick trout pond, which makes an ideal classroom for fly-fishing lessons. With a “hands on” enthusiasm and a warm sense of humor, Dany conducted this little orchestra with the patience of a saint.

When class was dismissed, Dany could have punched out for the day. Instead, he grabbed a pair of waders from his truck and said it was time to show Ben how to nymph-fish for trout on the Connecticut River. Suffice it to say, I have Dany Dassylva to thank for the fly rod-and-reel combo, hip waders and box of flies that found their way under the tree this past Christmas. A fly fisherman was born.

— Steve Wyman

Going Big

Big trout and salmon do not get that way by relying on a restrictive diet of mayflies and nymphs, which is why streamer flies can be so effective on larger fish. These flies also allow you to cover a lot of water in a short amount of time. Often, a big fish will attack a streamer just to chase it out of its territory and thereby reveal its presence. Some local favorites include the Grey Ghost, Grey Soft-Hackle Streamer and Royal Coachman. Cast the streamer across current and slightly downcurrent, and work it back with short strips.

Spey casting streamers can be very effective on the upper river, where the densely wooded banks limit one’s backcasts. Greg Inglis, another Lopstick Outfitters guide, employs this technique just below the dam at Fourth Connecticut Lake using a 10-foot Orvis Spey rod. The long rod allows him to make twohanded roll casts to drop his fly on seams and pocket water from spots where backcasts are all but impossible.

No matter how, where or when you choose to fish the Upper Connecticut river, be prepared to try a host of different techniques depending on the conditions. And also be prepared to fall in love with the Pittsburg area, as I did some 30 years ago!

The Cabins at Lopstick make an ideal home base for any trip to the Pittsburg area. An Orvis-endorsed outfitter employing some the best fishing and hunting guides in the region, The Cabins at Lopstick comprise a network of owned and managed housekeeping units scattered throughout the area.

Each cabin, some pet-friendly, has a fully equipped kitchen, private bedrooms, satellite television, outdoor grills and a private porch with spectacular views of the lakes. Fishing tackle, flies and apparel are sold at the main office, but the coffee and friendly advice are free!

For more information, visit cabinsatlopstick.com or call (603) 538-6659.

n the annals of surf fishing, the name Arnold Laine looms large. Laine, from Phillipston, Massachusetts, was a respected and tireless surfman who patrolled the beaches of Cape Cod with the likes of fellow surfcasting giants Frank Woolner, Stan Gibbs and Jimmy Andrews. Here,

Today, the scene may elicit the wrath of conservationminded anglers, but must be taken in context. It was the heyday of surfcasting, when striper populations were at an all-time peak and big fish were common on any given night. Surf fishing had became a cultural phenomenon after World War II, and many surfmen and their families spent the entire summer on the beach in specially modified “beach buggies” featuring bunk beds and cooking stoves. Catch limits were unheard of, and most fishermen sold fish to supplement their income or pay for food and fuel. At the time, no one considered that the population of stripers would one day crash or that many Outer Cape beaches would be closed to oversand vehicles and overpopulated by seals.