[Jdizzie]

Wassup noreast.com,

My name's Justin, and this is my second season fishing the sound from a boat, and this year I haven't caught SH*T. I mean not a one bite, no luck, not really even seeing much of anything on the fish finder. I grew up on the river in New Haven, and it seems to me that the great run of blue claw crab that we had last year, never showed up this year.

I'm trolling umbrellas and artificial eels at the shoal, no luck. Bunker chunking a mile south of branford beacon, no luck. Throwing poppers and swimming plugs near the rocks off Faulkner's, no luck. Maybe I'm not catching the tide right, but the season out this way has been spotty for me at best.

I caught more fish from shore, than I have from a boat.

Any suggestions?
I'm interested in is blues and bass, although I might try blackfishing faulkner's this year.

 

[hauler]

Are you fishing first light or sunset/evenings?

 

[Jdizzie]

Yesterday, I went out at night and got skunked, was out trolling (burnin fuel) for like two solid hours after high tide (east from New Haven Harbor). And two weeks ago we tried bunker chunking at first light, near the beacon, not even a tap on the rod. But at the same time, last season we saw crazy bunker schools in BFD river, and now, one or two jump every 30 min or so. Last year, it looked like the water was boiling.

 

[hauler]

Another week or two and it should only start getting better. These last few cooler nights are the start.

 

[Onemoredrift]

Hey JD, I'm no expert and not saying my way is the right way. BUT.....if I was to give a few tips on fishing the sound, this is what has worked best for me for putting fish in the cooler.

1. Last 2 hours of each tide. However...this sometimes changes.

2. Find the pods of bait and most likely every fish in the food chain will be close by.

3. If using bait, try to use the freshest you can get.

3. If using plugs, tins, swimmers......yes....use a leader, but use the smallest swivels you can get away with...dont even use them at all if you can get away with it and can tie a good knot.

4. Sometimes it's not a matter of skill, presentation, bait......but just a matter of being at the right place at the right time.....better known as luck.....

OMD

This post edited by Onemoredrift 09:13 PM 08/13/2008

 

[yobird]

I feel you man, I had some luck this year but my first two sucked.
Try the sound reef,Off of stamford, There always seems to be fish there.go to pete's in stamford he will help you. Do fishing the tides realy work?

 

[yobird]

Oh my bad, I thought you were out of norwalk, You are out of new haven
I can't help you then, still learning .

 

[Bigkeepers]

Don't feel so bad, so far my summer has consisted of:

Not one single day fishing even from shore.

I've spent close to $2000 trying to get my boat to run properly and not overheat so I haven't even used that for a beach day.

July 3rd I tripped over my own fat feet and tore up the ligaments in my right ankle so that's another $200 per month in physical therapy and no surf casting or even going out to have fun because I can't walk for more than ten minutes.

I went to Maine two weeks ago for my annual family get together. It rained for an entire week straight so forget lake fishing and using the lil boat we have up there. Instead I read three books.

The economy stinks so my work is dead (I'm a land surveyor) and I'm on the brink of being laid off.

On the upside I've managed to drink plenty of beer this summer, I put on ten more pounds because of it and hunting season is right around the corner. Maybe my fall outdoor sports will be kinder to me. Last fall I shot my first 8 pointer with the bow, this fall I'm hoping for a 10 pointer.

In another week or two the peanuts will be breaking the surface all over, birds will be diving and blues will be slamming my lures . . .

. . . hopefully.