Hot, and getting hotter every day on the Sound!
Capt. Sal Tardella
July 18, 2008
Norwalk Islands - Saltwater Fishing Report
Sunday we had aboard Gary Lattrell and his wife, Ellen. Gary is the golf course superintendent at the Quaker Hill Country Club in Pawling NY. We got the couple into some striped bass up to 27" and a few blues around the Norwalk Islands. When things slowed down a bit, we moved towards Compo Beach during a slack tide, and along the shoreline of Sherwood Island we found a few blues. When the tide started moving again we moved toward Sunken Island near Penfield Reef, where we found loads of bluefish feeding on sand eels. There was non-stop action for the rest of our trip.
On Monday Lattrell returned to Norwalk, this time with three members of his groundskeeping crew, Kelly, Robin and Brittany Rosselle, also from Pawling. We started our trip around Cockenoe Island, where we caught some nice schoolie bass and blues on tube & worm. Then we moved further offshore and found several schools of bunker being pushed. We snagged some and tried live-lining, which resulted in a great haul of blues 10-12 pounds. Then we changed pace and tried for porgies; we were successful with a bountiful catch, most of which were released. As we were getting ready to head for home we came across another body of bunker, and Lattrell asked to stay out an additional hour, during which we got many more large blues under the school.
Thursday's outing was with Stamford resident, Doug Slater, and his father, Myles Slater of Pound Ridge. Also aboard was Steve Roberts of Pt. Washington NY--all excellent fishermen. We looked around the Norwalk Islands, where we saw many bunker schools--none of which were being hit. We then moved eastward, where we spotted a nice pod of blues--with an occasional striper mixed in--off of Westport. All the fish were brought in on Slug-go and Gulp! Sand Eel lures. The trio got arm weary and wanted a change of pace. We continued easterly and worked some of the rocky structures off of Southport and caught 14 bass up to 27" on tube & worm rigs. A dozen blues were kept for themselves and for friends and relatives who'd been promised some filets. We were happy to help them keep that promise!
On Friday we sailed with Craig Steinberg of Weston, and his teenage son, Corey. Following yesterday's successes, we started out on an easterly course, and within 15 minutes of leaving the dock we were into heavy-duty bluefish action with Fin-esse shad lures. After catching their fill, our fishermen wanted to try something different, so we moved toward Southport and Sunken Island, where they brought in 12 striped bass up to 30", and dropped several more. It was an exciting day for the father and son.
The water is teeming with bait, and if conditions continue as they are, the rest of the month should be great for all local anglers.
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