11-19: South County and SE CT rpt

[bdowning]

I think it may be all over gang, at least for the migratory bass. Decided to start west at Napatree and head east. I didn't walk all the way out to the point, but worked the shore pretty thoroughly from the cabanas for about 400 yds west. All I got were a couple of half-hearted tugs and cold fingers.

Same deal all over the South County shore, AM and PM. Plenty of birds working over some bait in close but nothing underneath them. Not even shad ;-).

Midday I went over to Millstone for the first time, mostly to check out the lay of the land. Well, they are still catching some decent fish there. Saw several good sized albies caught (two from boat, one from shore). Also, one guy had a mess of blues, caught mostly on live or dead peanut bunker or herring. As for the conditions, it was what I expected: elbow-to-elbow and bow to stern. If you want anything other than guerilla fishing, go weekdays or at odd hours (although most parking places seem to be posted and off-limits, I don't know whether they enforce it). I'm thinking of going on Friday while everyone else is jamming Wal-Mart and Toys-R-Us!

-bd


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[wolter]

bd,

many thanks to you and the others who faithfully report! It is very helpful to novices such as myself. Am thinking of doing the new jersey shore next week wading with a fly rod. you seem to get arround quite a bit. do you ever venture down there? any ideas on the fishing? unfortunatly, our new jersey cousins are tighter with info than a 12 weigt reel adjusted to full drag. thanks again for your reports this year.
Wolter

[RIBill]

I was in New London on Friday morning and drove the shoreline down towards Ocean Beach, Osprey Beach and New London Hrb. Light (the white lighthouse on the western side of the river mouth). There were birds working at Osprey Beach and splashes under them. Beautiful scene, but I was in a business suit! I wish that I could have gotten out over the weekend or this morning to explore that area, especially with the calm winds, but it wasn't gonna happen (family and work). I'm assuming those were bass, and I hope that we hear some reports this week from that area and elsewhere in the Thames. Wind permitting, I've got one more weekend in me: one more bass would be a treat, and then perhaps a few blackfish to finish the trip and season.

[bdowning]

To wolter:

Nope, don't get down to Jersey much, other than occasionally Sandy Hook. I know there are boards around that cater to the Jersey/NY crowd but I can't come up with the URLs at the moment. Once the migratory bass leave RI/CT, that's usually it for me until April, although I may do one or two winter day outings in CT to keep from going completely stir crazy.

To riBill:

Speaking of New London, I checked out that new fishing pier at Fort Trumbull on Sunday. Pretty impressive. Only one guy there fishing and it wasn't that cold out! May be worth trying for blackfish or late season bass.

-bd


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[Ray]

Where can I fish from shore at Millstone? I know where the plant is, but not the places to park and fish.

I know of only 1 spot, across the bay on the west side. Hooked up an albie there last year, but don't know the other locations.

I am driving throught there Thursday morning, and would love to cast a fly from shore.

Thanks,

Ray

[bdowning]

Well I'm a first timer there, but I'll tell you what I know. Go in the main access road and keep driving straight. You want to stay on this road, buy stay left of the plant itself. It's not very obvious but I finally figured it out. Eventually you'll come to a parking lot for some laboratory that dead ends at a fence. All the parking is posted for employees only, but I wasn't hassled parking there on a weekend. Walk left around the fence and the discharge is only about 100 ft away to your right. Some people flyfish right in the discharge channel amongst the crowds. I'm not that brave (stupid?)with my backcast. But there is a nice ledge that sticks out about 100 feet to the east of the discharge that you can flycast off of. I saw offlimits signs for that area too, but plant security didn't seem to be harrassing anyone. There is also another discharge just west plus more rocky shoreline and more parking spaces in the plant recreation area. A lot more room to spread out over there, but somewhat of a distance from the warmwater discharge.

-bd


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[michael]

Bill,

What time did you venture out and get there? How long did it take you? I am amazed the ground you cover. I hope you're not a lease. Just so you know, I feel like I'm going over the edge traveling from Newport, all the way over to Narragansett. God forbid I make it all the way down to Charlestown or Westerly. Only kidding! But that's the RI mentality for the most part when I was growing up. Seriously though, you cover some wide open areas. Thanks for all your updates.
On another note, I saw birds working off shore at both First & Second Beach this morning. Both very far out. Curious to see if any comes of it.

[bdowning]

Well let's just put it this way. I got rid of my previous car when it hit 250,000 miles, and it wasn't that old. As for leasing, it ain't an option! Those Subarus sure take abuse though.

I have a non-fishing friend who lives in Newport. A routine trip to Providence or Boston for us would be like a trip to Mars for him ;-).

-bd


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[Ray]

250,000 miles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I see it coming for me. I live in Boston, Newton actaully, and don't think twice of driving to Newport, Chatham, Woods Holes, or even Maine to fish for a day every weekend. It sounds crazy, but I love it.

Ray

[rphud]

bd - action in nj has been spread out but sounds consistant at night, nothing much at day from the beaches anyways. Island beach and the stretch north from the shark river seem to be the most active. check out stripersonline.com and/or bettyandnicks.com via the net for reports. I had hoped to be home (nj) and on the beach for this weekend but everybody decided to come here (ct) and I haven't heard of anything up this way. Good luck in nj if you go. p.s. if the fish have moved south from island beach area, long beach island is the next stop on the way south with barnegat and harvey cedars at the north end and beach haven and holgate to the south. I can be reached at rhud@home.com if you need more info.