Last fall, the crew of new england fishing tv sampled the fantastic blackfish tautog fishery in long island sound. Good preseason bycatch numbers have anglers anticipating one of. Striper fishing in long island, new york stripers 247. Took a few of the boys out this week for a blackfish bluefish bonanza. Blackfish tog fishing in li sound new york 2018 season. We have a couple weekend dates available till the season is over. Heres what you need to know about fishing on long island.
The first european to record the existence of long island sound was the dutch navigator adriaen block, who entered the sound from the east river in 1614. Tautog, or blackfish, live in shallow coastal waters, usually at depths of less than 60 feet. There was a time when the new yorklong island fishing season officially began on st. Blackfish season is open and stripers and bluefish are on the feed. The long island sound is an incredible fishery by any measure.
Just be sure to remain in connecticut waters during your search for tautog, as new york has not, of late, had a spring component to their blackfish season. Chris lb blackfish blackfish tautog a territorial fish found on hardbottom reefs, rockpiles, sunken wrecks, and inshore mussel beds. Fish for striped bass, fluke, black sea bass, blackfish, porgy, bluefish, weakfish, cod and flounder. Courtesy of the ct department of energy and environmental protection. On long island, the inshore fall run peaks in midoctober and early november while deeper action continues in the ocean and long island sound until the season closes on december 14.
Although the fishing usually gets into high gear in october with a 1 fish limit, most people dont target them until november when limit gets pushed up. Access to blackfish sound is from the following nearby communities on vancouver island and islands in broughton strait. It lives along the coast in rocky areas and may be found near pilings, jetties and wrecks. The long island sound is predominantly brackish which makes it a perfect nursery for baitfish and larger predatory fish alike. Long island anglers looking forward to targeting blackfish this fall need to be clear on new regulations that went into effect this spring as a result of an amendment to the interstate fisheries management plan for tautog that was adopted in october 2017 by the atlantic states marine fisheries commission asmfc. Long island fishing seasons longevity sportfishing long island. In long island sound, however, a 6 or 8pounder is a nice blackfish, but 12 to 14 pounds are not unusual. Blackfish 2018 has officially begun don,chris,tom and skip got into some nice fish to start the season. Alewife blueback herring the taking of anadromous alewife and blueback herring is prohibited from all connecticut waters, including long island sound.
Experience an exciting bluefish and striped bass night fishing trip on the calm waters of the long island sound off the shores of city island, new york. The best season in the long island sound is from may until august. Long island fishing seasons longevity sportfishing long. Map of blackfish sound, british columbia, channel canada.
Blackfish sound is situated north of hanson island. Blackfish sound british columbia travel and adventure. Went out fishing with kenneth westerfeld and his subscriber winner targeting tog in the long island sound and we got the job done with a full limit and fish to 8lbs which ended up being my new. Connecticuts stay safe, stay home and all other related safety measures remain in effect through at least may 20. Spring season is ok but short and many feel that it is the time to let them do their spawning in peace. We fished green crabs in 52 of water then went inshore for some chunking fresh bunker. Serving as guide was captain chris landry, a blackfish expert who also works at atlantic outboard in westbrook, ct. Another good reference on this history of the program is the october 20 issue of sound update. An additional target species in the spring would provide some relief for anglers and forhire captains party and charter boats who have been dealing with limited fishing opportunities during the early part of the season for a long time. The fall season is a great time of year for fishing in long island sound.
In addition to inshore fishing, long island sound provides access to the atlantic ocean. The blackfish, also known as tautog, tautoga onitis ranges from nova scotia to south carolina. Long island sound was formed when the terminal moraine that dammed the waters of glacial lake connecticut failed, and sea water mixed with the lakes fresh waters. Bluefish start to show up in midlate may along the south shore and long island sound. S, perfect for your next party boat or charter boat saltwater fishing trip. Long island sound region marine and coastal district waters lying east of the throgs neck bridge and west of a line that. Tautog, also known as blackfish, are creatures of habitat that. Below is a list of reference materials to learn more about how the history of the long island sound seafloor mapping program began, and about seafloor mapping in general. The bottom line when bottomfishing long island sound during the spring season is that the farther west you fish, the warmer water you will find. Fluke may soon be competing with striped bass for the spotlight with this weeks opening of the summer flounder season. Rocks and wrecks are common areas to find blackfish. Tautog blackfish regulations vary for the long island sound region marine waters lying east of the throgs neck bridge and west of a line that runs from orient point, ny to watch hill, ri and ny bight region marine waters outside of the long island sound region.
To fish in the long island sound, great south bay, or any of the other salt waters within three miles of the long island coast. In the spring the tautog are caught in the shallow water and during the fall. In this episode of new england fishing tv, host tom richardson heads to westbrook, ct, to tangle with some bruiser blackfish tautog in long island sound. Black sea bass are measured from the tip of the snout. The long island sound is a fantastic area to catch gigantic blackfish both in the spring and fall. Spring blackfish 2018 long islandny fishing surftalk. In long island sound, when it comes to temperatures for spring blackfish, the magic number is 50. Blackfish season has started and justgofishin had a chance to go after these.
Regulations were last changed on march 31, 2020, and are subject to change at any time. Jorge sanchezs crew enjoyed the day with some nice blackfish and beautiful weather this past weekend. Regulations were last changed on march 31, 2020 and are subject to change at any time. Long island sound seafloor mapping program references. Weather was a bit of a mess but we got the day in thumbs up to all. Weekly fishing reports for long island, metro ny the. Youll have another chance to catch them again in the fall when the blackfish season reopens on october 10. Blackfish tautog fishing long island sound youtube.
Summer flounder is similar to winter flounder in both flavor and appearance. Aided by powerful jaws and crushing choppers, blackfish eat small crabs, clams and other. Fishing with captain rich tenreiro on the long island sound. Visit long island, ny for some of the best saltwater fishing in the united states. Recreational saltwater fishing regulations nys dept. Connecticut long island sound housatonic river fishing saltwater inshore light tackle striped bass striper bluefish albacore weakfish fly fishing stratford ct angler report reports milford. Blackfish sound vancouver island news, events, travel. On thursday, the new jersey marine fisheries council approved new size, bag and season limits that will take effect within the next few weeks. Minimum size for blackfish in new york waters is 16 inches and the creel limit is four fish per day for each angler. Today capt skip and sharpie mike roveto from causeway bait and tackle snuck out for a few hours of the day and had a great time with the tog bite the duo tried a few different drops and were successful at all, with some nice blackfish to 5. Fish the best reefs and wrecks of the long island sound.
Lots of fish were caught with lots of keeper tog in the mix. Along with targeting striped bass and bluefish that are bulking up for their annual migration south, anglers can ply the craggy bottom for a yearround resident synonymous with autumn fishing. Before you cast your line into the waters in and around long island, be sure youre up to date on all of the rules and regulations. Black fish tog fishing out of mid long island sound in middle of october 2018 season opened about 2 weeks ago. Photo by richard howardlong island sound fish trawl survey. Blackfish sound is located approximately 250 miles north of vancouver, off the northeast shore of vancouver island, between vancouver island and the mainland of british columbia. Fishing spring blackfish tautog with clams youtube. In addition to the vast expanse of the atlantic ocean and long island sound, the numerous inlets, bays and. Tautog blackfish regulations vary for the long island sound. The authors father took this nice blackfish from shallow water next to a rocky breakwall. Fall, to many anglers, means blackfishtautog fishing. Blackfish season in the long island sound goes from oct. The new regs were required in order to comply with an atlantic states marine fisheries commission asmfc mandate to reduce blackfish harvest. Blackfish season has started and justgofishin had a chance to go after these illusive bottom creatures that are tricky to catch.
With over 100 species of fish found in long island sound, anglers can enjoy some of the very best striped bass, bluefish, summer flounder. While the rigs just spoken about can be found hooking up to blackfish on both the north and south shores of long island, blackfish jigs have made believers out of many in the western sound. Fishing rules and regulations the fisherman magazine. The rocks and boulders left by glacial deposition in the sound make it an ideal reef habitat. We start blackfishing around halloween and end sometime after thanksgiving, says bryan oakley, a friend and local geologist who knows a lot about reefs and rock ledges. Mark anderson october 17, 2016 long island sound saltwater fishing report. Geographically situated just outside new york city, long island is 120 miles long by 20 miles wide and is the largest island adjoined to the continental u. By midnovember the blackfish have left the bay and are on the reefs and rock piles and the many shipwrecks of rhode island sound. Long island sound attracts a variety of saltwater fish species including striped bass, bluefish, weakfish, croaker, spot, fluke summer flounder, winter flounder, scup. Long island sound region marine and coastal district waters lying east of the throgs neck bridge and west of a line that runs from orient point, ny to watch hill, ri. Big porgies, small black sea bass in long island sound. When its reached, it is time to schedule some days out of the office.
Blackfish are one of the more challenging yet rewarding fish to target in our nj coastal waters. We met chris at the westbrook marine center, whose capable staff launched our pursuit c260 center console with the help of. With a wide variety of habitats, the sound is home to most major species of gamefish found in the northeast. Long island sound fishing report the compleat angler. Tautog are the only important recreational fish species that live year round in the sound. Blackfish season is on a roll free fishing reports. Current recreational marine fisheries regulations ct. Blackfish tautog in our western long island sound are found where there are structures in the water. All nonessential workers are directed to work from home, and social and recreational gatherings of more than five. Plenty of stripers in south shore waters, blackfish populating long island sound by tom schlichter special to newsday updated october 24, 2019 6.
Port mcneill, vancouver island the town of port mcneill. With the long island sound at kings parks doorstep, fishing is a sport, or a passion, that is readily accessible to all. Chris landry, who shows tom why connecticut is known for producing some of the biggest tautog on the planet. The captree fleet is the largest fishing fleet in long island members boats includes open boats. Bruiser blackfish of long island sound new england.
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