Striped Bass
Morone saxatilis, “Striper”
Some consider it the great American game fish – and with good reason. No fish is more iconic to the waters of the Northeast. Migratory in nature, Stripers arrive in the Spring largely from the Chesapeake Bay and the Hudson river, bolstered by holdover populations in various local waterways. What makes the Striped Bass such a revered gamefish is its dynamic behavior – it can be caught using a multitude of methods in almost every marine environment available. For me, however, the purest pursuit warrants a fly rod. It levels the playing field for a fish that often is underestimated in its intelligence and palate. 7-10 weight fly rods make up the quiver for Stripers. They can be caught using crab, shrimp, and small baitfish patterns as well as massive flies that can measure almost a foot long. My focus is casting to fish observed by eye – terns diving over schools, subtle splashes on the surface, disturbances and wakes in the water, and when the conditions warrant, casting to individual fish on the flats.
Bluefish
Pomatomus Saltarix
One of the most mysterious fish in our local waters. Their presence is less predictable than the migration of the Striped Bass as Bluefish have a range in the Atlantic that includes the west coast of Africa, the Mediterranean, Florida and throughout the Northeast. They can inhabit brackish estuaries as well as open ocean waters. Without question, these fish are stronger pound for pound than a Striper and offer a vigorous fight on fly or light tackle. Bluefish possess razor sharp teeth and any leader material under 50lbs is unlikely to survive a larger Blue. Despite their savage reputation, Bluefish can often be picky when not actively feeding. Finding a group of Bluefish finning with their tales slicing through the water on a calm day can offer some challenging sight fishing on a fly rod. Bluefish can be found in the Long Island Sound from May through November. A large Bluefish to the boat always has me wondering what waters its travelled through and what coasts its seen.
False Albacore
Euthynnus alletteratus, “Albie”
Built for Speed. These fish can swim upwards of 40 mph, placing them in the upper echelon of fastest fish in the ocean. Remarkably, these speedsters can be found within a stone’s throw of many local beaches in Fairfield County. For me, the arrival of the False Albacore in late Summer marks the beginning of the most productive fishing in the Long Island Sound. Albies feed primarily on small, often bordering on microscopic, bait. This small forage makes them an ideal target for a fly rod. I keep flies on board for Albies as small as size six. Ten weight rods are standard for these fish as they can push tackle to its limits. In a recent study by The American Saltwater Guides Association and the New England Aquarium, Albies tagged in New England were recaptured later in Florida. The opportunity to interact with this pelagic migratory species so close to home is truly special.
