Albie fever grips Connecticut Sound as fall run kicks in
Long Island Sound water temps are holding in the mid-60s, from 65.1°F at NOAA CO-OPS station 8461490 to 68°F at station 8467150, and Connecticut shops say the fall run has arrived in earnest. J&B Tackle reports albies are everywhere from Black Point to Fishers Island, striped bass feeding heavily on bait without blitzing yet, and bluefish ranging from snappers to gators staying very active. AW Marina says albie fever has taken hold, with customers flying through epoxy jigs and tins while also readying tackle for the coming tautog season opener. Aboard the Tartan II, bottom fishing stays fantastic for black sea bass, both numerous and large, while fluke wrapped up soft this week per Black Hawk's final trip of the season.
New to these readings? What water temp, tide, and moon phase mean for fishing →
What's biting
Fish this water?
We're light on local intel here. Send us your report and we'll credit you.
Send a reportWhat's next
High tide runs roughly 9-11am and low tide 3-5pm across the three Sound stations this week, with the full moon amplifying current swings. The strongest feeding windows should cluster around those tide changes, especially through the spots J&B Tackle names for albies: Black Point, Fishers Island, Avery Point, Sarah's Ledge, Ocean Beach, Harkness, Seaside and Niantic Bay.
Striped bass are feeding on bait but haven't begun blitzing per J&B Tackle; that transition to sustained blitzing is typically the next stage of the fall run as bait schools continue to build. A nor'easter is moving through the region this week per The Fisherman (Northeast), and rougher conditions may push bait tighter to structure, often a trigger for stronger inshore action once it clears.
Context
Mid-60s to upper-60s water temps are typical for CT Sound in late September. This fall run is on the slower side for the calendar: The Fisherman (Northeast)'s regional forecast notes water temps have only dropped slightly this month and feeding urgency has lagged a typical year. That tracks with local reports: albies and bluefish are firmly on, but stripers are still feeding rather than blitzing, more characteristic of an early-to-mid fall run than its peak. Tautog prep at AW Marina signals the next phase of the CT saltwater calendar approaching in the weeks ahead.
Synthesized from real-time NOAA buoy data, USGS stream gauges, and current reports across regional fishing blogs, captain updates, and angler forums. Check local regulations before keeping fish. Never trust a single source for a trip decision.
EVERY SATURDAY MORNING
Weekly fishing intelligence
Nationwide conditions, what's biting, and honest gear deals. One email, no noise.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.