Connecticut fishing reports
87 reports for Connecticut — what's biting, water temps, and where to focus.
Long Island Sound Striper Run Shifts Into High Gear for New Moon
NOAA buoy 44025 clocked water temps at 53°F overnight, and Long Island Sound stripers are making the most of it. Captain Morgan's Bait and Tackle, as reported in The Fisherman — Connecticut, says anglers are 'laser-focused on striped bass,' with sea-liced fresh fish now blending into resident populations and over-slot 40s already turning heads along the CT shoreline. Bobby J's confirms quality is improving across the board — bunker chunks producing fish into the 20-pound class, while plastics on jigheads and topwater plugs are also drawing strikes. Fisherman's World tells The Fisherman — Connecticut that the freshest arrivals are stacking on deep-water structure: Reef 11B, Can 13, and the OB Buoy. The Fisherman (Northeast) frames the broader New England context as a 'supercharged spring striper run,' with 40-pound-class fish now documented in regional waters. Today's new moon amplifies tidal movement and should push more bait through the Sound's rips — a setup that typically sharpens the bite through the week ahead.
Trophy Browns, Prime Shad Run, and Post-Spawn Bass Heat Up CT Inland Waters
Saugatuck Reservoir is producing trophy-class brown trout — The Fisherman — New England Freshwater's Fisherman's World report notes two browns pushing 8 pounds taken recently on shiners by different anglers in different parts of the impoundment, with largemouth, smallmouth, crappies, and perch also active. The spring stocking program is running strong: Rod Teehan's roundup in The Fisherman — New England Freshwater confirms recent plants in the Coginchaug River, Salmon River TMA, Bantam River, and Moosup River TMA, among others. Down on the Connecticut River, Fishin' Factory 3 reports shad, carp, and striped bass all showing in the Middletown-to-Rocky Hill stretch — classic mid-May fare for that corridor. USGS gauge 01184000 puts mainstem water temperature at 55°F, a comfortable zone for late-run trout and the shad migration. Bass anglers have an added edge: Tactical Bassin reports the bluegill spawn is in full swing, pulling big largemouth into heavy cover and within range of topwater and frog presentations.
Stripers firing from Norwalk to New London as spring push intensifies
Water temps checked in at 52–53°F across nearby NOAA buoys overnight, and striped bass have taken undisputed center stage on Long Island Sound. The Fisherman — Connecticut reports linesides running from Norwalk all the way to New London, with fresh migratory fish — some carrying sea lice — arriving to mix with resident bass already working the system. Bobby J's confirms fresh bunker chunks are producing fish into the 20-pound-plus class, while Captain Morgan's Bait and Tackle reports over-slot 40s have "turned some heads," with slot fish and throwbacks providing steady volume. Swimmers and plastics on jigheads are working along the shoreline; deep-water structure like reef 11B and Can 13 is holding the freshest arrivals, per Fisherman's World. OTW Saltwater's May 12 migration update places 50-pound-class bass already staging off Long Island, signaling the heaviest part of the push is within reach right now.
Spring Trout and Shad Surge Across Connecticut's Inland Waters
Saugatuck Reservoir is the headline freshwater story of the week — Fisherman's World reports two brown trout pushing 8 pounds each were taken there recently on shiners by different anglers working different sections of the impoundment. Spring stocking is firing statewide: Fishin' Factory 3 calls trout action "outstanding" across the Salmon River, Coginchaug River, Day Pond Trout Park, and Chatfield Hollow Pond, with Rod Teehan (The Fisherman — New England Freshwater) logging additional stockings on the Hammonasset, Saugatuck, Bantam, and Moosup rivers as recently as May 5–7. The Connecticut River at USGS gauge 01184000 is reading 58°F and running at 15,400 cfs — productive spring flows driving a multi-species bite in the Middletown-to-Rocky Hill stretch, where Fishin' Factory 3 reports shad, carp, and striped bass on sandworms and chunks. Saugatuck Reservoir is also kicking out largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappies, and perch alongside those trophy browns.
Stripers Push Norwalk to New London as Spring Migration Peaks
Water temperature has settled at 52°F along the Connecticut shoreline—confirmed by NOAA buoys 44025 and 44065—and the striper action is running hot with it. Captain Morgan's Bait and Tackle reports over-slot fish in the 40-inch class have turned heads this week, with most daily action on slot and throwback-sized linesides running 24–29 inches on swimmers and plugs along the surf and tidal rivers. Bobby J's confirms fresh migrants carrying sea lice are mixing with resident bass, and bunker chunks are converting 20-pound-plus class fish at anchor and on the troll. Fisherman's World's Tyler notes the freshest fish are likely holding on deep-water structure—reefs 11B, Can 13, and the OB Buoy—as these schools shift locations daily. Per Aaron Swanson in The Fisherman — Connecticut, linesides have made their presence known from Norwalk to New London, with inshore harbors, bays, and tributaries all producing. Topwater is building, and plastics on jigheads remain a reliable backup.
Giant Browns at Saugatuck Headline CT's Active Spring Inland Season
Two brown trout pushing 8 pounds — each taken on a shiner by different anglers fishing separate sections of Saugatuck Reservoir — set the week's high mark for CT inland fishing, per Rich at Fisherman's World via The Fisherman — New England Freshwater. USGS gauge 01184000 is logging 56°F water, a prime late-spring temperature for trout and transitioning bass alike. Spring stocking continues at pace: Rod Teehan's column in The Fisherman — New England Freshwater lists trout drops into the Hammonasset River, Saugatuck River, Coginchaug River, Bantam River, Moosup River TMA, and Salmon River TMA between May 4 and 7. Colin at Fishin' Factory 3 confirms action remains outstanding at the Salmon River, Coginchaug River, Day Pond Trout Park, and Chatfield Hollow, with angler numbers well down from opening-week peaks. The Connecticut River's Middletown-to-Rocky Hill corridor is also producing shad, carp, and striped bass on sandworms and chunks, per the same report.
Long Island Sound striper bite fires up from Norwalk to New London
Water temperatures holding at 52°F across Long Island Sound — confirmed by NOAA buoys 44025 and 44065 — have proved enough to trigger a strong spring striper run. Per The Fisherman — Connecticut, fresh sea-liced bass are pushing in from offshore and stacking alongside resident fish from Norwalk to New London. Bobby J's reports anglers fishing fresh bunker chunks are landing stripers into the 20-pound-plus class, with jighead plastics and topwater equally productive. Captain Morgan's Bait and Tackle notes over-slot 40-inch fish turning heads, while typical action runs 24 to 29 inches along the suds and tidal rivers. Fisherman's World in Norwalk calls striper fishing "the best game in town right now," with the freshest arrivals concentrated on deep-water reefs including 11B, Can 13, and the OB Buoy. On The Water's May 8 migration map confirms the 2026 striper push is at full speed regionwide.
Spring stripers light up Long Island Sound from Norwalk to New London
Water temps checked in at 53°F on NOAA buoy 44025, and the striper bite in Long Island Sound is running hot. Per The Fisherman — Connecticut, shops from Norwalk to New London agree: striped bass is the dominant story this week. Bobby J's reported fresh sea-liced fish mixing with resident bass, with bunker chunks producing fish into the 20-pound-plus class; plastics on jigheads and topwater have also been effective. Fisherman's World described striper fishing as "the best game in town," with fish spread from inshore harbors out to deep-water structure on reefs like 11B, Can 13, and the OB Buoy — the freshest migratory arrivals holding on those offshore grounds. Captain Morgan's Bait and Tackle noted that feeding has cranked up, with over-slot fish to the low 40s turning heads alongside steady slot action on swimmers along the shoreline. The Fisherman (Northeast) confirmed that "tanks" were landed in Long Island Sound last week, underscoring that big fish are firmly in the mix.
Big browns and stocked trout lead CT's inland spring push
Water temps on the Connecticut River registering 57°F (USGS gauge 01184000) with flows elevated at 17,000 cfs signal a classic mid-May inland transition. Fisherman's World out of Norwalk — reporting for The Fisherman — New England Freshwater — delivers the week's standout: two brown trout pushing 8 pounds were recently pulled from Saugatuck Reservoir on live shiners, with that same impoundment also giving up solid largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappies, and perch. Stocking activity is running full tilt: Rod Teehan's NE Freshwater column in The Fisherman — New England Freshwater notes fresh drops on the Hammonasset River (May 4), Saugatuck River (May 5), and on May 7 the Coginchaug River, Bantam River, Moosup River TMA, and Salmon River TMA. Fishin' Factory 3 calls trout action "outstanding" at stocked ponds and streams. The Connecticut River's Middletown-to-Rocky Hill stretch is additionally producing shad and carp, with some early striped bass on sandworms and chunks in the tidal reaches.
Stripers break through the Sound: big fish in CT bays and tidal rivers
Captain Morgan's Bait and Tackle, reported in The Fisherman — Connecticut, described over-slot striped bass — fish running 30 to 36 inches — crashing bays and lower tidal rivers right around last week's full moon tides, with topwaters and swimmers drawing violent strikes. Water temperatures registered 55°F at NOAA Buoy 44025 and 54°F at Buoy 44065, cool but squarely in the productive spring striper range. Fisherman's World (CT) noted bass pushing into the far western reaches of the Sound on both troll and topwater, while Bobby J's (CT) confirmed consistent schoolie action in river mouths and harbors alongside larger fish chasing herring runs. The Fisherman (Northeast) flagged tanks landed in Long Island Sound as part of a broad Northeast surge. The spring tautog season has closed per Connecticut sources, and winter flounder has wound down — striped bass own the spotlight. The Connecticut River shad run, per Aaron Swanson in The Fisherman — Connecticut, adds fresh forage that should keep migratory bass anchored in the area.
Striper Push Hits Full Stride Across Long Island Sound
Water temperature sits at 49°F per NOAA buoy 44065, and the spring striper surge is firmly underway in Long Island Sound. Captain Morgan's Bait and Tackle, reported via The Fisherman — Connecticut, noted that over-slot bass (30–36 inches) broke through the Sound last week, slamming topwaters and swimmers in bays and lower tidal rivers around the full moon tides — non-stop action for those who timed it right. The Fisherman (Northeast) also confirms tanks were landed in Long Island Sound this reporting period. Bobby J's, per The Fisherman — Connecticut, reports schoolie and slot-size bass stacking consistently in river mouths and harbors, with larger fish keying on herring runs. Fisherman's World adds that migratory fish are pushing into the far western reaches on both troll and topwater. The Connecticut River shad run has kicked into gear as well, per Aaron Swanson in The Fisherman — Connecticut. Spring tautog season has closed, shifting focus fully onto stripers.
Connecticut River shad run fires up with stocked trout spread statewide
Water temps on the Connecticut River are holding at 55°F per USGS gauge 01184000, and inland fishing is hitting its stride. The Fisherman — Connecticut reports the Connecticut River shad run came to life over the past 10 days, with very good fishing now underway. The Fisherman — New England Freshwater's Fishin' Factory 3 corroborates it, noting shad numbers climbing daily and action continuing to build — the shop's Steaves Leaves willow-leaf blades on ¾- to 1-ounce casting sinkers have been moving so fast they had to reorder 200 units. Spring trout stocking rolls on statewide, with The Fisherman — New England Freshwater documenting recent plants in the Farmington River West Branch, Norwalk River WTMA, Higganum Reservoir, Millers Pond, and more. Rich at Fisherman's World in Norwalk confirms stocked fish are biting well on worms, Roostertails, and PowerBait throughout Norwalk-area rivers. Fishin' Factory 3 also notes a growing shift toward largemouth bass in ponds and lakes, as carp begin appearing in the rivers — the mid-May transition is fully underway.