It's surprising how many anglers use tidal rivers as an avenue to and from their fishing holes without giving notice to what they're passing through. Beating the tide as bridge clearance becomes an issue, or perhaps the easing or gaining of a rip current by a favorite spot, if not timed properly, might be of concern. Nevertheless, so much activity is being overlooked during these jaunts.

This fall, especially, had a sudden influx of life in the form of Atlantic menhaden, hickory shad, eels, worms, and crabs that flooded rivers. Foraging on these are the fish you are hunting. Anyone not near or on one of these tributaries would be oblivious to the goings on.

Earlier in the season, there were only intermittent spurts of activity, but now fall is here, seemingly faster than in previous years, and nature is bestowing an abundance of activity upon us. Every form of life in the tidals has a purpose and, to that end, that life must eat to survive or be eaten.

To fishers, fall is time to fool these top predators into reacting in a natural way to an unnatural occurrence. The act of fishing does just that and, to the observant, a tidal river offers such an opportunity. So the next time you decide to explore one of these tidal rivers, do it with eyes and ears open.

On the Water

Fall is officially here and that means expect a drop in coastal water temperatures from the mid-60s along with a cooler trend in air temps. The passing of the recent spectacular harvest moon brought with it an increase in sea breezes, more schools of menhaden and shad, plus greater shoreline activity of predator fish.

Bluefish in the 12- to 14-pound range are feeding in the rips, by immediate shoreline structure, and in the harbors and lower tidal rivers. Although most of the action is with some form of fish, they can easily be coaxed into taking artificials like spoons, jigs, and top water lures. Flood tides have been producing blues of varying sizes at Six Mile, Crane's, Charles, and Browns reefs, however, ebb has been doing quite well in spots like Goose Island, Menunketesuck, and Meigs Point.

Striped bass are also on the move. Action spiked in Montauk, Block Island, and Long Island Sound. With tidal rivers filling up with hickories and bunker and beginning to flush bait, linesiders are taking advantage of the food supply and feeding along the banks, in channels, and by any subsurface structure. Reef action at Hammonasset, Faulkner's, Southwest, and The S's has been good. Eels, menhaden, and various chunks with diamond jigs, bucktails, plugs, and tubes/worms encourage hookups.

Sea bass in the five-pound range and at about 100-foot depths are biting on squid setups. Expect to thread through plenty of 12-inchers before breaking out the lemon and spices. Porgy and scup are another reef fish that have been plentiful in size and numbers. Catchable from shore or boat, these scrappers are in full fall swing and are taking worms and squid. Although a few late, nice-sized fluke have been taken from the rivers, most are heading out of the Sound. Not the same for bottom fish like dogfish, sea robins, and kingfish that still are feeding in the shallows. Blue crabbing is fair to good, but slowing, while clam beds in the Guilford and Madison area are producing numbers of quality shellfish.

Note: Early registrations for the 25th annual Eddie Beauvais Blackfish Tournament, set for Oct. 19 to 26, ends Tuesday, Oct. 1. Cash money for heaviest pairs of 'togs caught (including smallest), raffle prizes, a great buffet, and really cool T-shirt are just some of the incentives. Save $5 by registering in September; it's $40 thereafter. Call Captain Morgan's for details.

For all things fishy including licenses, swing by the shop (203-245-8665) open seven days located at 21 Boston Post Road, Madison. Until next time from your Connecticut shoreline's full-service fishing outfitter, where we don't make the fisherman, we make the fisherman better.

Tight Lines,

Captain Morgan

captainmorgan.fish@sbcglobal.net

captainmorgan-fish.blogspot.com