CTFishTalk.com: Reef slowing down - Connecticut Saltwater Reports ( CT Saltwater Reports ) - A Community Built for Connecticut Fisherman.

Chris · Joined: 19 Jun 2012 Posts: 85 Location: Trumbull

The reef has definitely slowed down the last several times out. Between storms, darkness, the limited amount of blues, and time, I have only caught a handful of bluefish in my 3 times out. Twice I kind of just went to check it out and the blues just haven't been around as much. I would catch one here and there if I'm lucky. When the reef was hot a week ago I would catch many, I hope they come back soon, and they bring there bigger friends!

GLoomGreenwater · Joined: 16 May 2011 Posts: 15

I like to read alot of the post on this site....... lots of reef followers. The reef is what got me passioate about the sport. It is very funny because there are people who go out there and get skunked everytime and there are people who pull keepers everytime

I grew up living next door to the reef and spent all my years growing up fishing it. Since I had the oppertunity to look out on the water 10 + times a day, the bluefishing was unlimited. You see the birds and you go throw poppers.

Bluefish aside, Hands down the most deadly tactic there is floating sandworms across the top of the reef on bobbers.

Tie up a 3 way rig with the apropriate hook for a sandworm, and simply put a bobber on instead of a sinker. Throw your worm up current of the reef....... let it drift over...... and whammy they hit it right on the back side.

From years of doing this I learned a couple things:
- bass come much closer to you than you think. most fish I catch are within
20 ft of my feet

- sandworms work great if you are trying to stay away from robins

- most bass from this method are cookie cutter. 26- 36" ers ( i have nailed a couple 40's however)

- there are lots of other species out ther, I have caught sea run browns and weakfish with this tactic

- best tide for sight fishing is the end of incoming. Much better water clearity.

- DONT NEED TO CAST 500 MILES OUT THERE. If you are targeting stripers, most of you fish are going to be on top of the reef or 20 feet off the backside of the rip. Once you start bombing your lure way out there you will pull primarily bluefish. This is why you see flyfisherman dominating out there. CAST PARELLEL TO THE REEF

Try this out before the snappers get to big and rip up the sandworms.

More than happy to share more experiences.......... I have plenty of them out there

fishfinder · Joined: 19 Jun 2011 Posts: 1672 Location: Naugatuck, Ct.

great post Gloom!!! Thanks for the info!
_________________
There's a fine line between fishing....

and standing on the shore like an idiot!

GLoomGreenwater · Joined: 16 May 2011 Posts: 15

As I mentioned........ I love discussing the reef topic. My than happy to exchange notes with anyone.

On a side note, has anyone noticed how flat it is this year? (not much of a change in depth). I'm assuming it was due to huricanne IRENE

Lamar · Joined: 31 Jul 2012 Posts: 21

Awesome tip GLoomGreenwater! I'll be sure to give it a try when I get down there.

Chris · Joined: 19 Jun 2012 Posts: 85 Location: Trumbull

Thanks GLoom! I'lll try that next time I go out. That was a real informative post, I'm at the reef 4 or 5 times a week and love the info. Yes, the reef is very flat, is this going to change the floating sandworms tactic? Please feel feel to keep making similar posts. I can see it now, everyone at the reef throwing sandworms with bobbers!

BigSteve · Joined: 05 Jun 2011 Posts: 27

Got out to the reef for the first time this year. I grew up near the reef and didn't really take advantage of it until I was much older. I have heard the sandworm technique before and will definitley try it. Anyway, Monday at dead low we walked all the way out to the rocks, the farthest I've ever been out there. Caught numerous sea robins and one small blue throwing deadly dicks. Steady retrieve with a little twitch. Returned Tuesday morning for high tide. Wow it was choppy! Could only fish the Pine Creek side due to the wind. Lots of bait fish jumpin right in front of us. Saw a couple of boats fishing as well. No luck though.

On another note, I have always had good luck with a small rapala popper, bright yellow belly, chrome top, during the evening incoming especially right beofre high tide. May try the sandworm technique next week.

fishingkid · Joined: 04 May 2011 Posts: 340

Thanks GLoom. I may try the sandworms under a bobber soon there. What tide does the sandworms under a bobber work best?

GLoomGreenwater · Joined: 16 May 2011 Posts: 15

The tactic works when the reef is totally covered and the water is moving across it.
This would all be considered wade fishing. Aim for areas that are at least knee deep or deeper.

As I said, the incoming tide is more convient for sight fishing because of water clearity, but obviously it can be very dangeruious because you can get caught out there. My suggestion would be to get out there at dead hight tide, start walking out there and look around in the water while the tide changes. Once the tide changes and goes out, the rip will start forming. Once that starts happening start tossing that bobber.

The only issue will be snappers hitting the worms, so try this tactic sooner than latter before they get really agressive. Then again i've used the same bober tactic with live snappers with sucsess (not as good as worms). Man is it fun to watch a bass slurp down a snapper right in front of you.

One last recomonedation: KEEP YOUR EYES DOWN AND LOOK INTO THE WATER. The bass camoflage like you can't believe, but once you get your eyes trained to find them you'll be suprised how many bass there are out there swimming in knee deep depths right next to you!

GKolyagin · Joined: 28 Jul 2012 Posts: 67

I need to get out there again, got a set of waders! Just need to find boots/sneakers i can wear over the neoprene bottoms so they dont rip! Let me know when someone is planning to go out and I would love to join(probably next friday/weekend because I just came back from maine so a little low on $ to pay that much for gas down to the reef. if anyone from hartford county wants to split on gas let me know!

Chris · Joined: 19 Jun 2012 Posts: 85 Location: Trumbull

I'm going down to the reef tonight if anyone wants to meet me there, I plan to get there around 6pm.