🐟 Westbrook Fishing Report Today 🎣

3 weeks ago · Updated 17 hours ago

Westbrook, Connecticut sits along the central Long Island Sound coastline, offering anglers access to productive inshore and nearshore waters during the fall fishing season. The area serves as home to Black Hall Outfitters, a well-known tackle shop and fishing resource for the region.

Content

Weekly Catches
Fishing Conditions & Tips
Regulations & Notices
Fishing Dashboard 🎣
Fishing Spots Map

Weekly Catches

The catches below cover the last 7 days.

Striped Bass

Striped bass fishing has been excellent throughout the Westbrook and Clinton area, with anglers experiencing strong action as cooling temperatures trigger fall feeding patterns. Fish ranging from 30 to 40 inches have been caught consistently, with some specimens reaching the 44 to 46-inch range. These bass are being found in water depths from 8 to 30 feet, actively feeding on the abundant baitfish present throughout the Sound.

Topwater action has improved significantly with the recent cool nights, and anglers should expect to see increased bird and bait blitzes as temperatures continue to drop. Live eels have proven extremely effective, along with artificial options including 13-inch Duratech eels and various topwater plugs during dawn and dusk periods.

Bonito

Bonito numbers have been consistent in the central to western Sound, with some pods of larger bonito reported specifically around the Westbrook/Clinton area. These hardtail species have been more reliable than false albacore in recent days, providing exciting light-tackle opportunities for anglers equipped with small jigs and metal lures.

False Albacore

False albacore pods have been sparse in nearby waters, with numbers significantly lower compared to the Long Island side of the Sound. Reports suggest that most sightings occurred before the recent weather blow, and conditions may improve by the weekend as fish movements adjust to changing water conditions.

Weakfish

Weakfish catches have been remarkable, with anglers encountering these fish in better numbers than seen in decades. Fish are not limited to the western Sound, with catches reported throughout the region including waters near Westbrook. Slow bouncing soft plastics, especially in pink colors, has been the most productive method for enticing weakfish to strike.

Bluefish

Large bluefish are present in certain areas, though they have been somewhat sporadic from day to day. The most consistent bluefish action has been reported at The Race/Plum Gut area on deeper water reefs. Anglers targeting these toothy predators have encountered both smaller specimens and large gator-sized blues exceeding 15 pounds.

Porgies (Scup)

Porgy fishing remains productive, with jumbo porgies providing consistent action for bottom fishermen. These panfish have been cooperative, offering anglers opportunities to fill coolers with quality table fare. While some days have been pickier than others, overall porgy fishing continues to be reliable for those targeting structure and bottom terrain.

Sea Bass

Sea bass fishing has been decent, though anglers must work through numerous short fish to find keepers. The average size of keeper sea bass is slowly increasing as fall progresses, and dropping water temperatures appear to be making sea bass more active. Multiple sea bass have been caught as bycatch during trips targeting other species.

Triggerfish

Triggerfish have appeared in the catch mix during bottom fishing trips, providing an interesting bonus species for anglers working structure and reef habitat in the area.

Fishing Conditions & Tips

The fall run has definitively kicked into high gear across Long Island Sound, with cooling temperatures and northeast winds driving fish to feed aggressively. The amount of baitfish present in the Sound right now is remarkable, creating ideal conditions for predator species. Anglers are encountering everything from sand eels to various sizes of bunker (ranging from tiny peanuts to adults), along with anchovies, silversides, and butterfish.

These cool nights are firing up the bite significantly, particularly for striped bass. The presence of smaller schoolie bass mixed with larger specimens is typically a strong indicator that the fall run is fully underway. The recent full moon should continue to move fish around and influence feeding patterns.

For anglers targeting pelagic species, keeping an eye on bird activity will be crucial. As bait concentrations shift and temperatures drop further, surface blitzes should become more frequent and predictable. Casting to breaking fish requires quick reflexes and appropriately sized lures that match the prevalent baitfish.

Bottom fishermen should focus on known structure and reef areas, where porgies, sea bass, and increasingly active tautog congregate. The Connecticut blackfish season opener is approaching on October 10, and scouting trips have already produced nice tautog as bycatch, suggesting strong potential once the season opens.

The eastern Sound has been showing slightly stronger overall fishing compared to the central and western sections for some species, though striped bass action remains excellent throughout the region. Anglers should be prepared with a variety of tackle options, as conditions can change rapidly and different species require different approaches.

Regulations & Notices

Connecticut's tautog season opens on Friday, October 10, providing additional opportunities for bottom fishermen targeting this hard-fighting species. Anglers should familiarize themselves with current size and bag limits for all species before heading out.

Black Hall Outfitters will be hosting their annual TogTober event from October 16-19, with over 100 anglers already signed up for what promises to be the biggest event yet. This tournament celebrates the opening of blackfish season and provides competitive opportunities for skilled tog anglers.