Fishing America
STATE #39 - CONNECTICUT
SEPTEMBER 2018 - THE ATLANTIC OCEAN
SPECIES CAUGHT - Black Seabass, Bluefish, Scup (Porgy)
For the second straight day my sister Debbie joined me to fish the Atlantic. Chartered with the Sunbeam Fleet in Waterford, we fished a range of depths, the deepest at 160 feet targeting Bluefish, Seabass, and Scup in Niantic Bay, Block Island Sound, Long Island Sound and in the edge of the Atlantic Ocean.
This charter company couldn’t have been more prepared and equipped to fish. They are similar to commercial fishing companies with their own dock and waterfront office, multiple boats, captains, family members, and many years’ experience.
The Atlantic was still slightly rough from the remnants of Hurricane Florence. Captain Ryan was awesome at handling that boat knowing how to run at the tide making every run productive. Teamed with Ted, the best deckhand I have ever been fishing with brought us an amazing day on the water. From down deep the bluefish
From down deep the bluefish started us off coming early and often with a few seabasses in the mix. Debbie caught her share of them before having to rest her lungs from the lengthy pulls, reeling some in two at a time and once boating three on the same pull.
Ted never rested utilizing his time baiting and preparing backup lines, fixing mishaps, and cleaning our catch. I don’t think his skills as a deckhand can be beat. We never had to worry or concern ourselves with anything but catching fish.
Not having to wait on or fix lines kept me constantly catching and boating fish and kept my adrenaline pumping. After literally wearing out the fish and my right shoulder, Ryan took us to our final fishing spot changing targets.
Debbie was just as pumped and excited but had to sit out with that bad lung when we went after the porgies. I kept count of these and after 31 of these little fighters we called it a day. This was such an enjoyable and productive day.
When we got back to the dock and got our fish put up, Matt, another captain from the sunbeam fleet recommended Lillian’s Cafe’ in nearby Niantic where we enjoyed dining outside in beautiful weather with the perfect temperature. For the second day in a row we had an awesome day fishing the Atlantic followed by an excellent midafternoon meal
For the second day in a row we had an awesome day fishing the Atlantic followed by an excellent midafternoon meal in New England. That made the perfect atmosphere to wind down, relax, and enjoy the company of my sister before heading to New Jersey.
From all my charters and guided trips, I have taken while Fishing America, this 7-hour charter netted me (us) the most meat to keep for a single day. It took two very large ice chests to hold it all. Thanks to Debbie for contributing to the big catch.
This pile of fish made for many backyard cookouts where the seabass and porgy were fried, and the bluefish were grilled. The Sunbeam Fleet offers several different types of charters and services. We both highly recommend them. They are on Facebook and the internet at Sunbeam Fleet.