Long Island Sound
Connecticut Shore · North Fork
CT / NY, USA
Open live forecast →Target species: Striper and Bluefish.
Weekly AI Outlook as of 06/05/26
Classic early June striper bite is on with water warming into the mid-60s and abundant schoolies staging around rocky structure. The outgoing tide window through river mouths and points is producing consistent action. Saturday's jump to 82°F could trigger the evening topwater bite — have poppers ready as surface temps climb toward the magic 68°F threshold where bass get aggressive on top.
- Tide: Outgoing tide at rocky points and river mouths — prime window. Connecticut and Housatonic outlets holding bass concentrations.
- Baitfish: Schoolie stripers staged around structure. Saturday's heat spike could push surface temps toward aggressive topwater threshold.
- Water Temp: Mid-60s and climbing — approaching the 68°F sweet spot where evening poppers start producing explosive strikes.
- Best Window: Evening sessions as water warms. Saturday's 82°F air temp could be the trigger for prime topwater conditions.
Generated weekly from live USGS gauge readings, weather forecasts, and recent fly shop reports. Updates Friday mornings.
About this Water
- Estuary
- Best months: May–Oct, peak June & Sept–Oct
Long Island Sound's Connecticut and New York shores offer outstanding fly fishing for striped bass and bluefish throughout the warm months, with the estuaries and river mouths concentrating fish from May through October. The Connecticut River mouth, Housatonic River estuary, and western Sound near the East River provide exceptional early and late season striper opportunities. False albacore appear in the Race and eastern Sound in September.
The Connecticut River — the largest river system in New England — creates a massive nutrient plume at its mouth that concentrates stripers throughout the season, including exceptional early May fish during the spring herring run.
January Outlook
January is off-season on Long Island Sound. Striped bass are absent from the sound. The winter period offers some fluke and winter flounder in the harbors and coves, and a dedicated few check for holdover bass near power plant warm-water discharges. The sound's protected nature makes it calmer than the open Atlantic but conditions are cold and challenging.
Productive Patterns
- Small Jig (winter flounder, harbors)
- Bucktail (offshore deep water)
- Diamond Jig (winter cod, offshore)
- Small Clouser (holdover bass, near discharges)
Tips
January is primarily for offshore cod/pollock from Montauk and other east sound ports. Winter flounder are beginning to appear in the harbors by late January. A few holdover stripers may be found near power plant discharges in Bridgeport, New Haven, and the Connecticut shoreline. Start tying flies and planning.
Water Notes
Water 36-42°F. Stripers absent. Winter flounder and cod are the target species. Ice possible in the western sound harbors.
February Outlook
February is the quietest fishing month on Long Island Sound. Winter flounder are in the harbors and begin improving. Holdover stripers near warm water discharges are a possibility for the dedicated. The first reports from southern states of the northward striper migration begin appearing — adding excitement to February fly tying sessions.
Productive Patterns
- Winter Flounder Rig (harbors)
- Small Clouser (holdover bass)
- Diamond Jig (offshore pollock)
- Sea Worm (flounder)
Tips
February winter flounder in the Housatonic, Thames, and Connecticut River mouths are popular with local anglers. Holdover bass at the Bridgeport and Norwalk power plant outflows are checked by persistent surfcasters. Check the NJ reports; when bass arrive at Sandy Hook, the sound is about 3-4 weeks behind.
Water Notes
Water 34-40°F. Coldest month. Winter flounder in harbors. No reliable striper until May. Ice in the western sound possible.
March Outlook
March brings anticipation to Long Island Sound anglers. Alewife runs begin entering the Connecticut River and other sound tributaries. The first schoolie stripers occasionally appear in the western sound near the New York Harbor area by late March. Full migration arrival is still 6-8 weeks away but reports from New Jersey fill the fishing forums.
Productive Patterns
- Alewife Fly (tie for April)
- Small Clouser (early scouts, western sound)
- Surf Candy
- Deceiver (small, white)
Tips
Check the western sound near the East River and New York harbor — fish moving north from Raritan Bay sometimes appear in the western LIS in late March in warm years. The alewife runs into the Connecticut River are a predictor of the striper arrival. March 20th: check NJ reports daily.
Water Notes
Water 40-48°F. Slowly warming. First stripers possible in western sound by late March. Full season arrival expected May.
April Outlook
April brings the first reliable striped bass to Long Island Sound as schoolies follow the alewife runs up the Connecticut, Thames, and Housatonic rivers. The western sound near the Race begins holding fish. April is the start of the season — cold but exciting.
Productive Patterns
- Alewife Fly
- Clouser Minnow (chartreuse/white)
- Deceiver (white)
- Bunker Fly (small)
Tips
The Connecticut River mouth at Old Saybrook is an April hotspot. Fish the outgoing tide as alewives drop downstream and bass intercept them. The Race at the sound's eastern entrance holds early bass. Dress warmly — April on the sound is cold.
Water Notes
Water 46-54°F. First stripers in the sound following bait. River mouths are the early hotspots.
May Outlook
May brings the first resident striped bass to Long Island Sound. Post-spawn fish from the Hudson and Connecticut rivers stage in the sound on their spring migration. This is when the first topwater blitzes occur on bait.
Productive Patterns
- Clouser Minnow
- Deceiver (chartreuse/white)
- Popper
- Bunker Fly
Tips
Focus on river mouths and points on the incoming tide. Fish that spawned in the Hudson exit past the western sound. Connecticut river fish move east. The Norwalk islands area concentrates fish.
Water Notes
Water 52-60°F and warming. Stripers active once water hits 55°F. Morning and evening are most productive.
June Outlook
June delivers summer striper fishing throughout the sound. School fish are abundant and large bass are in residence on rocky points and around structure. Excellent fly fishing from shore and boat.
Productive Patterns
- Popper
- Clouser Minnow
- Surf Candy
- Bunker Fly
Tips
Fish the outgoing tide at rocky points and river mouths. Evening poppers produce explosive strikes from aggressive fish. The Housatonic and Connecticut river mouths hold concentrations of bass.
Water Notes
Water 62-70°F. Excellent conditions. Fish are resident and predictable. Evening fishing is prime.
July Outlook
Peak summer in the sound with stripers throughout. False albacore begin appearing in late July. Bluefish add excitement. The sound is at its most productive with diverse inshore species available.
Productive Patterns
- Popper
- Clouser Minnow
- Small Baitfish Fly
- Albie Anchovy
Tips
False albacore first appear around the Race (the sound's eastern entrance) in late July. School stripers are everywhere. Large bass hold near structure and channel edges. Bluefish on poppers are great fun.
Water Notes
Water 70-78°F. Good summer conditions. Afternoon wind can build. Fish early morning for the calmest conditions.
August Outlook
August blitzes on menhaden schools. False albacore become more common in the eastern sound. Some of the year's largest stripers chase bunker schools to the surface in the western sound near Long Island.
Productive Patterns
- Bunker Fly
- Albie Anchovy
- Popper (large)
- Clouser
Tips
Find the bunker schools — the bass will be under them. Listen for gulls and look for surface disturbances at first light. False albacore blow up on silversides near the sound's mouth.
Water Notes
Water 74-80°F. Peak summer. Watch for early morning surface activity before wind builds.
September Outlook
September is one of the finest months in Long Island Sound. Schoolie bass, false albacore, and bluefish. Large stripers begin staging on points ahead of the fall migration. Weather is ideal.
Productive Patterns
- Albie Anchovy
- Clouser (chartreuse)
- Popper
- Bunker Fly
Tips
The Race (eastern entrance to the sound) produces false albacore and bass simultaneously in September. Don't overlook the Connecticut shore shallows where big fish are in surprisingly thin water.
Water Notes
Water 68-74°F. Excellent fall conditions. Perfect weather. Prime striper and albie season.
October Outlook
October fall migration as stripers move east and south. Large bass concentrate on points on the outgoing tide. False albacore peak in the eastern sound near the Race. One of the East Coast's finest fall inshore fisheries.
Productive Patterns
- Clouser Minnow (large)
- Deceiver
- Bunker Fly
- Albie Anchovy
Tips
October bass at the Race and along the sound's north shore on outgoing tides. Large fish in residency before migrating south. False albacore on the surface during morning bait activity.
Water Notes
Water 60-68°F. Cooling and transitioning. Large fish and quality over quantity. The fall run builds through October.
November Outlook
November striper fishing on Long Island Sound continues well into the month with large fall-migrating fish passing through the eastern sound. The Race and Plum Island area hold the last of the season's bass as they funnel south. False albacore are gone by mid-November. The season ends at Thanksgiving.
Productive Patterns
- Hollow Fleye (large bunker)
- Clouser Minnow (large)
- Deceiver
- Bucktail (large)
Tips
November at the Race: position on the current seams on the falling tide and cast large bunker flies into the sweep. Large stripers stack at the Race's deep current on their southward migration. Fish the first three weeks hard; after Thanksgiving bass are largely gone from the sound.
Water Notes
Water 50-58°F. Cold but fishable. Last major striper presence in the sound. Season over by month's end.
December Outlook
December is off-season on Long Island Sound. The striper migration has ended and virtually no bass are present. The eastern sound holds a few winter tautog (blackfish) on the rocky structure near the Race. Offshore cod and pollock fishing continues from Montauk and Stonington ports. A quiet month for planning and reflection.
Productive Patterns
- Tautog Crab (rocky eastern sound)
- Bucktail (offshore cod)
- Diamond Jig (pollock)
- Small Streamer (any holdover bass near discharges)
Tips
December means offshore groundfish or winter tautog for sound anglers. The eastern sound's rocky bottom near Plum Island and the Race holds blackfish. Occasional warmwater discharge holdover stripers exist — check Connecticut shoreline industrial outflows. The sound is at its most dramatic in December with northeast gales.
Water Notes
Water 42-48°F. Stripers absent. Tautog on rocky structure. Cod/pollock offshore. Ice forming in western sound coves.
Access & Approach
Numerous public boat ramps throughout. Shore access at state parks along the CT coast. The Race (Fisher's Island Sound) and Plum Gut require a boat and local knowledge. Connecticut saltwater fishing license required.
Nearby Fly Shops
- RI Striped Bass
Nearby Waters
Closest Waters
About Current
Long Island Sound conditions on Current combine real-time flow data (USGS, WSC, CDEC, CEHQ), weather, tide predictions, hatch probabilities calibrated to this specific water, and recent fly shop reports from the area.
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