thames river ct Fishing Report 2024

Mike Pritchard called in to give this report for the Tribute. "We're on day 2 of a 4 day charter trip with a light load of guys. It is just an 8 man charter. We're having very good fishing. We started off fishing for Bluefin yesterday, with a little bit of Rockfishing in the afternoon. We also caught a couple of nice Lingcod up to 28 lbs. We made a move about 100 miles down the beach and got into some really good Yellowtail fishing, 35 to 40 lb. yellowtail. The best techniques have been fly-lined fish, yo-yo jigs and surface irons. Just very fun fishing. We're going to spend the rest of the day down here and go offshore tomorrow. We'll target some yellowfin tuna and keep you updated.

Friday, October 19th, 2012

Hi friends. Happy Friday to all of you back home. How are you? Good, thanks for asking. Let's get down to business.

We awoke today just like any other day. Tommy woke us all up very peacefully but at the same time gave us way too much information and had our eyes crossed before we could even get the boogers out of them, or open them for that matter. I got out of the rack, put on my fishing shorts, came out to the bench in the wheelhouse, grabbed my boots, and proceeded to put on my socks. But these just weren't ordinary socks, oh no. I pulled these particular socks over my heels and up to my calves and when I pull my socks all the way up to my calves, you know what time it is - business time.

I pulled my socks all the way up so that when my boots are at full pop-dog--rather than semi pop-dog, the way I normally wear them with shorts--they don't rub me raw. I know what you're asking yourself right now, "Richie, why on earth have you spent an entire paragraph talking about your awesome business socks and boot length?" Well, the answer is simple - we got down to some major business on yellowfin tuna, flatheads, and wahoo and I don't like getting my legs all dirty and wet. That is why my boots were at full pop-dog today.

After looking around all morning at dry kelp paddies, we got on some ponies (common dolphins) and landed 14 of those beautiful 25-45 lb. yellowfin tunas. Unfortunately, that was our only go-around on those things and they vanished. It didn't take us long to locate a beautiful kelp paddy and it was on like Donkey Kong. The mahi's bull-rushed us and they were a really nice grade too. I'd say that the majority of the fish were in the 15-22 lb. range and they put on quite the show. Not quite a kelp paddy off of Mag Bay action but plenty close enough. No matter where they are, they're the hardest fish to gaff and they get us all wet. After finishing up our Mexican limit on those things, the tuna got in on the action and bit very well for us. For the most part, they're footballs, but a couple standouts were landed after the initial melee had passed. Joe Gigliotti got himself another beauty and Jeff Hauser got himself a dandy too. Good job guys, way to give a hundred and ten percent. The two luckiest anglers of all were Hart Brauer and Skip Hess II a.k.a. "Skipper Jenkins". Hart and Skip were our luckiest of the lucky lambs today and landed themselves one wahoo each. Fine work, boys.

So here we are. About to wrap up our second annual Gigliotti/Accurate 8-day adventure and we're going to bypass the bluefin zone. I know, I know. I'm as disappointed as anyone, but there's no reason to bomb up from where we are to the bluefin zone where the scores have been quite unflattering. The weather isn't very sweet right now either. What was a beautiful morning of bronzing quickly turned into jacket/slicker weather after lunch. As of now, we're traveling up the line to look at another area for a few hours to try and locate some more of those big ole yellowfins. Our ride is OK. We're not pounding or scooping the bow or anything but we're doing a little bouncing, like our car is on hydraulics in the ghetto. Hence, I'm listening to Backspin, channel 46 on SiriusXM radio - old school hip-hop. Bumpin'.

Wish us luck tomorrow and we'll give you a wrap-up report tomorrow. Peace out, homies.

P.S. The Hunger Games epidemic is spreading through the boat like a wildfire. Star galley assistant Patrick is a closet Hunger Games reader. I caught him hiding behind the cooking area, sitting on a milk crate just reading away. He told me that at first, he wasn't all that pumped on reading about the life of a sixteen year old girl but once you get into the world of Katniss, you can't escape it, and Patrick is like a fish in a barrel. You don't have to make excuses to me, Patrick, even old men like you can enjoy the Hunger Games without guilt. Add one to the book club meetings. You know where the coffee is, Patrick.

Oh yeah, before I forget. The other day, Mark Clark celebrated his birthday and I totally spaced on it. He turned 86 years old. Happy Birthday, Mark. See ya.

Awesome fishing once again with a bite that lasted for 6 hours producing 31 Yellowfin 18-40 pounds and 26 Bluefin 50-80 pounds. Happy Thanksgiving!

Jodie called in with this report for the Apollo. "We have an Open Party 2 Day Trip for July 4th & 5th. We will be leaving from Fisherman's Landing on July 3rd at 10:00 0'clock. We will be targeting Bluefin Tuna. They are starting to bite at 125 miles. If you'd like more information or want to make a reservation 619-221-8500."

2 days of searching was rewarded with a bottom of the 9th rally on good grade yellowtail. Flylined sardines on 25 lb is the most productive right now.

~~Sep. 21
 Well, as promised we left on another trip today.  This one being an LA Rod and Reel Club long range 2 day trip.  We got a nice jump on things.  We were done getting bait and leaving the harbor by 11:00 this morning which allowed us to get to the tuna grounds by 5:00 this evening which allowed us to find a school of yellowfin before dark which allowed for most of the anglers on board to catch at least one which allowed me to feel satisfied about our day today.  Catching fish on a departure day.  Those fish were free.  Tomorrows the true day.  That's when we get real nasty.  So right now we're anchored up in the cove of an island and I couldn't be happier about it.  For the last week at night this boat has been running.  We've always been traveling somewhere so it feels real nice to be on anchor with the engines off.  It's even better that we're in a protected cove.  It's like being in the bay.  I can't speak for everyone on board but I'm pretty sure I'll be sleeping with my thumb in my mouth tonight.  Until tomorrow....
        
 

Today we went out with 39 anglers and landed 25 yellowtail. The quality of these fish is the talk of the boat the last couple days. The average size of our yellowtail today was 25 lbs with several fish over 30 pounds. 50 lb. mono and a heavy lure is the preferred setup right now.

Ryan Bostian called in with this report on the San Diego, "I'm off the boat today, I just got a call from Captain Brian as of noon he had 13 Yellowtail on board. It's the same old story we are landing about 1/2 of the fish that are hooked due to the size and location of these fish. A lot of them are 25 lbs. and bigger, and most of them are located in shallow water.

"Make sure you bring your "A" Game if you come down to fly line some sardines with us. You'll need 2/O hooks, 25 or 30 lb test. a nice firm drag and be prepared to hook into some beautiful Yellowtail.

"We offer these 5:30 to 5:00 Trips everyday out of Seaforth Sportfishing. I'll call back later to give the final talley, but as of noon they had 13 Yellowtail on the deck and still plenty of fishing time left in the day. If you'd like to go out with us please make reservations at 619-224-3383."