The Sound in Deep Winter: A Season of Transition
Well folks, we're officially in the dead zone. The striped bass and blackfish seasons closed on December 15th, and Mother Nature has made it abundantly clear that she's in charge now. Water temperatures have dropped to the low 40s throughout the Sound, and the winter storm that's rolling through this weekend is bringing snow, northeast winds gusting to 25 knots, and seas building to 4-6 feet. This isn't fishing weather for most of us, and honestly, there's not much out there worth chasing right now.
The Sound has entered its winter dormancy. The big stripers have moved offshore to their winter grounds, the blackfish are tucked into deep structure where they'll stay until spring, and the baitfish have either migrated south or hunkered down in the warmest pockets they can find. What we're left with is a handful of holdover stripers in the tidal rivers and creeks, white perch for those willing to brave the cold, and the occasional surprise catch for the truly dedicated.
Current Conditions & Weather Outlook
As of Thursday morning, December 26th, we're looking at challenging conditions across the entire Sound. A small craft advisory is in effect through this morning, with north winds 15-20 knots gusting to 25, becoming northeast 5-10 this afternoon. Tonight brings snow with visibility dropping below a mile at times, and east winds increasing to 15-20 knots with gusts to 25 after midnight. Saturday continues the rough pattern with northeast winds 15-20 gusting to 25 and seas 4-5 feet occasionally to 6 feet.
Water temperatures are holding in the 42-45°F range throughout the Sound, which is typical for late December but still cold enough to shut down most fish activity. The good news is that Sunday looks calmer with northwest winds 5-10 knots and seas dropping to 2-3 feet, though there's a chance of rain in the afternoon. Monday and Tuesday, however, bring another round of severe weather with southwest winds building to 25-30 knots Monday, then west winds 30-40 knots Monday night and Tuesday with seas 8-11 feet occasionally to 14 feet offshore.
Western Sound: Throgs Neck to New Haven
The western Sound is essentially shut down for saltwater fishing. The tidal rivers and creeks are your best bet if you're determined to get out. The Housatonic River has been producing some holdover stripers in the schoolie to mid-20-pound range for those working the deeper holes with soft plastics and live eels. The key is finding areas with good current flow during the tide changes, as the fish are staging in these spots and feeding aggressively when the water's moving.
White perch have become the staple species for winter anglers. The tidal creeks around Norwalk, Stamford, and Greenwich are holding decent numbers. Small soft plastics in bright colors for stained water and natural colors for clearer locations are getting annihilated on light ultralight tackle. Curly-tail grubs dragged slowly on the bottom with a slow and steady retrieve have been producing chunky fish. Live worms are also deadly if you prefer bait fishing.
Central Sound: New Haven to Port Jefferson
The central Sound is in the same boat as the western section. Most ponds froze over this week with skim ice, though not thick enough for safe ice fishing yet. This pushes anglers to the rivers and tidal areas. The Connecticut River and its tributaries are holding white perch and the occasional holdover striper. The same techniques apply here: light tackle, small presentations, and patience.
For those looking at freshwater options, the stocked trout rivers like the Nissequogue and Connetquot on the Long Island side are providing excellent action. Brook trout, rainbow trout, and brown trout are all active and willing to bite on fly gear. Bead Head Woolly Buggers, pellet imitation flies, and various streamers in chartreuse and natural colors have been productive. The fish are staying low in the water column, so weighted patterns are essential to get well below the surface.
Eastern Sound: Port Jefferson to Orient Point
The eastern Sound is equally quiet. Mattituck Inlet, Greenport, and the waters around Orient Point are all in winter mode. There were some squid running in the western Sound earlier this month, but that bite has faded as the water temperatures dropped. The party boats out of Captree are down to one vessel still sailing, and they're focusing on deep-water giant sea bass and porgies on 13-hour trips through the end of the month.
For those willing to make the run, the eastern Sound's deeper structure still holds blackfish, but remember the season is closed. Any tog you hook now must be released immediately. The same goes for striped bass, which are catch and release only until the spring season opens.
Tidal Rivers & Creeks: The Winter Fishery
This is where the action is for December and January. The tidal rivers and brackish creeks are holding white perch, and potentially some resident stripers that never made the offshore migration. The Connetquot River has been fantastic for trout on the fly, with anglers reporting brook trout galore on weighted patterns. The snow fishing earlier this week was described as magical, with fish willing to bite on Woolly Buggers and streamers throughout the morning session.
The key to winter fishing in these areas is moving slow. The cold water has slowed the fish's metabolism, so they're not chasing fast-moving baits. Small suspending jerkbaits like the Rapala PXR Mavrik 110, Megabass Vision Oneten, or Shimano World Minnow 115 will produce bites from bass, pickerel, and walleye. Micro plastics from Z-Man jigged slowly on the bottom or suspended beneath a float are great choices for bass, panfish, and stocked trout.
Three-Day Forecast & Fishability
Friday, December 27: Poor conditions. Northeast winds 15-20 gusting to 25, seas 4-5 feet occasionally to 6 feet, chance of snow and rain in the morning with visibility 1-3 miles. Stay home or hit the protected tidal creeks if you must fish. Fishability: 2/10.
Saturday, December 28: Improving but still rough. North winds 10-15 gusting to 20 diminishing to 5-10 after midnight, seas 3-4 feet occasionally to 5 feet. Better for tidal river fishing but still not great for the open Sound. Fishability: 4/10.
Sunday, December 29: Best day of the weekend. Northwest winds 5-10 becoming west, seas 2-3 feet, chance of rain in the afternoon. This is your window for getting out on the Sound if you're targeting holdovers in the tidal areas or want to try for white perch. Fishability: 6/10.
The Bottom Line
We're in the heart of winter, and the Sound is showing it. The striped bass and blackfish seasons are closed, the water is cold, and the weather is brutal. If you're determined to fish, focus on the tidal rivers and creeks for white perch and holdover stripers, or bundle up and hit the stocked trout rivers for some fly fishing action. Otherwise, this is a great time to service your reels, tie flies, organize your tackle, and dream about the spring striper run.
The next real fishing opportunity on the Sound won't come until late March or early April when the water temperatures start climbing back into the 50s and the spring tautog season opens. Until then, stay warm, stay safe, and remember that sometimes the best fishing is the fishing you do in your head while staring at photos from last season.
Tight lines and stay warm,
Salty Sal
Well folks, we're officially in the dead zone. The striped bass and blackfish seasons closed on December 15th, and Mother Nature has made it abundantly clear that she's in charge now. Water temperatures have dropped to the low 40s throughout the Sound, and the winter storm that's rolling through this weekend is bringing snow, northeast winds gusting to 25 knots, and seas building to 4-6 feet. This isn't fishing weather for most of us, and honestly, there's not much out there worth chasing right now.
The Sound has entered its winter dormancy. The big stripers have moved offshore to their winter grounds, the blackfish are tucked into deep structure where they'll stay until spring, and the baitfish have either migrated south or hunkered down in the warmest pockets they can find. What we're left with is a handful of holdover stripers in the tidal rivers and creeks, white perch for those willing to brave the cold, and the occasional surprise catch for the truly dedicated.
Current Conditions & Weather Outlook
As of Thursday morning, December 26th, we're looking at challenging conditions across the entire Sound. A small craft advisory is in effect through this morning, with north winds 15-20 knots gusting to 25, becoming northeast 5-10 this afternoon. Tonight brings snow with visibility dropping below a mile at times, and east winds increasing to 15-20 knots with gusts to 25 after midnight. Saturday continues the rough pattern with northeast winds 15-20 gusting to 25 and seas 4-5 feet occasionally to 6 feet.
Water temperatures are holding in the 42-45°F range throughout the Sound, which is typical for late December but still cold enough to shut down most fish activity. The good news is that Sunday looks calmer with northwest winds 5-10 knots and seas dropping to 2-3 feet, though there's a chance of rain in the afternoon. Monday and Tuesday, however, bring another round of severe weather with southwest winds building to 25-30 knots Monday, then west winds 30-40 knots Monday night and Tuesday with seas 8-11 feet occasionally to 14 feet offshore.
Western Sound: Throgs Neck to New Haven
The western Sound is essentially shut down for saltwater fishing. The tidal rivers and creeks are your best bet if you're determined to get out. The Housatonic River has been producing some holdover stripers in the schoolie to mid-20-pound range for those working the deeper holes with soft plastics and live eels. The key is finding areas with good current flow during the tide changes, as the fish are staging in these spots and feeding aggressively when the water's moving.
White perch have become the staple species for winter anglers. The tidal creeks around Norwalk, Stamford, and Greenwich are holding decent numbers. Small soft plastics in bright colors for stained water and natural colors for clearer locations are getting annihilated on light ultralight tackle. Curly-tail grubs dragged slowly on the bottom with a slow and steady retrieve have been producing chunky fish. Live worms are also deadly if you prefer bait fishing.
Central Sound: New Haven to Port Jefferson
The central Sound is in the same boat as the western section. Most ponds froze over this week with skim ice, though not thick enough for safe ice fishing yet. This pushes anglers to the rivers and tidal areas. The Connecticut River and its tributaries are holding white perch and the occasional holdover striper. The same techniques apply here: light tackle, small presentations, and patience.
For those looking at freshwater options, the stocked trout rivers like the Nissequogue and Connetquot on the Long Island side are providing excellent action. Brook trout, rainbow trout, and brown trout are all active and willing to bite on fly gear. Bead Head Woolly Buggers, pellet imitation flies, and various streamers in chartreuse and natural colors have been productive. The fish are staying low in the water column, so weighted patterns are essential to get well below the surface.
Eastern Sound: Port Jefferson to Orient Point
The eastern Sound is equally quiet. Mattituck Inlet, Greenport, and the waters around Orient Point are all in winter mode. There were some squid running in the western Sound earlier this month, but that bite has faded as the water temperatures dropped. The party boats out of Captree are down to one vessel still sailing, and they're focusing on deep-water giant sea bass and porgies on 13-hour trips through the end of the month.
For those willing to make the run, the eastern Sound's deeper structure still holds blackfish, but remember the season is closed. Any tog you hook now must be released immediately. The same goes for striped bass, which are catch and release only until the spring season opens.
Tidal Rivers & Creeks: The Winter Fishery
This is where the action is for December and January. The tidal rivers and brackish creeks are holding white perch, and potentially some resident stripers that never made the offshore migration. The Connetquot River has been fantastic for trout on the fly, with anglers reporting brook trout galore on weighted patterns. The snow fishing earlier this week was described as magical, with fish willing to bite on Woolly Buggers and streamers throughout the morning session.
The key to winter fishing in these areas is moving slow. The cold water has slowed the fish's metabolism, so they're not chasing fast-moving baits. Small suspending jerkbaits like the Rapala PXR Mavrik 110, Megabass Vision Oneten, or Shimano World Minnow 115 will produce bites from bass, pickerel, and walleye. Micro plastics from Z-Man jigged slowly on the bottom or suspended beneath a float are great choices for bass, panfish, and stocked trout.
Three-Day Forecast & Fishability
Friday, December 27: Poor conditions. Northeast winds 15-20 gusting to 25, seas 4-5 feet occasionally to 6 feet, chance of snow and rain in the morning with visibility 1-3 miles. Stay home or hit the protected tidal creeks if you must fish. Fishability: 2/10.
Saturday, December 28: Improving but still rough. North winds 10-15 gusting to 20 diminishing to 5-10 after midnight, seas 3-4 feet occasionally to 5 feet. Better for tidal river fishing but still not great for the open Sound. Fishability: 4/10.
Sunday, December 29: Best day of the weekend. Northwest winds 5-10 becoming west, seas 2-3 feet, chance of rain in the afternoon. This is your window for getting out on the Sound if you're targeting holdovers in the tidal areas or want to try for white perch. Fishability: 6/10.
The Bottom Line
We're in the heart of winter, and the Sound is showing it. The striped bass and blackfish seasons are closed, the water is cold, and the weather is brutal. If you're determined to fish, focus on the tidal rivers and creeks for white perch and holdover stripers, or bundle up and hit the stocked trout rivers for some fly fishing action. Otherwise, this is a great time to service your reels, tie flies, organize your tackle, and dream about the spring striper run.
The next real fishing opportunity on the Sound won't come until late March or early April when the water temperatures start climbing back into the 50s and the spring tautog season opens. Until then, stay warm, stay safe, and remember that sometimes the best fishing is the fishing you do in your head while staring at photos from last season.
Tight lines and stay warm,
Salty Sal
