From Bluefish to Bass, Local Fishing Options Abound

Anglers in Fairfield County have no shortage of places to fish.

Fisherman's World in Norwalk sees fishing enthusiasts young and old coming through their store to prepare for their upcoming trips — be it to the Sound, a local river, or places farther afield.

“All walks of life fish and they have that common interest — two guys can be out there on the shore, one might be unemployed and the other a world-renowned doctor, but they have common bond. It’s an interesting sport,” said Captain Rick Mola, owner of Fisherman’s World.

Mola was born into fishing — his parents owned a tackle shop — and views Fairfield County as an ideal home base for the angler, boasting great spots and easy access to diverse fishing locations just a short trip away.

“One of the most intriguing parts of Fairfield County is the Norwalk Island Chain,” Mola said. “There aren’t many places on the East Coast like that.”

Mola shared some his other favorite spots to fish up and down the Fairfield County coastline.

“All of these locations are drop-offs where the topography is great, the shallow and deep water meet, that’s where fish gather,” Mola explained. “Bait will accumulate there — they’re the grocery stores.”

The Atlantic menhaden — known as bunker to most Connecticut anglers or pogy in Rhode Island — serves as bait to draw other fish to a location. The Norwalk Islands boast both bunkers and sand eels, two of the most important baits in the region.

Nick Massarone, manager of Fisherman’s World, also enjoys Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk where anglers can be seen on both the pier and out on the sandbar at low tide.

Summertime can present a challenge, as many prime fishing spots are located within beaches that issue beach stickers for the summer months. Residents may have to stick to beaches in their town, and non-residents can either spend a little more for a beach pass or seek out public piers. The Norwalk Pier is one such option, and the Maritime Center also has a public fishing pier.

Tod’s Point at Greenwich Point Park, and the pier at the end of Steamboat Road in Greenwich, are two other popular spots along the Fairfield County coastline. And Cows Reef, a part of Penfield Reef named for the fact that cows once grazed on the peninsula, extends a mile out into Long Island Sound off the coast of Fairfield, offering prime fishing.

Mola also favors Buoy 28C, located south of Darien and in the middle of Long Island Sound, and, further east, the area between Compo Cove and Sherwood Island State Park.

Striped bass, bluefish, fluke and sea bass are among the most popular fish in the area — and August through October can yield some exciting catches. In these months, the bonito and false albacore will come in from the ocean and can be found along the Sound as far in as Fairfield County.

“They're attracted by the baby bunker,” Mola explained.

Inland, springtime trout distribution occurs in many Fairfield County rivers between March and May each year. Trout are distributed in Byram River in Greenwich, Norwalk River in Redding, Rippowam River in Stamford, Mill River in Fairfield, and Farmill River in Shelton.

While everyone from small children to seniors can be seen fishing, Mola has noticed a decline in young people taking an interest in the sport.

“It’s just not as much as years ago,” he said. “There weren’t computers or soccer games years ago, fishing was the norm.”

Ecological challenges also are looming, posing a threat to future generations of anglers along Fairfield County’s coastline.

“A problem all of us have now is our water quality — it’s a lot of things, overpopulation, lawn care products, and chemicals from the roads. We’re not seeing the plankton we saw years ago,” Mola said. “You have fish going out further into the Sound or leaving for the eastern part of the state, Rhode Island, or Massachusetts if they can’t inhabit the waters.”

Still, there’s an optimism that draws anglers back to the Sound and the rivers. Despite threats, setbacks, and bad days, there’s still that moment at the water’s edge.

“It’s the peacefulness of it and the challenge — doing it is relaxing, don’t get me wrong, it is work and the more you know, the more work it is trying to get everything right, but it’s also peaceful,” Massarone said.