Squeteague

There is a species of fish that, in this time of over harvesting and by-catch, only visits the Connecticut shoreline for a few weeks in the spring. If it weren't for a number of dedicated followers, it could come and go without being noticed. They pass through with little show, not slashing and tearing through bait like bluefish and albies or popping and blitzing like stripers. Their preferred feeding areas are limited. They are incredibly boat shy, leaving only paddlers with a chance to spot them on their electronics. Catching one by accident while fishing for stripers or bluefish is rare. But, for a short period of time, if you know where to look and how to fish, you stand a chance of encountering probably the most ghostly of the New England inshore species. Squeteague. Weakfish. Tide runners.

Last year, Dan and I missed them. Under the startling blood red full moon I've ever seen, we found no evidence that weakfish were in the area, and a little evidence that the had been recently but had gone. This year, we got to the stretch of sand we had chosen and found it not so lonely, which was a good sign. The number of spots with weakfish is limited. Even though there is a very finite number of anglers in the know, if you are on the water in the right spot at the right time. You are going to be in a line up.

We saw one sea robin caught. Then, just a short time in, after a little moving and wondering what we should be doing, Dan came tight. Soon, I tailed one of the most beautiful fish I had ever seen. It started drumming loudly as I walked it over to Dan.

A couple hours later, after learning an awful lot in a very short time window, I felt an ever so slight pressure. I sped up my retrieve and came tight to my first weakfish. Species #75. For me, this is a very special fish. It is a species I very much hope to encounter again in the coming days.

Hours of research lead to this pay off. I owe thanks to Ed Mitchel, Jimmy Fee and a few other for sharing knowledge through writing.