Connecticut · Connecticut Coast
STRIPED BASS FISHING
IN OLD SAYBROOK
Old Saybrook is an excellent destination for striped bass fishing, with peak season in June, October and good catches in May, July, September. Book a charter and target striped bass with local experts.
About Striped Bass Fishing in Old Saybrook
The iconic striper is the most sought-after gamefish on the Atlantic coast. These powerful, line-ripping fish migrate from the Chesapeake Bay to New England each spring and fall, creating legendary fishing opportunities from Virginia to Massachusetts.
Striped Bass — called "stripers" or "rockfish" in the Chesapeake — are the most iconic gamefish of the Atlantic coast. Their silver body with bold black horizontal stripes, powerful build, and aggressive feeding make them a favorite from Virginia to Massachusetts. The spring and fall migrations create legendary fishing runs as massive schools move along the coast. Stripers are found in both salt and fresh water, and the Chesapeake Bay serves as the primary nursery for the Atlantic population. They are excellent eating, with firm, white, mildly flavored flesh.
Scientific name: Morone saxatilis
Striped Bass Seasonal Calendar — Old Saybrook
Month-by-month availability for striped bass in Old Saybrook, CT.
How to Catch Striped Bass in Old Saybrook
Techniques & Bait
Live bait (bunker/menhaden, eels, mackerel) fished on a fishfinder rig or chunk rig near structure, rip currents, and drop-offs is the most consistent technique. Trolling umbrella rigs and tube-and-worm behind planer boards covers water during migrations. Casting topwater plugs (Pencil Poppers, Atom Poppers) into blitzing schools on the surface at dawn/dusk is the most exciting striper fishing. Fly fishing with Deceiver, Clouser, and Grocery Fly patterns during the fall run is world-class. Live eels drifted at night around rocky structure is the go-to for trophy fish.
Recommended Tackle
Medium to medium-heavy spinning rod (7-9 ft), 4000-6000 reel, 20-40 lb braid, 30-40 lb fluorocarbon leader. For surf casting: 10-11 ft surf rod, 6000+ reel, 50 lb braid. Fly: 9-10 weight rod with intermediate line.
Best Inshore Fishing Spots in Old Saybrook
Top spots where local captains target striped bass and other inshore species.
Connecticut River Mouth
The Connecticut River mouth at Old Saybrook is where New England's longest river empties into Long Island Sound, creating a nutrient-rich estuary that attracts striped bass, bluefish, and shad during seasonal migrations. The river mouth's mix of fresh and saltwater, combined with its deep channels and sand bars, provides diverse inshore habitat that holds fish year-round. Spring shad and striper runs up the Connecticut River are legendary events that draw anglers from across the region.
North Cove
North Cove in Old Saybrook is a protected harbor at the Connecticut River's mouth where striped bass, bluefish, flounder, and scup hold around docks, pilings, and the cove's eelgrass beds. The cove's sheltered waters provide productive fishing even when wind and waves make open-water fishing difficult. Small-boat and kayak anglers work the cove's edges and deeper channel for school-sized stripers and keeper flounder throughout the season.
Back River
The Back River is a tidal creek system flowing through the marshes behind Old Saybrook's barrier beach before joining the Connecticut River near its mouth. The creek's narrow, winding channels hold striped bass, bluefish, and white perch that feed along the marsh edges on rising tides. Its sheltered, intimate waterway is ideal for kayak fishing and produces consistent catches of school stripers from spring through fall.
Saybrook Point Jetty
The Saybrook Point jetty at the Connecticut River's eastern entrance provides shore-based access to the powerful tidal currents that sweep past the river mouth. Striped bass, bluefish, tautog, and scup congregate around the jetty rocks and in the current seams formed where river flow meets the sound. Fishing the jetty during outgoing tides when baitfish pour from the river produces some of the best shore-based action at Old Saybrook.
Other Species in Old Saybrook
More fish you can target while visiting Old Saybrook.
Striped Bass Fishing in Old Saybrook — FAQ
The peak months for Striped Bass fishing in Old Saybrook are June, October. During these months, Striped Bass are most active and abundant in the Old Saybrook area.
Striped Bass fishing charters in Old Saybrook are typically inshore trips. Prices vary by trip duration and group size. Most charters include all gear, bait, licenses, and fish cleaning.
Live bait (bunker/menhaden, eels, mackerel) fished on a fishfinder rig or chunk rig near structure, rip currents, and drop-offs is the most consistent technique. Trolling umbrella rigs and tube-and-worm behind planer boards covers water during migrations. Casting topwater plugs (Pencil Poppers, Atom Poppers) into blitzing schools on the surface at dawn/dusk is the most exciting striper fishing. Fly fishing with Deceiver, Clouser, and Grocery Fly patterns during the fall run is world-class. Live eels drifted at night around rocky structure is the go-to for trophy fish.
No — when you book a charter in Old Saybrook, your captain provides all required Connecticut fishing licenses as part of the trip.
Striped Bass regulations in Connecticut include minimum size limits and bag limits that vary by season. Your captain will know the current regulations and ensure compliance.
While targeting Striped Bass in Old Saybrook, you may also catch Tautog, Black Sea Bass, Bluefish, Porgy, Fluke. Many charter trips target multiple species for the best action.
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