Extended Full Day Fishing Trip in Stonington, CT
When you want to seriously fish Connecticut's most productive inshore waters, Captain Ryan Sansoucy's extended full day trip aboard the 2011 Hewes Redfisher is where you need to be. This isn't your typical half-day charter – we're talking 9 to 10 hours of prime fishing time targeting some of the best gamefish the Northeast has to offer. From the crack of dawn departure at 6:00 AM from Barn Island Boat Launch, you'll have access to legendary spots around Fishers Island, Block Island Sound, and hidden salt ponds that consistently produce trophy catches. With room for up to 3 anglers, this top-rated charter gives you the personal attention and water coverage that makes the difference between a good day and an epic one.
What to Expect on the Water
Captain Ryan knows these waters like the back of his hand, and that expertise shows from the moment you step aboard the Hewes Redfisher. This boat was built for exactly this kind of fishing – shallow enough to work the flats and salt ponds, but seaworthy enough to handle the open waters of Block Island Sound when the big fish are running. Your day starts early for good reason. The 6:00 AM departure puts you on the prime spots right when the fish are most active, giving you maximum shot at multiple species throughout the day. The extended timeframe means we're not rushing between spots or cutting the day short when the bite gets hot. You'll cover serious ground, from the rocky structure around Fishers Island where the stripers love to ambush bait, to the deeper edges where blackfin tuna cruise, and back into the productive salt ponds that hold everything from bonito to tarpon. The intimate 3-angler maximum keeps things manageable and ensures everyone gets plenty of rod time.
Techniques and Tackle
This charter runs the gamut of inshore techniques depending on what we're targeting and where the fish are holding. When we're working the stripers around structure, we'll be throwing everything from live eels and bunker to topwater plugs and soft plastics. The key is reading the water and matching your presentation to what the fish want on any given day. For the pelagics like bonito and blackfin tuna, we'll often troll small spoons and feathers or cast metals when we mark schools on the fish finder. The real magic happens when Captain Ryan spots birds working or bait breaking the surface – that's when we switch to sight fishing mode and the action gets fast and furious. In the salt ponds, we might go ultra-light with small jigs and flies for the bonito, or beef up the tackle when tarpon show up. The Hewes Redfisher is rigged with quality gear, but if you have favorite rods or specific tackle you trust, bring them along. The shallow draft of this boat opens up opportunities that bigger charter boats simply can't access, letting us follow the fish into skinny water where they feel safe to feed.
Species You'll Want to Hook
Blackfin tuna are the speed demons of this fishery, typically running 10 to 25 pounds of pure muscle that will test your drag and your arms. These fish show up consistently from late spring through fall, often mixing with schools of bonito around bait pods. What makes blackfin so exciting is their incredible fight-to-size ratio – pound for pound, they're some of the strongest fish in these waters. They hit fast and run hard, making screaming runs that will have your reel smoking. The meat is outstanding too, perfect for sushi or searing if you decide to keep a few.
Tarpon fishing in Connecticut might surprise some anglers, but these silver kings regularly push into our waters during summer months, particularly in the warmer salt ponds and back bays. Most of the fish here run 20 to 60 pounds, and while they might not be the 100-pound giants you'd find in Florida, they still put on an aerial show that's absolutely unforgettable. Tarpon season peaks from July through September when water temperatures climb, and these fish become incredibly active in shallow water. The visual aspect of tarpon fishing – seeing these massive fish roll and crash baits on the surface – adds a whole different dimension to the day.
Striped bass remain the backbone of Northeast inshore fishing, and the waters around Stonington consistently produce both schoolies for action and keeper-sized fish for the dinner table. Spring and fall migrations bring the biggest fish, with trophy stripers over 40 inches not uncommon during peak times. These fish are smart and moody, which makes catching them that much more satisfying. One minute they'll crush a topwater plug with violent strikes, the next they'll only look at a perfectly presented live eel. The variety in striper fishing keeps you on your toes all day long.
Barracuda add serious excitement with their lightning-fast strikes and razor-sharp teeth. These ambush predators love the structure around Fishers Island and can show up anywhere from shallow flats to deeper edges. Connecticut barracuda typically run 2 to 10 pounds, but what they lack in size they make up for in attitude. They'll crush lures with vicious strikes and make blistering runs that happen so fast you barely have time to react. Wire leaders are essential when these toothy critters are around.
Atlantic bonito are the action fish of the group, traveling in large schools and feeding aggressively when conditions are right. These 3 to 8-pound speedsters arrive with the warm water in late spring and stick around through early fall. When you find a school of bonito, the fishing can be absolutely insane with multiple hookups and constant action. They're incredible table fare too – often called the "poor man's tuna" but honestly just as good when prepared properly. The key to consistent bonito fishing is staying mobile and following the bait schools they're feeding on.
Time to Book Your Spot
Captain Ryan's extended full