Striped bass fishing out of New London / Waterford centers on The Race, Bartlett Reef and the Thames River, all within a short run of port. This guide covers when the fish are around, where boats run, how the rips are fished locally and who fishes this port. It can help you decide where to look, but it doesn’t promise fish.
When striped bass are around New London and Waterford
Operators out of this port list striped bass on a window that runs from late spring into fall. Marlintini and Lucky Strike list May to November. Lady Jo lists June through October for private charters.
| Operator | Listed season |
|---|---|
| Marlintini Sportfishing | May to November |
| Lucky Strike Charters | May to November |
| Lady Jo Sportfishing Charters | June through October (private charters) |
Together those windows bracket the period when boats target striped bass from this port.
Where boats run and the structure that holds fish
The three main runs are The Race, Bartlett Reef and the Thames River, all a short run from New London and Waterford. For the wider Northeast striper picture (see also the Atlantic Northeast region guide), see the regional guide. These grounds show on Chart Contours, but chart layers are not for navigation, so run on official charts.
The named structure around this port:
- The Race: the water between Fishers Island and Little Gull Island
- Bartlett Reef: with The Spindle marking its south end
- The Thames River: the port’s own water
- Watch Hill reefs
- Black Point
The Race
The Race is the water between Fishers Island and Little Gull Island, and it is the main striped bass ground from this port. Water moving through it forms the rip that local boats fish. The methods below cover how.
Bartlett Reef and The Spindle
Bartlett Reef sits within a short run of port. The Spindle is the navigational aid on the rock pile at the south end of the reef, so it works as a visual cue for where that end sits.
The Thames River
The river is the port’s own water and the closest of the three main runs. You can fish it without leaving the harbor area.
Watch Hill reefs and Black Point
Both are named structure near New London / Waterford that boats from this port fish.
How striped bass are fished here
This section covers local methods only. For striped bass behavior and tackle in general, start with the species guide.
Jigging the rip in The Race
In The Race, captains motor up-current of the rip, then work diamond jigs or bucktails along the bottom. The lure reaches the bottom as the boat drifts with the current.
3-way rigs
The Fisherman describes 3-way rigs with about 10 to 12 ounces of lead for The Race. Match your rod and reel to that weight.
Who fishes for striped bass out of this port
These operators list striped bass from New London and Waterford. A trip aboard is a direct way to see how the rips are worked.
- Marlintini Sportfishing charter site: season May to November.
- Lucky Strike Charters trip page: season May to November.
- Lady Jo Sportfishing Charters site: private charters June through October.
- Drifter Charters out of Waterford: the boat is Drifter, a restored 30-foot Mount Desert Island boat.
- Sunbeam Fleet at Captain John’s: family-run for over 80 years, with 3 boats in the fleet.
- Reelin Sportfishing Charters page: lists striped bass from this port.
FAQ: striped bass fishing out of New London / Waterford
When are striped bass around New London and Waterford?
Marlintini and Lucky Strike list striped bass from May to November. Lady Jo runs private charters for striped bass from June through October.
Which grounds sit closest to port?
The Thames River is the port’s own water. The Race and Bartlett Reef are both a short run from New London and Waterford.
How much lead do anglers use on a 3-way rig in The Race?
The Fisherman describes about 10 to 12 ounces of lead on a 3-way rig for The Race. Captains also motor up-current of the rip and work diamond jigs or bucktails along the bottom.
Where is The Spindle?
The Spindle is the navigational aid on the rock pile at the south end of Bartlett Reef. Run on official charts, because chart layers are not for navigation.
What else do boats target from here?
Other species from New London and Waterford are covered in the coastal and offshore gamefish guides.
