Position
41°20.6′N 72°5.6′W
Fort Trumbull State Park in New London has what the park calls a one-of-a-kind fishing pier: a lighted fishing pier more than 500 feet long, with rod holders, reaching into the mouth of the Thames River. Anglers can walk out to it 24 hours a day for striped bass, bluefish, fluke, porgies, blackfish and more.
When to fish
- Spring to fall: striped bass.
- Summer and fall: fluke, bluefish, scup, black sea bass and weakfish, with winter flounder and hickory shad also on the park's list.
- Fall: blackfish (tautog) and false albacore. On The Water's eastern Sound guide says albies usually show up around the second week of September and can stay into early November.
- Night: the pier is lit and open around the clock.
Where to fish
The pier itself, at the mouth of the Thames, where bait moving in and out of the river draws game fish. On The Water's eastern Connecticut guide lists river mouths among the places where resident stripers hang out in September.
Getting there
The pier is open to walkers 24 hours a day from New London's Riverfront Walk (it's called Pier 4 on the DEEP page). The park grounds are free and open from 8 a.m. to sunset; the fort's visitor center charges admission. You must have fishing gear and a Connecticut marine waters fishing license while on the pier, and pier rules are posted on site. As an Enhanced Opportunity Shore Fishing site, it has lower minimum sizes for fluke and scup; see the Connecticut Saltwater Fishing Guide.
From the water
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Field guide
What you can catch
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