Weakfish: season, lures and limits

Showing the fish for Connecticut shore, CT.

Fishing region

Season in Connecticut

Peak months: May.

JFMAMJJASOND

OTW May 2025: weakfish of about 28 to 32 in in shallow eastern estuaries for the better part of May. CT DEEP: Fort Trumbull pier anglers catch weakfish at the Thames mouth. OTW Oct 2025: plenty of weakfish around (Bridgeport party boat). (Our inference)

Season by region

Myrtle Beach	JFMAMJJASOND
Long Island	JFMAMJJASOND
Rhode Island	JFMAMJJASOND
Connecticut	JFMAMJJASOND
North Jersey	JFMAMJJASOND
South Jersey	JFMAMJJASOND
Delmarva	JFMAMJJASOND
Virginia Beach	JFMAMJJASOND
Outer Banks	JFMAMJJASOND
Southern NC	JFMAMJJASOND
Charleston	JFMAMJJASOND
Northeast Florida	JFMAMJJASOND

Where to find them

Shallow water of 15 ft or less in select eastern estuaries, bays and flats in May (OTW); Fort Trumbull pier at the mouth of the Thames (CT DEEP).

Mid-water, around piers and inlets.

What to look for

Bait under lights, swirls at the edge of the light.

What to throw

Bucktail or jighead with a 4 to 5 in paddle tail1/2 to 1 oz, 4 to 5 in tail. Slow hops along the bottom: lift, drop, let it touch, repeat.

Jighead with a scented soft-plastic shrimp or mullet (Gulp style)1/4 to 1/2 oz, 3 to 4 in. Slow drag and hop on the bottom with pauses; scent does the work.

Metal casting jig (diamond, Hopkins or Stingsilver style)1 to 2 oz, 3 to 4 in. Fast steady retrieve for mackerel; let it sink and rip it up for blues; jig near bottom for weakfish.

Swimming minnow plug (Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnow style)3/4 to 1 oz, 4 to 5 in. Steady medium retrieve with occasional twitches and pauses.

Bait

Shrimp, Cut bait. Light bottom rig or float.

Leader

20 lb fluorocarbon.

Common mistakes

Pulling hooks: very soft mouth

Landing

Gentle, steady pressure.

Handling

Canine teeth

Use pliers.

Keep or release

Limits are in the regulations file.

Recipes for weakfish

Typical: unknown. Large: About 28 to 32 in fish caught consistently in recent springs.

Limits

FishOS has not checked the CT limits yet. Check the size, bag and season rules with the Connecticut DEEP Marine Fisheries before you keep a fish.

Sources

On The Water: What's Biting in May in Connecticut? (Elser, Rayner, 2025) (Angler knowledge)
CT DEEP: Fort Trumbull State Park fishing (Official source)
On The Water: Connecticut Fishing Report, Oct 16 2025 (Black Hall Outfitters, Middlebank) (Angler knowledge)
FishBase species summary: Cynoscion regalis (weakfish) (Official source)
Gregg Holshouser Grand Strand fishing reports, 2019-2020 (mirror) (Angler knowledge)
SCDNR Saltwater Fishing Trends (pier operator forecasts) (Angler knowledge)

All the fish of Connecticut

Weakfish