Weather continues to be a major influence on the young 2011 fishing season for most New Yorkers, and though Richard from Camp-Site noted this morning that we’re “about two weeks behind” the normal schedule, things are “slowly starting to get better.” Striped bass are sweeping into the western sound and beginning their trek down the south shore. Adult bunker have been spotted in numerous areas, from Jamaica Bay up though the back-bays of the western north shore. The flounder bite continues to slowly improve in and around the City, and has begun in earnest further to the west in places like Moriches and Shinnecock, where some really nice blackbacks are being caught. Fluke season will open with new regulations for 2011 this Sunday; it will be an open season from May 1 through September 30 with a 3-fish possession limit at 20.5 inches. Also, due to a recent bill passed in Albany, the saltwater fishing license program has been canceled, so New York saltwater anglers will only need to sign up for a free state registry once it becomes available in June.
The striped bass fishing has really showed some signs of life this week, despite ample fog, rain and cold. Bass into the low 20-pound class are falling to cut-bait and jigs at night around the City, in Jamaica Bay and places to the north like Oyster Bay. They are spreading out quickly and seem to be increasing in size and number with almost every tide. Fog and heavy winds have made fishing conditions challenging at best most of the week, but things looked primed to break wide open. Sea-surface temperature in the New York Bight is flirting with the low 50s, so the action should increase steadily during the coming week.
I talked to Captain Chris from The Island Current Fleet and some of the trips did get off the dock this week, including an Easter Sunday flounder trip which Chris described as, “One of the best in years,” where “everyone on board had their limit.” The Current continues finding good numbers of quality, pound-to-pound and a half flounders aggressively feeding in just 10-feet of water. The Current has also been having some decent luck with the springtime blackfish, and will run trips Friday and Saturday before the season closes. Captain Chris reports “good life at all the wrecks,” another encouraging sign that our local fisheries are experiencing a modest recovery. Even a few of the Current’s night bass trips off the dock this week, despite a menacing “40-knot blow,” and Chris reports that the diehards on the rail are managing “a couple keepers” each trip despite the less-than-ideal conditions.
Richard from Camp-Site in Huntington Station confirms the presence of bunker in the western Sound harbors and backwaters, and did say there was, “bass on some of ‘em.” He also noted that there’s “also smaller bass around,” but couldn’t confirm what kind of baitfish they’re targeting.
The sweetwater’s heated-up, and producing some quality action for those putting in the time. Richard reports that all the stocking’s complete, and despite some of his regulars belief that they’ve all already been caught, Richard thinks there’s still more than a few out there for the taking, and as usual, had an interesting wrinkle to throw into the mix. “This is a good time of year to throw large swimbaits” he said, because “weeds are still down and the largemouth have been focused on the big baits,” referring to the newly stocked trout. I’ve heard about this phenomenon since I was a kid. I remember old-timers talking about largemouth which ate nothing but stockies come springtime, and though I was skeptical at the time, it seems to be the case. I’ve spent a decent amount of time over the last few weeks casting micro-jigs for trout and panfish, and just a few days ago, as I released a nice 13-inch rainbow, it was assaulted and chased for its life by a bass not even twice its length. My mind instantly tuned from the 1/64-ounce jig is was flipping for stockies, half-pound bass and redear sunfish to the 4.4-ounce Spro BBZ-1 Swimbait. Definitely something to consider, especially if you live out east are still waiting signs of life on the salt.
Speaking of the east end, I just talked to Bryce from White Water Outfitters in Hampton Bays just to check-in and see how things are shaping up out their way, and it’s been a little tough. “We haven’t seen the sun in 15 days,” he said. But Bryce maintained a positive attitude and mentioned that “a few bass” and even some blues are already showing up. They’re waiting for the water temperature to warm up a little, it’s been hanging in the high 40s for a while, but Bryce mentioned it’s getting into the 50’s in the back-bays at the end of the outgoing. It’s also worth noting that fluke will open Sunday, and the Hampton Bay and Greenport areas are notorious for producing early-season doormats.
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