Things have broken wide open, at least for the majority of the south shore. The stripers are here, and it’s time to go get ‘em. There’s some really big bass being caught in Jamaica Bay and around Fire Island. Keeper-size fish are being caught all the way out to the Lighthouse in Montauk. Most of the north shore’s still waiting for the cows to come home, but parts of the western sound are starting to get hot. The bluefish have already made a showing throughout most of the Island, with the usual mixed emotions from anglers. The fluke season has picked-up significantly from the relatively slow opener. Keepers are being caught in respectable numbers from J-bay to Montauk. Though forgotten by most anglers, due to the new options on the table, winter flounder fishing continues to be productive, and those undeterred by the 2-fish limit are catching quality blackbacks in places long-thought abandoned by the collapsing population. Even a few cod are still being caught in 200- to 230-foot depths off the south shore. There’s a lot to do, and a couple of nice-weather days before another week of “showers” in the forecast.
Starting in New Rochelle, I talked to John from Hudson Park Bait & Tackle who reported, “We’re working hard, and catching some nice fish to show for it.” The hot bite on the south shore is definitely spreading to the north, slowly. Jerry Gatto assembled with his crew at Hudson Park and hit the local waters in search of some winter flounder. To their surprise, they boated nine keepers, retaining only their limit. John said this number of keeper flounder from their area was “Unheard of,” definitely a good sign for the blackback population in the western sound. The bass bite has also picked in the last week. Keeper bass are being taken on the troll with tube-and-worm combos as well as on the chunk at night. Things should continue to steadily improve as more fish and bait more up into the sound on their way north.
Richard from Camp Site in Huntington Station confirmed most of the north shore remains waiting for the large migratory fish to occupy their waters, but “it’s getting better,” he said, and those putting in the time with small soft-plastics and bucktails are taking schoolies in the harbors and backwaters. Our conversation quickly turned to the south shore, where the action has really popped-off this week. “There’s a lot of squid on the south shore, and big anchovies.” The western south shore is definitely the best place to be this weekend, especially if you’re in pursuit of a big striped bass. If you’re not afraid of being harassed by bluefish, chunking with fresh bunker at night is a good way to draw a strike from these early season bass. Jamaica Bay, the Great South Bay and Fire Island Inlet are just a few of the locations that will be producing good fish this weekend. Bucktails and swimbaits will both be good alternatives to cut bait for those partial to throwing artificials.
Moving east, I checked in with Bryce at White Water Outfitters in Hampton Bays to see how things are shaping-up down Sunrise Highway, “By far, the best thing of the week,” Bryce started, “has been the drastic improvement in the bass fishery.” That perked my ears up. Some of the White Water regulars have been into linesiders to 25 pounds on the regular. “I’m not saying it’s totally gone off,” Bryce tempered himself slightly, but added, “there’s a good chance by the time anyone reads this, it will be full-bore.” Nice fish are being picked-up all around Shinnecock inlet, and all the usual spring tactics are in play. Fished are being taken on the chunk, livelining, bucktailing, plugging and even a few nice fish have been taken on eels around the Ponquogue Bridge at night – definitely a good start to the season.
Checking in at The End, I put in a call to Paulie of Paulie’s Tackle in Montauk to see if the striper action from last week held on, it did. “There’s been some nice fish weighed in,” Paulie said. I asked how big, “a 35-pounder came from the Ferry Slip,” he paused, “that’s the biggest I can confirm.” Great news, there’s a lot of life around in general. There’s “a lot of small fish” on the south side according to Paulie, but they’re on spearing and that has him optimistic of good-numbers of 12- to 17-pound fish in the near future.
Best Bets
I’d say heading toward Jamaica Bay or the Great South Bay area would be your best bet this weekend for bass. Captain Kayak is hosting the Jamaica Bay Kayak Fishing Tournament this weekend at Floyd Bennet Field. Proceeds will benefit Casting for Recovery. This is a big event, with vendors and barbeques, and is worth stopping by even if you don’ plan on fishing. Work a bucktail through a rip, or soak some cut-bait in a tidal eddie and you’ve got a good shot at some nice fish. Though it’s looking more-and-more like the bulk of the south shore is lit-up with nice spring linesiders. If fluking is on your mind, J-bay’s been producing its fair share of keepers, but the double-digit doormats are coming from the usual spots out east – like Mattituck. But all fluke fisheries should get better-and-better through the coming weeks. If you’ll be fishing bass up on the north shore this weekend, get as far to the west as you can. There have been some quality 20-pound-class fish in the sound, but almost all of these fish are coming from the far western sound. There are, however, schoolie-sized bass in the backwaters of the north shore all the way out to Orient by now. Throwing a 4-inch pearl Storm Shad with a slow retrieve and an occasional twitch of the rod-tip is a good way to draw strikes from these fish. It’s also a good time of the year to get out the 9-weight and throw some chartreuse Clouser minnows around the tidal creeks scattered along the north shore. If you find life, you’re likely to find the bass. The spring run is here, and winter is just a fading memory now – time to get out and fish.