New York Fishing Report - June 23, 2011

Although the weather has suggested it for some time now, the calendar finally agrees it’s summer, and fishing remains hot throughout the state. Bass in the 30-pound-class are being found consistently by anglers fishing under low-light conditions from Jamaica Bay to Orient Point. Fluke fishing has improved significantly in terms of the keeper-to-short ratio in many places, and bottom fishing continues to impress on all the south-shore pieces, even some nice cod continue coming up off the wrecks. Big schools of bunker are still moving through the area along both north and south shores, with trophy fish in tow. There’s a little more rain in the forecast, but overall it should be a good week for New York anglers.

East End

Starting out in Montauk this week, the Viking Fleet has been getting dialed in on the fluke bite, as half-day trips resumed as of the 20^th. Captain Dave reports that the bite has been picking up over the last couple days, with a manageable keeper-to-short ratios coming over the rails. The half-day fluke trips have also been picking up some nice by-catch including some jumbo porgies and knot-head black sea bass. The nighttime bass trips have also been producing some nice cow stripers into the 40-pound class, and even some sea bass and keeper fluke on the diamond jigs before switching over to live eels after dark.

South Shore

In Hampton Bays, fishing remains good for the crew at East End Bait & Tackle. Bass are still showing up in good numbers inside Shinnecock Inlet, and still falling to clams predominately. Bass and blues are running through the Canal, so slinging eels after dark might produce some nice action for shore-bound anglers. “There are plenty of fluke in the bay,” Steve reports, a good sign that new fish are moving into the area. Out front, the black sea bass and porgy fishing continues to impress out at the artificial reefs, and Steve was able to confirm that small bluefin tuna, in the 60- to 80-pound class, are being spotted within 8 miles of the inlet. Few people are catching, however, and this may be the time to test out the spinning gear with small upgraded metals and soft plastics to hook one of these finicky pelagics.

North Shore

Up on the Sound, things have picked up quickly after a few days of tough fishing. Richard from Camp Site Bass and blues are once again appearing alongside the scattered pods of bunker. Chunking at night with as much chum as you can afford has also been luring in some nice bass. Porgy fishing is anywhere from productive to good along the entire sound, and even some keeper fluke are being picked up in between shorts in places like Port Jefferson and Smithtown Bay. Getting out in the predawn and searching for schools of bunker on the top of the water column is still your best bet, just remember that the sunrise for tomorrow is 5:25 am, so hitting the launch at 4:00 isn’t a bad idea.

Best Bets

Well, quality bass can still be found in just about all New York’s coastal waterways, but I’d definitely suggest concentrating your time in between sundown and sunup at this point. There’s a few locations consistently producing some nice bass right now, like Orient, Moriches and Montauk, but big fish are coming from places as far west as Jamaica Bay, too. Just about anywhere right now, if you put in your time, you’ll be rewarded with some quality linesiders and tested by bluefish ranging up to 3 feet long!

Shinnecock is the places to be if you’re going to be fluking this weekend. The bay has been providing some hot shallow-water bucktailing action, and some quality doormats have been found in single-digit depths in recent days. If you’re eager to make your first pilgrimage of the season to Montauk, the 10- to 15-knot east wind forecasted should bring some decent bass into casting distance of the Lighthouse, and the south should be holding some fish through the weekend. That’s it, short and sweet this week. The fish are out there, it’s time to go get ‘em.