We’re three weeks into July and local water temperatures are closing on 75 degrees, but there’s still plenty of life out there. Spiking water temperatures also increase the possibility of some even more exotic species adding to the mix. The bunker pods remain a near constant presence along most of the South Shore, and though the inshore thresher bite has died-off for the time being, those getting out early are still finding some quality bass working on the bait. More and more spearing are showing up along parts of the South Shore, and the false albacore and bonito shouldn’t be too far behind. Definitely a good time to stop in to your local tackle shop and load-up on an assortment of Deadly Dicks, as they tend to sell-out first once the little tunnies start ripping-up drags inshore.
East End
Steve from East End Bait & Tackle in Hampton Bays reported no real change in the pattern of the last few weeks, except for the lack of inshore sharks. Some nice keeper-size bass are still prowling around the Ponquogue Bridge, especially after dark. Big fluke, into the high single-digits, are still chasing half-ounce Spro bucktails sweetened with spearing or Berkley Gulp in the shallows throughout the bay. Outside the inlet, quality sea bass continue coming off the reefs along with nice porgies and an increasing amount of trigger fish. Deep-water fluke fishing, around 70 feet, is also producing some quality flatfish, including the occasional trophy reaching into the low double-digits.
Out in Montauk, things are good. Bass to 30 pounds are pretty thick around the Elbow, and quality bottom-fishing continues to be the norm. I talked to Carl from Montauk Marine to get the latest from The End. Fluke fishing on the south side has been really good, and Carl has weighted-in some truly classic south-side doormats this week “tipping the scales” up to 15 pounds! Good sea bass fishing continues to be found at the Frisbees, and there’s also been some quality knuckleheads coming up with doormats along the south side. There’s a lot of mahi-mahi coming into the marina from offshore trips, as well as some nice yellowfin tuna up to 92 pounds. The bluefin bite has cooled-off for now, but Carl noted that some nice white marlin have been caught and released in recent days. The Viking Fleet continues to see success on just about all fronts, daily fluke trips are still finding good numbers of keeper fish with relative ease. Bottom fishing continues showing solid numbers of sea bass along with the seemingly ever-present jumbo porgies, and the night-bass trips have seen hard-fighting linesiders into the mid-30-pound-class.
South Shore
Whether you’re heading out of Moriches or Fire Island Inlet, split the difference and you should be able to find some big schools of bunker. As it’s been over the past few weeks, getting off the dock and onto the grounds for first light is biggest key to connecting with a few of these nice bass before they finally move on. If you’ve found the bait, but are having trouble hooking up, consider taking the bunker off the snag and hook it through the nose with a 7/0 circle hook or 5/0 live bait hook, depending on your plan for the bass.
Another option which sometimes makes a difference when bass are being finicky is a fresh 5-yard topshot of fluorocarbon, I like to use 50- or 60-pound-test Seaguar, but will go as light as 30-pound to draw strikes from weary fish. The water is heating up fast, so don’t be too surprised if some other offshore gamefish wander inside the 3-mile line like we saw with the threshers. I remember just a few years ago football-size bluefin skipping along on inshore reefs along the South Shore.
North Shore
“There’s big bass and blues eating bunker in the Sound,” is the word from Richard at Camp-Site in Huntington Station, an exciting change of pace from the relative slowdown in recent weeks. The action’s out in the deeper water in the mid-sound, but once you find a nice piece with some life on it, there should be some quality bass in the mix harassing the tightly-clustered pods of bait. The rise in linesider action works out well, because Richard also reports a slowdown in the fluke and bottom fish bite. Make sure to bring along the chum pot if you’re planning on porgy fishing and you should be able to scratch-out plenty for the dinner table.
Best Bets
Well, luckily it seems the fish are dealing with the heat better than most of us. Heading out under the cover of darkness is your best bet, for self-preservation if nothing else, the temperature in the City tomorrow is forecasted to hit 100 degrees. If you’ll be chasing bass this weekend, gassing-up the truck and head east if your goal is landing a cow, although the night trips on some of the head boats around Manhattan have produced decent-size bass along with the routine onslaught of double-digit “gorilla” bluefish. There’s new life in the Sound, and some quality fish feeding on the bigger bait. The humps and other structure in the deepwater of the Sound is the ticket for finding the action, in the 60- to 80-foot range. There’s plenty of fish out there, just don’t forget the sunblock.