The storms that dumped over 6 inches of rain on parts of the Island this week did little to slow down the variety of fisheries still persisting through the mid-August heat. Ocean fluking is as good as it’s been all season, with lots of fish in the high-single-digits moving in to gorge on an increasing amount of inshore bait. Spearing, peanut bunker and snapper bluefish are all filling the harbors and spilling out into the open water on each outgoing tide. Bass fishing in Montauk continues to shine, and we’re getting to that time of year when a few “exotics” are testing their northern boundaries and showing up along parts of the south shore.
East End
The cooler water hanging around the east end remains intact, and the bass fishing has showed no signs of slowing up anytime soon. Like last season, the good bite in the Montauk rips will likely remain at this level of consistency until the upswing starts at the onset of the fall migration. The Viking trip continues seeing quality linesiders into the high-30-pound-class almost every time they leave the dock. The south-side fluking action remains decent for the fleet with some quality flatfish being taken on every trip; however, it hasn’t been as red-hot as some of the action to the west. I talked to Scott from Star Island Yacht Club in Montauk to get the latest on how the six-pack charter guys have been doing with the bass. “The last few days,” Scott began before he amended himself, “well, really the whole season has been great.” The bulk of the action has been on live croakers during the day and eels at night. The big fish of the week so far at Star Island is 47 pounds, and Scott mentioned there’s been a lot of fish in the 40-pound-class caught in recent days.
South Shore
Ocean fluking is definitely the ticket right now along the south shore. Anglers sailing out of Fire Island, Moriches and Shinnecock inlets are connecting with quality flatfish in the deep water, in depths ranging from 60 to 85 feet. Using big baits like snappers or Peruvian spearing paired with fresh-cut squid strips is a good idea to increase your chances at hooking a trophy. The artificial reefs out front are also still producing a wide variety of bottom fish. Porgies, triggerfish, sea bass and a few ling are still holding on the structure and are willing to strike at high-low rigs baited with cut clam or squid. Bass fishing has become sporadic with the high water temperatures as the main body of fish has slid east toward Montauk and Block Island Sound, however, those fishing with finesse tactics in lowlight conditions are finding the occasional linesider as far west as Point Lookout.
North Shore
Captain Chris of the Island Current Fleet managed to get off the dock every day this week despite the inclement weather. The good porgy fishing just won’t quit, and the resident sharpies aboard the Island Current are going home with some nice sea bass mixed-in with their catch of porgies. Captain Chris also noted that the noted that the big bluefish have really begun the chew again over the past few days. The best action has been a little to the east, from Center Island Reef to the Smithtown area. Although the Island Current is getting the occasional bass mixed in with the onslaught of bluefish, moving further east in the Sound, out toward Mattituck, where the water cools down significantly, will increase your bass-to-blue ratio.
Best Bets
I’d take advantage of these late-summer doormats showing up in good-number along the south shore right now. We’re coming up on some unimpressive tides, which might put at least a slight damper on the bass fishing out east for the better part of next week, making the south shore flatfish bite even more attractive for now. If you’re shore-bound this weekend, I’d still recommend heading to one of the many south-shore estuaries filled with big numbers of blue claw crabs and snapper bluefish, even the occasional weakfish, or fishing the sand beaches at night with darters and swimming plugs for the chopper blues still patrolling the area.