Fluke and Stripers Strong.
Black Sea Bass Opens
Although we’re still a week away from the official start to summer, it already feels like the season is beginning to fly by. With so much quality fishing to be found around the state, it’s hard for it all not to pass by in a blur. The state’s saltwater fisheries are going full force and have spread to all corners of Long Island. Quality striped bass fishing is still going strong off the south shore, and it’s picked up significantly off the North Fork in the past week and a half. Fluke fishing is also going strong, and although there’s been fewer “doormats” taken than in past years, there does seem to be more keeper fish being caught off the north and south shore. Another important event taking place this week is the beginning of the 2012 black sea bass season, which opens tomorrow. There are some new regulations in place for this year to be mindful of, the size limit this year is 13 inches and the bag limit is now 15 fish per angler, per day. The porgy fishing has been fantastic just about everywhere, so it’s definitely a good weekend to get out there and do a little bottom fishing.
Long Island East End Fishing Report
Striper fishing in the rips off Montauk Point has returned to form, and anglers are enjoying good numbers of 20-pound class linesiders with the occasional larger fish in the mix – especially at night with live eels. Diamond jigging and wire-lining during the days also remains productive, however. Fluke fishing has also been good, with plenty of keepers in the mix to keep the rails of the half-day boats full of exciting anglers.
Long Island South Shore Fishing Report
Although it seems like I’ve been talking about this for months now, the striped bass fishing off Long Island’s south shore remains stellar. The bunker pods have been moving outside the inlets for the most part at this point, but they haven’t gone far. Numerous schools of large bunker are still being corralled by the linesiders and an increasing amount of “gorilla” bluefish in anywhere from 25 feet to 50 feet of water. I talked to Ed from Jones Beach Fishing Station who reported that fishing remains good-to-great overall, and Ed himself has been out taking advantage of the diverse fishery whenever the shop’s schedule allows. The bite has been pretty kind to Ed, who landed bass to 35 pounds on his first linesider trip of the year as well as several bluefish that reached into double digits. Fishing has also been good for flatfish, and Ed’s been focusing his efforts inside the bay. Although there has not been any one certain depth that’s been the magic number, all trips have been producing good amounts of keeper fluke up to 7 pounds.
Long Island North Shore Fishing Report
The fishing in Long Island Sound continues to get better and better, seemingly by the week. Diamond jigging during the day and bunker chunking at night seems to be the best method, although there are a variety of techniques that will take some nice fish at the moment. The fish have also continued their steady progression to the east, and fishing off the North Fork has really seen marked improvement over recent days. Bass fishing has been great at night for the charter boats setting up on the chunk, and the fish seem to be getting bigger by the tide. It’s definitely the leading-edge of this body of fish at the moment, so heading up north for your weekend fishing endeavor isn’t a bad idea. The fluke and bottom fishing has also been solid in the area. As we move through the coming week, looking for conditions to improve even further, especially for the eastern north shore.
Metro New York Fishing Report
Although water temperatures around the city are climbing quickly into the 70-degree range, there’s still some predatory fish hanging around in the warmer water. Nighttime is definitely the best bet at this point, and I’d stick to fishing with fresh bunker or throwing darters on a super slow retrieve. If you’ve got a passion for “urban angling,” it’s definitely time to get your fix because it won’t be long until most of the large predators vacate the area until fall. Another quality option for fishing around the city this weekend is heading out on a headboat for the opening weekend of black sea bass. The sea bass are already in place, and many porgy anglers are exciting to finally get the chance to put a few of these delicious fish on ice instead of back in the drink.
Upstate New York Fishing Report
June’s been a great month for many upstate fisheries and anglers alike. The Upper Delaware River System is a prime example, and the great fishing looks to continue into the third week of the month. I put in a call to the crew up at Beaverkill Angler in Roscoe to get the latest on their dynamic and ever-changing fishery. Fishing remains strong in the area overall, and water conditions are near perfect. Water levels were not negatively affected by the rain earlier in the week, and lots of nice trout are still on sulphurs in the 14 to 16 size, there’s also blue-wing olive hatches happening intermittently, so make sure your box is stocked up before hitting the water. Also, it’s beginning to be that time of year when you’re best bet is heading out for the morning and evening sessions when the trout are the most active. If you are planning on fishing the mid-day session, your best bet is the West Branch of the Delaware River where mid-day fishing typically holds out the longest.
Fishing Forecast for the Weekend
It’s another tough call this week, with lots of great fishing to be found in all corners of the state. Although I’ll admit to being a little bias toward the linesider, the striper fishing off the south shore remains fantastic. If you haven’t been out on a bunker trip yet this season outside of one of the western or central south shore inlets, that should be your first option. The action has been great, and for me catching 30-pound-class fish on large live bait is always an exciting day on the water. It’s also good to do this type of fishing before the water gets too warm. If you’re taking a break from the linesiders this weekend, I’d definitely considering jumping on your local headboat and getting out for the opening weekend of the black sea bass season. The sea bass are already holding inshore in big numbers, and it should be great mixed bag fishing with plenty of jumbo porgies in the area as well. Weather looks great for the upcoming weekend, and plenty of good fishing to go around — get out there and wet a line.