Offshore Sea Bass and Sweetwater Picks
With the extension of the black sea bass season, New York anglers have some great opportunities early on in the 2013 fishing season. Unfortunately, this week’s intel is a little lacking. A combination of foul weather and holiday obligations kept most anglers from fishing. However, a few did go and found their first fish of 2013.
Long Island
The crew at Causeway Bait and Tackle in Wantaugh said a few anglers were gearing up for sea bass fishing on Thursday. The fishing, up to then, had been good. Most boats are focusing on wrecks 30 miles or more from shore. The report from Bernies Bait and Tackle in Brooklyn agreed that the offshore black sea bass fishing should be very good.
Pier fishermen at the west end of the island are finging herring on Sabiki rigs and ling on clams according to Bernies.
Cod fishing off western Long Island has been slow to improve. This is partly due to the dogfish, which have plagued anglers trying to get through to the cod. To the east, the Montauk party boats have been fishing around Block Island and catching a mix of cod and porgies, with some cod as heavy as 15 pounds. The fishing stalled with the recent storm, but fishermen are hopeful that this weekend will allow them to get back out.
Freshwater fishing on Long Island is going well. Pickerel have been very aggressive lately, despite the cold temperatures. Live shiners have been the best bet. A few quality largemouths have mixed in with the picks on occasion. Trout fishing is holding on also. The word from Causeway was that some quality brown trout have been taken around the island recently.
Upstate
While the tributary fishing provides action all winter long, the cold water temperatures can put the steelhead in a funk. With a water temperature of 33 degrees and slush ice in the lower river, steelhead have moved to slower moving, deeper pools.
The ice fishing season has begun according to the folks at Fish 307 in Lake George. Smaller ponds have 2 to 6 inches and fishermen have already been catching pike and perch. As for Lake George itself, the bays are starting to skim over, but the ice isn’t safe just yet. If you’re hoping to head upstate for some ice fishing, Fish 307 recommended making the journey next weekend, when there will be many more options available.
Best Bets for the Weekend
Bundle up and get on a headboat. The sea bass bite is excellent and likely to stay that way. If you’d rather stay on shore, grab some shiners and target pickerel in a Long Island Pond.
If ice is on your mind, Upstate is the place to be, but waiting one more week will provide more options for hardwater venues. Steelhead are an option, just layer up those feet. 33-degree water temperatures will cut through even the thickest wool socks.