Trout Time and Cod Madness
Cod fishing has continued to improve, not only with the return of big numbers, but a return of bigger fish as well. Captain Dave of the Viking Star out of Montauk described it as March Cod Madness. The whole boat limited on Sunday with fish to 15 pounds.
Much closer to home for Long Island anglers, the ponds around the island are giving up lots of hungry pickerel lately. The folks at Causeway reported that jerkbaits fished very slow are a good bet for the picks. Anglers are eagerly awaiting the trout stocking, which Causeway expects to take place on the last Thursday of the month.
In some of Long Island Spring Creeks, the fly-fishing for trout is going strong. OTW Contributing Editor, Angelo Peluso reported that a couple sea-run browns were duped in Long Island streams this week. For a full rundown on Long Island’s best trout waters, check out Angelo’s article in the April Issue of On The Water, hitting newsstands this week.
Trout season officially opens this week, and waters around Long Island have been stocked with a fresh batch of rainbows and browns that will eagerly take a variety or baits lures or flies.
Best Bets for the Weekend
The pickerel are the top pick for Long Island fishermen this week. Jerkbaits or spinners will work, and so will soft-plastic tubes. Fish light tackle to get the most fun out of these miniature pike. March generally brings the best pickerel fishing of the year, so this is a great time to acquaint yourself with this scrappy fighter.
Also don’t forget about the trout fishing. Pack some spinners, spoons, mealworms or PowerBait and hit a nearby trout stream for the opening of trout season.
Hoepfully the cod fishing will hold up as well. It sounded crazy over the weekend with doubleheaders common and one fish after another coming over the rails.