Fishing has been really good from west to east on Long Island, and with the help of last week’s heat wave, the water temperatures should have risen enough to really get things going.
North Shore Long Island Fishing Report
Bass and blues have been keeping both shore bound and boat anglers very happy along the north shore of Long Island. Cow Harbor Bait and Tackle in Northport Harbor reported that large amounts of baitfish in the way of bunker, spearing and sand eels have shown up in the area and with them are the game fish. Robert from Hi Hook Bait and Tackle in Huntington has weighed in several large bass, including one that was just over 42 pounds. These big cows have been falling to live or chunked bunker in the vicinity of Cold Spring Harbor, Eaton’s Neck, Target Rock and Buoy 15. Camp-Site Sport Shop in Huntington Station had reports of bass falling to plugs and other artificials in Northport Harbor and Smithtown Bay. Robert at Long Island Sportsman also reported bass and blues being taken in the back bays and harbors on spearing baits.
The fluke bite along the north shore is also doing very well. John at Terminal Tackle in King’s Park reported that anglers were doing very well with fluke at the mouth of the Nissiquogue River. Robert at Hi Hook added that the fluke fishing has also been good at LIPA and inside Smithtown Bay, with better fishing taking place in the shallower depths.
Robert at Long Island Outdoorsman in Rockville Center also let me know that blue claw crabs have started to make a showing at local piers.
Metro New York Fishing Report
Bass and blues seem to dominate the action in the metro NY area as well. John at Hudson Park Bait and Tackle in New Rochelle said there have been many bass in the 20- to 30-pound range falling to bunker chunks in 50-foot depths. Brett Barry, one of the shop’s junior anglers weighed in a bass of just over 28 lbs. John at Jack’s Bait and Tackle in the Bronx also reported some phenomenal bass action right now, weighing in three fish in the mid 40’s lbs. this week. On the south side, Bernie’s Bait & Tackle in Brooklyn reported angers catching bluefish to 15 lbs. in the Great Kills area of Staten Island. While Stella Maris Bait and Tackle in Brooklyn reported that cocktail blues were everywhere in the bay, from Breezy Point to Far Rockaway, while some large bass were landed by anglers near the airport on bunker.
Louie from Island Bait and Tackle in the Bronx reported that the fluke bite has improved as far as the keeper to short ratio was concerned. The channel in front of the shop, Prospect and Peacock points and Buoy 46 has been the better spots for fluke. Bernie’s Fishing Tackle reported that anglers have seen an increase of the amount of fluke being caught in the ocean when boats can get out. When the ocean has not cooperated, Stella Maris reported that anglers have still been doing well in the bay, with some large doormats being caught in the deeper holes of the bay.
Porgies are still red hot on both sides on the island with many of the party boats in the area seeing limits along with many large fish being caught.
South Shore Long Island Fishing Report
Again, bass and blues dominate the action along the south shore. Bay Park Fishing Station in Oceanside reported that anglers trolling spoons in 55 feet of water have been catching bass to 30 pounds. Trophy Tackle in West Babylon reported that bass and bluefish have been running in both inlets and along the beach. Inside the bay, Causeway Bait and Tackle in Wantagh reported very good action with cocktail blues just about every day just before sunset at the Jones beach Fishing Piers. They also reported anglers catching bass while drifting clams at the local bridges and inlet, with bigger fish being caught in the inlet.
Deeper inside Great South Bay, Chasing Tails Bait and Tackle in Oakdale reported that weakfish are everywhere. There has been a really good bite at the west Sayville Dock on the incoming tide. Sandworms, jellyworms and kastmasters have been accounting for the best catches.
Further to the east, White Water Outfitters in Hampton Bays reported that the fluke bite in the ocean has been down mainly due to the weather, but mentioned that there are plenty of fluke being caught in the bay for those who toss bucktails on the flats. Bluefish are throughout the bay and all you need to do is look for the birds to get in on the action. Ken at Tight Lines Tackle in Sag Harbor reported that the bass and bluefish action in the Peconic Bay on the flats has been very good, as well as the area around the bridge in Sag Harbor. He also mentioned that fluke to 6 lbs. are being caught drifting in the 4- to 10-foot depths.
South Fork Fishing Report
Star Island in Montauk reported that bass action from boat has been very solid. Several fish to 40 lbs were caught this past weekend, with many anglers catching their limits. The fluke bite has been good on the south side in 40 to 60 feet of water.
Paulie’s Tackle of Montauk said they were getting ready for their surf tournament this weekend and action along the beach has been decent with fish in the teens to mid 20s being caught on plugs and bucktails. He also noted that bluefish have invaded the north side of Montauk.
North Fork Fishing Report
Bill at Jamesport Bait and Tackle in Mattituck said that the porgy action in the bay has slowed from last week, but there is still a good amount around. Deeper in the bay, anglers have been catching plenty of weakfish in the 16- to 20-inch size range on various artificials. On the north side of the fork, the area in front of Mattituck Inlet has been producing fluke to 5 pounds. While the porgy action in the bay has slowed, the action in the Sound has increased.
Captain Mike of the Prime Time III out of Orient Point reported that action with bass, blues fluke and porgies has been very good. The fluke bite has increased since last week, and well as the number of bluefish in the 3 to 12-pound range that has invaded the area. Even with the bluefish thick, anglers are still doing very well with bass. This past week, 8-year-old Mike Aponte caught a 34-pound striped bass. Congrats Mike, that is one impressive catch!
Best Bets for the Weekend
Bass and bluefish have showed throughout the Island in great numbers. With the large schools of bunker still in the area, using live or chunked bunker would be the best bet for landing a large fish.
Best fluke catches seem to be coming from the shallower depths of the bays and Sound, but I would venture to some of the deeper holes or the ocean, if conditions allow, in hopes of landing a doormat.
Porgies, blowfish, and kingfish are in the bays and Sound in good numbers. Anchoring on a rock pile or mussel bed while using clam chum will help keep the fish around the boat.
And even though water temperatures are still a bit cool in the ocean, it might be worth looking for some inshore bluefin or sharks. Bluefin are currently being caught off of New Jersey and the Cape, so chances are good they could be right off our shore. The first weekends in June also historically mark some of the first shark catches of the season. With the large amounts of bait just off the beach, the sharks might be in close.
If you are not out there, you can’t catch’em!
Upstate New York Fishing Report
Rhode Island/Connecticut Fishing Report