Long Island - New York Fishing Report for 5-15-2014

North Shore Long Island Fishing Report

Mark at Cow Harbor Bait & Tackle in Northport told us that North Shore porgy are spread out and sparse because most of the larger schools are still concentrated to the east. However, a few scup have been caught here and there since the season opened.

The flounder fishing is starting to trail off, but Carmine from Campsite Sports Shop in Huntington Station reported fish are lingering in Huntington, Northport, and Lloyd Harbors. On the fluke front, Mark at Cow Harbor mentioned that a few have been caught and released this week off Eatons Point, the Asharoken strip, and in the Nissequogue. Hopefully these are good signs for opening day this Saturday.

John at Terminal Tackle in Kings Park said the bass bite is improving enough to say it’s pretty good at this point. There are still fish in the back bays, but they have begun moving out to the rocky beaches. A few keepers of 15 to18 pounds have also been found in the back of the Nissequogue, which John assumes are holdovers. Carmine at Campsite said live bait and small rubber lures have been working for stripers in Oyster Bay, Cold Spring Harbor, and Sunken Meadow.

South Shore Long Island Fishing Report

Flounder reports were a little scarce on the South Shore this week, but Henry from Trophy Tackle in West Babylon said that boats with RSA permits have been catching fluke around the Robert Moses Bridge. Mike at White Water Outfitters in Hampton Bays also said a few fluke have been caught and released at Jesops in the Peconic.

Bluefish invaded the South Shore this past week, and Chasing Tails Bait and Tackle in Oakdale reported the docks are loaded with them. Bay Park Fishing Station in Oceanside also reported blues in 30 feet of water off the Church and at the Atlantic Beach Bridge. An outgoing tide seems to produce the most fish, and heavy clam chum is helping.

Mike at White Water said larger bass are starting to filter in toward the eastern South Shore. Fish in the mid-20-pound range are becoming more common, with the sporadic 30-pound fish mixed in. Bunker are all over Moriches and Shinnecock inlets, the Peconic River, and the Quogue Canal, so the bass are on their tails. Dan from Causeway Bait and Tackle in Wantagh said that further to the west, clams have been producing stripers off Field 6, Gilgo Beach, and Tobay Beach. Trolling green and white bunker spoons has also been doing the trick in 40-45 feet of water south of Debs Inlet, according to Bay Park.

Captain Jerry at Captain Kayak in Sayville wants to remind everyone that the 2014 Kayak Fishing Classic at Jamaica Bay begins on May 15th and runs through May 18th. Register now for your chance at an awesome weekend of fishing!

Metro Long Island Fishing Report

There are a few flounder still hanging around the Coney Island Flats, according to Stretch from Stella Maris Bait and Tackle in Brooklyn. Louie at Island Bait and Tackle in the Bronx also said anglers have been able to pick off a few fish at Orchard Beach Lagoon, Turtle Cove, and the Pelham Bay Bridge. Vinny from Bernie’s Fishing Tackle in Brooklyn said that a few fluke have mixed in with the flounder this week at Floyd Bennett Field.

Stretch at Stella Maris reported that blues have moved into the area around Coney Island, Breezy Point, and Canarsie Pier, but the bass bite has been far superior this week. John from Hudson Park Bait and Tackle in New Rochelle said decent 32-34 inch stripers have been common in the middle of the Sound, Manhasset Bay, and Little Neck Bay. John at Jack’s Bait and Tackle in the Bronx added that bass have been caught in Hempstead Harbor, the Stepping Stone Lighthouse, and the Throgs Neck and Whitestone Bridges.

East End Long Island Fishing Report

There are plenty of jumbo porgy in the Peconic, according to Bill from Jamesport Bait and Tackle in Mattituck. They are not very difficult to find, but he said the scup have been stacked up at the Middle Grounds, Jesups, Buoy 17, and Rogers Rock. Anglers have also been hooking up with a few weakfish at Buoy 17 and Rogers Rock on worms.

Paulie at Paulie’s Bait and Tackle in Montauk reported a few small bass being caught off Ditch Plains on bucktails and blues in the back bays chasing squid. Bill at Jamesport also said a few keeper stripers were caught in the Southold creeks, around the Route 105 Bridge, and at Indian Island on white soft plastics.

Best Bets for the Weekend

This week was excellent for huge porgy in the Peconic, and it promises to be more of the same this weekend. The largest schools are still a bit toward eastern Long Island, but they will continue to head further west within the next few weeks. The action will likely heat up very soon at the common North Shore spots. The shops are stocked with all the worms and clams you will need, and the party boats are limiting out in some areas if you are interested in that.

Although flounder fishing has been a bit tough, you can try for another flattie starting on Saturday. The highly anticipated fluke season opens on May 17th with limits being 18 inches and 5 fish. There have been a few catches all around the Island, but it seems like good places to start off are around the South Shore bridges, in the Peconic, and just outside some of the North Shore bays.

Stripers are starting to move into more open water now, but the back bays will still hold some fish for a while. Bait is all around getting the bass hyped up to feed. The bigger fish are still out toward the west, but they are heading out further every day. Rubber baits, fresh bunker, and bucktails are all working off the beaches, around the bridges, and in the harbors. It’s that time of year where things start getting really good, so get out there and fish. Don’t wait to read the reports…Make your own reports!