North Shore Long Island Fishing Report
John at Terminal Tackle in Kings Park said that the porgy are as thick as ever, and anglers looking for rough bottom in 20 to 30 feet of water have been finding a good amount of scup. Captain Mark with the Celtic Quest out of Port Jefferson said the morning bite has been best as of late, but that could change in the very near future.
Fluke are plentiful on the North Shore, but it looks like the many of the larger fish have moved out and were replaced by shorts. However, Phil from Cow Harbor Bait and Tackle in Northport reported decent sized fluke to 5 pounds scattered off Makamah Beach in 15 to 20 feet of water. Captain Mark of the Celtic Quest said the boat has seen a lot of short action with enough keepers in the mix to keep things interesting. The typical pool fish this week has been between 4 to 5 pounds. He said that since the fluke are feeding on mainly sandeels, the best way to catch them is with a plain hook tipped with a single spearing. There’s no need to be too elaborate with your presentation right now.
Schoolies have been found in Oyster Bay, Centerport Harbor, and Northport Harbor on bunker chunks and rubber shads, according to Carmine from Campsite Sports Shop in Huntington Station. John at Terminal Tackle added that the bass bite has been tough, but trolling wire at the Triangle are still accounting for a few fish. He also said there are stripers feeding on bunker in Smithtown Bay, but you have to find the right school where the bass are as not every pod has fish on them. Phil from Cow Harbor reported that a few more bluefish have shown up, although they are not here in the same numbers as usual. Anglers have been catching cocktails of 3 to 7 pounds on diamond jigs off Makamah, and a few larger ones have been landed in deeper water on parachutes.
South Shore Long Island Fishing Report
Bill at Combs Bait & Tackle in Amityville said the most solid fluke action on the South Shore in at the McAllister Grounds with the Hempstead Reef coming in at a close second. The fish are still shallow, so stay away from the deeper water at Cholera for now. Fish up to 8.5 pounds have been caught on squid, spearing, peruvian, and white bucktails. The fishing in the bay has been good also for anglers working white or pink bucktails on an outgoing tide. John from Trophy Tackle in West Babylon reported good fluke catches in the state boat channel from Robert Moses to Tobay Beach. On the eastern South Shore, Mike from White Water Outfitters in Hampton Bays said the fluke bite in Shinnecock Bay up on the bars is improving, but the ocean fishing continues to be scattered and unpredictable.
One of the most common reports I’ve heard this week has been about the big bass on bunker schools all over the South Shore. Bay Park Fishing Station in Oceanside reported anglers trolling bunker spoons during the early morning in 40 feet of water have been landing bass over 30 pounds. John at Trophy Tackle said fishing outside of Fire Island Inlet in 60 feet of water has also been producing nice catches.
Sharks are also big news on the South Shore right now. Captain Ryan of Grand Bahama Mama Charters out of Hampton Bays said they have been doing great with the shark charters for makos over 150 pounds, and they will be sailing for shark nearly every day if you would like to book a trip. The Wally Oakland Memorial Shark Tournament was this past Tuesday, and Mike from White Water told us the winning thresher weighed in at 525 pounds and the largest mako was 390 pounds.
I got the opportunity to take a trip offshore with Captain Greg Metzger, On The Water contributor Chris Paparo, Angelo Baio of Full Circle Outdoors, and Dan Johnson. We sailed from Shinnecock on a picture perfect day and fished out at the X’s. By days end, we were able to tag and release 10 blue sharks, many of which were upwards of 250 pounds.
Metro Long Island Fishing Report
A good portion of the porgy are still further to the east in Oyster Bay and Bayville, but Big John from Jack’s Bait and Tackle in the Bronx reported that the scup are starting to stack up around Execution Lighthouse, and they are favoring sandworms.
Vinny at Bernie’s Fishing Tackle in Brooklyn said that a few guys from the shop have been fishing Jamaica Bay for fluke and were rewarded with a ton of smaller fish with plenty of keepers mixed in. John at Jack’s Bait reported that squid and spearing have been working on the fluke for those fishing around Harts Island. Stretch from Stella Maris Bait and Tackle in Brooklyn added that the Ambrose Channel has also been thick with flatties.
There are a number of bass chasing bunker pods in the early morning around Execution Lighthouse, according to John at Hudson Park Bait and Tackle in New Rochelle. Big John from Jack’s Bait said that the night bite is the best for bass and blues around the Execution Lighthouse and the Throgs Neck Bridge on bunker. Stretch at Stella Maris said anglers have been finding blues under the birds off the beaches and on the boats.
East End/North Fork Long Island Fishing Report
There is a good porgy bite on both Forks this week. Bill at Jamesport Bait and Tackle in Mattituck said that the scup are scattered all over the Sound so you have to search around for them day by day, but they have been prevalent at Roanoke, Buoy 15, the Motel, the oil tanks, and Hortons. David at Westlake Marina in Montauk said anglers have been finding porgy in Cherry Harbor and mixed in with the fluke on the south side. He also got the first reports of the season of triggerfish in the Rips north of the Point.
TJ at Gone Fishing Marina in Montauk said there are fluke at the North Rips, but the bite has been on and off this week. David at Westlake Marina said you have to hunt around for the fluke and pick through shorts on the south side. However, quality fish of 10 to 11 pounds have been picked up, and anglers are regularly catching their limits. The fluke bite has been quiet in Peconic Bay, but Gardiners is continuing to pick up, according to Bill at Jamesport.
Captain Bob of Rainbow Charters out of Orient said the fishing has been good with the favorable weather we have had lately, but the stripers are now on their summer schedule. He has been fishing at the Rips, and the early morning and sunset have been the best times with very good sized fish caught on live bait. Captain Lou at Star Island Marina in Montauk reported that anglers fishing at the Elbow using live spot have landed bass up to 40 pounds. Trolling parachutes and umbrella rigs have been working for bass off the Point, according to TJ at Gone Fishing Marina. Bill from Jamesport said that on the North Fork, bucktails and eels have been working for stripers off Hortons and at the Gut and Race.
Captain Lou at Star Island said the offshore bite is very good right now with big threshers and makos around, as well as yellowfin tuna upwards of 60 pounds.
Best Bets for the Weekend
Porgy are always a welcome catch as the summer progresses, and the North Shore is loaded with them right now. Find some good structure or mussel beds and fish the morning with clams or sandworms if you are able to. If you fish toward the later parts of the day, try closer to the beaches as they have been moving to the shallows at sundown.
The fluke action is good, but you will have to work harder for a keeper this weekend, and squid and spearing continue to be the bait of choice. The western South Shore and East End seem to be holding the highest concentration of large fluke, but there are keepers mixed in where ever you find the fish.
If you can get on a boat to fish the bunker pods on the South Shore, don’t pass up the opportunity. The fishing has been insane with plenty of bass from 30 to 50 pounds. Live baits are working best right now, but chunks may also get the job done. The East End is also seeing its fair share of large stripers in the usual spots, and the early morning and night times are best all around.
Offshore fishing is really good right now also. There are huge sharks everywhere from 5 to 20 miles out, and there are plenty of shark tournaments coming up in the near future for you to participate in.