North Shore Long Island Fishing Report
We are definitely deep into that time of year where the fishing is slow and there is not much new information coming in each week. The North Shore game has not changed, which is actually a very good thing. John at Terminal Tackle in Kings Park said that he is surprised how long the sea herring have stuck around, but it is keeping some life in the Sound. Once the schools decide to take a hike, you might as well pack up your gear and wait until spring. For now, anglers fishing Huntington Harbor and Mount Sinai Harbor are still seeing the most abundant action, but all spots in between are producing some as well. Cold Spring Harbor, Oyster Bay, and Centerport dam are other notable places to find decent herring numbers, according to Carmine at Campsite Sports Shop in Huntington Station.
South Shore Long Island Fishing Report
Ronnie of Sea Isle Tackle in Freeport said that many of the bays on the South Shore have frozen over so any chances of herring fishing off the docks are virtually gone. However, Shinnecock Bay further to the east still has open water and there are some schools swimming around in there, according to Bert at White Water Outfitters in Hampton Bays.
Cod fishing is also another option on the South Shore. Bill at Combs Bait & Tackle in Amityville heard reports from the King Cod out of Moriches this week that the boat was averaging 40-50 fish each trip, and jigging was starting to pick up.
White Water also wanted to note that they are available to service any of your gear this winter before the season starts back up. They are the official Van Staal warranty center in New York and are getting inundated with shipments of reels, so get your gear to them soon so you will have it when the fish arrive.
Metro New York Fishing Report
Frank at Bernie’s Fishing Tackle in Brooklyn said that the herring fishing is holding up in western Long Island where he was told by a customer who was fishing at the Coney Island Pier that they were pulling between 50-60 fish per hour. Joe of Stella Maris Bait & Tackle in Brooklyn said Canarsie Pier, the 58th and 69th Street Piers, and Pier 10 in the bay have also been hotspots for herring action.
The only other notable piece of information that Frank at Bernie’s could give us was that the shop was keeping busy this week with guys coming in looking for ice-fishing gear. With the consistently cold temperatures recently the ice fishing broke open upstate this weekend, and guys have been doing well with sunnies, bluegills, and pickerel. So far, I have not heard of many solid ice fishing reports from the Island as of yet.
East End/North Fork Long Island Fishing Report
The East End is all about the cod. Ben at Star Island Marina in Montauk said that when the weather allows the boats to untie from the dock, the fishing has been really good. The action is pretty steady with plenty of keepers and shorts bending the rods, and the fish are starting to become more sizable with pool fish weighing in at over 30 lbs. Some bycatch has been in the mix, but that will likely pick up more as the season progresses.
Fishing Forecast for Long Island
This will have to be another weekend of choosing between herring from shore or cod from a boat. Herring fishing should remain good in the areas that have yet to freeze over. The North Shore harbors and western Long Island piers have had the most consistent activity so I would start there. Sabiki rigs are all you need for these guys.
Cod, on the other hand, is a bit more work but well worth it. The East End and South Shore are the places to be for that fishery. The seas do not look too rough for the weekend so at least a few boats should be sailing.
As for ice fishing, I’m sure there are a few ponds that are solid enough to fish on. However, with daytime temperatures hovering at or just above freezing, make sure the ice is thick enough before venturing out. You might just have a small window of opportunity before it warms up on Sunday.