Long Island Fishing Report for 4-23-2015

North Shore Long Island Fishing Report

Phil at Cow Harbor Bait & Tackle in Northport reported good amounts of bait in their local waters, but the big mass of fish have yet to show up. He heard of some guys are back to catching herring around Northport and Centerport harbors, and grass shrimp can be seen around the docks. A small handful of flounder were caught over the weekend in some of the back harbors, but no substantial catches to speak of. Phil is hoping a few more consistently warm days might allow things to pick up some on the flatfish front.

The occasional bass was caught this week in the back bays of the mid-North Shore, but no real numbers yet, according to John at Terminal Tackle in Kings Park. Further west is seeing better striper action, namely Manhasset and Little Neck Bay. The schools only have a few more harbors to jump before the shops get some better action to report on, so it is only a matter time before the migration heads this way.

The trout numbers seem to be dwindling as anglers are basically just going after stocked fish. More were added to White’s Pool and Twin Ponds, but there are plenty of guys that follow the stocking trucks and have a line in the water before they even finish dumping.

South Shore Long Island Fishing Report

Bryce at White Water Outfitters in Hampton Bays said there are more bunker in the local water than he has ever seen in his life, so now would be the time to get out and stock up on bait if you need it. Gannets were lined up by the hundreds feeding on bait off the bars, but the bass are not there yet to do the same. However, a few residents were caught in the North and South Fork tidal creeks, and there was some chatter about bluefish showing up around the Smith Point Bridge. Also of note, Quogue Canal is still hanging on to seemingly the only flounder in the area. The numbers are not substantial, but at least it is something. The guys at Trophy Tackle in West Babylon said there is even more bait in the water outside of Jones and Fire Island Inlets in the way of bunker and herring, but the main body of bass are still further to the west.

Cod fishing is definitely still happening big time for the boats sailing out of the South Shore. Cod of 30 lbs or more are not uncommon, and the fares are slamming mixed bags with plenty of ling and pollock to go around.

White Water Outfitters is having their 2nd Annual Open House on May 2nd and 3rd where reps from many different gear and tackle companies will be on site talking about and demonstrating their products. If you have the time, it is an event that is definitely one to check out.

Metro Long Island Fishing Report

Vinny at Bernie’s Fishing Tackle in Brooklyn said there are not crazy flounder numbers being reported, but there are enough places where the fish are hanging out. Mussels and worms are working in the shallow back bays and around the 69th Street Pier. Stretch from Stella Maris Bait & Tackle in Brooklyn also reported guys are getting lucky with flatfish from the surf by the Belt Parkway.

Back bays and estuaries are also good places to catch some early season schoolie bass, according to John at Hudson Park Bait & Tackle in New Rochelle. Bucktails, Gulp, and swimming shads are accounting for most of the catches in his area. John from Jack’s Bait & Tackle in the Bronx reported 33 inch keepers from his local waters and fish as big as 40 inches coming from the Hudson at places such as Croton and Tarrytown. These larger fish are mostly hitting sandworms, bloodworms, and fresh bunker.

East End/North Fork Long Island Fishing Report

Ben at Star Island Marina in Montauk said the cod fishing picked up a bit this week for guys going out on their private boats, but the action is nowhere near where it was last year. Heavy winds are still grounding many trips, and the fish just do not seem to be here like they should be. The Viking was finally able to sail offshore for the first time in quite a while after losing many trips to foul conditions. They were rewarded with all day action of tilefish to 36 lbs, and a mix of cod, pollack, hake, and barrelfish allowing their fares plenty of fillets to take home. The folks at Jamesport Bait & Tackle in Mattituck reported tons of bunker out at Orient, and the schools are starting to make their way west.

Best Bets for the Weekend

With the bait showing up in full force, it is time to dust off the gear and hit the water. Most of the bass are still to the west, but the little guys and resident fish are active and very willing to feed. The migrators are going to start entering the harbors soon, and things might just explode open any day now. That is what I am hoping for anyway. With the tremendous amount of bunker in the water, snagging a few of them might give you good results. Bloodworms and swim shads will also do the trick this time of year. Party boats are starting to sail in western Long Island, and they are already catching keepers a few inches over the size limit. As a reminder, striped bass regulations changed this year to only one fish at 28 inches.

Flounder is a possibility for those who would like to try, but my guess is that most anglers now have their mind on bass. If you are one who prefers the flatfish then stick to shallow back bays, and use mussels or worms. Western Long Island and the Quogue Canal have been the places seemingly with the most action being reported. Winds and seas are a bit tough through Friday afternoon, but things will settle nicely for those who want to hit a cod boat for the weekend. It is definitely nice to actually have a few different fishing options to choose from. Things will only get better from here.