Long Island - New York Fishing Report for 4-9-2015

North Shore Long Island Fishing Report

I spoke to Mark at Cow Harbor Bait & Tackle in Northport, and the shop is operating back to normal business hours for the spring. They are focusing on reel repairs and getting the place fully stocked by the weekend. Mark also told me that the freshwater scene turned on this week with largemouth bass starting to bite really well over the last few days. White’s Pool seemed to get stocked with small trout of only 7 inches or so in size, but other stocked freshwater locations around the Island are seeing decent sized brown and rainbow trout, according to John at Terminal Tackle in Kings Park.

Saltwater continues to be more finicky with no flounder reports making it back to any of the North Shore shops this week, which either means no one is fishing or there are no flounder to be caught. The harbors are reading between 35 and 36 degrees so we might need another week or so for the temperatures to climb toward the 40s before fishing becomes more productive. Bait is becoming active in the marshes, including free-swimming worms and grass shrimp, and Carmine at Campsite Sports Shop in Huntington Station heard unconfirmed hints of small school bass in the harbors.

South Shore Long Island Fishing Report

Bill at Combs Bait & Tackle in Amityville said a few guys have been out trying for flounder on the western South Shore, but came up empty handed. Further to the east, however, Bryce from White Water Outfitters in Hampton Bays reported a handful of flatfish caught in Quogue Canal. The fishing is nowhere near outstanding, but limiting out is definitely a possibility when anglers are only allowed two fish. Bryce also got word of a few schoolies caught in locations where it is typical to find early season bass, but he does not want to substantiate the rumors just yet.

When talking to the guys on the King Cod, Bill at Combs learned that they saw a two-degree rise in offshore temperatures this week and an increase in the abundance of bait. Bunker, however, is not yet present in our waters. The boat managed around 30 keeper cod into the teens and a few small Pollock on a recent offshore trip. The Super Hawk reeled in the big ones on an East End wreck trip that saw a 32 lb pool cod with plenty of other sizable fish in the mix.

Metro Long Island Fishing Report

Flounder sightings were far and few between this week, but Frank at Bernie’s Fishing Tackle in Brooklyn did report a couple caught at the 69^th Street Pier as that is where you will find the warmest water this time of year. According to John at Jack’s Bait & Tackle in the Bronx, anglers are trying other locations, such as the Orchard Beach Lagoon, with no luck just yet. He did mention, however, that the Hudson River is on fire with bass up to 33 inches. Croton, Tarrytown, and Piedmont are all productive spots right now, and sandworms and bloodworms are the most effective baits early in the season. Richie at Stella Maris Bait & Tackle in Brooklyn also said herring are still making an appearance down at the Coney Island Pier.

I got ahold of John at Hudson Park Bait & Tackle in New Rochelle this week after being closed for the long winter and he just wanted to let everyone know that the shop will be stocked and ready once the season really gets underway. The marina is being worked on and boats are going in as we speak.

East End/North Fork Long Island Fishing Report

Recent wind and seas have not provided favorable sailing conditions on the East End lately. The majority of scheduled trips are being cancelled on a weekly basis, and the shops either have no new information or they are not even operating normal hours yet. We only need to hang tight for three more weeks for the opening of porgy season and the East End fishing season to finally commence.

Best Bets for the Weekend

I do not think that I am the only angler on the Island that is champing at the bit to hit the water hard. We are at least two weeks behind from where we were this time last year, but I would almost guess it is even worse than that. South Shore cod is always an option right now, but I am ready for something different. Wednesday marks the beginning of striped bass, but I have to assume that the opener will not be a very productive one. Whispers of early-season schoolies can be heard in different corners of our local waters, but I am skeptical until I see a date-stamped photo or receive news from a reliable source. My suggestion is not to wait and read the report, but instead go out and make a report. No one says you can’t be the first guy to land a striper this season. Wander through the warm, shallow back bays, marshes, and tidal creeks to find fish that are getting hungry enough to bite. The same concept applies to flounder. The first ones caught so far have been where the water is warmest, and that is where you need to be. Also, do not discount freshwater fishing in the time before the salt heats up. Stocked trout are prevalent, and largemouths and pickerel are starting to wake up. Work shallow edges where the sun is able to warm them during the day, and make SLOW retrieves.