North Shore Long Island Fishing Report
John at Terminal Tackle in Kings Park said that the bass numbers are still shaky, and the North Shore is not overrun with them just yet. However, there are a few, mostly schoolie sized, being caught in the Nissequogue and off some of the rocky beaches. Phil from Cow Harbor Bait & Tackle in Northport added that a few nicer stripers to 14 pounds are mixing in with the school bass in Huntington and Northport Bays. The water temperature is good and anglers are coming across bait balls of bunker in the bays making for the right combination for things to really start heating up soon.
A handful of porgy began showing up in the rocks off Sunken Meadow, but not in any significant numbers yet. The fluke fishing, on the other hand, is not half bad, according to John at Terminal Tackle. There were some caught on the drop-off at Asharoken feeding on sand eels, on the flats in front of the River, and deep in Cranes Neck around the squid. Eatons Neck and the Brush Pile also saw a few summer flounder in shallow water of only 15 to 20 feet. Bluefish still have yet to show up, but they should only be 1 to 2 weeks away.
South Shore Long Island Fishing Report
Fluke were around for the opener on the South Shore, but Bill from Combs Bait & Tackle in Amityville said they are a bit sluggish. Both inlets, but especially Jones, and the Wantagh bridges produced fish from 3.5 to 4 pounds using squid and spearing and long leaders. Captain Joe of the Jib VI out of Captree said they found decent fluke action this week with a lot of shorts, but also a good number of keepers in the mix averaging 20 to 30 per trip. They will begin night fishing for bass and bluefish at the end of this week. Bryce at White Water Outfitters in Hampton Bays said there was a decent pick of summer flounder in Shinnecock Bay and 4- to 6-pound weakfish in the Quogue and Shinnecock Channels.
Robert at Sea Isle Tackle in Freeport reported that the bluefish action slowed down this week around the area bridges on the western South Shore, which makes him hopeful that the bass will come back around in full force. Despite relatively low numbers, there were some striper reports coming into Bay Park Fishing Station in Oceanside of anglers trolling bunker spoons by the ER Buoy and landing fish to 25 pounds, and Henry at Trophy Tackle in West Babylon said a few bass were caught under the Wantagh Bridge at night on bass assassins. There are hordes of bluefish in and around Shinnecock with a few smaller stripers in the mix, according to Bryce at White Water. He added that anglers are able to get away from the blues by finding the bunker pods in the back of the bay where bass to 28 pounds were landed this week.
Metro Long Island Fishing Report
The blues have taken over western Long Island, but quality stripers can also be found in the mix. Vinny at Bernie’s Fishing Tackle in Brooklyn said bluefish are everywhere from JFK through Sheepshead Bay and out to Staten Island; however, anglers are able to get away from them and hit some decent bass by fishing in the early morning or at night. Guys are also having some luck with blues at the Throgs Neck and Whitestone Bridges with a handful of bass to 37 inches mixed in on fresh bunker, according to John at Jack’s Bait & Tackle in the Bronx, and John from Hudson Park Bait & Tackle in New Rochelle said there were reports of stripers to 30 pounds this week up by him, but those are very hit or miss.
Stretch from Stella Maris Bait & Tackle in Brooklyn said that the fluke fishing did not start off impeccably, but a few were picked up at Nortons Point and in the channel at the Marine Parkway Bridge.
East End/North Fork Long Island Fishing Report
Fluke fishing on the East End opened pretty well with nice fish to 5.5 pounds caught in 70 feet of water at the Radar Tower on the south side, according to Tonya at Westlake Marina in Montauk. Jamesport Bait & Tackle in Mattituck reported anglers doing well on the North Fork off Claudio’s and the Greenlawns for summer flounder, and there are reports of fantastic scup action at Buoy 17 off Jessups. The Prime Time 3 out of Orient has been killing both species this week with porgy to 4 pounds and doormats weighing in at over 12 pounds.
The bass and blues are not on the East End in full force yet, but they are right around the corner. A few strays here and there can be found in the Peconic, and Maureen at Gone Fishing Marina in Montauk reported some small bass along the beaches on the south side.
Best Bets for the Weekend
Bottom fishing looks to be the best on the East End with jumbo porgy and huge fluke hitting the rails. The Peconic is almost at its best, but we are still waiting on the bass and blues. However, the place is overrun with scup, and huge ones at that. Jessups is the spot to be, but there are plenty of other locations in the Bay to look for them. Both Forks are producing nice fluke catches, but the North Fork seems to have the edge with quality fish. If you are only looking for fluke, all of the shores are presenting good signs of fish. Find some shallow structure to drift squid and spearing over. There is no need to get too deep just yet.
Blues are starting to move east, so if you are looking to tangle with a chopper, check out Moriches or Shinnecock. Bucktails, tins, bunker, and topwater lures will do the trick. If you are able to work your bait of choice slow enough to get passed the blues, you might find some bass sitting underneath them. Schoolies can be found in the backs of various bays and off the beaches around the Island, and there are bigger fish moving in every day. The cows should be just about done spawning, and they will be making their way across all shores very soon. Now is the time to brush up on your techniques before the big girls show up.
Does anyone have up to the minute reports for Jamaica bay, as in how was it this past week and what does it look like for this weekend. Thanks to all
Any fluke activity around bay park?
Could you please stop writing passed when you mean past? How did you even get a job? Don’t you have an editor?
Based on your fishing reports I spent all day Saturday off of Orient point stripper fishing with not a fish to be found. Then I went to Greenport to flutie only 1 fish was taken . there were plenty of bluefish. It seems like the blue fish have taken over the waters in the past few years. Hopefully the waters warms up and the bass return and the reports get better as its a long way to come from N.H.