North Shore Long Island Fishing Report
Despite the fishing around the Island not being at all spectacular, the weather is not helping guys who want to get out for the few opportunities that do exist. Not much has changed on the North Shore with anglers bundling up to tangle with herring at the docks. John at Terminal Tackle in Kings Park said that the activity might be trending toward the downward swing of things, but they are not showing any inclination to be leaving anytime soon. Catchable schools can be found all over the Sound at this point, but guys are having some good luck in Huntington Harbor, Centerport, just inside the Nissequogue, Mount Sinai Harbor, and throughout Port Jefferson. The below freezing temperatures we are experiencing at night have caused some skim ice in the back of many of the North Shore harbors, but it melts quickly once the sun is up during the day. If things continue to just stay mildly cold, we might get a solid shot at herring for the remainder of the winter.
South Shore Long Island Fishing Report
The weekend proved to be a tough one to make it off the dock with many boats cancelling trips for Sunday and Monday, and Rich at White Water Outfitters in Hampton Bays did not hear of any good news on the fishing front despite the shop seeing a good turnout at the striper show on Saturday. Anglers who took advantage of a weather break last week fished the Hudson Canyon for several hours with not even a nibble, indicating that the offshore bite has closed up shop for the winter. The eastern South Shore still has not seen any herring showing up, at least not in any newsworthy quantities, but guys are having some luck with them to the west around Jones Beach. On a more positive note, the cod boats that sailed at the end of last week did put some good trips together with solid action. Captains reported incredible, non-stop fishing with plenty of quality fish for all of their fares and many double headers hitting the decks. Charters that sailed to the eastern wrecks managed cod to 20 pounds, while the boats that hung out toward the west end saw similar numbers of fish but on a smaller scale of 8-15 pounders. Mixed in with the cod were ling and pollock to 15 pounds.
Metro Long Island Fishing Report
Vinny at Bernie’s Fishing Tackle in Brooklyn received the same reports as the past several weeks with herring being the biggest, and just about only, game in town worth going after. Canarsie Pier is a popular hotspot for them with the added bonus of a few mackerel around to keep things a bit more interesting. Coney Island Pier, Magnolia Pier, and Jamaica Bay, as well as several other areas, are also seeing their fair share of action as well. At times the fishing can be described as a frenzy with so many herring you cannot get your line out fast enough, while other times anglers are really having to work at catching just a couple. The docks tend to get a bit crowded at times, especially if the weather is favorable, but overall it is worth the trip to the water. For those wanting to switch things up a bit, Stretch from Stella Maris Bait & Tackle in Brooklyn said there are still ling at night at the 59th and 69th Street Piers on clams and squid. Also, despite the tough weather grounding the boats, cod charters fishing at the AB Reef are doing well when they are able to sneak out.
East End/North Fork Long Island Fishing Report
As is the case for the South Shore cod boats, captains sailing from the East End had to cancel trips last weekend as well as the trips scheduled for the middle of this week because of the weather. Killer winds and rough seas are really putting a damper on what is an awesome cod season, and it does not look like those conditions are going away for any extended period of time in the near future. However, there were a few days last week when the charters were able to hit the cod grounds for some great fishing. Captain Mike of the Prime Time 3 out of Orient sailed to Block Island for a steady pick of fish with many limits seen on board. Jigging accounted for mainly fish to 10 pounds, but pool cod weighed upwards of 25 pounds. Overall, the wreck bite is on and off with some days being all out bail jobs and other trips take a bit more work. Unexpected conditions can wreak havoc on a captain’s intended plans, but those who have a backup plan can still manage to pull off a good trip.
Best Bets for the Weekend
I’m not sure that there is a best bet for this weekend, at least on the fishing front. Without trying to sound like a broken record, 5-9 foot seas and 25 knot winds are not looking very favorable for wreck fishing. Charter and party boats are updating their schedule on a day to day basis as to whether or not they will be heading out so I’m keeping my fingers crossed that things will get better. However, if no one is sailing, herring is an option if you need to wet a line and don’t mind getting blown away. North Shore and western Long Island are the best options to find some good action, and you might be protected from the winds if you fish toward the back of some of the harbors and bays. Unfortunately, as far as I can tell there are not any local fishing shows scheduled until February to keep us occupied, but you can always take this downtime to get all of your gear serviced as spring fishing will be here before you know it.