Fall may be approaching fast but that doesn’t mean the summer fish are gone. Bottom fish are still ready for the taking across much of Long Island. Striped bass have been finicky up to this point but still are present for anglers looking to work for their catch. Blue fish are improving in number and size, making hopes high for a top notch fall run.
John from Hudson Park Bait & Tackle reports that there are a ton of big blues around up to 15-16-pounds. There are also a lot of smaller fish mixed in making for sore arms and full coolers. Mixed in with the blues have been some weakfish pushing 9-pounds. On the bottom, the porgy fishing has been red hot as has the snapper fishing, which are reaching eatable size and even better, live bait size.
At Ralph’s Tackle in Island Park, the local reefs are still holding doormat flatties. The Atlantic and Hempstead Reefs as well as the Middle Grounds are the target areas for fluke as well as scup and seabass. On the bay side, there have been some smaller fluke and a mix of schoolie stripers off of Jones beach.
Bay Park Fishing Station has also had some great action. Many boats that went out this week came back with at least 2 keepers. Sizes varied from 5-pounds to 7.5-pounds. These fish were mixed in with a few schools of legal seabass and lots of sea robins. Bottoms fishing has been hotter than surf casting so far but things are setting up for an active fall.
Mark from Cow Harbor has noticed a big bunker die off this week. Whether related or not, the bass bite has also taken a small hit for how it was last week. On the other hand, the bluefish action has picked up with plenty of 4-6-pound fish being taken with jigs in about 30-50-feet of water. If you’re looking for the bigger blues, fishing the rock piles and using bunker chunks are key. Fluke and porgies have continued to hold strong. The scup have gotten bigger and changed color pattern leading Mark to believe, they are coming off the deeper rock piles and mussel beds. Fluke are still very aggressive on the rock/sand mixed bottom on bucktails. These fish have come aboard at about 5-6-pounds.
Aboard the Jib VI, out of Captree, Captain Joe reports that the fluke fishing has been decent this week. They have been pulling plenty of keepers at around 5-pounds, with a mix of shorts. The seabass and porgy bite but the mix of keepers to shorts is leaning a slightly towards the bigger side. The number of catches has been off the charts which is really what the trip is about.
Also in Captree, Brendan from Captree Bait & Tackle, has seabass everywhere off the local Captree Piers on clam and squid. Most fish are small but there have been fish landed up to 18-inches. Big fluke are also present up to 8.65-pounds. With a few more weeks of good fishing for the summer flatties, peanut bunker are the best bait to fill the freezers. Snappers are also being taken off all the local spots as they are now reaching optimal size. Sharks are showing up in the form of threshers, makos, duskys and even a few hammerheads. These fish are being taken from Fire Island Inlet and from chumming off the nearby shores.
At Miller Place Bait & Tackle, Jim reports that the blues off the Middle Grounds have picked up the pace and are making for a day well worth spending on the water. There have been some bass around but the hot bite has not yet appeared. Off the local docks, snappers and porgies are ready to take the bait and by anglers time while the fall action gets going. Seabass have also been worth dropping a line in the deeper waters.
In Hampton Bays, at White Water Outfitters, Jake continues to seen great fluke action on the bay off Montauk. The ocean side has had some fish but has seen a drop off from last week due to the weather. Offshore, there have been some yellow fin and wahoo but the bite has been largely sporadic.
At West Lake Marina, Tonya reports that fluke and seabass have been hot this week. Decent sized bass are coming into the docks but following the trend of being at a slower place. These were caught on live eels. Fluke fishing is still going well as a 9 and 9.5-pound fish were weighed in at the dock. Offshore, there have been some yellow fin out of the butter fish hole but only about 15-30-pounds.
Out in Montauk, at Gone Fishing Marina, TJ weighed in the biggest bass of the season this week at 54.2-pounds. The striper action has held steady and the bottom fishing is not far behind. Although it has taken a slight hit, the fluke, porgy and seabass are still holding strong on the bottom around rocks and structure.
At Montauk Marine Basin, the striper action has been decent. On the south side of the Island, some nice fluke have been taken along with some solid seabass. Courtney also reports that there is a red hot tuna bite in the Hudson that just started a day or two ago. A 200-pound big eye along with some 50-80-pound yellow fins are on the move.
Joe from Staten Island Tuna Club reports that the fluke are still the hottest action around. Best has been around the channels and especially near the Verrazano Bridge area. Blue fish are hitting and getting bigger up to 10-12-pounds on jigs and bunker chunks. Some bass are hitting but mostly for kayakers that can get into the shallower waters where the boats cant. Weakfish and black seabass as well are starting to show up.
Paul from River Bay Outfitters has seen bass and blues taken off the south side of Montauk of fly rod. They are also in the back bays of the Oceanside waters, mostly short but there are some good sized fish to be had. Tons of bait remain in the local waters and are waiting for the beaches to be torn up by fall bass and blues.
On the freshwater scene, small local ponds are often looked past but are offering some great fishing. Everything from white perch to bass and crappie are in mid-season form and just as aggressive as ever.
Fishing Forecast for Long Island
Continue to get in as much fluke and sea bass fishing as you can to fill the freezers and get some great pictures while they are still around. Always keep a pair of binoculars around as a roaming school of bass or bluefish can show up and a moment’s notice and disappear just as quickly. As the fall approaches, it all comes down to preparedness.