This week saw fluke season come to an end but they big flatties didn’t go quietly into the night. As the attention now turns fully to fall species and a highly anticipated fall run, early signs of action are giving anglers high hopes for the coming weeks.
John from Hudson Park Bait & Tackle excitedly reports there has been a run of bonita this week, blowing up on the surface like small footballs in big schools. Blues and bass are working the baitfish as well and showing good size as a 28-pound striper was landed just days ago on a popper, in close in the rocks. Scup, weakfish and sea bass are still a consistent catch and mostly mixed all together on bottom structure and wrecks.
In Brooklyn, at Stella Maris, Stretch continues to run into porgies all over the local waters. A few weaks have been found patrolling the bottoms but the best fishing has been for sharks. At about 15- to 30-miles out, a 365-pound thresher was caught along with a number of others that were released. The bite has been red hot and the way to go if you’re looking for a truly challenging fight.
Bay Park Fishing Station found Mark also speaking of some good action with threshers this week. A 299-pound and 235-pound shark were caught on consecutive days using bunker chum about 30 miles offshore. Inshore, off Hempstead Reef, sea bass and scup are still tearing up the bottom along with a couple kingfish in Reynolds Channel. There are also keeper sea bass in front of Ambrose Lighthouse and even a few cod were caught this week.
At Terminal Tackle, last week’s action has, for the most part, stayed true through this week. Tons of blues and scup are in all the local waters. Fluke season is now closed but the bite was on up to the last drop. Bass have begun to show more of a presence this week and are mixing in with the bluefish on diamond jigs and along the beaches at night. Most fish are in the schoolie size range but more keeper sized fish show with each passing day.
Mark from Cow Harbor also has porgies running wild and grabbing every clam strip they can find. The sea bass action has finally begun to pick up in 28 to 30 feet of water in front of the lighthouse and off buoys 13 and 11B. Also ravaging the local baitfish have been gorilla blues. Schools are popping up all over the Northport waters and are proving the necessity to have a pole ready at all times. False albacore continued to bite this week and are often mixed in or not far behind the blues.
From Northport Charters, Captain Stu reports that there are bunker completely filling the harbor with big bluefish hot in pursuit and weighing up to 16 pounds. The best action has been jigging in The Triangle on the moving tide. A couple schoolie bass have been picked out of the mix. The scup and sea bass bite has been lights out with decent size fish in both species.
Aboard the Jib VI, Captain Joe wrapped up his fluke season with a pick of a few nice keeper fluke accompanied by plenty of shorts. He is now targeting porgies, sea bass and triggerfish which are all biting great. Mixed in have been some small blues and weakfish as well.
At Captree Bait & Tackle, Brendan reports that the albies are hot inside both Fire Island and Jones Beach inlets. Anglers have found bass as well, with cows up to 30 pounds reported. Sea bass and porgies are on fire and available off the local piers but they have less size than the deeper fish. Also off the piers, blue claw crabs and snappers are still hanging around. The blues are averaging about 6 pounds and are taking poppers and 007’s. Weak fish have been numerous inside the inlet and off the beaches for anglers attacking from shore or boat.
Scott from Bergen Bay Docks has a mixed bag of action going on this week. Sea bass are great in the bay and off the local beaches. Weakfish are being pulled from the Fire Island side of Ocean Beach and some schoolie bass are also around. The offshore fishing has been hit or miss with a couple early morning tuna and albacore smacking daisy chains about 20 miles off. The shark bite is terrific as a 421 pound thresher was hauled in this week.
At Campsite Spot Shop, Jason reports the striper action is picking up in the Sound on bunker chunks in 30 to 60-feet of water. Bluefish are around and growing in size. This week they are ranging from 7 to- 9 pounds. As with most places this time of year, scup are big and aggressive as the bite continues with fish in the 2-pound class.
On the East End, at Wego Fishing, Steve has seen plenty of bass and blues in the Gut and the Race. On the Sound side, sea bass and scup are a dependable bite and also moving in that direction are the false albacore as they pick up from last week showing along the local beaches. In the bay, near Greenport, weakfish are still around but not as active as in weeks past.
In Hampton Bays, at White Water Outfitters, Bryce also reports lots of albie action from both the jetties and boats. Everything from flies, Crystal Minnows and Deadly Dicks are leading anglers to success. Stripers are picking up with more fish in the inlet this week. There are lots of schoolies around but some fish between 28 and 35 inches. Offshore, things haven’t got hot again since the storm but a few small yellowtails are being reported at 20 to 30 phantoms.
Tonya from West Lake Marina saw the fluke season end with a bang as a 10.5 pound doormat hit the dock by Bart Ritchie. The boat had a few keepers and lots of sea bass up to 8-pounds. Bass fishing has been great with multiple fish around 40 pounds and one at 45 pounds. Most were caught using live eels. The bite has been decent off the beaches but still remains best in deeper water with day and night action both profitable. False albacore are all over and can be found chasing the bait within casting distance off many local beaches.
At Montauk Marine Basin, Chris reports bass being taken while trolling or drifting around The Point with eels. So far, the bite has been best at night. Scup and sea bass are holding in the Montauk waters and big bluefish are all over.
Joe from Staten Island Tuna Club has seen an increase in size of the local bluefish as they slam the bunker schools. Doormat fluke were found right up until the last minute in the channels by Verrazano Bridge. False albacore are all over Raritan Bay and close to the Princess Bay shoreline.
In Oceanside, at River Bay Outfitters, Paul has seen the best action in the surf as false albacore, blues and schoolie bass are in the area. The bass aren’t in large numbers yet but the amount of bait is incredible and should lead to some great fall action.
The freshwater scene continues to be hot as big pickerel this time of year are on the hunt and fall victim to spinners, Rapalas and even fake worms at times. Big bass can be found during the day but are a better bet after dark when the temperature drops.