Fluke season is finally here and another piece of the Long Island summer fishing scene has been put in place. With yesterday’s season opener, there were plenty of keepers decked as well as shorts released but the overall numbers of fish it seems were great. Bass, blues, weakfish, and porgies are also hitting well, so just like the weather, the fishing is getting hot.
Metro
At Hudson Park Bait and Tackle, John reports that the bass fishing had been hot under the Throgs Neck Bridge recently, until yesterday when a big pod of dolphins showed up and chased them right out. However, the fishing in Hempstead has been going well, especially for anglers trolling spoons or parachute rigs. The fluke bite in Hudson Park wasn’t great but there was a reported double-header of 20-inch fish caught off the local breakwall. Scup can be found all over, and in large sizes.
In Brooklyn, at Stella Maris, Stretch has seen great bluefish action from Kingsborough Community College down to Norton’s Point and the back of Jamaica Bay. The best bite has been on jigs and bunker. Fluke fishing yielded a couple decent keepers but the next couple days should paint a clearer picture of how the season will really be this year. Over by Long Beach, anglers have been snagging live bunker and letting them drift, much to the delight of any passing stripers. The fish are starting to get bigger and the action should only improve from here on out.
South Shore
At River Bay Outfitters, Paul calls in that the water was packed for yesterday’s opening on summer flatties. It was tough to tell how the overall action was, but the effort was clearly there and there are sure to be some good fish decked. Bass and blues have been patrolling the Jamaica Bay waters as well as in most back bays. Weakfish has also come alive as of late and have been hitting well. On the freshwater side, the latest trip for the Long Island Fly Rodders didn’t turn out a lot of fish but the ones that were landed were all big. The Carmans River has been fishing very well with flies, even with the high water level. Paul will be relocating the shop in about 1 month to Baldwin, where he will have more room and begin running more trips and classes.
Over in Freeport, at Sea Isle Custom Rod Builders, Robert reports that the bass are all over the local waters. Big fish have moved in the Rockaways and Long Beach areas and boats that are out trolling spoons and Mojo rigs have been turning out some great results. Blues have also been tearing up the schools of bait and making things a little more difficult for those targeting the bass, but a bite is a bite and both species have lead their biggest into the scene.
At Causeway Bait and Tackle, the bluefish have been tough to miss. The beaches are all hot and the fish are taking bunker chunks, plugs, buck tails and just about anything else you’ve got in the tackle box. There have been some bass mixed in, as well but the blues have been so aggressive, the familiar struggle of trying to work through them is in full effect. Fluke action here was decent as the shop weighed in a nice 6-pounder but the action wasn’t overwhelming. The coming days should shed more light on how the season will unfold.
North Shore
Aboard the Northport Charters, Capt. Stu had a very productive day on Wednesday as he made his first trip on his new open boat. Fluke up to 5 pounds were put on ice as well as a 2.5-pound, dinner plate sized scup. The fluke bite was good as they ran into 6 keepers on the day. Blues also crashed the party taking a baited fluke rig as they continue to tear into any line in the water.
In Kings Park, at Terminal Tackle, John Sr. reports that the bigger bass have finally moved in. The fishing continues to improve each day with more and bigger fish. Porgies are also beginning to show face as the bite got off to a slow start but seems to be falling in line with most other areas now.
At Miller Place Bait and Tackle, Jim had a 10.7-pound bass weighed in at the shop this week for the local contest. Capt. Charlie of the boat Baba Looey took out 8 anglers Wednesday and had the boat limit out in Peconic Bay. As for the bass, the bite has been hot by the Smith Point Bridge. There haven’t been a ton of big fish to speak of so far but there are keepers and plenty of schoolie she to keep you occupied.
East End
In Southold, at Blue Water Ventures, Chris reports that the gator blues have invaded. Lots of fish are in the 14- to 16-pound range. Goose Creek and South Harbor have been great spots for big blues and poppers are all you need to generate a big hit. Stripers are in and growing with each day and the weakfish bite has been decent, along with fluke.
In Hampton Bays, at White Water Outfitters, Jake saw a fair day of jigging flatties as the tides and wind made things a little tough of the South Fork. The bass bite on the other hand has been good in the creeks and bays as well as the production from weeks and porgies.
At West Lake Marina, Tonya reports that there were lots of shorts on the day for those seeking fluke. However, a 7.25 pounder was weighed in at the marina and a boat of 3 anglers all hit their limits. It seemed the action was mixed from boat to boat but within the coming weeks, the sea bed should be hot and more lines will be tight.
Fishing Forecast for Long Island
The first 2 weeks of fluke season always seem to produce some of the biggest fish of the year. Look to soak some bait to try and hook into a real doormat. Also keep a close eye on the local beaches as bass and especially blues have begun their reign of terror on the schools of bait and are just waiting to explode on a passing popper or plug. This is the time of year we have all been waiting for since the long winter and the time to hit the water is now.