The first week on August tends to get many anglers to turn away from the summer species of fish and begin to focus on the upcoming fall run. However, it seems in many places across Long Island that the mid-summer target species are fishing very well this week with more keepers and bigger size. On the other hand, bass and blues are starting to be found working schools of bait and streaking the beaches more now. It leads to a difficult choice between the two but the key is a healthy balance of both.
Metro
At Hudson Park Bait and Tackle, John reports that the activity is right on par for what you would expect fishing the New Rochelle waters this time of year. Fluke are holding steady along the bottoms and have been improving both in numbers and size over the last two weeks. Along with them have been more and more scup showing up and a couple sea bass mixed in. Small blues are beginning to work the waters chasing schools of bunker and smaller bait fish. Hopefully the weeks ahead will lead to the gator blues we all enjoy fighting.
In Brooklyn, at Stella Maris, Stretch has been finding scup all over but the bigger fish have been mainly in Jamaica Bay. Fluke have been much less stingy this week as plenty of fish were caught with a good number of keepers. Weakfish are just starting to reach their peak as the bite turns on in the late summer days. Blues can be found targeting porgies and although most of them are in the range of 4-5 pounds right now, there are bound to be bigger fish mixed in soon, if not already. Stripers have been hitting best on worms. There weren’t many trophies taken this week but solid fish are still well within reach patrolling the local waters.
South Shore
Ashley from Bay Park Fishing Station reports this week that inshore, fluking has been great with a few cooler stuffers reaching the 8-pound range. There’s been plenty of good fish around as well as some good sized sea bass. Spearing and squid have been the recipe to success lately. Off a local wreck, in about 20-feet of water, there were lots of trigger fish and porgies taken. It seems the trigger fish have been showing up in a couple places across the Island making for new excitement for any anglers looking to land a few. Offshore, the tuna fishing has been great and tilefish are not being left out on the action as they have been hitting well off the East Wall.
At Causeway Bait and Tackle, Hempstead Reef has been the spot to hit for anyone looking for some late season fluking action. Triggerfish can be found in these waters as well, in the back of Merrick Bay and by the local bridges has been a high reward area. Shark fishing has been red hot and you need go no further than the shoreline. Anglers have been hooking into some great action just soaking some chunks. The best of the catches have spanned from Field 6 to Fire Island.
In Oceanside, at River Bay Outfitters, Paul reports that there are still lots of schoolie bass found on the North Shore. The bite has been hottest on incoming tide as the bait gets pinned between the fish and the shore Manhassett Bay is holding bass and blues alike as they work the schools. On the South Shore, there’s been less bass and smaller in size however, the blues here have been picking up the slack to make for a day full of action on either side you choose to target. On the freshwater scene, local ponds are all fishing well. Early morning and late evening continue to be the best hours of fishing. Many anglers have been pulling carp as well as other species on the fly rods which make for not only a great fight, easier fishing when it comes to landing your line in just the right spot whether that’s in the weeds or just off a rock.
North Shore
At Terminal Tackle Company, John Sr. reports that there continues to be plenty of fluke around and the keepers do not disappoint. In about 40-50-feet of water there have been a surprising number of flatties taken that have tipped the scale at over 5 pounds. Live snappers have been working very well. The scup action has been unreal. They seem to be anywhere there is a hard bottom and where there’s one, there’s loads of others. They can be found anywhere from 10-50-feet and are dominating the moving tides. When the current slacks off is when the sea bass make their move. There are plenty of big sea bass around however they will be found biggest in the deeper waters, generally over 40-feet. There are sea bass shallower but they are mostly shorts. In Smithtown Bay, bunker schools are numerous and many are being swarmed by bass and blues. Not ever school has fish on them just yet but the ones that do have been allowing anglers to get their fill of action. 20-30 pounds has been the norm for this week but the 40’s should be showing up again soon. The best results have been on snagging a live bunker and letting it sit back out in the school. Snappers are also showing great numbers and although they still need some time to grow, they are growing fast and should make for a great season ahead.
Aboard the Northport Charters with Capt. Stu, the hot bite held strong through another week. Fluke have been fishing well and reached up to 4.5 pounds. Scup are absolutely red hot and are topping out at an impressive 2 pounds as there is bait all over Huntington and Northport Bays. The summer camp is still running and young anglers have been not just catching fish, but learning about the importance of the Marine ecosystem and how to keep things going.
Jim from Miller Place Bait and Tackle reports that trolling at the Middle Grounds has been producing some decent sized stripers this week. Mojo rigs are the favorite and have provided the best results on the first and last lights, as long as the tides line up. Scup and sea bass have been doing well closer inshore around Old Field. Again, scup largely dominate the moving tides but the sea bass are well worth the wait towards slack when they make their move.
East End
In Southold, at Blue Water Ventures, Chris continues to find weakfish being picked up on the bay side. Bass and blues have begun working the beaches hard over the last few nights at a pretty consistent pace. Just before sundown, stretching from Goldsmiths Inlet to the East side of Town Beach have been producing a run of fish breaking the top water on bunker. Tuna have been working very well as well as flies for those looking to have some fun with saltwater fly fishing. The stripers and blues have also been working the schools of smaller baitfish which is where the fly rod really gets its shot. Porgies have been great, as is usual for these waters. Just off Robins Island, blow fish and king fish are making their push for attention. A couple blowfish can be found off the beaches in Southold as well if they get a shot before a sea robin moves in.
At White Water Outfitters , Bryce reports that the fluke bite in the ocean has been impressive. Sea bass are also very active out there and although there continue to be lots of shorts to pick through, you can still catch your fill with a little time invested. Bass are in their typical Shinnicock summer grind stage with a couple keepers picked here and there but lots of shorts and not crazy action just yet. The insanity is on the horizon though and there’s nothing wrong with working some schoolies to make sure you’re sharp when the trophies move in. Offshore, there’s been some big bluefin tuna around and the Canyons is absolutely exploding as of late. Yellowfin and big eye are on high alert out there and making the long trek out more than worth the time.