Long Island - New York Fishing Report - April 12, 2018

For the first time in what seems to feel like forever, I am finally not going to have to start a report out about snow. More and more shops are starting to open for the season and everyone seems to really be getting excited to head out and bend a rod after what felt like a never-ending winter. I have heard of the striped bass action has started to heat up and the freshwater lakes and ponds continue to fish well.

In Brooklyn at Stella Maris Bait and Tackle, they report that over the weekend some of the head boats had decent action with cod fishing. They said the head boat the Brooklyn will be sailing offshore tomorrow for cod. They have also heard of better reports of schoolie striped bass in their area as well.

At River Bay Outfitters, Paul said the local ponds and river have still been fishing very well. Many of his customers have been fishing Belmont Lake and coming back with really good reports. Paul has also heard of reports of striped bass in the back bays on both the north and south shore from this past week. Things should only get better with the warmer weather on the horizon.

Causeway Bait and Tackle, reports of better schoolie striped bass action in their neck of the wood as well. Anglers have been having success using a variety of small soft plastics. While blackfishing has been slow, they have received a few reports of winter flounder this past week. The freshwater actions remains very good with the areas local ponds being stocked with trout last week.

At Bay Park Fishing Station, they had a few anglers head out this week for both blackfish and winter flounder. Though things were slow the angler was able to come home with one keeper specie of each kind. They have heard of better striped bass action west of the shop in the Raritan Bay and it is only a matter of time until those fish start moving east.

Miller Place Bait and Tackle said, things have been slow this week in their area. They did however hear that the Upper Lake in Yaphank has still been fishing very well with anglers targeting trout.

White Water Outfitters told me, more and more schoolie bass have been showing up daily. They are just waiting for things to really turn on which does not seem too far away. They have also heard that the freshwater action has continued to be doing very well.

I talked to Rick today at Harbor Marina of East Hampton, he said though things were cold and windy earlier in the week, anglers have still been finding success in the western Peconic River with schoolie striped bass. He said with the warm weather coming thing will only get better from here.

Fishing Forecast for Long Island
As I mentioned before the weather looks like great for the next few days so you have no reason not to head out on the water and fish. The back bays all around the island seem to be producing better action with the striped bass. The freshwater action will be another great bet for the weekend with the local waters being freshly stocked with trout. Largemouth bass fishing has been good and should remain to do so. It has been a long winter for us anglers here in the north east it is time to get out there and bend a rod.