You couldn’t ask for a better fishing report for a holiday weekend. It seems that no matter where you are on Long Island and the metro area, there is something to catch. Bluefish seem to be from New York City to almost Montauk, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they showed up there this weekend as well. Striped bass in a variety of sizes to schoolies to 50-pounders have been reported this week. The fluke season is off to a great start and big fish have been reported on both the North and South shores. Porgy fishing has been excellent on the north shore from both beach and boat. Here is your weekly fishing report for the area.
New York Fishing Report
John at Hudson Park Bait and Tackle said yesterday the striped bass really went off. Both a 44- and then later in the day a 50-pound striped bass was brought in. The 50-pound bass was caught in 40 feet of water on a white bunker spoon. Porgy fishing has been on fire with some really nice fish coming up. He has also seen some really nice fluke hit the scales. Anglers have been showing him photos of beautiful sea bass that they have to throw back since the season is not open.
In Brooklyn at Stella Maris Bait and Tackle, they have been getting a ton of reports of anglers catching striped bass in the area on both bunker chunks and on the troll. Bluefish are still around and heavy in Jamaica Bay. Anglers locally have been targeting porgies off the beach and doing very well.
At Causeway Bait and Tackle, they said, the bluefish are just about everywhere. It does not matter which tide they have just been chasing bait so whenever they find it the action has been great. Striped bass action has been decent with more catches coming off the surf as of late. Fluke fishing in the back bays has been picking up too. One of the guys from the shop fished on a party boat out east during the week and said there were two fish that came up over 12 pounds. They said they had multiple fish over 8 pounds as well. This is great to see so early in the season.
Bay Park Fishing Station reports great action from all over the area. This past week they had fluke weighed in close to 6 pounds caught on a spro bucktail. They also had their biggest striped bass weighed in so far this season, weighing in at 38 pounds, taken on a white and green bunker spoon.
Paul at River Bay Outfitters got into all this action this week with some schoolie striped bass on the fly. He was fishing on the north shore of the island. On the south shore, he said there are some bass if you can make it through all of the bluefish. He said the bass have been on the outside of the bait schools while the bluefish have been going through the bait at the center. Fluke fishing on the flats of the bay have been producing. On the freshwater side of things, the shop had a store trip out east the the Peconic river. They caught pickerel, crappie, and big sunfish. He said you need some sort of boat to fish the river but it is a great body of water with a lot of nice fish.
At Captree Bait and Tackle bluefish are all over and it basically does not matter where you will go you are almost sure to find them. Fluke fishing has been picking up in the area with some nice fish coming up. Weakfish have also started to really show in the area as well. Got our first report of crabbing this year from Captree Bait and Tackle. They said with the warmer temperatures the action as really been picking up.
At White Water Outfitters the whole area seems to be holding fish. Bluefish and some striped bass have moved in thick into the Paconic. Closer to home the Shinnecock Canal has been fishing very well for striped bass and has been seeing a lot of big blues.
At Harbor Marina of East Hampton Rick said, schoolie to near keeper size striped bass continue to entertain local light tackle enthusiasts, with a very occasional keeper in the mix across the western and central peconics. When the Big Bluefish aren’t spawning, (characterized by small groups of mature fish finning on the surface during calm periods in our harbors and protected areas of the outer bay), they are busting up tackle in the local rips and deeper water inlets. Look for them to break loose onto the flats any day now. Fluke fishing has been a bit disappointing. We seem to be lacking a real significant body fish in the typical spring locations. Everyone really wants this fishery to turn on. Weakfish are another holdout and have yet to make their presence known. Porgy fishing remains strong and have become the focus of some local die hard bottom fishermen.
In Montauk at Montauk Marine Basin, things have been pretty slow as of late. The one good thing to report is that the fluke action has been picking up on the south side.
At Westlake Marina Tanya said, the fluke action has been decent on the south side. The fluke has been the main species anglers have been targeting as of late. She did have one angler named Gary Stevens who caught a nice 15 pound cod in 135 of water that was released.
Miller Place Bait and Tackle said, really big porgies have been coming off of Cedar beach from the surf with an occasional fluke. Fluke has been getting better off of the local buoys in the area. He said anglers have been catching some striped bass off of the rocky point area up to 30 inches.
Terminal Tackle reports, fluke fishing has been pretty good in the west end of Smithtown Bay. They said there are squid in this area and the fluke seem to be on them daily. Porgies they said have been all over in the shallow water while they are spawning. Striped bass action has been picking up. Not a ton of big fish but anglers trolling umbrella rigs have been finding the most success so far.
Captain Stu of Northport Charters said, he has had Fluke up to 6 pounds & big Porgies starting to make a showing in the bay & Sound. Things should only get better in the coming weeks so make sure to book your charter soon.
On the Celtic Quest porgy fishing continues to be amazing. Big fish and the action on some days has been non stop the entire time. Fluke fishing has been a little slow but should pick up with the nicer weather.
Fishing Forecast for New York
If the report doesn’t tell you enough, all I can tell you is get out there! No matter where you are there is something to be caught and the action has been amazing. Most of this holiday weekend looks like we are going to have some beautiful weather. Giving you no excuse on not to get out there. Bluefish seem to be everywhere and the south shore and should be in Montauk and the north shore early next week. Striped bass fishing is getting better and bigger fish are on the way coming from the south and west. For the bottom anglers porgy and fluke season have been off to a great start and should not be passed up this weekend. It’s time to wet a line and catch em up. Want to wish everyone who reads the report a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend and especially to our veterans and current military members. Thank you for your service. Good luck everyone and enjoy the holiday weekend.
Thank you for the good report . I will go fishing Tuesday to far rock way to check on the. Fluke. .