After some lights-out cod fishing, it seems like the bite has settled into a tough grind for the boats hitting the cod grounds off the East End. Still, most trips are coming back with a few codfish for the crews. There was a little uptick in the action over the past week, so if the boats are sailing, it’s a good time to jump on!
Freshwater fishermen are enjoying the mild winter, as bass and pickerel continue to feed well. Big pickerel are the main attraction, as they are a bit more cold water tolerant than bass, but some nice bass are being caught as well. Trout fishing is also holding up, especially at the pay-to-play Connetquot. OTW Contributor Tim Regan recently caught a stunning rainbow from those waters. Tim has also been passing the winter targeting a wide variety of freshwater species on the eastern half of Long Island.
Fishing Forecast for Long Island
The trout and saltwater fishing should remain good no matter the temperature. Winds will determine when the headboats can reach the wrecks and cod grounds.
When the boats can’t leave the dock this time of year, you can still find great fishing by heading north and west for steelhead and ice fishing, or hitting the local ponds for pickerel. Keep up to date with the hardwater happenings this winter by reading our Upstate New York Forecast.