Long Island and NYC Fishing Report
- Holdover striped bass are being caught regularly now in the western backwaters on soft plastics & minnow plugs.
- Freshwater bass action is getting better as the water temperatures rise and the fish move in shallow.
- Cod boats enjoy steady action and beautiful weather, with a bycatch of blackfish and other bottom-dwelling fish.
- Trout start responding to dry flies in the warmer weather on the rivers, as well as the usual streamers.
Paul McCain from River Bay Outfitters in Baldwin said:
“Anita Colton from upstate came down to the shop to do a talk and fished the Connetquot Tuesday. While it’s been mostly a streamer bite, she actually had a few brookies & rainbows on dry flies! All you need is that bump in temperature.
This bump in water temperature is causing a lot more life in the back-bays. I spotted some baitfish that looked like spearing but I wasn’t sure. And at times I spotted what looked like surface feeding activity, the birds were low to the water and actively circling. From the corner of my eye, I could’ve sworn I saw splashes on more than a few occasions. Could just be early spring fever!
Don’t forget that the Long Island Fly Fishing Expo is this Saturday at the Radisson in Hauppauge – 110 Vanderbilt Motor Pkway. Doors open at 9:00AM and the show ends at 4:00PM. There will be 25 presentations, 5 casting demonstrations, 28 fly-tiers, and 37 vendors in total! You can also pick up free copies of On The Water BASS & the 2024 Angler’s Almanac while you’re there.”
The King Cod out of Captree reported on their last trip:
“Fair fishing today. Around 20 plump keeper cod, a bunch of short cod, ling, & nice blackfish (released) rounded out the catch. Blackfish will be legal to keep in April. Beautiful weather, and good signs of life. Going again Saturday @ 2AM. Plenty of room at this time.” You can learn more by visiting their Facebook page.
Brandon Weitz from Causeway Bait and Tackle in Wantagh told me:
“I got my first bass of 2024 this week on a Joe Baggs swarter in sandeel color! I only fished for 25 minutes and had two fish, but dropped one. I got smoked by the first fish after just a couple of casts, but dropped it, and quickly made up for it shortly after. This was right before the peak high tide, which is when most people I’ve talked to have had luck. This beautiful weather really seems to have turned on the holdover bite, fish it while it lasts!”
Petey Trovato from Lindenhurst Bait and Tackle told me:
“I went out with Joe Bescardi in a jon boat this week on one of the lakes and we were catching bass and perch on keitech easy shiners. Small 3-inch paddletails on 1/10th-ounce jigheads have been working great for all types of freshwater for me. Crappie, bass, and perch love them, and it lets you target bass without eliminating the smaller fish if you’re just looking to get bit.
On the holdover front, I got out with Johnny Fish in the back bay but we struck out. However, I’ve been hearing from a lot of different fishermen that bone minnow plugs have been doing well for them and the bite has been really good this week. I guess we report-chased a bit and paid the price. Still, there’s plenty of good fishing to be had right now, whether its freshwater or salt!”
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Want to get in on the bite? Find an OTW-approved Charter Fishing Captain around Long Island and NYC!
Here’s what local anglers have been posting on social media:
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If you have a catch you’d like to share, DM me on Instagram @nick_onthewater.
One week until spring! Are you hyped? You should be hyped. As for me, I’m a bit panicked. I have a lot of responsibilities (not to mention work) to get done ahead of salt season, and it just feels like this month is flying by incredibly fast. Before I know it, my truck will be a mess, my kayak will be salty, and all the spring cleaning I did of my office & tackle will be quickly undone.
Long Island and NYC Fishing Forecast
Tomorrow is the last of this awesome 60-degree weather streak, but with clouds and spotty rain in the forecast, it probably won’t feel the same. Still, the weekend calls for mid-to-high 50’s and partly cloudy, so we’re in for some more pleasant pre-spring weather.
Holdover fishing has really exploded this week, and those who took advantage put some really nice fish on the end of their lines. The baits of choice were paddletail shads (typically in chartreuse), and minnow plugs like the Yo-Zuri Hydro Minnow, Joe Baggs Swarters and Daiwa SP Minnow.
I’ve been taking regular walks to the harbors, back bays, and other fishy areas to try and scout bait. I haven’t really seen anything close-in yet, but the birds have been making me think there’s life out there. The other day, I spotted a good grouping of birds low on the water as if they were chasing something. Could be bait, could be stripers. Could be both! Too far out for me to properly identify it, but enough to get me excited.
Meanwhile on the YouTubes, Brian, a.k.a. bsprex, has started posting his underwater videos, and it looks like there’s some tiny shrimp swimming around the harbors of the North Fork. You can check that video out by clicking here.
In the sweetwater, the DEC put out their trout-stocking lists for Nassau County, but it looks like they didn’t update the Suffolk list on their website just yet. You can, however, access the full data by clicking here. Click ‘export’ in the top right to download the list for the entire state, including Nassau & Suffolk counties. Trout fishing in the ponds is a great way to introduce a new angler to the sport, and it’s easy, fun action.
That’s all for this week, see you in the springtime! Tight lines.
The L.I./NYC Fishing Report is written and compiled by NYSDEC licensed kayak fishing guide, Nick Cancelliere (@nick_onthewater).