Long Island and NYC Fishing Report
Eastern Long Island
The Eastern Long Island Fishing Report is compiled and written by writer/blogger and fly-fishing industry professional, Jack Larizadeh (@jack.lariz).
Mark at Cow Harbor Bait and Tackle in Northport reports:
“Blackfish are chowing on crabs, clams, and sandworms. The most conducive bait has been crabs; people are smashing their limit in deep water (30-40 feet) as well as shallow water (10-20 feet). Striped bass fishing has been spotty as the resident fish seem to be slowing down. We’re still waiting for the Hudson fish to come in and chew. The migration hasn’t quite kicked into full swing yet. A huge push of peanut bunker moved in this past week which should improve the bite.”
Jeff at White Water Outfitters in Hampton Bays reports:
“Bass fishing has gotten better, there isn’t a real push of migratory fish just yet, but holdovers are active. The weakfish bite is good in usual spots on the east end, and offshore, big bluefin tuna have shown up. Guys should be getting their boats in the water to get in on the action.”
Bill at Chasing Tails Bait and Tackle in Oakdale reports:
“Bass on the beach! They’re hitting poppers, swim shads, darters, bottle plugs, diamond jigs and SP Minnows. Early morning hours are producing the best action. The water is still cold, but it is very clean. Another week or two and the Bay will be exploding with life. The local docks are starting to see their first few fish of the season. It’s officially striped bass time!
Weakfish are starting to poke around a bit as well. Fish light for them—light rods, light line, light jigs. They love bright colors. The shop is fully stocked with rods, reels, and all sorts of lures to cover every bit of water you need. A hefty order of Super Strike just came in, including all of the new colors.”
Julia at the Montauk Angler’s Club reports:
“The fishing has picked up even more since last week; there are more and bigger striped bass in the surf, with most fish just below the keeper range. Things are a bit slower pick on the blackfish bite from the shore. There are still no signs of squid yet.
From the boat, there were reports of limits of blackfish and a few cod from members of the Montauk Anglers Club Marina. The tackle shop is open and we have slips available for the season. Transient slips are also available with a launching ramp located on-site. This weekend’s weather is looking mint, so get out and fish!”
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Want to get in on the bite? Find an OTW-approved Charter Fishing Captain on Long Island!
Mike Ozkaya (@lifliesmike) in Shinnecock reports:
“After trying all week some fish finally moved into the back bays in Shinnecock. Schoolies with some sea lice are eating small weighted flies, as well as some medium-sized bunker patterns. They just showed up a couple days ago. Fishing afternoon tides around the change of the tide has been best.”
Steven Figari & Anthony Vaccaro of @bassholes_surfcasting in Shinnecock report:
“Nothing crazy around here yet, we have some slow-moving schoolies and slots with the occasional teen fish. But blackfish, on the other hand, has been good. Light jigs in 25 feet of water have been the ticket to success.”
This week I continued to focus on the back bays around the Western Sound. From the 18th to the 20th the fishing seemed to be slow. Stripers wanted an ultra slow presentation, a steady retrieve with multiple short pauses was the ticket to catching fish on the SP Minnow. Once the weekend hit I was sure that the impending full moon would turn the bite red hot, however, a hefty north wind churned up the bay leading to choppy conditions. That said, dock lights held a few small schoolie-sized fish. My buddy Jay here actually got his first fish on the fly this past weekend. Over the next week I’ll be trying new tactics, hopefully I’ll find some large stripers on rock points and drop offs. The weather on the north shore is warming up drastically next week, so I’ll be sure to carry a few topwater plugs.
Eastern Long Island Fishing Forecast
For the remainder of this week, air temps will hover anywhere from 57 to 65 degrees while nighttime temps slowly rise from 39 to 54 degrees. Next Monday the 29th marks the start of a warm spell, with daytime temps in the upper 60s and low 70s, and nighttime temps hovering in the 50s.
With water temps slowly increasing it’s only a matter of time until bass begin crushing topwater plugs. If you’re looking for your first topwater fish of the season, I’d recommend stocking up on small poppers and spooks such as the Rebel Jumpin Minnow, mini Cotton Cordell pencil and small spooks. For the best chance at success, time your outings around the warmest parts of the day (typically 1 to 3 p.m.). As for night fishing, SP minnows, Mag Darters, and soft plastics should remain in the bag. If you happen to find a bunker school, keep a metal lip handy!
As for tog, it’s a perfect time to get your last licks in before the season closes April 30th. Light jigs and green crabs on reefs and jetties should be the ticket.
Also, May 1st marks the fluke season opener! It’s a perfect time to stock up on Gulp, jigheads, and bucktails. In the coming weeks focus on shallow water sandbars (3 to 10 feet). As for freshwater, it’s prime time for trout, pickerel, and largemouth bass. Get out there and fish!
The Eastern Long Island Fishing Report is compiled and written by writer/blogger and fly-fishing industry professional, Jack Larizadeh (@jack.lariz).
Western Long Island & NYC
The Western L.I./NYC Fishing Report is written and compiled by NYSDEC licensed kayak fishing guide, Nick Cancelliere (@nick_onthewater).
- Beach bite ignites on the South shore, with Stripers hitting at the inlets and from the Surf.
- The first reports of bluefish roll in!
- North shore sees an influx of more migratory fish and bait.
- Freshwater bite has been awesome – panfish, bass, and trout provide a good alternative when the weather & tides aren’t in your favor.
- Last call for Spring tog! Less than week left to target blackfish.
John from Freeport Bait & Tackle reports:
“The striped bass bite has been improving on the South Shore with a handful of reports at from the barrier beaches producing 20- to 30-inch fish, mostly on fresh bunker. Other surfcasters have been doing well with topwater plugs, bucktails and soft plastics.
The blackfish bite has also improved this week on the inside around many of the fishing piers and bridges. We are stocked with green crabs, mussels, and clams for anglers who want to try their luck for the remainder of spring blackfish season.
For those chasing striped bass, we are receiving fresh bunker daily, we will be stocking eels this week, and we just got a big delivery of Super Strike plugs. Visit the shop for all your necessary bait and tackle needs!”
Captain Josh Rogers of Gypsea Charters out of Brooklyn reported:
“We have been live-lining bunker during the day, seeing the stripers inhale the baits as the hit the bottom. A good amount of slots in the mix, with countless overslots being released. Some trips are slower than others, but with the last moon, we should see the fishing explode any day! The night bite has also picked up, with more action and keepers on each trip.
We are also gearing up for the fluke season, starting in less than 10 days! All reservations can be made at our website www.fishgypseany.com”
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Brandon Weitz from Causeway Bait and Tackle in Wantagh told me:
“Beach fishing has been great! There’s a good number of stripers moving in to the surf on the open beaches and the inlets. This week the first blues were caught and I heard there was a blitz earlier in the week. If you get out there, throw a chicken-scratch, bone, or yellow minnow plug for bass and blues. Inside the bay there are adult bunker which will start to get ravaged by bluefish soon enough, but its still mostly bass. You can fish the flats with light tackle for a mix of holdover and migratory fish. Stop by the shop for fresh bait and the best lures for striped bass!”
Petey Trovato from Lindenhurst Bait and Tackle reports:
“We had 5 bass last night in a South Shore back bay. Me, Bruce & Jr. threw chicken-scratch and bone SP’s in shallow water mudflats reeling slowly with our rod tips high to avoid snagging. Some overslot bass were in the mix, the biggest was 33 inches.
Blackfishing has been great, Joe Bescardi had 5 fish over 10 pounds on the wrecks on clam. Hit the wrecks while you can before the season’s over!
And lastly, my stepson Arthur caught his first ever sunfish this past weekend on the classic bobber-and-worm rig. Proud moment for me! The freshwater bite has been great with a lot of largemouth bass biting jigs and worms.”
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Jamie of Bay Park Fishing Station in Oceanside reports:
“Bass are back in the bays and are hitting flutter spoons out front! With all the bunker around, flutter spoons are the perfect lure to imitate a dying bunker underneath the school. Bluefish reports have been flying around the tackle shop, and most of them are pointing towards the Rockaways. Come on in an get your fluke gear ready for opening day! We have everything you need at Bay Park from bucktails to bait, and we’re open 7 days a week!”
Ryan & Ken from the NY Hooksets told me they both got out on one of the western inlets and despite a slow day of striper fishing, both of them caught fish in the 20-inch class. Swimming plugs like Daiwa SP Minnows, Yo-Zuri Mag Darters, and Joe Bagg’s Swarters were the ticket.
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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.
It feels like a much slower start this year compared to last. Reading John Oswald’s most recent fishing report for Northern NJ, it looks like Jersey is seeing a lack of bunker on their shores as well. That’s a bit worrying, but I think we can put some of the blame on the weather. It’s been cold, and still is cold as I write this, with just a few nice days breaking the chill on any given week. Bites have been on-and-off, but I finally managed to find some feeding fish this week. Still, despite the presence of fish, the bites were not guaranteed.
I got out in my kayak Tuesday morning before work, hitting the road at 5:30 a.m. and getting on the water by 6:30. When I arrived at my original spot, It was brisk and there was a breeze. I got cold feet (literally) and decided to try a different spot, further west and in a back bay that would be more protected from the wind. When I arrived at the ‘Plan B’ spot, the water was still rushing out from the bay on the outgoing tide but was noticeably flatter. I put in my kayak with a mix of optimism and cynicism.
I began with a Z-Man DieZel minnow in chartreuse on a ¾-ounce Joe Baggs SPJ jig head, a presentation I’d normally save for when the blues show up, but I’d been using with some success this season for stripers. I like the profile of the Z-Man, especially combined with the heavy-gauge hook on the Joe Bagg’s jighead for when I know there are larger fish around. And the North Shore has certainly had some big holdovers this March & early April. Otherwise, I’d normally use a lighter jig and slimmer soft plastic profile, something that would more closely match the spearing that have been the predominant bait this month and last.
As I paddled along the channel, I got whacked and hooked up, but unfortunately, I dropped that first fish. But rather than feel discouraged, I was filled with renewed enthusiasm. In a few prior outings, I casted to fish I knew were there but just couldn’t get to bite. In this case, just having a bite and a fish on my line for any length of time felt like a small victory.
I about-faced my kayak and got to work jigging that section of the channel. I let my Z-Man sink for a bit before starting a slow retrieve, giving it a twitch every 3-4 turns of the reel. It only took two casts to find another fish—a husky upper-20-inch bass with sea lice on its fins, leading me to think it was a fresh migratory striper that had just moved in, instead of the finnicky holdovers that I’d been hammering all March and early April.
That afternoon, I got out again in my kayak but this time at my original spot, further east from where I was that morning. I knew bass were around, but again, I expected them to be finnicky holdovers and not more active, migratory fish. I marked plenty of bass on sonar but repeated drifts and an hour of jigging over them yielded no bites. I opted to troll a slim soft plastic around and see if I could find others.
As I turned my head towards the boat ramp, ready to call it a day and still satisfied knowing I had fish that morning, an aggressive schoolie slammed my Storm 360 Searchbait as I was quickly reeling it in. This fish set to fighting immediately, with plenty of head shakes as I brought it beside my kayak. After a quick photo & release, I set to casting around for another hour.
I was on a small channel ledge that went from 9 feet to 13 feet, but I began marking fish more frequently. Still, these fish were all over the place, so I started fan-casting my lure and using a more spirited retrieve similar to what got me that first schoolie. I got two short strikes but couldn’t hook another fish. As the sun dipped below the horizon and the temperatures dropped, I headed in for dinner.
If I hadn’t caught a few fish that morning already, I probably would have stayed and hoped for a better night-bite. But it was close to slack tide and I was satisfied, optimistic about how the fishing would be the rest of the week.
Western Long Island and NYC Fishing Forecast
So much has changed in a day since I began writing this report. The first racer blues have hit the South shore, more bait has rolled in, weakfish bycatch has been occurring, and the overall surf bite has really taken-off.
With blues now showing up, there’s no good excuse not to get out there and wet a line in the surf. This is one of the best times of the year to fish! Racer bluefish are literally grown-up snappers, and will hit just about anything if they’re around. Tubed diamond jigs, hammered or smooth casting spoons, minnow plugs, and of course topwater lures, should make your day.
Rather than fish the inlets, which are definitely going to be crowded this weekend, hike the open beach and cast into the surf instead. You’ll get exercise, you’ll probably fish in peaceful isolation, and if you do find fish, you’ll have them all to yourself. You won’t have to worry about swimmers either.
For a few weeks now, stripers have been getting picked off the beaches on minnow plugs primarily. Fly anglers have also been getting after it in the whitewater and also on the back bay flats. Birds have been diving on bait off the beaches—something you should hone-in on when you’re walking the surf looking for a place to start. As for reading the water itself, I could try to fit a whole explanation of cuts, rips, and lips into this report, but instead I’ll refer you to this comprehensive video by Rich Troxler.
Many tackle shops are open, stocked with fresh bait, and we’re less than a week from my favorite month (besides September) – MAY! May is such an epic month for fishing. It’s generally when I hook into some of the biggest stripers of the season on my neck of the Island. Fluke season begins, porgy and other groundfish roll in, and I can confidently hang-up the winter jackets and wear less layers on a fishing trip. We’re still at the point where we can say “It’s only getting better from here.”
Starting Sunday and for most of next week, we’ve got lows in the 50’s and highs in the 70’s. We finally made it folks; winter 2023 is a distant memory and Spring fishing is at full tilt. Your options are blackfish, bluefish, striped bass, weakfish, winter flounder, and any day from now – porgy, fluke, and other bottom fish.
Cast soft plastics & minnow plugs into the surf or on the back-bay mud flats for stripers. Launch tins & diamond-jigs over the breakers for blues. Jig bucktails or drop baited hooks with claim, worms, or squid for bottom-feeding fish. Whatever you end up chasing this weekend, I hope you catch your personal best.
One more thing – today marks 1-year of writing this report. I’ve made so many new friends, expanded my fishing network, and really broadened my knowledge of the Long Island & NYC fisheries since.
From the spring to the next winter, I want this report to tell the story of fishing on Long Island, and it’s because of the local anglers & businesses who contribute to it that I’m able to do it every week. If you’ve contributed to this report in any way, whether that’s texting me a report essay or simply emailing a picture – thank you.
Thanks, as always, for reading and tight lines. See you in May!
The Western L.I./NYC Fishing Report is written and compiled by NYSDEC licensed kayak fishing guide, Nick Cancelliere (@nick_onthewater).
the hudson river near tappan zee bridge(never evr be cuomo)is packed with big ones!! we took 13 in four hours keeping our delicious limit!!! best eating fish!!