Long Island and NYC Fishing Report- August 22, 2024

Jeff at Whitewater Outfitters in Hampton Bays reports: “The fluking is still good in the bay, and the ocean bite is beginning to heat up. There are bluefish around the inlet and a steady pick of bass at the bridge. Additionally, there are rumors of albies and bonito pushing through. Finally, South of Montauk is hot with tuna near Butterfish Hole and The Ranger.”

Captain Tommy Lasala from Montauk Fishing Charters reports: “We had very good fluking last week before the swells came. There were fish to 9 pounds, with some guys catching 5 to 7 keeper-class fish each. Now the fluke fishing is bouncing back very nicely. There are a lot of porgies and sea bass on all the local rock piles. Some stripers are around if you put your time in, but the fishing’s not too hot. We had a few up to 35 pounds while trolling locally, but the biomass of bass is over around Block Island.”

Wyatt at Haskells Bait and Tackle in East Quogue reports: “The bite has been challenging but guys in the bay are crushing fluke and bass around the bridges. Last week, plenty of inshore yellowfin and bluefin were caught. Additionally, albies started pushing in with some bonito and they’re eating peanut bunker and small snappers. They’re crushing silver-colored jigs, and we have a good selection of albie jigs and tins. Looking toward the future weather, if we get nights in the mid-50s, the second week of September will bring hot fishing.”

David from Westlake Marina and Tackle Shop in Montauk reports: “Bottom fishing for fluke and sea bass has been slow. There’s been a lot of action, but finding fish that fulfill the keeper-size regulations has been a grind. Porgies are saving the day. Bass fishing along the point has been tough. It seems the fish are all over by Block Island. Within a few weeks, the bass should return to the rips. The tuna bite, however, has been terrific; there’s good action and plenty of fish from 12 miles out all the way to the canyons. Tons of football-class bluefin with fish ranging from 30 to 60 pounds.”

Stu from Northport Charters reports: “We are still bending the rod and bringing in fluke, porgies, cocktail blues, spot, and some weakfish. Some more sea bass are showing up in the Sound now, too! It was a productive week with charters & Kids Camp fighting the wind and rain, but bringing in some beautiful fluke and jumbo porgies despite the conditions! We had porgies to 2-1/2 pounds and fluke up to 6 pounds. With all the bait now in our area, adult bunker, peanuts, spot/croakers, and spearing, August spots are still producing some nice fish. Snappers are all over the bays that are growing into some nice cocktail-size blues, which provide lots of fun on light tackle. We’ve also had some weakfish here and there on most trips!”

Captain Chris at the Montauk Anglers Club reports: “It was another awesome week of tuna fishing in Montauk with limits of bluefins, including overs! Chatterlures side trackers were crushing them. The pink RonZ from 1- to 6-ounces did even better along with pink jigs. Marking the fish and dead sticking it in their zone, or working it slowly over bottom was key. There are a lot more taxmen around the tuna grounds as of late. There’s a mix of bonito and extra large false albacore out there, too. The fish ranged from 9 miles off the point to 25 miles. Inshore, the fluke fishing has picked up on the north side, particularly on the outgoing tide. Gulp in pink, pink shine, and blue fuze got the keeper fluke over the rail. Striped bass have made their way back to Montauk, too. In the morning, small blitzes are beginning to appear and bass are feeding beneath the birds on the surface. Surf fishing has also picked up to a degree. Harbor striper fishing still remains the best striper fishery in town, with reports of up to 30 slots on one tide at night. All of the tackle mentioned above is available for you here at Montauk Anglers Club tackle shop. Come in and get the latest on what is biting.”

Phil at Cow Harbor Bait and Tackle in Northport reports: “Windy…very windy. The biggest news is the absolute destruction of the park in Smithtown. In salt water, there are tons of porgies on the docks, from the boat and from the beach. There are lots of peanut bunker and spearing around, and the bluefish are still in the 1- to 3-pound range—no big gorilla blues or choppers. I’m not sure if it’s because it’s super warm, but we haven’t seen too many bluefish locally this year. Huntington, Northport, and Centerport have very poor water quality at the moment. It’s going to take a few days for things to settle and clean up after the dams blew out earlier this week. The fluke bite is hot on the outside on live killies, and sea bass fishing is still bringing mostly shorts. That said, there are tons of spot in the area. It’s like a whole new fishery.”

Steve at Wego Fishing Bait and Tackle in Southold reports: “This week, we had tons of blues in Plum Gut and in The Race. The bass bite is better in Montauk; the guys fishing eels on the moon tides did well on nice-size fish. Locally in the bay, the weakfish bite is strong; after the rain, the weakfish moved in shallow in the 40- to 45-foot depth range. Of course, porgies are still around, and fluke fishing is a good pick. The tuna bite continues to be hot on the jig off of Montauk. And locally on the Sound beaches, porgies are still chewing, plus, the snapper fishing is good in the bay for the kids.”

This past weekend, I returned to the tuna grounds with two buddies; while bait and life were plentiful, the bite was tough. We started the day marking fish high in the column. My buddy Chris landed a 30-pound bluefin that hit the ice box. As soon as the clock hit 6 AM, the fish began to hug the bottom. Pounding our jigs low in the column, we waited for a thud, but it never came. That said, the weather was beautiful, so the ride there and back wasn’t too bad.

This week, I’ve been preparing my fly boxes for albie season. My favorite flies include a yellow over white bucktail Surf Candy, tan over white Best Way Super hair candy, a 4-inch white and olive Deceiver, and a Steve Farrar blend tan over white Surf Candy. When it comes to glue, I’m a massive fan of Loon’s thin UV resin. As for hook choice, you can’t go wrong with an owner AKI 2/0, Gamakatsu SL11-3h, and Kona BGH 2/0. I usually tie about 5 of each of my favorite patterns to get me through the first half of the season.

I’m excited for the first wave of albies!

It’s almost September, and that can only mean one thing…. false albacore. With reports of fish starting to trickle in, it’s time to stock up on the correct tackle. I prefer a 9-foot, medium-light rod such as a phenix M1 inshore paired with a 5000- or 6000-size Shimano Sustain. As for braid and leader, you can’t go wrong with 20-pound Power Pro Max Cuatro and 20-pound Cortland fluorocarbon. In regards to lure choice, I prefer Game On Exo jigs and JoeBaggs resin jigs in white, pink, and electric chicken. I’d recommend stocking up on 3⁄4-ounce and 1-ounce jigs. That said, when the fish get picky, it’s always best to stay prepared with a few Albie Snax, my favorite being the 5-inch in pearl, amber, and sand eel colors. Maintain a constant and steady retrieve when fishing Albie Snax, unless you’re casting them to stripers, in which case they can also be worked like a walk-the-dog style plug.

If you’re a fly guy, I’d recommend a fast-action 8- to 10-weight rod paired with a tapered floating line. My favorite lines include the royal Wulff Bermuda Triangle taper and Cortland Striper Blitz. As for leader setup, a 10-foot section of 30, 20, and 12 is perfect for the job. Don’t forget your stripping basket! The last thing you want is a tangle when you’re trying to chuck your fly at some fast-moving fish.