North Shore Fishing Report
Mark from Cow Harbor Bait and Tackle reports: “There are schoolies here and there. Guys surfcasting the back bays are catching fish, but stripers are few and far between. Guys are throwing little swim shads, minnow lures, and plastics. The patterns have been spearing bait. Most fish are typical schoolie size—nothing massive yet. Tog are starting to slowly trickle in; a customer walked in with a nice-size keeper. The tog seem to be in shallow!”
Paul from River Bay Outfitters in Baldwin reports: “This year is strange—it’s fairly slow. There are fish in the North Shore bays. The problem is they’re fairly crowded. I haven’t heard anything farther east, but they should be chewing. I’ve been spending time guiding on the Connetquot, which has been good, but the ospreys are eating the trout out of the river, which has been making the bite tough.”
Wulbert Alberto Ruiz (@the_striper_hunt) on the North Shore reports: “I’m catching stripers with a chicken scratch SP Minnow, and the best time to target them was at night on the outgoing tide. Monday was pretty slow, and I only managed one 22-pounder on the North Shore. However, Saturday night was just complete mayhem, with some nice quality fish hitting the SP Minnow almost every other cast. I figured they would be real active before that rain we had, so I got out there, and boy, it did not disappoint at all!”
Western Long Island Sound Fishing Report
Nick Cancelliere (@nick_onthewater) in the Western Long Island Sound reports: “The past weekend was nuts, with a topwater window happening as holdover striped bass would boil on spearing in glassy water mid-day. Sadly, that window was quickly shut as temperatures dipped and the fan turned on at max speed. However, bass are still biting, and they aren’t going anywhere. At this point in the season, we only have better fishing to look forward to. You also have blackfish, and a few guys I know have been doing very well targeting bridges from their kayaks using soft baits like clams, worms, and even artificials as a bycatch while targeting stripers.
While I can’t say the same for the weekend, the weather looks great going into next week. If you have time to fish, put on a rain jacket and go. Worst case you get skunked, but it beats sitting on the couch.”
Andrew Bernat (@tactical_bassin26) in the Western Long Island Sound reports: “There are small baits flooding the back bays. As the water warms up, you’ll see a sporadic bunker flip here and there. However, 3–4 inch presentations with a deathly slow retrieve are the key to catching fish. Due to extreme water clarity, light fluorocarbon leaders have been a key factor. I’ve been mainly throwing mini Mag Darters, X-Raps, and 6-inch weightless Sluggos.”
South Shore Fishing Report
Ethan at Whitewater Outfitters reports: “The fish are moving west to east, and people are starting to get them mid-island up to 30 inches. As far as out in the Hamptons, it’s pretty quiet. The largemouth and pickerel bite has turned on, which is pretty fun on light tackle.”
Brandon at Causeway Bait and Tackle reports: “Blackfish are being caught at some local bridges. Mussels seem to be doing the best. We’re seeing a few keepers coming up. There are also some blackfish on reefs as well. Unfortunately, the bass bite hasn’t turned on yet locally, but the North Shore bite is heating up.”
Bill Falco (@fishlongisland) of Chasing Tails Tackle Shop in Oakdale reports: “This cold snap certainly put a little hold on things, but luckily it looks like this is the last we’ll have to deal with it. Local resident schoolie stripers are moving around, in and out of the rivers. Small swim baits and shallow-diving hard baits have been doing the best; poppers should start working soon. The water has been dirty from the rain and wind, so fish some brighter colors. Migrating fish should be moving along soon—the NJ bite seems to be real hot right now. Flounder and tautog action is actually going well for the few folks out there doing it. Flounder fishing requires some knowledge, finesse, and real light tackle, but they are around. Tog are crunching crabs but really loving the clams this time of year.
In the freshwater, the bass are chewing hard, pickerel are out lurking, trout are enjoying all the new lakes they’re in, and panfish are moving up and starting to do their thing. Jigs and small swim baits have been getting the bass and picks active; underspins and in-line spinners put in work these early months too. Panfish are crushing tiny jigs, especially trailed behind a float and jigged around. Trout are fully active, and it’s on sight with any fly you can toss at them. The water has been dirty in most places thanks to the rain, so anything brighter is catching their attention. Wooly buggers and other big streamers are getting crushed as well. Spin guys have been doing very well with the stockers at all of the local lakes—inline spinners, small jerk baits like the classic Rapala F3s and F5s.”
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Fishing Outlook
This past week I continued to focus my efforts on the back bays. At the moment it’s been a bit chilly, so I’m really looking for warm water. It seems as though warm outgoing water is a recipe for stacked-up bass. That said, the size of the fish I’m seeing isn’t anything to write home about. Most of the fish seem to be in the mid-20” range, with some pushing slot. The key has been showing up 30 minutes after slack. During this time, the first push of warm water triggers a short bite window that lasts about 10–12 minutes. After the first push of fish at the top of the outgoing, I usually go through a one- or two-hour lull before they begin to chew again. One thing I have been noticing is that the bass are also chewing nicely in the lower portions of the outgoing tide. My guess is that the mud flats are shallow and warm, which is optimal for feeding. The plug of the week has been a white Mag Darter, and the key has been reeling it in deadly slow. That said, your bag should be full of minnow plugs. Once the air temperatures get back into the high 50s and low 60s, I’ll be throwing some OutCast metal lips and Red Fins.”
As for lure choice, using slow-moving baits is a must! While a slow SP or Mag Darter will work, it’s the perfect time to throw suspending weightless plastics such as Sluggos, Super Snax, Hogy Eels, and Bass Assassins. Keep in mind that these baits are fairly light, so you’ll want a setup that can effectively cast and work them well. I’d recommend a medium-light 7–8 foot rod and a 5000 to 6000 size reel paired with 10–20 pound braid and a 5–6 foot 20-pound leader. As for retrieve, try a snap-snap-pause motion. This will cause the plastic to glide around and suspend. When it comes to rigging, a screw-lock VMC or Gamakatsu hook will be most conducive for hookups.
In regards to the South Shore, you guys have some time before things start really moving. I’d recommend hitting local ponds for white perch and trout. Tons of ponds were recently stocked, so you should have some fun! If you’re brave enough to take a drive to the North Shore, keep those tides in mind—you’ll want moving outgoing water!”