Long Island and NYC Fishing Report
North Shore
The Angler Fleet out of Port Washington reported: “The days following the storm brought tough conditions and a slow bite, but things have returned to normal this week. Weakfish and cocktail blues continue to come over the rails during both fluke and porgy trips. To get in on the action, call or text (718)-659-8181 or visit theangler.com.”
Captain Stu Paterson of Northport Charters reported: “This week we are wrapping up kids’ fishing camp and running regular charters, catching bigger cocktail blues, porgies up to 2 1⁄2 lbs, the occasional weakfish, sea bass, and some fluke! Last Friday at camp, Claire landed a 25-pound bullnose ray—an awesome fight. She got it over the rail, and we released it safely to live another day. A week ago, coming into Huntington Bay from the Sound, we had about 50 dolphins follow us in, riding our wake and leaping behind the boat. It was an incredible sight and a great reminder of the life in our amazing marine ecosystem. The kids were ecstatic! Call or text 631-707-3266 or visit northportcharters.com for info and availability.”
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Mark at Cow Harbor Bait and Tackle in Northport reported: “The diamond jig bite is turning on in the Sound, and the back bays are waking up as well. Cownose rays are still around, filling the bays and screaming drags. This time of year usually brings a big push of bluefish, but we haven’t seen them show in force yet. Bait is plentiful—spearing, peanut bunker, and spot. Fluke love spot, especially on three-way rigs, and the last push of the fluke season is usually a good one. Porgy fishing is hot, and sea bass are plentiful, though keepers are harder to find. Regulations will change on September 1 from 3 to 6 fish per angler per day. Visit cowharbortackle.com or call 631-239-1631.”
Matt Malone (@mattmalone_20) went out with Dave Flanagan of North Island Fly in Smithtown and reported: “We found loads of stripers on the bottom refusing flies and lures. We managed a couple schoolies on mid-sized poppers at the end of the outgoing/slack tide. I went back out Sunday and Monday on my own boat—marked fish and even some false bottom, but none would chew. Strangely, I couldn’t find a bluefish anywhere. Spanish macks showed up and are popping around on top, but they’re tough to get to eat.”
Capt. Skippy in Mount Sinai Harbor reports: “We saw some solid fishing after the winds from Hurricane Erin died down. On the plus side, the storm blew in some weakfish, which have been mixing in with the sea bass and porgies on rock piles and wrecks making for some awesome mixed-bag fishing! Striped bass fishing continues to be going strong with some bluefish mixing in. This week we landed bass to 44 inches and bluefish to 12 pounds trolling, jigging, and casting topwater. We have been working with GrayFish Tag, tagging over-slot striped bass for their research, giving customers the unique opportunity to catch, tag, name, and release large striped bass all in the name of science. Shout out to Sean and his crew, who landed a big bass on light tackle which we tagged, released, and named Nemo. Some large gray seals have taken up residency at the local bassing grounds, so reel in your fish quickly to avoid getting taxed! Fluke fishing has died off on the shoals and your best shot at a keeper is by targeting deeper water on drop-offs and around structure with large baits.”
From Central LI Sound, Sean Conway (@long_island_fishing_guy) reports: “The peanut bunker schools are getting larger by the week. Bass are still holding on the docks but only hitting small lures. Fish are ranging from 18” to the mid-30“ class. If the trend of the last few years holds, the bite will be red hot in two to three weeks.”
From LI Sound, Andrew Bernat (@tactical_bassin26) reports: “Fish are eating live-lined porgies east of Eaton’s Neck. The bite isn’t consistent, but the fish are there, and there are massive schools of small bait around. On Tuesday night, I fished eels around the city for five hours with nothing to show, but toward the end of the tide we found some big marks. I threw a Joe Baggs Block Island eel while my buddy worked a large live eel on a three-way rig. We lost four massive fish that smoked both the plastic and the eel but evaded hooksets. The fish are there—you just need persistence to get them to eat. The water temps are still high, but once they drop, the bite will light up.”
Captain Scott Worth on the North Fork reports: “On our first trip out to the tuna grounds after Hurricane Erin, life was sparse and the tuna bite was slow, likely due to cooler water temps. Things should improve once conditions stabilize. Fortunately, we found some large mahi—up to 40 inches—on light tackle around the high-fliers. Fast runs and high jumps made for battles similar to tarpon!”
South Shore
Captain Arthur Cortes of Cortes Outfitters (@cortes.outfitters) in NYC reported: “A cooler weather week has turned on the bay action. Stripers, blues, and weakfish can be seen blitzing in the early morning almost every day. The Rockaways have small blues with the occasional Spanish mackerel in the mix. This week, our lure of choice has been the Yo-Zuri Top Knock pencil, and fly of choice is a 4-inch squid pattern. To get in on the action, call or text 347-326-4750 or visit cortesoutfitters.com.”
Captain Doug Touback of Corazon Charters in Freeport reported: “Fluke fishing was off the hook before the storm. Things are still settling down and it’s too early to tell if the fluke began their fall exit, or are burrowed and hiding. Our bet and early indications is that’s it’s still on—but the storm put us into the September pattern a week or two early.”
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The Captree Fleet (@captreefleet) reported: “After the storm, action is back to nonstop catching. Bay fluking has picked up with fish to 5 lbs. Ocean trips are producing keepers from 5 to 8 lbs, and offshore sea bass remains hot. Everything you need to fish is on board and included in the fare. Now’s the time to join us—reservations are recommended for open boat trips. Gift certificates are also available in our office or online and can be used on any of our member boats. Call 631-669-6464 or visit captreefleet.com.”
Captain Adrian Moeller of Rockfish Charters out of Moriches reported: “Fishing has been tougher since the storm, with bait scattered and fewer whales and dolphins around to help locate the action. The bright spot has been mahi—midshore pots out east are absolutely loaded. A few buddy boats got into yellowfin further west today, and there is still plenty of catch-and-release bluefin action closer in. Hopefully, by the next moon, a big body of yellowfin will move in and settle for September. We’ve got a couple of September trips left and may run an open boat next week.”
Max at Haskell’s Bait & Tackle in East Quogue reported: “There have been bass off the beach—typical late-August smaller fish with some rogue bigger ones chewing on the flats. People are also catching them around the bridges on live bait, mostly in the early mornings or late evenings. Fluking has been slow, but if you grind it out all day, you’ll pick a keeper or two. Moriches continues to outproduce Shinnecock.”
Bill Falco (@fishlongisland) at Chasing Tails Bait & Tackle in Oakdale reported: “Post-storm reports are getting better by the day. The water is cleaning up and the fish are biting. In the bays, fluke action is red hot. Lots of shorts to rip through, and the keepers are thick and healthy! Brighter colors are working best; give them something big and bold to chase after. Outside on the wrecks, there are some good flatties, and tons of sweet sea bass. Drop down a big bucktail or jig, and you’re on ‘em. Clams on a rig will always do the job as well. A few bonito have been caught in the inlets already, so hopefully we will have a solid run of pelagic fish coming through. Tuna anglers are reporting yellowfins down deep under big piles of bait, with plenty to go around. At the local docks, snappers and blue claw crabs are running wild. Lots to catch and lots of fun for people of all ages and abilities. Summer stripers are ripping around, feeding heavy during sunset and night-shift hours; nothing huge, or any real quantity yet, but they’re coming.”
From the South Shore surf, Nick Cherkas (@surfcasting_the_island) reported: “Sharks have dominated my time the past couple of weeks. Tide hasn’t mattered much—if you get a bait in front of them, they’ll eat. It’s been a mix: sand tigers, browns, tippers, and even some bulls. Chunked mackerel and bunker have been best during the day, with eels producing at night. The cold front this week might slow things down, but we could see one more good push by the next moon before the fall run takes over.”
The Author’s Experience
This week, I took some time to relax. With the storm cooling things down, I decided it was the perfect chance to do some gear maintenance. I’ve definitely used and abused a lot of my tackle since early spring. As summer wanes and temps drop, I’m gearing up for an epic fall run.
I re-spooled most of my setups. My surf rod is a Van Staal Bailed 150 X2 paired with a Shimano Tiralejo 10’6” moderate-fast action rod. For the fall, I’m loading it with 30-pound-test PowerPro V2 SuperSlick. I also prepared plenty of 30- to 60-pound fluorocarbon leaders from Cortland and Seaguar. Finally, I replaced split rings and hooks—stocking up on 100- to 300-pound-test Spro swivels, with BKK and VMC hooks as my go-to choices.
On the fly side, I’m switching out dredging-style sink tip lines for floating and intermediate lines. My favorite is the Cortland Blitz line for its temperature range. Many fly anglers don’t realize lines are rated for air temps—out-of-range use can cause coiling and casting problems. The Blitz line shines on cold, late-fall mornings. If albie season fizzles, I’ll be chasing surf bass with my favorite Fulling Mill flies: Whalley’s Tinker Mack, Whalley’s Chain Breaker, and the Money Minnow.
I’m hoping the albies show in force—I need my rod keeled over and my drag screaming!
Long Island & NYC Fishing Forecast
Even though it’s still August, fall fishing is on my mind. But there’s plenty happening now.
Fluke: Solid action continues on Sound beaches. A 5K reel with a 7–9’ rod, light braid, and Gulp Swimming Mullets, Shrimp, or Jerk Shads will put fish on the deck. Use 1⁄2- to 1-ounce jigheads, tap bottom, reel slowly, and set hard when you feel that thud.
Striped Bass: Cooler weather is waking up the resident fish. Nighttime temps in the 50s and 60s are triggering the first early migratory pushes. Bring needlefish, darters, gliders, and minnow plugs. The further east you go, the cooler the water—and the better the bite.
Hardtails: Start probing the eastern Sound near Orient—bones and albies could move in any day. Last year’s run was disappointing, but it’s worth a look. A 5K or 6K spinning reel with an 8’ rod, epoxy jigs, mini pencils, and Albie Snax is the move.
The coming weeks should be awesome—moons and tides will be the difference-makers. The fall run on the South Shore is shaping up to be epic.