Long Island and NYC Fishing Report
Captain Kenny Schmitt of the Angler Fleet (@anglerfleet) out of Port Washington reports: “Striped bass fishing remains very strong about two weeks into the season. Recent trips have seen nonstop action, with steady bites throughout. Most of the catch has been quality fish fit for the box, with several overs mixed in—some topping 20 pounds. Bait has started to show, and the outlook remains very positive as the season progresses.”
Captain Arthur Cortes (@captacortes) of Cortes Outfitters reports: “The first week back on the water has been great, with plenty of fish in the bay and a good bite. I’ve been using deep-water tactics, such as sinking lines with Clousers, or 3-ounce bucktails on spinning gear. The bite is getting even better as the temperatures rise, so get out there and catch some fish!”
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Captain Jess Rogers of Gypsea Charters out of Brooklyn reports: “Absolute insanity while striped bass fishing this past week. The bait moved in and the fish were not far behind! Most days see a dozen or so slots hit the deck, with many releases up to 46 inches. With the abundance of bait in the area we expect this fishing to remain red hot!”
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Mark at Cow Harbor Bait and Tackle in Northport reports: “We definitely have some fish around. As soon as it warmed up last week, they hit the back areas. There are schoolie-size fish along with low-teen-size fish being caught. The bunker showed up this week and the ospreys are flying around the bunker. Our local waters are becoming active and we have plenty of bunker in store. People are excited to go fishing—everyone and their neighbor is out there!”
Desmond Scanlan (@gracious_depths) reports: “The Western Sound and back bays continue to produce a high volume of fish, with some nights yielding 20 plus keeper-size bass and more up to 20 pounds just before sunset on the incoming tide. While the slack tide into the top of the outgoing is producing plenty of smaller fish, the bigger fish are chewing much harder about three hours into the incoming. Larger fish have started hitting the Cotton Cordell pencil popper, but the most effective and consistent producer has been the Uncle Mo’s Tackle 2-ounce mylar teaser with the chartreuse head paired with a black and silver NLBN.”
Kevin Ryan (@nyc_finsnfeathers) reports: “This week I focused my efforts on Staten Island. On Tuesday I started the day at 7:30 AM an hour into the incoming tide and fished straight through the high and low. The bass didn’t seem to care and chewed all day, including through slack! Wind was a light NW and switched ENE at 10 to 15 mph toward the afternoon, which seemed to turn on the bigger fish. I dropped two other giants before I landed this 45 incher (below). The plug of choice was a Joe Baggs Swarter in the new “parrotdise” pattern. Water temp was 52°F while fishing on my Hobie Pro Angler 14.”
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Wulber Alberto Ruiz (@the_striper_hunt) reports: “There are some very large fish to be caught, ranging from the 15- to 30-pound range. The bass have been hitting larger plugs like pencils, Super Strike bottles, SP Minnows and surface-swimming metal lips. It is no secret that when the bunker roll on in, you’d better bring out the big plugs and enjoy the ride.”
Colin McElroy (@colintmcelroy) reports: “A big wave of Raritan bass have moved into NYC waters, and folks were getting them on metal lips, topwater and, of course, flies! The fish were circling at my feet in 2 feet of water. The clarity was so good that I could the details of the stripes on the fish. It was one of those scenarios when tide had no impact on the bite. Whether it was incoming or outgoing, the fish were hot and happy. That said, since last Saturday only a handful of fish have been caught on the NYC beaches. Everything has gone quiet since that cold spell—the beach bite has flipped drastically. It was hot-hot and now it’s not-not.”
Andrew Bernat (@tactical_bassin26) reports: “A stubborn late season cold snap has once again pulled the rug out from under what was shaping up to be a building early spring fishery in the Sound. What little momentum had been established has quickly unraveled, and in its place we’re seeing a system that looks far more like mid-March than mid-April. The most telling shift has been the disappearance of adult bunker schools. Just days ago, they were beginning to stage in predictable areas—harbors, back bays, and along current seams, but that presence has all but evaporated. In tandem, spearing have thinned out significantly, no longer holding in the same concentrations that had previously fueled a modest but workable bite. Without that consistent forage base, the striped bass have responded in kind, abandoning the shallows and sliding back into deeper, more stable water where bait has regrouped.
The timing of the new moon has only added another layer of frustration. Traditionally a period that ignites feeding windows and current-driven movement, this cycle instead brought with it extreme tidal swings. Those higher-than-normal tides pushed sand, silt, and shoreline debris back into the system, effectively choking out what little water clarity remained. In many areas, visibility has dropped to near zero, forcing fish to rely less on sight and more on lateral line detection—another factor contributing to the slowdown in aggressive feeding behavior.
For those willing to grind it out, a clear adjustment has emerged: downsizing and refining presentation. With the absence of large forage and reduced visibility, subtle profiles are once again leading the way. Slim, tight-wobbling minnow plugs like the SP Minnow and Shimano Current Sniper have become key tools. The Current Sniper, in particular, has proven effective when dialed in; properly swapping out the factory hooks for a 2/0 BKK Raptor not only improves hookup ratio but also alters the plug’s balance, allowing it to achieve a slow-suspending posture in the water column.
Looking ahead, the path forward is straightforward but entirely weather-dependent. A sustained warming trend—particularly overnight lows holding above that 50-degree threshold—will be needed to stabilize water temperatures and reestablish bait presence in the shallows. Once that happens, the system can reset quickly. Bunker will return, spearing will regroup, and with them, the bass will push back in and resume a more aggressive feeding pattern. Until then, it’s a grind. Cover water, fish slow, and capitalize on the small windows when conditions briefly align. The bite may be at a lull, but it’s far from over… it’s simply waiting for the next shift.”
Scott Monahan (@bonesyfishing) reports: “It’s go-time on the South Shore beaches. The last moon brought a good body of fish into the Jones area. Swarters, swimming plugs and soft plastics are working great. I’ve also been catching on bigger Cowdozer metal lips. The backside of the moon remained good until 4 days after; I’m seeing much slower fishing now. The next body of bass should to move into the area as we get closer to the next moon. As bite patterns and conditions change during different stages of the moon, it’s important to get out there to identify new patterns. Grind til you find ’em.”
Nick Cherkas (@surfcasting_the_island) reports: “Volatile weather coming off this new moon has led to inconsistent action as temperatures have dropped these past couple of days. I happened to poke around several locations since staying on a consistent body of fish with variable conditions remained a puzzle. I reunited late last week with my buddies Devon and Jack, which did not disappoint. For a couple nights, we found fish corralling bunker at the end of the flood tide at one of our local honey holes. This seemed to be the most consistent bite we could pattern and stay on since the wind and tide remained consistent. Fish to 22-pounds and numerous slots in the mix made for some nice light-tackle back bay action. Leading up to this flower moon in May, combined with the inclement weather, I suspect these fish will move out and relocate.”
Justin Braun at Port Tackle (@porttacklecompany) in Port Jefferson reports: “The grand opening is finally here this Saturday, April 25th. Stop in at 1:00 PM and celebrate with us! Expect food trucks, drinks, music, and a great atmosphere all afternoon. We carry some of the top fishing brands!”
Bill Falco (@fishlongisland) at Chasing Tails Bait and Tackle in Oakdale reports: “Striped bass are making their presence known in our local waters. Boat guys are finding them, back bay guys are putting in work, and dock guys are starting to soak so many chunks, Bob himself would be proud. SPs, swim shads, poppers, and soft plastics are starting to move out the door as more and more fish and reports come in. Bigger fish out west and up north are keeping the hardcore guys happy. The bite windows are short but they’re full of hungry fish. Bass and pickerel are staging up in the local lakes, eagerly feeding after a long cold winter. Soft plastics, jigs, and paddletails are putting in work. Panfish are schooled up and eating worm-and-bobber rigs and small jigs, even small paddletails. Trout will be stocked again soon and the lakes will be full of life. The trout love small spinners and spoons, and will inhale worms and dough baits long after being stocked. Fly guys will do well with small dries and nymphs hung under a bobber.”
Derek Monfort (@derek_sucks_at_fishing) reports: “Bass out front and bass in the back—hit the water! Bunker flooded in like I haven’t seen in a couple years now. Time to fish!”
The Author’s Experience
Last weekend I ripped it up toward NYC and was able to find clean water and 3- to 8-inch bunker getting smashed by bass. The fish ranged from 20 inches to 15 pounds. The outgoing tide seemed to be the ticket. The best lures seemed to be large surface-swimming glide baits, metal lips, or walk-the-dog style topwater baits. It’s clear that the New Jersey fish are actively dispersing and moving down the New York coastline on the South Shore beaches and in the bays. It’s only a matter of time before the fish push heavily into the Western Sound.
So far, the top-performing baits this year in my experience continue to be surface-swimming metal lips, Pikies and trollers. It all depends on the depth of the spot I’m fishing, of course. That said, chopping and pausing a glide bait also has been a phenomenal way to trigger fish on colder nights.
Most nights I’ve been throwing a VS150 spooled with 30-pound braid and paired with a MH 7’6″ Jigging World Onyx. I love the back bone and power that the Jigging World rods bring to the table.
Long Island & NYC Fishing Forecast
The Western Sound is fishing well, but it can be hit or miss on local fish in shallow back bays. As I’ve mentioned, these areas consistently have the warmest water available in the Sound. The mud soaks up warm sunlight at dead-low tide, providing the perfect spot for staging fish as the tide rushes in. If bunker invade these areas it can make for an excellent daytime pencil popper bite and a fantastic nighttime metal lip bite. If you’re looking for quantity, you can’t go wrong with minnow-style plugs, however, if you’re looking for larger fish, metal lips like those made by Scabelly and Back Bay will tempt fish in the 20- to 30-pound range.
In regards to the South Shore, we’re seeing a healthy push of fish coming from the Raritan. The open surf is providing some fresh spunked up fish that are willing to eat darters, gliders, and metal lips. The night bite has produced much larger fish than the daytime. We’re at a point where you can’t go wrong with fishing either the North or South Shore.
When it comes to the Eastern Sound, tog are slowly activating but it’s a slow pick. On the bass front, there are holdovers in small rivers and estuaries, but it’s going to be a week or so before fresh fish push into the Eastern Sound.
Looking back on the new moon, it was certainly a weird bite. I was expecting a few nights of lights-out action, but it seems as though the fish slowed down during the moon. Now that we’re out of it, I expect the bite to pick up again big time.
As far as weather goes, I always prefer a calm south wind on the North Shore. This usually slicks out my spots aside from a slight ripple effect on the water. Under these conditions, I’ll pack a few floating Sebile Magic Swimmers in my bag. While the air temp may feel cold, the right fish has no problem blasting a surface plug.
Looking ahead, bluefish should be invading the South Shore any day now—especially with more bunker around. The daytime bite can be extremely fun. Pencil poppers, Super Strike poppers, minnow plugs, and metals should all be in rotation! When these fish initially come in, they stage hot and heavy just outside the surf line. My favorite wind for spring bluefish traditionally has been a west wind, but I’ve caught them in just about every wind imaginable.