Long Island and NYC Fishing Report
Captain Kenny Schmitt of the Angler Fleet (@anglerfleet) out of Port Washington reports: “We’re finding bass stacked up in deep and shallow areas, even boiling on the surface at times. Plenty of keeper-size fish and giants as well have followed a good bunker population into the Sound, and we’re finding great action all over.”
Captain Jess Rogers of Gypsea Charters out of Brooklyn reported: “Striped bass fishing is as good as it gets right now in our local waters. We have been seeing easy limits of slots on all trips with countless overs released. They have been keyed in on live bunker, annihilating the baits as they hit the bottom. If you’re into striped bass fishing, the time to go is now. The New York fluke opener is also this coming Monday, and we are eagerly anticipating another stellar season.”
Mark at Cow Harbor Bait and Tackle in Northport reports: “So far, it’s a lot of schoolies and 35-inch fish—that nice 15-pound range. They are mainly on spearing. That said, guys going out on boats are catching fish on mojos. Schoolies and slots in the back is still the name of the game. Some guys have been togging and doing alright; it’s been a slow tog pick, and the spring season has come to a close as of today.”
Justin Braun at Port Tackle (@porttacklecompany) in Port Jefferson reports: “We’ve heard of bass in the back bays where there’s some warmer water. As far as tog fishing, the last two days have produced tons of shorts but the action was solid. Fluke opens Monday—we’re all excited! We have plenty of sand eels, spearing, squid, clams, bunker, and worms.”
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Desmond Scanlan (@gracious_depths) reports: “After a tough start to the week with only a few shorts, the action picked up during a trip to Huntington with Nicky Bifulco and Chris Catalano, where we found success at the top of the incoming tide just before slack. Chris landed a nice 31-inch bass on the chunk, though shorts still made up the bulk of the catch. By midweek, things broke wide open during a session with Rich Lazar in the middle of the bay. We boated about 20 fish up to 35 inches in 15 feet of water. While the Chicken Scratch SP Minnow was the primary producer, the larger slot-sized fish were keyed in on a 60g Sand Eel Jig from Uncle Moe’s Tackle on the outgoing tide. We had fish stacked from the bottom to the mid-water column, resulting in eight slots and two overs. Later that night, Kenny Schmitt and I grinded hard from the shore on both sides of the bay, but it was a slow pick with only one fish around 18 pounds. I headed back out the following day with Rich and Mark Lazar at the top of the incoming for another seven fish, including one just under 36 inches. Despite several blowups on topwater, the SP Minnow in various colors remained the most consistent. A fresh body of fish has definitely moved in, and while I’ve scouted the mouths of the bays, the fish are still holding further back. The best window has been slack tide into the start of the outgoing. We saw some good pods of bunker around Huntington Harbor. Hopefully, they begin to show up in larger numbers soon. With some reports of fish up to 40 pounds being caught on the chunk, I’m hoping to get a night of bait fishing in this week to target those larger 40-inch-class fish.”
Wulber Alberto Ruiz (@the_striper_hunt) reports: “The fish are all over the island at this point, and even the flounder have showed up. I caught a nice pre-season 20-incher. And there are many big stripers around as well. This is the year that many personal bests will be broken—it isn’t even the month of May, and wow, has the spring bite started with a bang! I have been fortunate enough to get on those extremely desirable bites that anglers dream of, not just once or twice. Now is the time to get out there and land a cow.”
Nick Cherkas (@surfcasting_the_island) reports: “Despite all the noise regarding certain areas having fish sporadically, there were two different approaches I took this past week. I made a move off the beaten path and fished away from the crowd, as well as focusing my efforts on the evening hours in some inclement weather. Taking advantage of both these situations resulted in fleeting success for a handful of nights. Having the opportunity to get some time off from work, I took full advantage of linking up with my buddy Sean Conway, and we were greeted with bass up to 20 pounds feeding on a flood tide. Darters and glides accounted for the majority of the fish, as we suspected the presence of bunker. What made us more convinced was the fact that the bite was nonexistent the morning after. This is the typical volatility and nature of a bunker bite. As the full moon peaks, I suspect the pattern will shift and become an outgoing-tide bite for the surrounding areas.”
Andrew Bernat (@tactical_bassin26) reports: “After what felt like a frustrating reset just a week ago, the Western Long Island Sound is finally beginning to show signs of life again. While it would be a stretch to say the bite has broken wide open, there’s no denying a noticeable shift in the system, and for the first time in days, it feels like things are moving in the right direction.
The most encouraging development has been the reappearance and renewed activity of adult bunker schools. At first light, brief but telling windows have opened up, with pods getting pushed to the surface by quality fish. These aren’t schoolies picking away either—there have been multiple sightings and encounters with bass well into the 30- to 40-pound class, rolling and detonating on bunker in classic spring fashion. It’s the kind of visual fishing that stops you in your tracks—whitewater eruptions and that unmistakable ‘WHOMP’ of a big fish inhaling a bunker off the surface.
What’s becoming increasingly clear, however, is that this remains a bait-dominant pattern. These fish are locked in on live forage, often shadowing bunker schools with a level of selectivity that makes artificials feel like an afterthought. As a result, getting consistent commitment on plugs has required a far more calculated approach. Blind casting has largely given way to situational fishing—reading subtle changes in current seams, watching how bunker pods shift with pressure, and positioning ahead of the feed rather than reacting after the fact.
There’s also been a noticeable trend of fish staging deeper beneath the surface chaos rather than fully committing on top. That mid- to deeper-column presence has been key for anglers willing to adjust. Deep trollers from @personalbestlures have quietly produced, especially when dialed in tight to bait concentrations holding just under the visible activity. It’s not flashy fishing, but it’s effective—and in conditions like this, effectiveness is everything.
On the other hand, jointed gliders from Personal Best Lures have also been a strong option when worked with patience. Long pauses, wide sweeps, and a deliberate cadence seem to trigger fish that are otherwise reluctant to expend energy chasing. These are not reaction bites—they’re commitment bites, often coming after multiple turns of the bait through the same zone.
Of course, when the system aligns—when bunker are pinned, pushed, and forced into tight surface balls by larger predators—the entire dynamic shifts instantly. These windows are short, chaotic, and absolutely electric. This is where preparation pays off. Having a big-profile topwater ready to fire into the mayhem can make the difference between watching and connecting.
The 11-inch Surface Freak from @clobber_company has proven itself in these moments, offering both presence and disturbance that can stand out even in a field of real bait. Paired alongside the ever-reliable Doc, these larger presentations give you a legitimate shot at pulling a fish off the pod when worked with confidence and a slightly slower cadence than the surrounding chaos might suggest.
Looking ahead, the outlook remains cautiously optimistic. With a string of 60° days and warmer on the horizon, continued stabilization in water temperatures should only reinforce the progress being made. If bait continues to hold and build, it’s only a matter of time before this pattern loosens up and transitions into a more consistent, aggressive bite. For now, the fish are here—but they’re making you earn it.”
Scott Monahan (@bonesyfishing) reports: “The bass bite continues to be great on the South Shore beaches. Some days are better than others; however, the amount of fish that have come through so far in April has been impressive. I’m looking forward to what May has in store for us. I’ve been doing very well on the Joe Baggs Big Skipper some days and Swarters on others. Metal lips and darters have been doing well at night, too. I’m hoping the full moon will bring some giant bass into the area—they should be feeding for a few days on the backside of the moon. Bluefish should also be making their savage appearance any day. I’ve been getting fish on day and night tides. Get out there and test the waters. Change locations and find the bite patterns. Catch ’em up!”
Bill Falco (@fishlongisland) at Chasing Tails Bait and Tackle in Oakdale reports: “The stripers must’ve known I’ve been begging for them to show up this week because, man, oh man, they showed up. From the back bays to the surf and everywhere in between, the bass action is hot. Dock guys are having a blast soaking chunks and ripping lips. The surf is loaded up with fish of all sizes. My best bud, Vinny Cagnina, and I had a field day on the beach Monday afternoon into dark. Schools pulled up and we were hooking into them with the entire beach to ourselves. We had fish from well over slot size to 12-inch dinkers and everything in between. Bucktails and SPs were getting absolutely hammered. The night bite seems like it’ll be another darter-and-bottle-plug year—big fish are eating all of the bunker we have here locally. In the bay, I’m having great luck with a solid topwater bite and shallow divers like the mini Mag Darter. The schools show up fast, rip through, and they’re gone! Finding the right time to show up is key.”
Derek Monfort (@derek_sucks_at_fishing) reports: “It’s all about bass! Stripers are still hitting in the back bays and also charging down the beach chasing bunker. Darters and bottle plugs have been the top plugs for me lately.”
White Water Outfitters in Hampton Bays reports: “Fish just showed up on the beaches and in the bays. They are feeding on bunker—normally we don’t have this size class of fish, but they’re here! The fish range in size from the slot to 40 pounds. There are more slots to 20-pounders, but there are some XL bass in the mix. Daytime topwater seems to be productive, but metal lips and glide baits are great choices, too. Schoolie and slot-size fish are hitting on SP Minnows and other minnow-style swimming plugs.”
The Author’s Experience
This past weekend, I ventured out toward Jamaica Bay. The water temp was 52–58 degrees, and fish were stacked up on channels and edges. While there were bunker schools near the surface, we didn’t see any fish visibly attacking them. These areas ranged from 18 to 45 feet. In the early afternoon, we were able to dredge up fish ranging from 10 to 15 pounds on a deep-diving Personal Best metal lip. As the sun started to drop later in the afternoon, we switched over to throwing giant topwater plugs. Suddenly, fish blasted up from 25 feet down and crushed the 11-inch Surface Freak—a plug that I’ve developed with my buddy. For the next 10 minutes, we had several XL fish chase the Freak and give up on it boatside! When the water temp heats up to 60, it should be game time for giant topwaters.
Earlier this week, I hit the Raritan Bay with my father. Finding fish was difficult! That said, we pulled it together in the ninth inning with a Back Bay metal lip. My dad placed the perfect cast in 10 feet of water and got absolutely smoked by a nice fish that put on a show, jumping into the air.
Long Island & NYC Fishing Forecast
The full moon is tomorrow, May 1. I’ve said this multiple times, but a full moon brings stronger incoming and outgoing tides, creating intensified currents. The full moon also brightens the nighttime sky, allowing for almost daytime-like visibility. The western North Shore and South Shore beaches of Long Island have fish, and we are about a week or two out from seeing fish in the Eastern Sound.
The three days and nights before and after the full moon are going to be the ticket to finding a hot bite. This moon has historically produced some larger fish in the 30-pound class. I personally stick to nighttime tides rather than daytime due to fewer crowds and larger classes of fish.
This is the time to go big or go home. On the North Shore, you can’t go wrong with:
- Jointed Back Bay or Scabelly metal lips
- Stride, SOL, and Carroll glide baits
- Alan’s Custom gliders
- Mag Darters
On the South Shore, I’d recommend:
- Super Strike darters
- Stride, SOL, and Carroll glide baits
- Mag Darters
- Rigged eels