Long Island and NYC Fishing Report
Captain Jess Rogers of Gypsea Charters out of Brooklyn reports: “August fluking continues to produce as it has in years past. The short action has subsided just a bit, but the size of the keepers has made up for the slow in action. Some trips experience up and down short life while others you have to work a bit harder for the bite. Nonetheless, all trips have been seeing a good amount of keepers hit the deck with the more experienced anglers nailing their limits on both boats.”
Mark at Cow Harbor Bait and Tackle in Northport reports: “Someone just caught a 14-pound black drum locally! There are gator bluefish sliding into creek mouths and river mouths, and we also have some large weakfish in the area. A lot of guys are catching the weakfish while porgy fishing with clams.”
Capt. Stu Paterson of Northport Charters (@northportcharters) reports: “With late-August water temperatures now dropping with cooler evening and morning temperatures, the bite is picking up, especially with the porgy and sea bass. The porgy bite is improving daily, with fish to 2 pounds, and keepers are the norm at my fishing camp and on charters. We had eight northern kingfish at camp last week in the bay, and the kids loved seeing them come up and over the rail, but all were throwbacks. I am seeing bait set up on every fishing spot I stop at—walls and walls of bait! There are spearing, peanuts, and butterfish everywhere in the bays and Long Island Sound. This is a good sign with all this life around; it will set up for a great fall run! The striper bite will turn on in Long Island Sound in September, too. I’m presently booking bottom-fishing trips and blackfish trips for the fall—great-fighting fish and tasty fish to eat! Call or text today at 631-707-3266 or go to northportcharters.com.”
Bill Falco of Chasing Tails Bait and Tackle (@chasingtailsbait) in Oakdale reports: “The fluke reports this week are great! Still plenty of shorts to catch, but there are keepers coming through the bays too, and anglers are taking notice. They’re on the flats, in the channels, sitting on every slope, and in every dip. Boat guys are crushing it on bait and our killer shop rigs. Bucktails and jigs are putting in work too. Adding teasers is increasing the hookup ratio. Fish light and fish bright! I’ve been crushing it from the shore with my buddy Vinny Cagnina. We’ve been doing good with jerk shads on jigheads, and curly tails on bucktails. We fish light action freshwater rods, with 10-pound braid and fluorocarbon leaders so every subtle bite is felt and capitalized on. Sea bass reports on the outside wrecks and reefs are coming in hot. Lots of quality biscuits down there chomping up clams and jigs. On the docks we are seeing tons of snappers, blue claw crabs, and even some kingfish. Plentiful action and lots of fun for all ages.”
Aqualina Charters (@aqualinacharters) out of Moriches Bay reports: “We’ve had full boat limits the last few trips of quality ocean fluke to 7 pounds. You lose a lot of tackle fishing so close to the structure and hard bottom, but it’s worth it as anglers are getting quality fish ranging from 21 to 23 inches.”
Captain Adrian Moeller of Rockfish Charters (@rockfishcharters) out of Moriches reports: “Tuna fishing has gotten a little tougher, and we lost our 19-trip streak. There’s just not as many bluefins around right now, and the yellowfin haven’t settled in yet. We usually manage a fish or three at first light, but then have to grind it out trying to get the few fish that remain to eat. Hopefully this full moon will stir things up and September starts out with a bang like years past.”
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Capt. Pete Douma (@doum_flies) of Windward Outfitters out of Montauk reports: “Feels like August here in Montauk. The nearshore tuna bite is still going, but you can tell it’s starting to slow down. Jigs and RonZs have been getting the most hits, with some guys doing well on live whiting for picky fish. Yellows have showed a little, but it’s been inconsistent. Inshore, bluefish are still my main focus. Cocktail blues have been up on the surface, with the big ones deep or in the shallows. They can be picky at times, so don’t be afraid to downsize your lure or fly. Soon, the clouds of sand eels will be chased by albies and bass instead. The lack of bonito has been a little upsetting, but it’s not a far run to find them. Summer has been fun, but I’m ready for fall.”
Captain Rob Lehnert of North Fork Adventures Charters (@northforkadventurescharters) out of Southold reports: “Lots of small porgy and sea bass in Gardiners Bay. You have to cull through a bunch of shorts to get a few keepers. Peconic Bay is very slow—there hasn’t been much action since last week’s big rainstorm, and the seals are taking care of the rest of the fish!”
The Author’s Experience
This past week, I focused my efforts on tuna fishing. The tuna bite has been spotty, but I’ve been able to eke out a few bites when I need them most. Yesterday morning, I had the pleasure of fishing with Captain Scott Worth out of Shinnecock. As the sun began to rise, we ventured out into deep blue water. On the horizon, we spotted three whales. Scott immediately ripped it over to the mammals, and with a well-timed cast, I smoked a FAT 57-inch tuna on the Clobber Company Surface Freak. The battle was grueling; however, once that fish hit the deck, it was nothing but smiles. While we marked fish here and there on the screen, they just wouldn’t cooperate on the jig! That said, we had plenty of tuna meat to enjoy at the end of the day.
Long Island & NYC Fishing Forecast
Hardtails are quickly approaching. There have been decent reports of bonito and Spanish mackerel sliding into Montauk and the eastern Sound. These speedsters are looking for balls of spearing, peanut bunker, and sand eels. Bonito can be tricky and are up and down, much like albies.
When it comes to lures, you can’t go wrong with an epoxy jig or Albie Snax. As it relates to the jig, I prefer bright colors like pink, green, yellow, and white. That said, for the Albie Snax, I’ve traditionally been an olive Snax type of guy. It has a super natural look that just picks up fish!
If you’re wondering where to fish for albies, I’d say your best bet is the far eastern Sound and out. The bones first show up in the east before trickling into the central Sound sometime in mid-September. By then, we should be in full-force albie mode. Let’s pray they show up soon!