Long Island and NYC Fishing Report
Capt. Kenny of The Angler Fleet out of Port Washington reports: “The fluke bite is not slowing down, and we are getting more and more porgies in the mix. Bass are still making a showing, even during the day at times, and we’re seeing some summer “exotics” like dolphins and cownose rays in the western Sound.”
Mark at Cow Harbor Bait and Tackle in Northport reports: “A lot of people are still catching bass on live spot and eels. The last 2 to 3 hours of the tide have proven very effective, and there are fish to 50 inches being caught. There are a few bunker schools, but they’ve recently spread out. We have a bunch of porgies hyper-local to our area—the beach guys are outfishing the boat guys! Sea bass fishing has been decent. There are plenty of shorts with keepers mixed in, but the deeper wrecks on the Connecticut side are holding larger fish and bait is outfishing jigs. Fluke-wise, people are saying there are shorts all over, but deeper areas in 30 to 40 feet are the move. There is plenty of rain bait. The weakfish bite is setting up nicely. Snappers and cocktail blues are moving in.”
Captain Jess Rogers of Gypsea Charters out of Brooklyn reports: “Excellent fluking continues aboard both boats. The warm bay waters have pushed loads of fish into the ocean and the action has been fantastic! Rods remain bent all day with shorts, while there are plenty of keepers hitting the deck throughout the day. Jigs and Gulp seem to be the ticket for the larger fish, as we have seen many limit catches taken with fish to 9 pounds.”
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Bill Falco of Chasing Tails Bait and Tackle (@chasingtailsbait) in Oakdale reports: “Fluke reports are great again this week. Lots of fluke are around. You’ll have to cull through some shorts to bring your keepers home, but there are tons of fish to catch and lots of fun to be had. Fish light, fish bright, and move around often. If you find yourself catching short after short, move on to the next spot and try to find some bigger fish. I’ve been having some great luck with the snap jig bucktails myself. Lots of solid weakfish are in the mix, and they love a finesse presentation with bright-colored little plastics and bucktails. Sea bass, porgies, and some good fluke are roaming around the wrecks and reefs outside. Drop some bait or a jig down, and you’ll be in ’em in no time. Tuna reports are still going off, and the jig and popper bites are really strong. Lots of big mahi-mahi are ripping around as well. At the docks, we’re seeing a ton of snappers and blue claw crabs. The shop is loaded with everything you could possibly need for a great time at the docks with the entire family or a fun afternoon by yourself. The crabs and snappers are plentiful and are always a blast to catch.”
Aqualina Charters (@aqualinacharters) out of Moriches Bay reports: “Fluke continues to be consistent inside and out. Even with the 19.5-inch size limit, we are still able to find quality fish by picking through tons of ‘jumbo’ shorts. Fish to 6 pounds sounds like a broken record, but it keeps on going.”
Captain Adrian Moeller of Rockfish Charters (@rockfishcharters) out of Moriches reports: “Bluefin tuna fishing continues to be top-notch with daily limits plus releases. Most fish are in the 50-inch class, and it can be hard to get our unders some days. A big body of giants has also settled into shallower waters, giving our charters the experience of fighting big fish, but most are broken off early on. As of yesterday, the yellowfin have started showing up in deeper waters and should filter into our local spots within the next week or so. August is booked up, but we still have some good September into October dates left. Check out our full schedule at rockfishcharters.com or call 347-661-4501.”
White Water Outfitters in Hampton Bays reports: “As far as the inshore stuff goes, fluke fishing is picking up with a lot of shorts around. Keepers are being scratched away. We’re at the striper summer lull, but if you grind, you can catch them. Bluefish have taken over, with plenty of 3-pound fish around. There are still porgies here and there. The offshore fishing has been pretty good, with both recreational and giant-size bluefin around. The topwater bite has been hit or miss, but the jig bite has started to pick up over the last couple of days. Yellowfin are starting to be caught 20 to 40 miles offshore. The bigeye bite in the canyons is slowing down a bit. Mahi are starting to show up—not in huge numbers, but they are trickling in.”
Captain Pete Douma (@doum_flies) of Windward Outfitters out of Montauk reports: “Weather was a little bit of a struggle this week in Montauk, but it did shake some things up. The mixed bag of bluefish inshore has started to show more big blues. Bass remain a little tougher, but some big ones are still tight to the rocks. Nighttime, with big flies or plugs around the turns of the tide, is your best bet for a bite. The nearshore grounds are not quite producing the recreational tuna bite I’d hoped for, but large overs and giants have been around in good numbers. RonZs fished tight to the bottom have been the most productive for me. Mahi have finally started to show as well—just look for warm water and debris.”
Captain Mike Larson of Trophy Hunter Charters in Montauk reports: “There’s been an uptick in the tuna and fluke departments, with whispers of yellowfin tuna getting closer and closer. The porgy party is still red hot, and cocktail blues are chasing down every shiny jig our customers are dropping on both the south and north sides of Montauk. Plenty of sea bass are mixed in—it’s just hard to get keepers on a consistent basis. This week we had a customer catch the boat’s first Atlantic bonito of the season, and another caught and released a nice shark after a fun 10-minute battle. Give us a call at 917-468-3361 to book your aquatic adventure. If you have family members who want to watch the whales and dolphin show, we can make that happen as well. Tight lines.”
The Author’s Experience
Welp, it’s August! I haven’t had much time to get out. Things have slowed down considerably. Tuna fishing is hit or miss. The surface feeds have dwindled, and a jig bite is slowly building. Being in the right place at slack tide is imperative—tuna love feeding on the slack. The current slows and less energy is expended, allowing tuna to feed with ease.
The key is to find life. What does life mean? Simply put: whales, dolphins, and tuna chicks. Setting up near these mammals and birds gives you the best shot, as tuna regularly follow marine mammals. If you’ve got your eyes on the prize, it’s best to have a diverse lineup, including a few popping and jigging rods rigged with weighted plastics, poppers, stickbaits, and, of course, jigs.
As you pull up to life, it’s a good idea to cover the water column by having one guy work a plug around the mammals while another guy jigs. Keep in mind that sometimes the tuna can be far off the mammals or closely packed in. If you don’t get bit on the first pass, give it several shots before you quit.
As for the inshore game, the fluke bite is spotty; you certainly have to put in the time for a keeper. That said, there are a decent amount of shorts available. My tackle of choice for fluke is the Stack Tackle Screwy Head System, which allows me to easily change the weight of my jig. Sliding on a Gulp or covering a soft plastic Pro-Cure is a great option. Another choice is a simple chicken rig and bank sinker. The chicken rig consists of two dropper loops and a surgeon’s loop at the bottom. For hooks, I prefer twin 4/0 J-hooks paired with Gulp Swimming Mullets or Jerk Shads. Simply pair the rig with a bank sinker that allows you to feel bottom and start jigging away.
This is the time of year when you need to get creative. One fun way to target fluke is to dock hop. Open up Google Maps and begin scheming new fluke spots! Docks, rock piles, and sand beaches are all fair game. Pick out some new spots, map an efficient route, and spend the day exploring new areas—you might just find your next honey hole.
Long Island & NYC Fishing Forecast
It’s August 6, and the dwindling of one season means the start of a new one! In a month, we should see albies racing through Montauk and the eastern Sound. Hardtail mania is only a few short weeks away, and reports of bonito offshore are fueling the fire. It’s a great time to stock up on epoxy jigs, Albie Snax, and the right tools for the job. I always prefer a medium-light, 7-foot rod paired with a 4000-size reel, 10- to 20-pound braid, and a 12- to 20-pound fluorocarbon leader. Telltale signs of hardtails are slashing water. Be on the lookout come September 1!