Just a few days ago, water temperatures in the South Shore
bays had pushed past the 60-degree mark, and bluefish, stripers and weakfish were sliding through the inlets and deep into the bays. Then the rain, east winds and chill arrived.
By Wednesday, water temperatures had slipped back into the mid-50s and inshore fishing action stalled. Don't despair, however, for the season was off to a strong start and likely will rebound quickly, especially in Jamaica Bay, along Jones Beach and off Democrat Point, where blues and stripers have keyed on bunker schools.
"We had some great bluefishing with choppers in the 5- to 8-pound class smacking Bass Assassins and AVA 007 diamond jigs in Fire Island Inlet for a few evenings," said Walt Czekaj of the Captree open boat Fish Finder II. "Now we're picking away at blues and schoolie stripers. With some warmer weather, the action should bounce right back."
Capt. Neil Delanoy of the Captree open boat Laura Lee agreed. "We just need a mild day or two to get back on track," he said. In addition to targeting bass and blues in the evenings, Delanoy's daytime mixed bag bottom fishing trips have provided a pleasing combo of blackfish, porgy, sea bass, cod and ling, in 60 feet of water southeast of Fire Island Inlet. The Captree Princess has worked the same general area with similar results.
Before the weather soured, bluefish were running rampant inside Moriches Bay at Taylors Hole off Westhampton, and just inside Shinnecock Inlet. A few anglers also found choppers to 10 pounds under bunker schools inside Peconic Bay off New Suffolk.
On the North Shore, Chris Cullen of the City Island open boat, Island Current, said flounder to 2 pounds are inside Oyster Bay and along Bayville beach. The boat's evening striper trips have produced school stripers at Willets Point, Fort Totten and both east and west of the Stepping Stones.
Out at Montauk, Mark Marose of the charter boat Capt. Mark spoke of steady bottom fishing at Block Island and the Cartright Grounds. His fares have seen a mix of blackfish and cod to 10 pounds, plus some sea bass and ling. Bluefish and stripers have arrived along Montauk's beaches, as have "tons of fluke," which still must be returned.
Tentative fluke regulations
Blackfish season is closed until Oct. 1. Fluke regulations, still pending final DEC review and subject to change, likely will include a May 15-Sept. 1 season, four fish limit, and minimum size of 20.5 inches. To check the most up-to-date regulations, including new rules for porgies, go to www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor.
Town meeting
The NY Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA) is inviting all Long Island anglers to a town meeting focused on protecting the future of our sport. Scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday, the meeting at the Freeport Recreation Center will include an in-depth discussion of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, which drives the regulations for fluke and other popular species, and the need to immediately pass a flexibility amendment (HR 5425). For info, call (888) 564-6732 or visit www.joinrfa.org.
Hot spots
Jamaica Bay (bluefish/stripers/weakfish)
Jones Beach (bluefish)
Robert Moses Bridge (bluefish/
striped bass)
Westhampton Hole (bluefish)
Shinnecock Inlet (bluefish)
New Suffolk (bluefish)
Bayville Beach (winter flounder)
Fort Totten (striped bass/bluefish)
Stepping Stones (bluefish/striped bass)
Cartright Grounds (cod/ling/seabass)
