'Hazy, hot and humid" has been the weather catchphrase of
late, so it should be no surprise that most local fish species have settled into their summer patterns. So, too, have the majority of anglers.
"People are catching blues, fluke and porgies in all the usual summer haunts," said Eric Rifini at Duffy's Bait and Tackle in Glen Cove.
"Fluke have been biting best on spearing and squid off Prospect and Mattinicock Points," continued Rifini, "but the bite varies. One day it's in 8- to 17-foot depths and the next day you'll find the fish in 8 to 30 feet of water."
The blues, of course, are stacked at mid-Sound, where they always seem to be in late July. Porgies, similarly, are taking clams and sandworms off Sands Point, Crescent Beach and Pryble Beach, all renowned summer scup hot spots.
Heading east, Cold Spring Harbor features bluefish to 12 pounds stalking bunker schools. Rich Siberry, at The Campsite Sporting Goods in Huntington Station, said Shawn McDonough drilled the choppers on Wednesday, and added some nice sea bass taken from outside the harbor. Short fluke have been providing fast action from Eatons Neck east to Sound Beach.
North Fork anglers have found a pick of porgies on rock piles in 15 to 25 feet of water between Riverhead and East Marion. Better has been the consistent bluefish action on tins and trolled umbrella rigs around Hortons Point. Fluking has been inconsistent between Mattituck and Orient, but the keeper ratio is better here than anywhere but Montauk. The Orient charter fleet continues to score with stripers at The Race and The Sluiceway. Porgies are at Gardiners Island.
At Montauk, keeper stripers are in good supply at The Elbow, The Flats and Great Eastern, with most falling to parachute lures. Porgies are at Great Eastern, and a decent pick of fluke to 8 pounds can be found in the North Rips or along the south side near Montauk Village. Surf casters have hammered stripers to 33 inches on tins and poppers at Shagwong Beach and False Bar.
Heading west, Shinnecock offers blues in the evening around Ponquogue Bridge, plus stripers to 20 pounds from the east jetty after dark. Fluke have smacked bucktails inside the bay while preferring squid strips in the ocean. Both areas have a keeper ratio of roughly 15:1.
Moriches Bay fluke have been agreeable inside the bay at Buoy 15, and outside in 35 feet of water, slightly west of the inlet. Not many keepers, but some to 4 pounds. Bass have been best on bucktails, in the inlet, after dark. Some triggerfish have taken up along the west jetty.
Anglers sailing out of Fire Island Inlet have enjoyed a super fluke bite with just enough legal fish to keep everyone alert. Mixed bag bottom fishing at the Fire Island Artificial Reef has been busy and fun, but lacking in lunkers. Crabs, small snappers and kingfish are available at most docks.
On the West End, Mark Keller at Bay Park Fishing Station called the fluke fishing "decent" on the outskirts of the Atlantic Beach and Rockaway reefs. Nick Savene of the Oceanside charter boat, No Time, put the Malison charter on 16 yellowfin tuna to 40 pounds while trolling in 78-degree water between Toms and Hudson canyons.
Hot spots
Rockaway Reef (fluke)
Fire Island Inlet (fluke)
Moriches Inlet, West Jetty (fluke, triggerfish)
Ponquogue Bridge (bluefish)
Orient Point (striped bass, porgy)
Montauk Rips (fluke, striped bass)
Hortons Point (bluefish, striped bass)
Cold Spring Harbor (bluefish)
Prospect Point (fluke, porgy)
Middle Sound (bluefish)
