Long Island, Metro NY - North Shore Fishing Reports

Mike at Fishing East Coast Bait and Tackle in Little Neck reports bass fishing remains excellent with Little Neck Bay being the hottest spot this week. Bunker chunks, clam, sand and bloodworms are all producing better than artificials at the moment with fish to 20 pounds. The bite has been consistent both day and night. Reports of blackfish have been coming in with the best fishing being off Execution Rock and Mattinecock Point. Crabs, clams and sandworms account for fish to 10 pounds. No reports of porgies or flounder this week.

Capt. Pat Barrett of the Shamrock Charterboat in New Rochelle is looking forward to doing it all again starting May 11th with striped bass being the main target. Capt. Pat is now accepting charters for the 2024 season with plenty of prime dates still available. A call to the captain at (914) 552-3050 seals the deal for a great day on the water with a great captain and crew.

Nuno DaCosta Tyalure Professional Tackle & Gear in New Rochelle reports bass fishing has been insane for those trolling mojo’s and working flutter spoons. The fish are also in the mood for bunker chunks and worms. Blackfish are coming off the local rockpiles with many large fish to 12 pounds being released. On the offshore scene, the bluefin have moved in along the Jersey Shore and are hitting ballyhoo and jigs. Please note that new for this season, Nuno will be carrying a large assortment of offshore bait as well as inshore including ballyhoo which has been red hot for tuna. The shop is open every day and equipped with all your inshore and offshore needs with all tuna essentials as well as offshore baits and chum. You can purchase gear at their store in Rye or online at tyalure.com. Gift certificates are always available and make a great birthday or special occasion gift for the special angler in your life. Please keep checking their website for spectacular clearance sales and discounted items throughout the spring and summer. Tyalure Professional Tackle and Gear is your one stop shopping store for all your fishing gear, boots and foul weather gear.

Aboard the open boat the Rip Tide III in City Island Capt. Carl reports the boat will begin sailing May 1st for a variety of ground fish. The boat will also begin its evening trips on Friday and Saturday leaving the dock at 6 p.m. and returning around midnight. The day trips sail daily at 8 a.m.

Blaise from Duffy’s Bait and Tackle in Glenwood Landing reports excellent striped bass fishing just about anywhere in Hempstead Harbor. The fish are craving bunker chunk, however, there has been a shortage of bunker along the North Shore. Frozen bunker is an alternative; however, you’ll be much better off with blood and sandworms. The fish seem to be turned off by artificial baits at this time, therefore, if you have any bunker in the freezer from last season, bring it along and you’re sure to catch a bass. Tappen Beach has been red hot as of late. Though several anglers have been attempting to catch porgies, no one has reported back. There is, however, blackfish off Mattinecock Point as shop regular Miguel weighed in a tog of 11 pounds taken on sandworm.

On Cold Spring Charters in Cold Spring Harbor, Capt. Herb Hahn will kick off the season beginning the first week of May for stripers and scup and please note that there is still plenty of open dates throughout the course of the season. Please call Capt. Herb at (516) 641-3401 to seal the deal.

Carmine at Campsite Sport Shop in Huntington reports plenty of bass inside and outside Huntington Bay. Flutter spoons and Mojo’s are doing well on the bass as is bunker chunks if you happen to some bunker. Blackfish are chewing down clams and crabs in 30 to 40 feet of water off Marshall Field.

Over from Rob at Hi-Hook Bait and Tackle in Huntington reports bass fishing blew wide open this week with fish now being in the Sound, especially around buoy 15. Trolling Mojo’s or jigging flutter jigs has been effective as is natural bait such as worms and bunker chunks. Blackfish are plentiful off Marshall Beach and buoy 11 B. Clams and crabs are producing well. Flounder seem to be extinct once again this year.

Capt. Mark DeJong of the Celtic Quest Fleet in Port Jefferson reports the tog fishing aboard the Celtic Quest from Port Jefferson saw a slow start. Hopefully, the togging will pick up before the season closes. The Celtic Grace will be ready to rock and roll on May 1st at their Jamesport location of East Creek Marina Boat Launch at 1207 Peconic Bay Blvd. The boat leaves the dock at 7 A.M. targeting scup and weakfish inside the Peconic Bays. Fishing was fantastic with scup by mid-April last season and should be the same this season.

Jim Flora of Miller Place Bait and Tackle reports blackfish are being taken in 20 to 30 feet of water right out in front of Cedar Beach on clams and worms. Stripers are now being taken from most of the Sound beaches. Small stripers continue to be taken along the backside of Mt. Sinai Harbor during the start of outgoing tide with rubber swim shads being most productive. No reports of flounder.

Capt. Brian of Captain Skippy Charters in Mount Sinai reports he will begin the season on May 15th chasing stripers, fluke and porgies. Capt. Brian is now accepting charters for the 2024 season. Call (631) 252-6536 to book a trip or reserve a date.

Kathleen from Ralphs Fishing Station in Mt. Sinai reports that with the exception of a few small stripers coming from the back end of the harbor, no one has been out fishing in the Sound this week. Swim shads and small poppers are producing best inside the harbor. No reports of flounder or blackfish.

Phil of Cow Harbor Bait and Tackle in Northport reports striper fishing has become steady outside of the bays and harbors with fish to 20 pounds slamming natural baits such as worms, clam and bunker chunks. Trolling Mojo’s or jigging flutter jigs are also producing at times, however natural baits will produce most consistent at the present time. There are still some small school fish smacking small plugs and soft baits during the early morning hours. Reports of bluefish are rumored with fish in the 2 to 3-pound class. Some porgies are being taken in shallow water outside of LIPA in 15 to 20 feet of water. The scup are in small pods and you must hunt them down and chum for the best action. No one has attempted to flounder fish this week.

Capt. Sean Crean of Port of Call Charters in Northport reports consistent striped bass fishing with plenty of mixed size fish including slot fish coming aboard. If you want to get in on the bite or reserve a spot during the season, a call at (631) 896-6709 or a visit to their website will seal the deal.

Craig from WeGo Bait and Tackle in Southold reports weakfish have moved into the bay with squid strips on hi/low rigs producing best. Some squid are also being taken from under the lights at most of the Greenport docks on pink and white colored jigs. Some bunker are also roaming the bay which has also drawn in a scattering of stripers to 20 pounds. No report of porgies yet, however that should change within the next week or two when the weather becomes warmer and more consistent.

Capt. Paul of the Peconic Star in Greenport will begin the season targeting big Peconic Bay scup and weakfish on May 1st and sailing daily from that date forward at 7:30 A.M. from the Greenport Railroad Dock. For more information, call Capt. Paul at (631) 522-2002 or Capt. Speedy at (516) 551-4548.

Adam at North Country Gas Bait and Tackle in St. James reports several migrating flounder being caught just north of buoy 11 off Port Jefferson accounting for six keeper flounder to 1.5 pounds for one customer. John Sebastian dropped a line west of Mt. Sinai in 30 feet of water on a small structure of rocks nailing 3 blackfish to 4 pounds. The fish succumbed to an offering of fresh clam. The tautog can be caught in the shallows along the north shore for the next few weeks. Paul Trombone gave an early try at weakfish catching and releasing several fish to 4 pounds fishing west of Cranes Neck and Callahan’s Beach. Tim from JP Morgan Chase caught a couple of blackfish off of Cranes Neck. The fishing boat “Shuck” also had some luck with blackfish off Cranes Neck in 35 feet of water. John Sebastian fished B11 and found some bluefish, which were the perfect eating size of 2 pounders along with the first showings of striped bass at the same location.

Capt. Guy of Captain Guy’s Charters in Port Chester reports getting out a few times this week and found good fishing with an average of 2 slot fish and a bunch of over and undersize fish on each trip. Please note that the boat is sailing from City Island at the present time due to the fact that the fish are close from that base; however, the boat will be back in Port Chester sometime in May chasing down bass, scup and blues. To book a full or half day trip throughout the season, give the captain a call at (845) 528-5733.