Long Island, Metro NY - South Shore Fishing Reports

At Center Yacht Club in Center Moriches I heard the party boat Rosie had a great day of blowfish action on Saturday. Kids and adults alike had bucketfuls for their efforts. Fluke action also stayed the same with many shorts and a handful of keepers.

In from Richie at Dick's B&T in Mastic Beach we learned another good week of fluke fishing, with plenty of action in the bay non-stop. Anglers found more keepers this past week near the inlet and East and West cuts, but buoys 14 and 15 also had their share of keepers too. There's some pretty good action on the incoming tide. Another option is blue and albies which have kept anglers busy. Blues to 8 pounds were reported on tins and chunks. Snappers and crabs are still doing excellent off the local docks and piers. At the West Jetty area triggerfish are taking clams.

John at J&J Sports in Patchogue said false albacore are around and are speeding all over the mouths of the inlets smacking small rain bait. Epoxy jigs and anything shiny will account for action. Right now our bays and inlets are filled with bluefish in all sizes with inlets holding fish up to 12 pounds and the bays holding more cocktail sized fish. This is all due to an influx of bait like spearing in our waters. Fluke fishing has gotten better and will continue to improve as the fall progresses. There are plenty of fish being caught in Shinnecock Inlet, Moriches Coast Guard Station and Fire Island and the keeper ratio has also improved. Anglers are still reporting plenty of fluke in shallow water while most have said there is more shorts then keepers, there is more than enough fish for constant action. As we get into September larger baits seem to be the way to go with even smaller fish being caught on smelts, spearing and squid combo's or even whole snappers. Sea bass action has remained steady on the local artificial reefs. Sea bass are a very aggressive fish and will hit on a variety of baits; squid, spearing, clam and even pieces on mackerel will all work. If you don’t want to use live bait, Gulp and even small jigs will also work. Weakfish have also been reported throughout Great South Bay. The best way to catch these vampire fish would be bait like squid strips or Gulp preferably white or pink is a favorite of these fish. Snapper action has been great on the local docks. The fish have gotten larger and have been very aggressive in all the local creeks feeding on baitfish. Small spearing fished under a float a Snapper Popper or a small tin are all you need to catch fish. Crabbing at Corey Beach has produced both quantity and quality.  Nice catches of large male blue claws were reported with most crabbers throwing back the smaller keepers and only keeping the bigger crabs to eat. Traps baited with bunker, lines with either mackerel are doing fine.  Or walking the dock with a crab net will all work.

At Saltwaters Bait and Tackle in West Islip I heard fluke action is good but once again, the keeper ratio is still a tough one for some to accept. Weakfish are in the thumb, with snapper blues all over the bay, and larger 3 to 5-pounders in the inlet. Tuna are at the Coimbra area where anglers have scored some yellowfin on the troll, while the jig and chunk bite is producing bluefin and larger yellowfin.

On the Capt. Gillen, we heard Shane is still in the lead in the adult division of the heaviest fluke caught this season aboard the Captain Gillen (all customers automatically entered) with a 5-pound, 9-ounce flattie, and young Sean still holds the lead in the kids division with a 3-pound, 14-ounce beauty. They are now sailing at 11 a.m. during the week and at 6 a.m., 11 a.m., and 4 p.m. on weekends. Reservations highly recommended for all trips. Rod, reel, bait, tackle included in fare. Reduced fares for seniors, veterans, active military, first responders, groups, and children.  Family friendly.  No surcharge for using credit cards.  Gift certificates available all year ‘round for birthdays, holidays, and special events. For more information call 631-586-5511 or visit their website.

At Captree Bait and Tackle, I heard the fluke action was off a bit this week, but anglers still managed some off the pier. Blowfish are also around at the pier, while blues from snappers to 5 pounders are running the bay, pier area and inlet.

Capt. Walter on the Fishfinder II reported the fluke action was off a bit this week but fares still saw keepers to 4 pounds, with the occasional 5 in the mix. The ocean reef action is a nice mix of fluke, sea bass, porgies, triggerfish, mackerel and bonito, making for an interested and fun-filled, rod bending day. The hot bite again this week has been the afternoon/evening bluefish trips. Capt. Walter feels this is the best action they have had in years, with limits daily, and fish from 2 to 7 pounds the norm. All action has been Diamond jigging. Back to fluking, there is a still a load of peanut bunker back in the bay so watch for a quick cold front to get the bait moving, then the fluking could really heat up. The last several years, the last three weeks of our fluke season was the best. The bluefish trips will only sail Friday, Saturday and Sunday until further notice.

On the King Cod VII out of Captree I heard from Capt. Joe reported that the boat has been chasing ocean fluke this week with mostly good results. Fishing is in transition with catches made in various depths from 50 to over 100 feet of water. After a little mid-week lull, action and keepers increased once again towards the weekend. Friday and Saturday, both saw plenty of keeper fluke scattered around the boat to go with the furious short life as it seemed like another round of fish are migrating out of the bays. The best life once again was close to the Inlets, in the 50 to 70-foot depths. The boat is also seeing more, and more large porgies and triggerfish mixed in taking the fluke offerings. Sea bass fishing has been slow so far with a few nice ones here and there. Capt. Joe said he will continue on ocean fluke fishing as long as the action holds up. Be prepared for anything, though. If a fall run type of bite develops inside Fire Island Inlet over the coming days/weeks, the boat will definitely be adding "On the Tide" Specials to its sailing schedule. Right now, the schedule remains the same. Sailing daily, weather, and interest permitting. 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. for ocean fluke. The boat sails from the far right side of the dock. Right in front of Captree Bait and Tackle. All fluke trips are strictly limited to 20 passengers max. Drifting one side of the boat. To reserve text Capt. Joe at 631-605-1404.

On the Laura Lee out of Captree, Capt. Kenny reported the fluke action slowed a bit this week and the boat has concentrated on bonito, albies and blues, which has been rock solid. The night bottom fishing has also been good with fares seeing giant porgies and some sea bass.

Over at Bergen Bay Docks in West Babylon, Nick reported the tuna bite seems to have slowed down, but a lot of mahimahi came to the dock this past week. Additionally, judging by the amount of clam chum they are selling, the blowfish bite is strong.

Bob Rose at Bob's Bait and Tackle in Amity Harbor reported the fluke action in the ocean was good with nice fat keepers all week long. Sea bass and porgies, plus albies and bonito also mixed in. In the bay, fluke is still a pick of shorties with some keepers. As I have heard from others, and from past experience, do not think fluke action is done. The last three to five years our best fluking was the last weeks of September. There is a lot of blues in the inlet, with metal jigs or popping plugs. The bay is also paved with blowfish, but the little critters are too small to take. Give them two weeks and they will be keepable. Weakfish are also showing up throughout the bay sporadically with keepers as well.