Long Island, Metro NY - South Shore Fishing Reports

In from Capt. Tom Cornicelli of Back Bay Outfitter in East Moriches I heard not only is spot available 24/7, but Tom will also deliver to your boat or marina if needed. For info, call Tom at 516-446-2286.

Jay at Silly Lily Fishing Station in East Moriches said the shop will open officially for the 2024 season on the 15th. The station will offer rental boats, tackle and bait for a great day in Moriches Bay. Fluke season is open, so Jay is sure the fish will be active, so come on down.

In from Richie at Dick's B&T in Mastic Beach we learned blues are definitely in play at Cranberry, with anglers scoring 7-8 pound fish off Cranberry Dock and the Narrows area. Topwater plugs and chunks have accounted for action. Earlier in the week Mike Bullock, a shop regular, had a fat fluke well over 20 inches he dropped at boatside. Mike also saw a 10 pounder on the boat right next to him. The latter part of the week saw slower action as the weather was not real guy. Outgoing tide seems to be the best tide for fluke. Inside the bay near 14 and 15, the “Rosie” had a mess of fluke and blues. Some stripers are succumbing to clams in the inlet and open beach.

Over at Smith Point Beach Bait and Tackle I heard the bluefish action is good off Cranberry and the entire Narrows area. Stripers are active in the area. One angler had a 23-inch fluke on a Diamond Jig at the Smith Point Bridge earlier in the week.

John at J&J Sports in Patchogue said blues have started showing up at Patchogue's Mascot Dock. Patchogue locals reported a few fish in the 5 pound range, with bunker and mackerel chunks and poppers working well. Weakfish catches have also been reported by the Smith Point County Park Bridge and in the Narrows Bay area. Also, anglers are catching weakfish can be found near the Moses area of Great South Bay. Popular weakfish lures are small soft plastics and swimming plugs like the SP minnow, Redfins and Mag Darters and tins are all great choices. Anglers fishing for porgies also have a chance of hooking a nice weakfish. Try drifting a small pink rubber shad on a hi-lo rig tipped with a squid strip or a whole sandworm to score at this time of year. Weakfish are excellent table fare. The striped bass fishing has continued to get better in the eastern portion of Great South Bay. While most of the fish are varied in sizes, with keepers increasing in the mix. Swimming plugs and soft plastics continue to be very effective, with sandworms, fresh clams and chunks also accounting for the action. The early fluke season has rewarded anglers with some decent catches. The shop has gotten reports of keepers mixed in with shorts from Moriches and Fire Island. A squid and spearing combo or Gulp bait fished on a bucktail has been successful. For larger fish try using some whole small squid with larger spearing. There’s still time for flounder. If you’re in the Quogue Canal or Smith Point County Park Bridge area, it’s worth a try. A little clam or sand worm on a number 9 Chestertown hook is all you need… plus some chum.

Down the road at Chasing Tails Bait & Tackle in Oakdale, Billy reported striped bass have moved into their usual holding spots, and a bunch of nice bluefish came in with them. Large, tackle busting, yellow eyed demons are all over the place. They’re tailing all over the flats, and chasing schools of baitfish. Poppers, tins, and SP minnows are working well. Fly fishermen are having a blast with them inhaling clousers and anything bulky. Bass are hitting SP, bottle plugs, swim shads, bucktails, and poppers. Bill has had luck with bigger hollows and beast flies now that squid and butterfish can be found in the bay. Weakfish are getting spotted and taking small soft plastics. They love bright colors like pink, white, and chartreuse. There are tons of nice fluke scattered around the bay, but mostly hanging out in the channels. Bucktails tipped with Gulp, Fat Cow strip, or a squid strip have been doing very well with targeting the bigger fish. Lighter rods and line help feel those sensitive takes.   

Dan at Bay Shore Fish and Hunt reported striper action is good near Captree, with anglers using soft plastics on a jig. Over at Bay Shore Marina, bass were active on chunks. Fluke anglers are using spearing and squid, but reports filtering back in have been minimal. Greg is pretty sure anglers are scoring some shorts and keepers on the south side of the bay from the Light to Moses Bridge.

Greg from Burnett's Marina in Bay Shore we heard that Brian Giuliani on the “One More Drift” had a 14-pound, 9-ounce bass, fishing the Kismet area. Paul Mangels, Sr. also on “One More Drift” had a 9-pound blue in the State Channel. The fluke action has been good in the State Channel, with keepers and shorts coming up on the party and private boat anglers.

At Saltwaters Bait and Tackle in West Islip I heard the action is good, with weakfish showing, and bass all over the bay. On the bluefish front, anglers have reported fish in the teen class. Most of the bass have been slot and below with fish to 35 pounds reportedly released as well. Fluke action is good in the State Channel, with bucktails, spearing and squid working well.

On the Capt. Gillen, we heard that Joe F. has jumped into the lead in the heaviest fluke caught aboard the Captain Gillen this season with a 7-pound, 15-ounce doormat!  Others who can be seen on their Facebook and Instagram pages are Ernie, Tom D, Val, Greg (5-pounds, 12-ounces), Roger, and Dylan (4-pounds, 5-ounces), to name a few.  The boat is sailing at 6 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, and at 11 a.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.  Schedule will be expanded Memorial Day weekend. Full summer schedule for fluke season, three times a day, goes into effect June 15.  Schedule, and fares, for fluke season is posted on their website and can be found by clicking tickets.  As always, families and novices welcome.  Rod, reel, bait, tackle included in fare. Reduced fares for seniors, veterans, active military, first responders, and children; information available by clicking on the tickets page on their site.  No surcharge for using credit cards.  For more information call 631-586-5511 or visit their website.

Brenden at Captree Bait and Tackle Shop on Captree Island reported 12 weakfish came into the shop this past weekend, so the weakfish bite has officially started. Bass and blues are still feeding on local butterfish, adult bunker and what seems to be rain bait. Bucktails and Danny plugs have been constantly producing bass to 27 pounds with dozens of fish in the 38 to 40-inch class. Shop Pro Will King says “Any popper style body will get mauled by Mr. Toothy.” Bass are hungry and competing with the blues. If you find yourself in the middle of a bluefish blitz like the one had on the Captree Pier, make sure to cast on the outside of the blitz to catch those large lazy bass! Topwater slow sinking plugs and plastics have been the ultimate way to catch!

Capt. Walter on the Fishfinder II reported the fluke action was good on Thursday with keepers and shorts. The bay has a lot of life, and with warmer weather and water on its way it will only get better. The boat is sailing daily at 10 a.m. for fluke, then 5 p.m. for stripers, blues and weakfish. The boat will begin late night striper fishing the weekend of the 24th, sailing at 10 p.m.

On the King Cod VII out of Captree I heard from Capt. Joe who said the fluke bite was strong early in the week, with nice limit catches to 4 plus pounds. There was a bit of a slowdown on Saturday after Friday's rain and cool weather. Sunday saw a nice bounce back. When I spoke to Joe on his way in Sunday, fares had multiple limits onboard with quality Fluke to 5 plus pounds. Strip baits, meat rigs and jigs all produced in 5 to 15 feet of water. They will sail daily this week at 6:30 a.m., full day. For info, call Capt. Joe at 631-605-1404

Pat at Babylon Fishing Station I heard the fluke action was good in the State Channel. Several anglers headed towards Ocean Beach for weakfish, with some smaller fish in the mix. Bass and blues have been around, with blues from 3 to 7 pounds. The station is fully stocked with tackle, bait, gas and ice.

Bob Rose at Bob's Bait and Tackle in Amity Harbor reported there is plenty of action – bass, blues, fluke, weakfish and blowfish, inside the bay. Bass are near the inlet and bridge. Fluke are in the State Channel near the Babylon Cut on Gulp, spearing and squid. Weakfish action is good in the Copiague Hole, with fish to 9 pounds reported on soft plastics.

Over at Pelagic Outfitters, Chris said bay fluking remains strong with a few fish weighed in at the shop to 5 pounds. Shop and club regulars Jeff and his brother Bob weighed fluke to 4.25 pounds and bluefish to 10 pounds to find their way on the leaderboard. Striped bass are falling to trolled Mojos and shad umbrellas in the State Channel as well as topwater action in and around the drains and in the surf. The weakfish bite is heating up with fish to 8 pounds in the Massapequa and Copiague haunts. Bluefish are busting tackle in the back bays and inlets so go bend the rod and have some fun! Offshore, bluefin tuna have been around the scallop boats, with good action available to the recreational guys.