Long Island, Metro NY - West End Fishing Reports

Jay from Capitol Tackle in Freeport informed me there are scattered bass showing up. People are catching fluke in the back bays. A 23-inch fluke was caught post storm. Water temperature went down to 66 degrees. Hopefully the tuna will be in the Hudson Canyons. At some of the offshore areas like the Coimbra and Bacardi, there are a few albies. Capitol Tackle can meet your needs. Visit at 495 Guy Lombardo Avenue, Freeport, NY.

Capt. Mike Danon of the Capt. Lou Fleet in Freeport mentioned there was not too much to report. They last tuna trip, they had a few tuna but loaded up on tiles. The tuna are still up north. There is a special offshore fluke trip coming up. Striped bass are starting to show up and they will be changing the bass shortly. Offshore tile, sea bass, and blackfish trips are online. Half day trips are on the weekends from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays they will be sailing at 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. as well. Check out the website at www.captloufleet.com.

Captain Doug from Corazon Fishing Charters out of Freeport let me know that the bass fishing is on – the big girls came in early after the storm. They have been getting fish into the 40’s and experiencing large blitzes. The bite has been early, and they expect the fishing to improve with extended fishing windows. Doug noted that the bass are on smaller bait, and smaller jigs have been the way to go. You can call Doug at 917-566-9345.

Freeport Bait and Tackle updated me: striped bass are in. Mag darters and needlefish are popular offerings for the bass. Paddle tails and sand eel patterns have been working well, along with live eels. Bucktails with jig strips also produced bass at the bridges. Someone told the shop there are bunker on the outside, but they generally have been very scarce. Bluefish have thinned out. Sea bass and porgy fishing have been good at the local reefs. Eels and green crabs are readily available at the shop. White crabs will be available in the next few weeks. Freeport B&T is also taking orders on custom rods. You can call at 516-378-4988.

Captain Paul Paris and Captain AJ Coleman of Keel Hauler charters in Freeport are working on a fall open boat offshore wreck and blackfish schedule. They did not get out this week but have a series of trips lined up for the following week. All trips are limited to six persons. For more your next fishing adventure, give Captain Paul a dial or text him at 631-827-5269.

Capt. Bob of Sea Rogue Charters in Freeport managed to get out a few times this week after the big blow. He reported water temperatures dropped to 63 degrees, and that the ocean water was clean. After bouncing around, he found various fish: sea bass, porgies, triggerfish, short fluke, and small bluefish. Fishing different depths seemed like the key to finding out where the fish have been at. He also took a bay trip where Marcus caught his first striped bass, a nice, oversized fish, on a jig. They then went inside the bay and targeted fluke keeping a few for dinner. Mixed day fishing is here until the blackfish season opening day, October 15. Check the Facebook page for updated dates and information. Dial Captain Bob at 516-551-2177.

Captain Steve Kearney from the Super Hawk in Pt. Lookout did not get out much this week due to weather. Starting this week, he will be adding some special 6:00 a.m. full day offshore wreck trips. As soon as blackfish season opens, they will be going a few days a week for blackfish as well. The Super Hawk departs from 1501 Lido Boulevard, Point Lookout, NY. Reservations are recommended by giving a dial at 516-607-3004.

Paul from River Bay Outfitters in Baldwin said the recent River Bay Outfitters meetup was a perfect example of how diverse the fall transition can be, with anglers getting into Hickory Shad, small Bluefish, and Fluke on the fly. The Fluke bite is still hanging on, but with water temperatures dropping, this is probably the last window to target them consistently on shallow flats and channel edges. Small Clousers, 3- to 5-inch baitfish patterns, and sparse shrimp/flatwing flies are the way to go. The key right now is to fish the tide, not the clock. Concentrate on the last part of the incoming and especially the first few hours of the outgoing around inlets, points, bars, and current seams. If you see nervous water, birds working, or bait spraying, stop looking for structure and start looking for predators. Fall is here, and with the amount of bait showing around the Island, the next few weeks could get very good very quickly.

Bay Park Fishing in Oceanside said the fishing has been weird. The nor’easter brought some fish with it, and the water is colder. The big stripers are in and have been pretty good. Soft plastics, diamond jigs, and poppers have been working well. There are a lot of porgies and sea bass at the reefs. Some fluke are hanging around in the bay. The peanut bunker disappeared. A lot of thresher sharks did move in. It’s turning into fall very quickly. Not many reports came in about blackfish. Come by Bay Park Fishing Station for more information and visit the Instagram page @bayparkfishingstation.

Capt. Dave Paris of the Captain Dave III in Sheepshead Bay detailed the week. They had a trip off the Windmills for porgies, and they managed a few. Saturday night, they had a bluefish and bonita. Saturday had some short fluke as well. The stormed churned things up. He hopes in another week or two it will improve. Trips continue to be daily with fluke running from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. He targets bluefish Friday and Saturday nights from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. until November. Give Captain Dave a dial at 917-251-2628 or book online with Fare Harbor.

Captain Tom at Black Bottom Charters in Seaford will begin fishing for blackfish on October 16 and is taking reservations for full and open boat trips. You can call Tommy to book a charter at 516-661-2770.

South Shore Marine in Massapequa said there was not much activity from anglers coming in. South Shore does take pre-orders for green crabs in anticipation of the blackfish season. Visit the store at 4108 Merrick Road, Massapequa, NY.

Bill Witchey from Combs Bait and Tackle in Amityville told me the bass are in up to 48 inches inside the bay this week. Anglers would take a bunker from the outside, which are hard to find, and live lining them at Jones jetty. On the outside, there are bass under scattered bunker pods which are far and few. Sand eels are everywhere, however. Windmills have had good bottom fishing with porgies and sea bass. Anglers are still catching fluke the bay, keeping one or two for every 20 to 25 caught. Blowfish held over as well. The store is open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday through Friday. Saturdays and Sundays the store is open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., respectively. Visit the store at 34 Merrick Road, Amityville, NY.

Scott at the LI Outdoorsman said the bass are here. They are big and are in the open water, on the beach side by the West End II inlet, and in the back bays like Green Island. Big blues are mixed in with the bass. Shads have had paddle tails bitten off. The fluke are still hitting, but they are all shorts. As far as bait, there are needlefish, peanut bunkers, and spearing. Sand eels are also by the inlet as well. Stop on in at 434 Sunrise Highway, Rockville Centre, NY.