Long Island, Metro NY - West End Fishing Reports

Capt. Mike Danon of the Capt. Lou Fleet on the Nautical Mile in Freeport told me that their Half-Day trips for fluke will sail daily starting on May 4th. The Starstream VIII will depart at 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. Meanwhile, Capt. Anthony Gillespie has several trips scheduled for April. The Capt. Lou VI will depart at 6 a.m. for blackfish and ling on April 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 27, 28, and 29. Special 24 Hour Canyon Express Golden Tile trips will depart at 12:01 a.m. aboard the Atlantic Pearl on April 18 and 25. Reservations are required. The Lou Fleet can arrange charters for 6 to 100 people. You can book trips online at www.captloufleet.com or call (516) 623-5823.

Capt. Paul Paris of Keel Hauler Charters in Freeport said that prime dates are available for tilefish, tuna, blackfish, fluke, and sea bass. He is planning to schedule some open boat by reservation trips as well. Please check the Facebook page. Please call/text/dm for reservations and information, or to get on the open boat trip list. (631) 827-5269.

Capt. Bob Schmitt of Sea Rogue Charters in Freeport told me that his first trip of the season will take place this week and he will be targeting blackfish and perhaps some stripers if they appear. Then in May it will be fluke and sea bass. Please call (516) 551-2177.

Over on the Super Hawk in Pt. Lookout the word from Capt. Steve Kearney is that the offshore ling runs continue to keep the rods bent with happy fares going home with bags bursting at the seams with fillets. The next Offshore Special will depart at 4 a.m. on Thursday, April 16. A 1 a.m. Wreck Special will sail on Sunday, April 19. The boat sails daily from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. for ling and blackfish. Reservations are required for all trips. Please call or check the Facebook page for additional dates and details. (516) 607-3004.

I heard from Paul McCain at River Bay Outfitters in Baldwin and saltwater fly fishing around Long Island is slowly coming to life as water temperatures inch upward and early season bait begins to show. Along the North Shore, holdover striped bass are becoming more active in back bays and estuaries with small Clouser Minnows, sand eel patterns, and baitfish imitations producing during the warmer parts of the day. On the western South Shore, including areas around the back bays and inlets, anglers are starting to see the first push of migratory fish mixing in with holdovers. Fishing has been best on the outgoing tides with flies worked low and slow. Over in Raritan Bay, the bite continues to build as more striped bass move into the system with fish keying in on bunker and early season forage. Go with larger profile flies like Deceivers and bunker patterns that will draw attention, especially when fished in deeper channels and along sod banks. While conditions remain on the cooler side, improving temperatures and increasing bait presence should continue to ramp up the action across the region in the coming weeks. If you would like to join Paul on their Saltwater Meetups, please sign up for the newsletter at riverbayoutfitters.com. (516) 415-7748.

The staff at Bay Park Fishing Station in Oceanside told me that currently the shop is open daily from 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. However, please call ahead to make sure they are open. (516) 766-3110.

I spoke to Capt. Nick Savene of No Time Charters in Oceanside and dates are available so please call (516) 662-6519.

Capt. Dave Paris of the Captain Dave III in Sheepshead Bay told me that action on blackfish and ling was dead slow. He stated that the water temps need to rise a few degrees to get a solid bite going. The boat sails daily at 8 a.m. on full day trips for blackfish and ling. (917) 251-2628.

Capt. Tom Fish of Black Bottom Charters in Seaford said that blackfish action was near zero since the water temps are still too cold. He will continue to target blackfish, and in May fluke and sea bass will be on the boat’s menu. Tom told me he will run both charter and open boat by reservation trips. You can contact him at (516) 661-2770 or blackbottomfishing@yahoo.com.

I spoke to Bill Witchey at Combs Bait and Tackle in Amityville and the shop’s hours have changed. The hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday, and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. The shop is fully stocked with a complete line of rods, reels, and terminal tackle. Fluke season is just around the corner so drop by now and check out Long Island’s #1 Fluke Candy Store Including the famous in-house, custom tied Terminator Rigs. On the fishing front, a major stocking of local lakes took place during the week, and anglers reported good early season action at Belmont, Massapequa Lake, and Argyle. The top methods were trout magnets, cocktail spinners, and worms rigged up as Wacky Worms. (Stop by the shop to learn how to set up the Wacky Worm Rig). Bill’s grandson Jason and a friend nailed several brown trout to 16 inches. The shop has nightcrawlers and trout worms in stock. On the blackfish scene, activity was quite slow. A few ‘tog were taken at the Hempstead Reef along with a few ling. Bass have made an appearance in South Jersey, Raritan Bay, and Jamaica Bay. Now is an excellent time to drop by the shop and replace line on your reels for the start of the season. They will respool your reels while you wait. Expert rod repair is also available. The shop will have the baits and rigs you need for blackfish, and the necessary fluke and sea bass baits when those seasons open. The Annual Duke of Fluke Tournament for 2026 will be held on Sunday, July 12th. More details will follow. (631) 264-3525.

The staff at the LI Outdoorsman in Rockville Centre told me that bass are on the move. Check the North Shore, Great Neck, and Huntington Bay. Reports indicated that the bass are moving out of the Hudson and filtering their way in the Sound. Good blackfish action is taking place at Green Island. The shop hours are now Monday to Wednesday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday and Friday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The shop will have all the baits you will need for the spring season. (516) 678-5554.