Long Island, Metro NY - West End Fishing Reports

Over at Jones Beach Bait and Tackle at Field 10, Tom reported that the piers came alive with keeper fluke since Tuesday. Anglers employing Spro Bucktails, fluke and hi/low rigs tipped with Gulp have walked back to their vehicles with one to four keepers a person. There are still some stripers being taken during the night tides with live eels producing best.

-The staff at Capitol Tackle in Freeport told me that cobia have taken over from the stripers that were attacking the bunker pods. Fluke fishing has been decent at the Hempstead Reef along with a good showing of porgies and sea bass. Gulp, spearing and squid for the fluke, while worms and clams catch the scup and biscuits. On the offshore scene tuna fishing has been great with bluefin, yellowfin and big eye tuna all a possibilities work jigs. Some small bluefish are in the bays.

Kathy Sansonetti from Freeport Bait and Tackle reports that Merrick Bay is loaded with fluke with anglers catching some keeper sized fish mixed in with many smaller fish. Spearing, squid, live killies, and Gulp are the baits of choice. Bay fishermen are also still catching weakfish and spot. Ocean fluking is starting to improve with good reports from McAllister Reef and the Cholera Banks. The shop weighed up a 6.05-pound fluke caught by Mike from the Atlantis Anglers using pink shine gulp. Our friend and good customer Dan landed a 50 pound cobia on live bunker a few days ago setting off the Cobia run. Since then we’ve heard of a handful of successful cobia catches on the bunker pods! Visit the shop for all fluking bait and tackle as well as cobia equipment!

I heard from Capt. Paul Paris of the Keel Hauler in Freeport and Charter dates are available for inshore and offshore. Open boat by reservation trips are also on the schedule and are posted on their Facebook page. www.keelhaulerfishing.com.

Capt. Bob Schmitt of Sea Rogue Charters in Freeport reports a real good week of fluke fishing inside the bay and mixed bag bottom fishing in the ocean. The bay fluke bite continues to be amazing with plenty of quality keepers and loads of shorts to make for some beautiful fluke fishing to 6 pounds. The ocean bite are seeing plenty of big sea bass and jumbo porgies and as many nice size red hake you care to catch. If you want to get in on this great bite, please call Capt. Bob at (516) 551 2177 to set up a charter.

Over on the Super Hawk in Pt. Lookout Capt. Steve Kearney reported that everyone is catching some quality sea bass to 4 pounds, scup to 3 pounds and fluke to 8 pounds. Please note that the Half-day trips sail daily from 7 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 to 5:30 p.m. Please call or check the Facebook page for additional dates and details. Reservations are required for all trips. (516) 607-3004.

Paul at River Bay Outfitters in Baldwin said now that we are starting to get into the summer doldrums, it’s more of just being outdoors rather than catching fish. For Paul that means hanging around at the beach and casting, with the idea that catching is not all that relevant than just being out there. In spite of how Paul felt, he still was able to hook a few small fluke and sea robins. He has heard of a few bay bluefish around but most have been on the North Shore or east. The best time to catch a striper is very early in the morning before first light, while the water is at its coolest. If you are using swimming plugs or soft plastic lures, a slow and steady retrieve is best suited for the task at hand. However your absolute best shot at banging away on some fish is to hire one of the recommended guides posted on Paul’s website which is riverbayoutfitters.com or call the shop at 516 415 7748

The staff at Bay Park Fishing Station in Oceanside told me that striped bass has been good during the night tides mainly at the bridges and at the inlets. Live bait has been best. Fluke fishing has been good down by the Atlantic Beach Reef in 45 feet of water with hi/low rigs dressed with squid, spearing and Gulp all producing fluke to 12 pounds. Bottom fishing for scup and sea bass has also been good. Cobia has moved into the shallow waters and terrorizing bunker pods. Tuna fishing remains excellent offshore while Mahi can be found any floating debris.

Capt. Nick Savene of No Time Charters in Oceanside reports a great week of fishing all around with bottom fishing winning the crown this week. Charters had limits of slot size stripers, excellent fluking to 6 pounds, plenty of jumbo sea bass and porgies to 4 pound and all the red hake you care to catch. To jump on the bandwagon give Capt. Nick a call at (516) 662-6519.to set up a charter.

I spoke to Capt. Dave Paris of the Captain Dave III in Sheepshead Bay and the word is good fluke fishing in the ocean this week with many impressive fish between 4 and 11-3/4 pounds. The Friday and Saturday evening trips this week saw good porgy fishing inside Jamacia Bay averaging 10 to 25 fish per man. An Offshore Tuna Special will depart at 6 p.m. on Sunday, July 28th and return at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, July 30th. Reservations are required and there are still spots available. Please call (917) 251-2628.

Capt. Bob Weigand of the Lady Flamingo in Sheepshead Bay told me the bass and bluefish action has been sporadic with diamond jigs still being effective. Should at some point the gamesters decide not to hit the heavy metal, the boat will resort to other alternatives. Capt. Bob did ask that If you plan to come out during the weekdays, please call ahead. (646) 637-1447.

I spoke to Bill Witchey at Combs Bait and Tackle in Amityville and he spoke of cobia moving in on the bunker pods as well as off the Hempstead and Rockaway Reefs. Plenty of Mahi has also moved in on anything floating objects as well as the ocean buoys. Fluke fishing has been good outside along the reefs as well as the break lines in 45 to 60 feet of water. Porgies and some good size sea bass are also at the reefs. The shop has spearing, local squid, one hook shot squid, California squid, frozen shrimp, tinker mackerel, clams, clam bellies and clam chum. (631) 264-3525.

Capt. Vinnie Calabro of Karen Ann Charters in Howard Beach reports New York Harbor is still producing nice striped bass catches all on live bait. Please note that Capt. Vinnie will be doing some tuna open boat trips in the near future. For details, dates and reservations please give Capt. Vin a call at (516) 728-6952.

I spoke to Victor at the LI Outdoorsmen in Rockville Centre and he was excited to hear that the cobia have replaced the striped bass on the bunker pods. Also sharing the wealth on the pod are the thresher sharks. With that said be sure to have the right tackle too handle thresher sharks to 500 pounds and cobia to 70 pounds. Tuna can be found at the Mud Hole and the Three Sisters. Striped bass fishing has slowed while fluking is just again regaining momentum.