Long Island, Metro NY - West End Fishing Reports

Logan from Capitol Tackle in Freeport updated me. As usual, there are fluke and sea bass around. At the Windmills, bonito are present. The tuna, however, are spread out. He went on a canyon trip and saw a boat limit of golden tilefish up to 10 pounds, and nice mahi exceeding 20-inches. Capitol Tackle can meet your needs. Visit at 495 Guy Lombardo Avenue, Freeport, NY.

Capt. Mike Danon of the Capt. Lou Fleet in Freeport reported good fluke action this week up to 7-pounds. Big offerings of gulp have been producing. They are holding offshore special fluke trips and tuna trips and taking reservations for the offshore sea bass trips. Half day trips are on the weekends now from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays they will be sailing at 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wild Wednesdays continue to see a mixed bag of fish including bonita, bluefish, triggerfish, porgies. Check out the website at www.captloufleet.com.

Freeport Bait and Tackle said one striper was caught in the early morning at Green Island. Most of the time, the blues will hit an offering. Another customer got a keeper sea bass by the Meadowbrook, a rare occurrence. A short cobia was caught on the beaches and released without issue. Tuna are at the Coimbra on jigs. Snappers and cocktail blues are at the Freeport area. The Windmills are still doing well. Albies and bonito are caught on the resin jigs locally. There are some shad coming in. Peanut bunker is available at the shop periodically and eels are readily available. The shop carries a good supply of hand traps, rings, and pots. Green crabs are also available. Sand/mole crabs and mullet are in stock as well. Freeport B&T is also now taking orders on custom rods and heavy-duty shark rigs are available for the surf fishermen. The shop has UVT tuna jigs. You can call at 516-378-4988.

Captain Paul Paris and Captain AJ Coleman of Keel Hauler charters in Freeport saw a full boat limit on sea bass. Ren’s charter also saw a few nice keeper fluke and decent short action. Monday’s trip saw a last minute charter which caught four bluefish. Tuesday’s trip had Jeff and his grandson Jules for an exploratory trip. There were lots of short fluke on bottom which is a great sight to see for the future fishery, and they were able to cull out one keeper. On their last drop of the day, they were bombarded by mini bonito and boated 29 in a short time. A few open boat light tackle pelagic trips will be available on September 18, 19, and 20 at 5 a.m. Bring light tackle for the albies, bonito, and football tuna. The Keel Hauler is a 42-foot Downeaster with Captains Paul Paris, AJ Coleman, and DJ who bring a lifetime of experience fishing in the Northeast. 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 did a bunch of charters this week. Big bluefish are still in the Jones inlet hitting jigs. These fish are in the 8 to 12-pound range. The local reefs are holding a mixed bag of fish including sea bass, scup, triggerfish, fluke, and some bonito as well. It is all fun, mixed bag action. Bob also did an ocean fluke trip, and they were on the move – small fish dominated local reefs which the larger fish were moving deep. On occasion, anglers cancel and spots do open up. 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 is seeing jumbo porgies sea bass, fluke, and more. More bonito and false albacore are showing up every day. As always, the Super Hawk and its crew specialize in family and beginner friendly fishing. They take extra time to teach and show the fun of fishing. The Super Hawk departs from 1501 Lido Boulevard, Point Lookout, NY every day from 6:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. Reservations are recommended by giving a dial at 516-607-3004.

Paul from River Bay Outfitters in Baldwin saw that saltwater fly fishing is hitting its stride as we head into the fall transition, and there are plenty of reasons to get out with a fly rod right now. Albies and bonito are the big game in the East End and along the South Shore, with fish chasing small bait and demanding long casts, fast retrieves, and the ability to get a fly in front of a moving school quickly. Small sparse baitfish patterns in the 1½–3-inch range are the go-to when these fish are keyed in on tiny forage. Stripers are becoming more consistent around the inlets, back bays, rocky shorelines, and current seams, with low-light periods producing some of the better opportunities on larger baitfish patterns and surface flies. Bluefish are mixed in with the bass and are more than willing to crush a fly, so bring plenty of leaders and flies because they can make short work of both. Fluke are still available on the flats and in the shallows, where lightly weighted flies bounced along the bottom can produce some surprisingly good action. And don’t overlook the snappers—they are thick around docks, marinas, and back-bay structure and are a perfect target for a 3- to 5-weight rod with small baitfish patterns, making for some seriously fun light-tackle fly fishing. With multiple species available right now, it’s one of the best times of the season to have a fly rod in the truck. And don’t forget to stop by River Bay Outfitters at The Fisherman’s Surf, Inshore & Offshore Fishing Show this Thursday night, September 17th, at the Huntington Hilton on Route 110 in Melville from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Come talk fishing, check out the latest gear, and get the inside scoop on what’s happening around the Island—we’ll see you there!

Bay Park Fishing in Oceanside reported there have been lots of fluke by the reefs with plenty of them being shorts. Anglers must work for those keepers. Gulp and spearing combinations seem to work. Albies and bonito have come in. Windmills continue to hold sea bass and ling. Inshore, the bluefin are being caught on jigs. Bunker pods continue to hold cobia and sharks. In the bays, bluefish are harassing peanut bunker. There are plenty of snappers as well which are mostly eating spearing. They may eat a peanut cut in half. 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 reported good fishing all week. Fluke this week have been up to 7 pounds caught on spearing, fish strip, and gulp combinations. Last night, the bluefishing was amazing. They saw a full boat limit of 3 to 5-pound fish caught on chunks and went home early. An offshore fluke trip Sunday will be leaving at 6 a.m. and returning at 5 p.m. 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 told me the 9/11 memorial was beautiful. The US Coast Guard, Fire Department, and military color guard was in attendance with 15 additional civilian vessels. Tom did not decide to fish this week and has opted to pause chasing the fluke out. He 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 informed me that anglers have been catching bluefish and, as has been the theme for this season, plenty of short fluke. Visit the store at 4108 Merrick Road, Massapequa, NY.

Combs Bait and Tackle in Amityville has your angling supplies including fresh and frozen baits, rods, reels, and tackle. 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. Bill let me know there are small sea bass, pufferfish, and kingfish in the bays. The snappers are getting bigger. There has not been a large run of fluke out of the inlets yet.

The guys over at the LI Outdoorsman let me know that it has been more of the same: plenty of sea bass and fluke but the keeper ratio has been very difficult. Big bonito and false albies are around and tuna have been a hit or miss. Further offshore, there are bluefish. The shop has not seen a lot of peanut bunker in their local area. There was some in the marina in the afternoon. Bunker has been small when they can find them. Not quite peanuts, but 4 to 5-inch fish when they should be 10 inches this time of year. Snappers are here and there, and again, a hit or miss. They will be at the Fishermen show this Thursday evening. Stop on in at 434 Sunrise Highway, Rockville Centre, NY.