Catching nearly all inshore species 10 minutes from the dock.
Each spring, the Peconic comes alive as a variety of species take up residence. Luckily for me, our home dock location in Sag Harbor means the Peconic is literally in our backyard. Nearly all inshore species caught locally around Long Island such as porgies, weakfish, striped bass, bluefish, and fluke can be caught starting in the spring, just a few minutes from our dock.
Species Rundown
Starting in early spring typically from April and May, weakfish travel through the Shinnecock Canal and make their way into the Peconic estuary. They tend to congregate in local areas like Noyac Bay, Jessups Neck, and Robins Island to finish their spawning cycle. Some quality weakfish and true tiderunners can be caught in the early spring, and smaller resident weakfish will take up their place once the larger class moves to colder water as the temperatures rise in June. The feeder creeks throughout the bay make for perfect areas to look for the unicorns as well, so don’t just focus on the “go-to” honey holes.
Porgies
Sea porgies that tend to prefer hard rockier bottom with various contours make their way into the Peconic; these jumbo ‘pork chops’ can be found throughout the bay, but my favorite spot each spring for these jumbo scup would be Jessups Neck and the area to the west commonly referred to as the middle grounds. The rocky bottom by Rogers Rock is another great spot where you can find the porgies chewing during the early season. Clams and squid are the preferred bait for these tasty scup, and don’t forget to bring the clam chum. Dropping a clam chum log under your boat can really keep the scup chewing and will make for a hot bite. If the bite seems to be “off” that day, having some red meat like sandworms will surely do the trick as the scup can rarely pass this up. Apart from the classic hi-lo rig with bait, I’ve recently started to use tog jigs with a strip of clam or squid which provides for great light tackle fishing, especially when the current & water depth allow for it.
Stripers & Bluefish
As we move into later May, bluefish and striped bass will start to make a showing. The striped bass fishing can be phenomenal during this early season in May near hot spots like Jessups Neck. Especially during dawn and dusk, striped bass fishing near the rips by the point at Jessups Neck is the perfect spot to throw soft plastics, topwater lures, classic diamond jigs, and everything in between. Keep in mind that once the sun heats up, the bluefish tend to take over in this area. However, I’ve had a great striper bite during the middle of the day even at spots like this, so there’s definitely options here to keep fishing all day long.
When it comes to bluefish, my favorite way to target these gators is topwater. Throwing large topwater poppers and plugs can be some of the most exciting spring time bay fishing, especially when the bluefish are “tailing.” These fish can cause scenes like fishing for redfish and tarpon down south, so keep a lookout for these yellow eyed demons. While all the go to rips like Jessups Neck, Nassau Point, and the north side of Shelter Island are perfect areas to try for these bluefish, don’t forgot to go explore the numerous feeder creeks and shallower flats the make the Peconic such a special habitat for all these inshore species.
Fluke
When it comes to bottom fish, don’t forget about fluke which tend to make a showing as we roll into the end of May and June. For fluking, the west and north sides of Shelter Island are my favorite with spots like Greenlawns and the North Ferry definitely worth exploring. Bucktails tipped with goodies like Gulp in a variety of shapes and sizes such as grubs in chartreuse (if it isn’t chartreuse it’s no use!) will be perfect baits for these Peconic fluke. Try hi-lo rigs with some various soft plastics, and strip baits such as sea robin and even fluke belly can work well for a chance at a true doormat. If you can get your hands on fresh squid (try your local fish market for non-frozen and fresh) you can fish bait on a Chicken Rig that can really lead to a hot bite with some serious quality fish. When bottom fishing here in the Peconic whether it’s for porgies, weakfish, or fluke, always try to get away with the lightest lead needed to hold the bottom. Tides and current can vary here especially with the moon phases, so be prepared with a variety of lead and adjust accordingly.
Drift vs. Anchor
When it comes to drifting versus anchoring, I always like to be prepared to do both. For spots like Buoy 16 in Noyac Bay or the Greenlawns off the West side of Shelter Island, drifting is typically my preferred method as it can be a perfect environment to catch multiple species when the current is slow to moderate. Porgies, weakfish, and fluke all respond well to drifting here. When the current is really strong, anchoring tends to be your best option to have a better feel and presentation for your baits. Especially at anchor, clam chum can be key to keeping the fish right under the boat. The beauty of the Peconic is you can be targeting one species and have the opportunity to catch another all in the same area; using a teaser on your rig when dropping a hi-lo rig can lead to surprising results. I’ve caught a porgy on the bottom bait and a weakfish on the teaser which is not uncommon when the bite is hot.
Other Species
As we move into the warmer summer months, other local species such as northern kingfish, pufferfish, and snappers show up locally in the Peconic as well. Kingfish are often caught when targeting porgies on the bottom using clams and squid strips. They are great eating, with a nice white meat that makes for a perfect summer fish fry. Blowfish will make their way into the Peconic as well as the water warms; commonly known as the northern pufferfish, these little creatures can be great fun for kids and adults of all ages. The pufferfish “puffs up” in self-defense by taking in air and water, which is something every child and even myself (always a kid at heart) will find amazing. They tend to congregate in schools, so it’s easily possible to catch them in large numbers. All you need is a long shank hook and baits like squid strips will do the trick and hold up well; I’ve even seen pufferfish when feeding ferociously eat a bare hook! Similar to porgy fishing, using clam chum is a great method to help draw the fish right under the boat. In fact, pufferfish can even be caught from many piers and docks all summer long, just like the blue snappers that start to make a showing in July and August.
| STATE ACCESS RAMP |
| Located at 750 Old Main Rd in Southold the Hashamomuck Pond Waterway Access Ramp created by the state is the perfect entryway to accessing what Peconic Bay has to offer. It includes a public boat ramp, canoe and kayak launch, boat pump-out station, washdown station, fishing pier and observation platform, accessible pathway, restrooms, and 37-vehicle parking lot for 31 trailers and six vehicles. These amenities are universally accessible and available to the public free of charge. |
Leaving from Sag Harbor we are very fortunate to have the Peconic right in our backyard. Not to mention as fall rolls around (although there is a limited spring season), blackfish also make a strong showing in the Peconic, focused on structure in the rocky bottoms that surround Shelter Island, Rogers Rock, and Greenport to name a few hot spots. The variety of nearly all inshore species just minutes away from the dock is definitely something we should not take for granted.
One final point worth mentioning is that with all abundant fisheries everyone should take note to practice catch and release where applicable and follow strict guidelines when keeping your catch; remember to take what you need and do your part to protect such a special fishery for yourself, your friends and family, and future generations of fisherman. As always, feel free to contact me directly on Instagram @eastendangler or send me an email with any specific questions eastendanglers@gmail.com as the more you know the better fishing experience you can make for yourself.
