Combs Bait and Tackle

I spoke to Bill Witchey at Combs Bait and Tackle in Amityville and he reported inconsistent fluke action in the bay. The biggest inconsistency is not so much size and amount, it’s when will they bite. One day the start of the out will be best. Come back the next day, same tide, same location and you cannot sniff a fish. However, overall, the action is progressing in the right direction. Slip gut is definitely a factor, and dogs are snatching baits too. On the color front, green seems to be best “today” for fluke, with the outgoing current. Blues are scattered at all the bridge areas day or night with tins and poppers best. A few weakfish are being caught as a by catch by fluke anglers donning bucktails and squid. Bass action is good on the outgoing, providing the weed is minimal, with bellies and clam chum. The outside sea bass action was still on the slow side, but Cholera is making it worth the while. Ling are also active, with an occasional fluke. Larger sea bass have been caught on the jig. Trolling action is quiet on the bass front. When you come to the shop don’t forget to sign up for Combs Bend Your Rod Club. The Membership Fee is only $25 and entitles you to a 10 percent discount on all bait and tackle. You will also receive a free entry in the shop’s Monthly Fluke Derby. Sign-ups for the Duke of Fluke Tournament will begin on June 12th. The shop has clams, clam bellies, clam chum, and flash frozen bunker available. Fluke anglers can purchase local spearing, Canadian spearing, hand cut squid strips, and local squid. The shop’s hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, and 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. (631) 264-3525.

I spoke to Bill Witchey at Combs Bait and Tackle in Amityville and fluking was so-so until Thursday and Friday when a big improvement was seen. More keepers were taken as the water temps went up to the low 60s. The local waters including the Wantagh Bridges saw better than average action compared to previous weeks. Green was the top color and spearing was a must. The flatties are beginning to hit the bucktails more often. Cocktail blues and weakfish to 22 inches are being taken as a by catch. If you want to up your odd for a weakfish, add some squid to your rig. Very good fluking occurred from the Long Beach high school to Magnolia Pier. Reports came in of an average catch of four to five keepers per boat. The incoming tide was best, but customers reported that the outgoing was starting to produce as well. Sand sharks in the 4-to-5-foot class are roaming about so be very cautious about dead sticking on the fluke grounds. On Sunday, the water temps plunged and so did the action. Basically, it’s a temperature game with the fluke action. Weakfish are active at the Copiague Hole in the early morning with pink being the hot color. Use a slow retrieve off the bottom and you may connect with weaks in the 20-inch plus class. Cocktail blues in the 2 to 3-pound class are blitzing the Wantagh Bridge daily. They are smashing small tins. Try to arrive before the boat traffic sets in. It was another good week on the bass front with clam bellies. One customer nailed seven slots on one trip, and the next day encountered seven overslots. Try the Wantagh and the Meadowbrook on the outgoing. Dogfish will be a nuisance but the bass are there. Ocean bassing was slow although some anglers bagged an occasional slot on shad and umbrella rigs. When you come to the shop don’t forget to sign up for Combs Bend Your Rod Club. The Membership Fee is only $25 and entitles you to a 10 percent discount on all bait and tackle. You will also receive a free entry in the shop’s Monthly Fluke Derby. Sign-ups for the Duke of Fluke Tournament will begin on June 12th. The shop has clams, clam bellies, clam chum, and flash frozen bunker. available. Fluke anglers can purchase local spearing, Canadian spearing, hand cut squid strips, and local squid. The shop’s hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, and 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. (631) 264-3525.