BOTTOM fishing will again be your best bet this weekend if you’re fishing inshore while canyon runners have gotten their first taste of action along the continental shelf.
Porgies and sea bass have provided the bulk of the action for bottom anglers, although fluke fishing in some areas offers excellent opportunities for large fish. Joe Verdi, who runs the Stella Maris Tackle Shop in Sheepshead Bay, weighed in a 10.8-pound fluke taken in Ambrose Channel on Tuesday and Joey adds fluking for most of the week was pretty good aboard the party boats that fished the deep channels.
From Bernie’s Bait and Tackle Shop in Sheepshead Bay, Charlie Sammut tells us that the run for the bluefish has gotten closer with 4-12 pounders being caught south of the Farms with some fish showing at 17 Fathoms as well. Night fishing has also been good, adds Charlie.
Boats targeting sea bass and porgies have been pleased with the results. Just about any good piece of bottom in the New York Bight has given up sea bass and porgies.
If you’re fishing the City Island area, Jimmy DeCuffa, from Jack’s Bait and Tackle, says the porgies have landed. From Orchard Beach to Glen Island porgies have been a can’t miss target. In some spots, like the tip of City Island, they’re being caught from shore, according to DeCuffa. Blues from 4-8 pounds are being caught at the Throgs Neck Bridge, Steppingstone Light and in the deep channel off Hempstead Harbor.
Sand eels and bunker are holding bass, blues and weakfish in close to Glen Cove. Fluke to 6 pounds are also attracted to the bait and have been taken near Matinecock and Peacock Points.
Porgies are the main target for Long Island Sound anglers. You’ll find them at most rocky areas along the North Shore, from Glen Cove to Port Jefferson.
Fluke fishing in 50-60 feet of water southwest of Jones Inlet on the South Shore has produced a high number of keepers this week, according to Richie Rosenkranz from the Woodcleft Fishing Station in Freeport. There is lots of action in the bay, from the inlet to the Meadowbrook Bridge, but also lots of shorts. The inshore wrecks offer excellent fishing for sea bass and porgies.
Boats that trolled from the Texas Tower to the tip of Hudson Canyon found yellowfins to 50 pounds as well as some longfin albacore early in the week. The east wall of Hudson Canyon gave up schoolie yellowfins to the trollers during the day and the chunkers at night.
If you’re headed to the Hamptons this weekend, Peconic Bay has been a good area to fish. South Race and Robbins Island have given up bass and blues, Roses Grove has weakfish, while most rocky areas are holding porgies. In Shinnecock Bay, you’ll find fluke in the East Cut and bass from the bridge to the inlet.