FLOUNDER, striped bass and blackfish should be the big three for this weekend as New York’s anglers try to put the news of the terrible new fluke and porgy regulations behind them.
We know that the big bass are starting to come down the Hudson because we saw John Timmerman and Mario Capuano walk away from the 69th Street Pier in Brooklyn last Monday with 41- and 32-inch bass, respectively.
Coney Island John, as he is known around Brooklyn, caught the 41-inch bass using a bunker chunk.
“We’ve been fishing all spring both here and at the 58th Street Pier,” said Mario, “and up until now we’ve only been catching skate.”
Although we’ve had a tough spring for mackerel, it has been the exact opposite for flounder. Party boats from Sheepshead Bay and Freeport have been fishing both Romer Shoals and the Cedars for flatties to 3 pounds. There were also winter flounder along the Coney Island Flats and into Jamaica Bay at the Plum Beach Flats, off Floyd Bennett Field, the Rockaway sea wall and the Silver Hole.
The night bass fishing specials aboard some of the head boats from Sheepshead are producing lots of shorts, but more and more keepers are starting to show. Cocktail blues and weakfish have started to show both in Jamaica Bay and across the harbor to Raritan Bay. We also know of some striper action off Staten Island by Old Orchard and West Bank.
Bass reports from Long Island Sound have been getting better and so have the reports on blackfish. A call to Jacks Bait and Tackle Shop on City Island got information on taugs at Huckleberry and Pea Islands with fish to five pounds being taken in 25 feet of water. The flounder are in the Orchard Beach Lagoon as well as in the shallow areas around City Island.
For striped bass, fish Little Neck Bay, Hempstead or Manhasset Harbors using bunkers chunks, and you should find a keeper or two as well as lots of schoolies. The better flounder action is further east in Huntington Harbor, Oyster Bay and Lloyd Harbor with most of the fish running 1 ½ to 2 pounds.
Most of the mackerel this weekend will be found east of Fire Island. Weakfish started coming through Fire Island Inlet. Flounder have been very cooperative at the Sore Thumb. Flounder were also the target for those fishing in Moriches Bay with healthy catches being made near buoy 30.
Stripers and weakfish are moving through the Shinnecock Canal. Codfish is still your target if you’re heading to Montauk this weekend, but flounder fishing is getting better in Lake Montauk.
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The Salty Flyrodders of New York will be holding their 37th annual Master Salty Flyrodders Conclave at the Soundview Inn, Greenport, L.I., June 4, 5, and 6. This year’s featured guest will be Lefty Kreh, probably the best saltwater fly fishing expert in the country.
The weekend includes lodging, meals, along with Lefty’s seminars and casting clinic. Those who wish to, may sign up for just the seminars and casting clinic held that Saturday. For more information, contact Bill Stio at (631) 667-5439 or e-mail [email protected].