Summer Fishing Is Heating Up!! Seabass • Fluke • Snappers And Crabs

Fluke fishing in Moriches bay is hot right now. Although you may have to cull through a lot of fish under 19 inches, putting in the time and dedication you are sure a catch a few keeper fluke. This past week some guys from the shop headed out on a fluke adventure fishing both the east and west cuts of Moriches inlet along with Moriches bay. They found themselves, after about the 10th fish, finally starting to reel in some keepers. The guys were fishing bucktails tipped with gulp, while drifting outgoing water. Although, this time of year do you want cooler water flowing from incoming tides, outgoing did these guys very well too. Bait of choice was squid and spearing combo along with "Gulp swimming mullets" and Gulps jigging grub. The guys at the shop have also heard of fish being caught around the Moriches Coast Guard station and back in the Smith Point Narrows.

Fluke fishing out in and around any ocean Artificial Reefs are doing well. Bait your hooks with squid strips and spearing. you have to pick through a handful of short fish but the big ones will come over the rail.

As for the offshore anglers, you don’t have to go as far for cobia, sharks, or Tuna.  Tuna and mahi-mahi are still being found within 30 miles of the coast line while trolling.  

Summer Fun Fishing tip: Snappers, like their parents, “Bluefish”, are veracious feeders and can provide steady action.  This type of fishing can keep "kids" occupied for hours.  Snappers like shiners, sand Eels, or peanut bunker, so if you see bait in the water, it's a safe bet that the snappers will be around as well. A light action reel & rod combo, #5 snapper hook and float, fished with a shiner works great.

If you want to cast, use either a snapper popper or a small tin like a Kastmaster lure, both should provide plenty of action. Bring along a crab trap and net, if there's a break in the snapper action, there should be crabs around to continue the days activity.

Striped Bass are still being caught on clams during the day in the “cuts” at the local inlets. 

Sea Bass continue to provide plenty of action for anglers fishing outside the local south shore inlets. The further east you go the quality and quantity seems to improve. Squid, clam or spearing will all work fished on a 1/0 double hook tandem Sea Bass.

There are also reports of anglers catching a mixed bag of critters while "bottom fishing."  Blowfish, Kingfish, Weakfish, Triggerfish and Porgies are all for the taking. Reports are widespread; Peconic Bays, Shinnecock Canal, Moriches and the Great South Bay area have all reported a smorgesbog of activity.  Most anglers are using a sinker with a #2-4 hook, tipped with sandworms, clam or squid.

Porgy fishing has been very good all year on the North Shore and in the Peconic’s, on a boat and from the shore. Sandworms, Clam or Squid fished on #2 or #4 hooks with a sinker are all you need. Using tubes of clam chum, when anchored, will keep the fish under you.

Surf Report,  with all the warm summer water around fishing seems to be most active during incoming water.  The cool influx of clean water stimulates the local bass into action.  Back Bay fishing with patterns that simulate snappers and spearing  are the key.  Don't be surprised if you also catch larger fluke on hard plastics at night.

Freshwater Report

The local lakes are providing good opportunities for anglers to have a shot at catching fish either early in the day or later in the evening. If using bait you can't beat a half (or whole nightcrawler) over at West Lake for Bass or Yellow Perch. Using weedless frogs or soft-baits can be just the trick to entice some Largemouths over at Great Patchogue Lake.

Focus around the weed cover. This tends to be the area in which most fish will seek refuge from the hot weather. Small panfish, such as Buegills or Sunnies, will be more than willing to take tiny pieces of nightcrawler fished under a bobber.

Trout fishing slowed in the hot weather. It might be tricky to get them to feed. You can try fishing over at one of the local rivers where cooler running water will keep the fish a little more active. Some of these rivers are, Carmens, Swan river or  Connetquot State Park . Note: Connetquot River State Park  is fly fishing only. There is a fee of $25 fee for four hours of fishing.