Labor Day Fishing Forecast • Summer Weakfish • September Sea Bass • Bottom Fishing Bonanza • And More....Saltwater Licence? ??

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A mixed bag of family fishing fun  continues along the south shore!!  Snappers have been all around our  Local docks, with people catching them on almost everything. You cannot go wrong with spearing, paired up with a float and a #4 or 5 snapper hook. Small spoon/tin lures such as kastmasters, or snapper poppers work well.  If you're bottom fishing, it's Blowfish and Kingfish that will take your bait.  Clam or squid or lugg worms will all produce.

Our local docks have been productive fishing opportunities in the past with dozens of fishermen catching an array of fish like snapper, blowfish and kingfish. Docks like mascot, Pine Neck Dock, Corey Beach , West Sayville Dock and beaver dam are all holding plenty of these fish with most anglers having luck on clam and squid with lures like snapper poppers and spinners working great for snappers. When selecting hooks for these fish it’s best to use a long shank because they are small and a long shank will increase your chances of catching. Lots of local fishermen have been reporting excellent crabbing at all of the mentioned locations. The best way to catch crab would be a simple trap and a net. The best bait for your crab traps is bunker.

Fluke fishing around Moriches bay has been steady. More keepers are being caught with "shorts" in the mix. Here is a tip, if you are targeting a “doormat” fluke, head out to the reefs. Anglers have reported catching fish up to 10 pounds! These fish have been getting caught on Berkeley gulp, spearing and squid strips.

Fluke fishing continues to produce with the south shore being “on fire” including moriches Narrow Bay and Shinecock bays. Both of these locations are loaded with fluke with many fishermen reporting full man limits as well as dozens of shorts. The best time to fish these places would be to go on the incoming or outgoing tides. This is because these fish like moving water so they can ambush fish moving past them. The best way to catch fluke would be a hi-lo rig with gulp or real bait like squid or spearing.

Sea Bass fishing on the local Artificial Reefs, outside the inlets, continues to provide steady action. Clam, squid or spearing fished on a Hi-Lo rig with small white or pink rubber squid skirts and 1/0 hooks have been productive.  Sea Bass-Size Limit: 16-1/2" • 3 Per Day: 6/23-8/31• 6 Per Day: 9/01-12/31

Wreck of the week, this week’s featured wreck is the moriches reef. This reef is located just outside of the moriches inlet and provides some excellent fishing opportunities including porgy, sea bass, fluke and trigger fish. The best way to fish this reef would be bait like clam, squid or gulp. Drifting along this reef is a great idea so you can cover move ground and fish the whole thing. 

A summer surprise has been the increased number of weakfish being caught through-out the great South Bay. Hi-lo rig, tiled w said should do the trick. Sand worms or Lugg Worms are also productive. Summer weaks are in tge 2-4lb range but every once in a while a 4-6lb weakfish has been landed.

Weakfish have been moving back into our bays with fish being caught just outside of ocean beach near bouy 34. The best way to catch weakfish would be to use a hi-lo buck-tail rig with either white or pink gulp. Weakfish are attracted to white and pink because they typically will feed on squid. Squid and fluke belly are also great options for weakfish.

If you are in the mood for some crabs, head out to Patchogue's Mascot Dock  or Pine Neck Dock . The bays have been loaded with them, as reports of BIG blue claws have been getting caught. Catch enough and it will make for a good dinner.

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Bass fishing remains steady around our island with our inlets still holding fish. Just today local fishermen reported a great bass bite at the moriches inlet with fish up to 40lbs. These fish were all caught near the surface of the water using swim shad’s and top water poppers. Schoolie sized bass have also been seen in our bays feeding on schools of spearing. TIP: Sometimes bass that are feeding are difficult to catch so for the best chances it’s best to use lures that closely mimic what they’re eating, if they are eating spearing, a swim shad or bass assassin would be an excellent choice.  Clam and bunker have been doing well for Striped bass, as the bite continues at the inlets.

Bluefish can still be found across our whole island from the north to south shore. Along the south shore blues can be found in our bays n inlets. In the morriches inlet there a has been a big push of large blues. Most of these fish have been caught on top water lures like poppers. TIP: When fishing a popper the best way is jig your rod so it creates a disturbance on the water and attracts the fish. The Shinnecock Inlet has also seen plenty of blues in recent weeks with fish up to 13lbs

Porgy fishing has been doing good all summer long on the North Shore, however Reports of big porgies and triggerfish and Sea Robins have been caught at Moriches and Shinnecock Inlet. Incoming tides are best, while baiting your hooks with sandworms or clams on #2 or #4 hooks with a 3 or 4 ounce sinker.

Click here for: Atlantic Bigeye, Albacore, Yellowfin and Skipjack Tuna Recreational Minimum Sizes

Click here for: Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Recreational Bag Limits

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Sharks and Cownose Rays- Sharks and rays are still the way to go if you are looking to get the rod bent and see some serious "drag screams." Reports have been coming in of both species being landed on the beach topping 50 pounds. A chunk of bunker or mackerel fished on the bottom will work well.
Remember to use steel leaders and circle hooks when targeting sharks.

This weeks fun fish is the cownose stingray. These are the rays that are most commonly seen in aquariums. Like most of our fun fish cow nose rays are summer visitor in our waters. Regarded by most as a trash fish these days can actually provide a great fight due to their power and speed. What makes the cow nose different from most rays is that they will hit most commonly used lures like diamond jigs, darters and poppers. They can also provide you with some good quality food or bait, the most common part of the animal to eat is the wings which can also double as bait.

You need to register before saltwater fishing. It's easy and it's FREE for NYS residents and all visitors.  To fish our local lakes and ponds, a Freshwater License is required. Basically, a NYS resident, Freshwater License, is available to purchase for a days fishing ($5.00) a week ($12.00) or a season (one year from date of purchase for $25.00.-Senior [70 or older] $5.00. )  Additional discounts are available for active military, disabled vets and more...... Non-Resident Freshwater Fishing Licenses are also available for a fee from $10.00-$50.00. 

Stop down at  J & J Sports  and we'll issue you a licenses or marine registry. To purchase a license or register  online- click HERE.   There's nothing worse than getting a ticket just because you went fishing. Have a smart phone? Here's an idea:
It's a good idea to "snap a shot" of your license so it's always with you in case of loss or its destroyed.

Get Your Sporting Licenses or Register for Marine Fishing
Buy your sporting license online or
By Phone: 1-866-933-2257

Send your reports, photos or your favorite fish recipe to: REPORTS@JJSPORTSFISHING.COM 

Don't forget to include, names, location and details (when possible: lures or bait used, tides, etc….) comments or questions are welcome. Call (631) 654-2311

When we started the regulation page, there were a handful of species of fish that were managed. (Bag limit , minimum size and season.) But today the amount of critters that have management restrictions can be overwhelming.

For many of the common species of fish in our waters, we’ve tried to compile a sheet (PDF) that you can take with you, as well as the website that lists many other types of fish that have management measures placed on catch requirements/restrictions.

Nevertheless, the state now wishes to impose a fee based saltwater license. Currently, if you wish to go saltwater fishing, it’s just the free registration for any angler 16 years of age or older. The New York State DEC is now conducting a survey requesting your feedback on a proposed fee based license. (Fishing tax)  Your opinion matters.  Take the 5 minute survey at  (click link) https://arcg.is/0y5Ca1

 You can also give us your Comments below.  ideas are encouraged.

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.

This weeks featured lake is Belmont lake State Park in west Babylon. This state park features a wide variety of activities like walking, biking, picnicking and kayaking. This park is also renowned for its excellent fishing for species like largemouth bass, perch, sun fish and trout. This lake is stocked twice a year in the spring and fall with both brown and rainbow trout. There is a pavement walking path around the whole lake which gives fishermen ample opportunity to fish multiple points along the lake. When fishing this lake it’s best to use lures like spinners which will attract both the bass and trout. Bait like worms or live shiners is another great choice for every fish in this lake.