Crabbing Is Fantastic!! • Labor Day Fishing Forecast • The Local Docks Have Plenty Of Action

Follow us on twitter:  Follow @jjsportsfishing 

Note: we have crab nets in stock.  Local pick up only.  Call for details 631-654-2311

Crabbing has been hot down at the Local docks. Just remember that to keep crabs they must be 4.5 inches from point to point on the hardshells and 3.5 inches from point to point on the softshells.  The limit is 50 per day per person. Traps and nets are both producing.  Bunker and mackerel are the baits of choice. 

Some good docks to try for snappers have been Patchogue's Mascot Dock at the end of south ocean ave, Pine Neck Dock and blue point dock (Brookhaven Fishing Piers) . You can use either snapper spearing fished under a float, or a small tin such as a kastmaster or a hopkins. The snapper poppers have been working well too.

Also at our local docks, blowfish and kingfish have been abundant . The best way to catch these fish would be a small hook and a small piece of clam or spearing. A Flounder style hook will work just fine.

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.

Sea Bass action has remained steady on the local reefs and the East End Montauk and Orient.  As of September 1st the limit has increased to 6 per day and that will continue for the rest of the season. The size limit has remained the same at 16 inches. Sea Bass are a very aggressive fish and will hit on a variety of Baits; Squid, Spearing, Clam and even pieces on mackerel will all work. If you don’t want to use live bait,  Gulp and even small jigs will also work.

 The inlets are loaded with many different fun-fish.  Triggerfish (<Fillet A Triggerfish Video>) have been taking clam and squid in close to the rocks. Porgies are in the mix too. Some small Striped Bass have been running along the rocks picking away at clam baits. Quite a few cocktail bluefish blitzes are popping up. The first confirmed reports of Bonito have hit Shinnecock Inlet. They are hitting small tins and epoxy jigs. Unlike Albies, Bonito are great to eat.

Follow us on twitter:  Follow @jjsportsfishing

Fish Facts:  Bonito

Size Limit-Bag Limit-Season: No Restrictions.   If you are fishing from a pier or boat, you can catch them with Deadly Dick lures. Yes, they are good to eat and are a delicacy to some. A family it shares with is mackerel, tuna, and Spanish mackerel. 

Attached is a list of some "Fun Fish Around Long Island." Most are edible and plentiful too. So enjoy the summer and tight lines. (PDF)


Fluke fishing in the bays has been steady. Plenty of action with the shorts and keepers too.   A lot of sea robins are mixed in too. They have been making it difficult to get the baits down to the fluke at times. Don't forget that they make a good meal too.   When fishing inside, use smaller bucktails with a teaser tipped with either Gulp or a Squid Spearing combo. Fish the dropoffs next to sandbars slowly drifting your bait along the edges. When fishing out side the inlets (deeper water 70’) go bigger with your baits, use baits like small whole squid, live or dead snapper or larger smelts

Offshore Report
Recently offshore ,The tuna bite has been excellent with our own Joe and Cole having some success yesterday. They came back with 3 yellowfin up to 80lbs. These fish were all caught on a pod of bottlenose and spinner dolphins about 15 miles south of the Coimbra wreck at the warmer water temperatures dip. This is the area where the water temp turns deep and cold. All of these fish were caught on top water poppers and were taken the second they hit the water. Some small schools of yellow fin and skip jack were also seen slightly closer inshore near a dragger ship but these fish were not interested. They also tried for mahi-mahi by checking different pots and floating debris but few were seen. For those who enjoy viewing sea life, there was no shortage with about 5 large sea turtles being seen as well as dolphin, sharks and many bird species.

Freshwater
long islands lakes and ponds are very active. This stormy weather has let the water cool down a bit so the fishing has picked up. For the bass anglers, live shiners are still doing great, but lures are getting a lot of bites as well. topwater poppers, weedless frogs, swim-baits and  Texas Rigged Worm worms are all catching. Early morning and late evening are the best times to go. Also after a midday storm, the fishing can be fast pace. Anglers are catching pickerel, crappie, perch and big bluegills. Which all can be found on most of the islands lakes, ponds and rivers, such as Great Patchogue Lake or Artist Lake.

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.

 Read more "Stories and Reports" from J&J Sports Blog Posts: Click Here 

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.

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

Follow us on Instagram

Summer Fun Continues

Try catching bait with these fine seine nets from DOUGLAS MINNOW SEINE Co. Lot's of fun!!!