Go Fish

Fishermen and fisherwomen, now hear this - THE FISH ARE IN! Fish being caught in local waters are fluke, weakfish, porgies, blues and striped bass. In Shinnecock Bay, the incoming tide brings loads of sand eels and fluke. Medium-sized blue fish (called "cocktail blues" weighing two-to-five pounds) are also in Shinnecock.

We recommend purchasing bait at local bait shops (Hampton Bays, Sag Harbor, Amagansett, Montauk, Southhold, etc.) because they know the local waters and where the fish are now. Most of the action is in local inshore bays as the offshore (ocean) waters are still very cold.

Ken Morse of Tight Lines Tackle in Sag Harbor reports fluke of five to eight pounds in the Harbor itself. Large stripers are being caught trolling with wire lines or drifting with live eels as bait in the waters between North Haven and the south Shelter Island ferry slips. Ken also tells us a 49 lb. striped bass weighed in at his shop.

Steve at Wego Fishing Station in Southhold says large porgies are in Peconic Bay and bluefish are also everywhere. There are stripers being caught in Plum Gut and weakfish off Roses Grove in Southampton.

Brian of East End Bait and Tackle of Hampton Bays notes plenty of fluke in Shinnecock Bay with many "keepers" (19.5 inches or longer) and throwbacks. There are also some stripers being caught with clam bellies, and bluefish are everywhere.

Harvey Bennett of The Tackle Shop in Amagansett says there are fluke off the red can buoys in Napeague Harbor, bluefish in Gardiner's Bay and porgies at Cartwright shoals.

Paulie of Paulie's Tackle in Montauk says surf fishing has been slow but fluke fishing is good north of the Lighthouse with fish of ten pounds and up.

- Rich Firstenberg

Email me with any questions or interesting experiences at YeOldeSalt@aol.com

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