Dan's Papers - August 10, 2007

The Atlantic waters are now clean, blue and 75 to 80 degrees, so big game fishing is really picking up in the offshore canyons. Offshore weather reports forecasted "calm" seas for last weekend (and the same for this weekend). However, they had four- to six-foot seas and northeast winds of 15-20 knots. On Friday, August 3, some of the offshore fleet ran out to the 400-fathom depth where the water temperature was 85 degrees. One boat raised two blue marlin and boated one weighing about 175 pounds. Another boat raised five white marlin at the Dip, and then moved northeast of the Fishtails and hooked a blue marlin estimated at 225 pounds.

Star Island Marina, Montauk, says offshore fishing has been superb. The yacht Sea Therapy caught three yellowfin tuna and numerous mahi mahi last weekend. On the yacht Reelaxation, John and Mike fishing 15 miles east of the Fishtails caught three yellowfin up to 70 pounds and four more yellowfin of about the same size at night by chunking with butterfish. The boat Lured Away at the Fishtails, chunking with butterfish, hooked into a swordfish at night. It took seven hours and twenty minutes to boat, and the fish's estimated weight was 230 pounds. Montauk's Star Island Yacht Club is also holding its 15th Annual Mako and Thresher Tournament this Friday and Saturday. Call (631) 668-5052 or go online to www.starislandyc.com/tournaments.asp for entry information.

Paulie A. of Paulie's Tackle in Montauk says boats are catching striped bass and fluke in the ocean just south of the Lighthouse and in the rips off the Point. Tom of Montauk's Gone Fishing Marina weighed in some large striped bass (one of about 49 pounds caught on eels at night) in the surf off the Point, and porgies up to four pounds are being caught by boaters.

The seventh annual Hamptons Offshore Invitational Fishing Tournament, organized by the Shinnecock Marlin and Tuna Club, is a benefit for Big Brothers and Sisters of Long Island. It runs from August 17 to 26. Entry details are online at www/smtc-online.org or call (631) 744-1200 ext. 12.

Steve at East End Bait & Tackle of Hampton Bays reports plenty of fluke--many of which are keepers (19.5 inches or longer)--in the ocean off the Castle (Southampton) and Mecox Bay inlet (Bridgehampton/Water Mill) in 50 to 60-foot depths. Live killies seem to be what the fluke are biting on.

Ken Morse of Tight Lines Tackle, Sag Harbor, says a nine-pound fluke was caught by a boater off Napeague Harbor. Weakfish are also showing up off Jessup's Neck in the Peconic bays and the Greenlawns area off Shelter Island in 70 foot depths.

John at Jamesport Bait & Tackle reports striped bass caught on eels during the day at Horton Point and big porgies caught off Greenport in Peconic Bay. Steve at WeGo Fishing Station, Southold, says porgies are moving east and bluefish are all over the Peconics. Big stripers are being caught at night at the Race including one 45-lb. specimen hooked at night with a porgy as bait. Steve also says stripers are at Horton Point.