Dan's Papers - August 22, 2008

Fishing in designated areas, surfcasters had a ball this past week catching striped bass and bluefish in the ocean from the south side of Montauk Point west to Amagansett. The catch was particularly good from Indian Wells Beach to White Sands Beach in the early morning and at sunset, according to Harvey Bennett of Amagansett's Tackle Shop. In Montauk, Paulie's Tackle Shop weighed in a 48-pound striper caught by Vincent Ricciardelli in the ocean surf.

Montauk party boat anglers have been catching loads of fluke. John Manigino, fishing on the Lazy Bones, reeled in a 14-pound fluke, Joe Leucata had a 10-pound fluke on a Viking ship, and Bart Gunjoong caught a 13.7-pound fluke on the Marlin Princess. Barbara Buononato caught a 6.5-pound fluke and Maureen Schweda had a 4.5-pound fluke, both fishing with the Viking fleet.

Offshore fishing boats, trolling in at least 350 of water and heading towards the Dip, caught yellowfin tuna of up to 47 pounds. They reported seeing many blue marlin free-jumping in the same area. Other boats saw blue marlin leaping out of the water at 2200 to 2900-foot depths.

Ken Morse of Tight Lines Tackle, Sag Harbor, says there are still fluke around the Ruins off Gardiner's Island and ocean fluking is good east of Shinnecock inlet in 60- to 80-foot depths. Linda of Jamesport Bait & Tackle tells us striped bass are being caught at Horton Point with eels and there are plenty of snappers and bluefish in the bays.

Scott at East End Bait & Tackle of Hampton Bays reports the fluke bite is still good but has moved into deeper ocean waters. Keeper-size fluke (20.5 inches and up) are in the 80-foot ocean depths east of the "Castle" and east of Mecox Bay. They are biting on spearing-and-squid combination bait. One customer had a surprise while fluke fishing - he hooked about a 200-pound thresher shark in the ocean at an 80-foot depth. The shark made one spectacular jump and broke away. Another East End client, while fluking a few miles off the beach, boated a 50-pound bluefin tuna.

The Shinnecock Marlin and Tuna Club's benefit Hamptons Offshore Invitational Tournament ends this Sunday. All monies raised go to Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Long Island. East End Bait & Tackle (631-728-1744) is sponsoring a raffle for four custom stand-up offshore fishing rods (two Penn 50s and two Penn 70s). Tickets are $50 each (limited to 150) and all proceeds go to Big Brothers and Big Sisters.

With anglers here often catching undersize fish, we want to keep the fisheries going so it is important to know how to release fish so they will survive. The mortality rate of these fish is now very high. We recommend using circle hooks which normally embed themselves in a fish's upper mouth rather than in its lower mouth and gut. Metal jigs should also have circle hooks. Flatten the barbs on treble hooks on plugs.

Handling of the fish should be done with a rubberized mesh net and a rubberized glove. Try to hold the fish from the top while it is close to the boat and remove the hook. It is always best to try and keep the fish in the water. More information on this is in the July/August 2008 issue of Sport Fishing magazine.