June 22nd Fishing Report
We are surrounded by water and have access to incredibly diverse fisheries in our back yard. In any given day we could be fishing the flats, we could be fishing big water rips, we could be bottom fishing, beach fishing or even pond fishing. In any other location, you generally have access to one fishery and if you are lucky maybe two, but no one has what we have. What’s crazier is that it never more than a few minutes to an hour away.
Fishing continues to be very, very good but is starting to evolve. The water around the Island is warming up quickly and that is changing some of the patterns of the fish. Striped Bass are less comfortable in the shallow warmer water and are pushing into deeper holes. They need cooler and more oxygen rich water. In the harbor or on the north shore, you should be fishing at first light or just before sunset or at night to see activity. Fish these plugs quite slowly and be very gentle with the rod.
With the warmer water, we are seeing huge schools of Bluefish migrate into our inshore water. 40th Pole and Dionis are covered in Bluefish which have been very aggressive. These fish are accessible by the boat and the beach. The south shore has also seen acres of bluefish fill the water. There are big slicks on the surface and these fish are very actively feeding. I’ve not heard many reports of Bluefish from the beach on the south shore, but that will happen any day now. We are also seeing bluefish push into the rips and feeding with the Bass.
On the west end of the Island, the Striped Bass fishing continues to be remarkable. We don’t have the same size fish as we had a week ago, but there are plenty of keepers in the mix. We are finding these fish in the open water as well as in the edges. Friends have been fishing the beach at Smith’s Point and have had tremendous luck in the evenings.
Great Point is fishing well. You can catch Bass from the beach or the rip and they are there in pretty good numbers. These fish don’t have a lot of size but there are certainly keepers mixed in. There are also a handful of Bluefish in the mix at the point and this will fill in, in the next few days to give anglers stead action.
Bottom fishing is also extremely productive. Bigger Black Sea Bass have moved into our waters and are anywhere where there is structure. As I alluded to earlier though, our amazing Fluke fishery is fishing extremely well. These fish sit in deep water of the East of the Island and love cold nutrient rich water. We generally target these fish in 60-80 feet of water with gear specific for Fluke.
Go enjoy our amazing fishery. It is very special right now! Tight lines.
