As the summer nears it traditional end we see the local fishing scene in its state of annual transition. This past weekend’s weather sent August out on a wet note and kept anglers off the water. Big bluefish continue to dominate the light tackle and fly scene but most of those catches this past week on the north shore have been offshore of some of the more notable locations like the Middle Grounds, Stratford Shoal, Crane Neck and the Triangle. Some good bass were also taken this past week, but most feel to rigged eels. The harbors are still holding both schoolies and keeper bass and many are falling to light tackle and flies. There are numerous snappers around now in the harbors and bays so if you want some fun grab a 2 or 3-weight fly outfit and give them a go. They can pull better than most stocked trout! There were some isolated reports of a few bonito landed in the Fire Island and Shinnecock Inlet areas but still very few landing reports on the north side of the Island. Such is the same situation across the Sound in Connecticut. We have not yet seen any large concentrations of fish in our local near shore waters. The only substantiated bonito reports have been from the extreme east end of the Sound. Albies so far have been scarce to non-existent inshore but are still being caught off the deep lumps and holes along with skipjack and bones. There is still some fabulous inshore fishing for various species of tuna off the near-New Jersey coast, making for some fine fly and light tackle fishing. While our spring runs have, as of late, been more of an event than the fall runs – with the notable exception of Montauk- there is a lot to be hopeful for with the congregations of bait that are amassing. Sand eels are so thick off the east end that they have attracted whales. New England areas are seeing much the same phenomenon. All that bodes well for a solid Montauk and south shore run…the bass are already there! That run is a paradise for fly and light tackle anglers.
