FISHING: Fishing Poor in Bay, Ocean Cooler
Voluem 49, Issue 9

By Captain Al

Fishing for the period from July 25 to August 6 has been very poor in the bay and very good in the ocean

The excessive heat of the last two weeks has warmed the waters to the point that the fish have become lethargic or have moved out into the cooler ocean. Temperatures in the bay are over 80 degrees. There is also a bloom of moss like algae that is making fishing in the bay and inlet almost impossible on any tide other than the last couple of hours of the incoming (flooding) tide.

On July 25, I fished with Jeff Earl and his buddies Dave and Kevin of Atlantique and we had a good day of fluke fishing in the ocean. I fished southeast near the offshore reef and we had eight good keepers up to 8 pounds. On July 29, I fished with Meryl Messineo and her son Philip and parents Herb and Audrey of Seaview. We fished in the bay and had a bunch of fluke but only one keeper and a few short porgies. On July 30 I fished with Chris Cartwright, his son Benjamin and niece Catherine and we caught a bunch of bluefish on plugs.

The striped bass fishing is very poor at this time. With the weed it is impossible to clam chum on any of the good spots near the inlet except for maybe a couple of hours at the top of the flood tide. Live bait fishing is also tough with the weed and the lack of good bait in the area.

Small bluefish are still pretty consistent in the bay, inlet and along the beach in the ocean. Early morning and evening is best. The snappers have now appeared and fishing for these great little fish is very good around all the docks and piers. Get out the cane poles and have some fun with the kids. It would also be wise to fish the snappers as live bait for big fluke and weakfish. I plan to try it this coming week.

Bottom fishing is also tough because of the weed problem.

Offshore fishing for fluke is still very good. The offshore reef area is productive in water from 50 to 65 feet deep. Squid/spearing combos or squid/sand eel combos are working best. There are also some good fluke to the southwest about six miles from Fire Island Inlet. When there is no breeze it is necessary to power-drift the boat to get some movement. If you don’t you will catch skates and dogfish and very few fluke. Also of interest, there are schools of cow nosed rays swimming near the surface all over the fluke fishing grounds.

Offshore blue water fishing is excellent right now. There are still plenty of sharks with lots of small makos and an occasional big mako. Great white sharks have been seen in the area of the Coimbra Wreck. The area of the Linda Wreck is hot with small bluefin, some good size yellowfin tuna and an occasional white marlin. Hudson Canyon came alive on the West Wall with lots of longfin albacore, mid-size yellowfin, white marlin and blue marlin. There are plenty of mahi around the pots. At night there is a tuna bite and a fairly good number of hookups with swordfish.

FISHING TIP OF THE WEEK

When the bay waters get hot and full of weed, which is typical for August, it is wise to time your fishing trips according to the tides. Outgoing water (ebb tide) carries all the hot weedy water from the bay out towards the ocean. This is not the best time to go fishing. When the water is coming in from the ocean (flood tide) the cooler cleaner ocean water will predominate and fishing will be better.

FISHING FACTS OF THE WEEK

U.S. fly-fishing sales in 1998 = $572 million.

Percent of U.S. coastal wetlands that have been lost to development = 50-plus.

Good Luck and Good Fishing!

Captain Al Lorenzetti

Skimmer Fishing Charters

631-661-2112

www.skimmeroutdoors.com