Sports

Fishing Report

A conversation with Capt. Dave Brennan aboard the Peconic Star II out of Greenport revealed “good, very good!” porgy fishing. The scup action is the best of the season with lots of keepers and small crowds. Anglers should take advantage of the lovely weather, too.

At We Go Fishing at the Port of Egypt in Southold, talk turned to bass in Plum Gut. Action has improved a lot in the past week. Scup and bluefish are on eastern beaches, but the best summer flounder action is down east off Montauk. Peconic Bay, especially to the east, has “short” fluke, smaller than keeper size as well as plenty of porgies.

Linda and Bill Czech at Jamesport Bait and Tackle in Mattituck were happy to talk about the uptick in fishing action, except for fluke. Porgies are everywhere, although bass and blues off local beaches are still in the doldrums. With all the blowfish (northern puffers) in the bay, as Linda says, “who needs flounder now?” Plum Gut was very good after Irene came through with bass and blues taken on diamond jigs or green bucktails. The Shinnecock Star, working the South Shore, had no fares until the Wednesday following Irene, and reports were not available when we spoke to the Czechs. In summary, Bill thought the big tropical storm/hurricane had “no impact” on the fishing.

Stan Hentschel at the Rocky Point Fishing Stop mentioned lots of bass on Stratford Shoal with larger stripers and blues in deeper water. Smithtown Bay featured bluefish to 10 pounds, while scup were available through the area, either close to beaches or out deep. Many surf rats are waiting for news of false albacore; the best reports now are still coming from Rhode Island.

Carmine at Camp Site Sports in Huntington Station figured the bluefish action along the North Shore to the west was quite good while stripers are best taken at night by anglers using chunks or live bait. News of offshore action is hard to come by thanks to rough water following the storm. Most boaters are involved with cleanup activities, it seems.