Cold Spring Harbor, Sun. 10/13

[fmw]

The weekend was not a total washout for me as I went out with my dad on our 16 ft. skiff on Sunday afternoon for a few hours in Cold Spring Harbor. The winds were calm and the sky a bit foggy and misty, but later clearing a little. While not an outstanding outing, we caught a few fish which made the weekend feel as if it was not a total loss.

Some folks at the launching ramp spoke of thick cocktails in the back of the harbor the week before, but they were not there yesterday. Starting in mid-afternoon, we first worked the weedlines, docks etc. along the harbor's east and west sides hoping for bass. On our first stop, a dock on the east side of the harbor, towards the mouth, we saw signs of life: plentiful snappers chasing spearing. Prior experience has taught me that in this situation in these spots, bass may not be far behind. We began casting, me with a full sink line and my dad with a bucktail. Right away my dad had a nice little schoolie. A few minutes later I got one. Then a few minutes later another. Then things slowed down. We made stops at few other docks and rockpiles but no others showed the action or signs of life as the first stop.

In late afternoon, we began seeing some birds circling around as if a bluefish blitz was about to begin. It never developed. For about a half hour, scattered cocktails broke the surface, one at a time, spread over a wide area. Very difficult. The only boats we saw catching were those trolling umbrella rigs. Too much effort for 1-2 lb. blues.

We were about to head back to check out the back of the harbor one more time when, in the area just south of Cooper's Bluff, I spotted a ball of bunker that appeared to be bigger than peanut size, but smaller than full size bunker. While not frothing, the bait was circling in a tight ball that made it seem like predators may not be far behind. I took a cast or two with a peanut bunker fly. Nothing. My dad took a cast with his bucktail. Thwack!! Line began to peel and it was clear immediately he was into a good fish on his little fluke rod. Turned out to be a very nice chopper -- 30", 10 lbs. Considering he had 8-12 lb. line with no leader, I have no idea how it did not break off. By the time it was landed, the school of bait had sounded and the sun was going down. A nice end to an otherwise rainy weekend.

[Stonyflyer]

Usually you can set your calender by the bluefishing in
Cold Spring. Columbus day almost every year was a
sure bet for some large blues at Cold Spring. Last year
I was a bit disappointed because I found the action
lacking. Maybe that was just me but I certainly found
the fishing slow. Things have been a bit better this
year so far. Stony.

[fmw]

CSH used to see quite a run each year -- like probably all of the North Shore harbors -- of gorilla blues, and I mean sometimes really big, like 15 to 18 pounds, chasing large bunker deep into the harbors. I can remember many occassions launching the boat in the midst of a blitz. That scenario does not happen as much as it used to 8 or 10 years ago. It is not really the most conducive to fly fishing however. In the last few years, I've actually noticed these schools of large bunker moving into the harbor for a few weeks very late in the season -- like in November.

[Sedotti]

How many pieces have I written and how many times have I spoken about the practicality of casting and fishing big flies (realistically copying bunker in size and shape) for these exact situations. Still, fishermen lament that you can't consistently be successful with flies for bluefish in bunker schools.
I solved that problem years ago. Tie flies the size and shape of the bunker and weight balance them for castability. The more wind resistent (usually bigger) the fly is, the more weight you have to add to the fly so that the fly's drag as it flies through the air is eliminated. Now, if you're a decent caster, it allows you to cast them well.
Cast to the explosions and the actual bluefish (or visible parts of them) you see feeding in the bunker schools. If you don't see any of this, cast to the most concentrated area of the bunker school. This is where the blues will attack next. You can use any type fly line but a fast sinking head is most practical. If you don't get hits near the surface (which you mostly will), then fish deeper and deeper until you do. Try different speed retrieves till one works. Often as fast as you can retrieve works best.
Adult bunkers are 10 inches or bigger. Truely big bluefish inherently know this and will not CONSISTENTLY hit flies shorter than this when feeding in the bunker schools. At least not in the Western Sound. (See, they're selective in this situation) But a 10 incher will consistently get hits even when the bunkers are 14 inches long. (and a nine incher may be ignored. Don't ask me why, ask the bluefish. I haven't run into one that speaks English yet though. Hey wise guy, if he says he does, I think he has a drug problem!) I've experimented with fly and bunker size for years and years, going back over ten years ago.
So tie those 10 inch plus flies with a wide profile and weight balance them. Then go throw them right at the fish in the menhaden schools. You'll find out that this IS conducive to fly fishing. And besides, IT'S A BLAST! Some of the best fishing in the Northeast.
Marco