Shelter Island and environs

[Albiemanmike]

Well I took the ride over to check out the flats up inside the North Fork area after talking with a few folks from the board. It wasn't too far of a run and the conditions were ideal to run over at 35 mph. I got over there around 7:15 am. tide was just coming in. I started off at Paradise and fished the deep side first. I didn't get any takers so I switched to the flats. I fished all along the shoreline there up to the Egret, I didn't see any fish at all but did manage to pickup a couple of small schoolies blind casting into shore. The sun was in and out which made it difficult to sight for fish, I trudged along though and kept fishing. I did manage after awhile to see a couple of mid-20" fish swimming around near me but they were not interested in meeting or getting to know me. the whole area around there is super and I am sure on a better day it would be great. I went over from there to try Jessup. The tide was cranking over the bar there and I tried around the bar first but there was nobody home. I made my way along the beach (west side I think) and fished up to the weir. I had a nice fish on briefly who had alot of company but it managed to get free and I managed only to tempt a few more fish there. I tried the east side next where the incoming tide hit the shoreline, this is a very deep dropoff beach and I thought it looked real fishy. I got one seas robin and had a few fish follow but no takers. I went from there to North Haven and fished around there for awhile. Never having fished that area I was not sure which part of that huge area you guy's have been fishing so I just fished the areas that looked good. I picked up half a dozen schoolies there casting into shore with a clouser on a sinking line. It was getting late so I headed back over to Paradise before I headed home. There was definitely fish there and I saw alot of fish the second time around. But they were very finicky and and would only chase and not eat the fly. I tried many different flies and presentations as well as speeds but could only get them to chase and refuse. I finally hooked a fish by putting on a small white deceiver and stripping it in very, very, fast this didn't give them time to inspect they just had to inhale it and hope for the best. Caught a couple of fish and then had to leave for the long ride back. I really enjoyed fishing these areas even if I didn't have the best success, you guy's who are closer and can fish this area are very lucky, I wish I had flats and shallows like this around my neck of the woods. The water clarity was definitely not what it normally is and I expected the water to be much more clear. The recent rains probably had alot to do with this and I suspect that after a week of no rain it would be much better. I would like to thank the guy's that responded to my earlier posts for sharing some knowledge with a starnger, it was helpful to say the least and your secrets are safe with me. I never knew how immense that whole area is back there, it is like a whole other ocean, you could spend a lifetime just fishing there alone, it has everything you could ask for. Deep water,shallows, bays, estuaries, man would I love to fish there more often. If it were just a little closer for me. Thanks again guy's, and you know who you are.

Tightlines,
Mike Mayo

[dollarshort]

Glad you had some fun, to bad the fish did not cooperate though. Next time my pal heads out that way I'll trailer the boat down for the weekend and your invited.

[Tuna]

Great report. I like your reference to "immense" - one of the reasons I have been willing to post so much info about the area is that if (as happened one day this season) my posts bring too many folks to places I have fished, I will need to go learn some new areas. I've been fishing the area since 1998 and have looked at about 10% of the "obvious" places - leaves a lot of structure to learn about.

Too bad about the water clarity around North Haven - Josh mentioned it to me in an email this week, and I had off and on problems there last Saturday with areas that were hard to see. At least the water temps came up slow, as with this much rain some have feared a giant algae bloom.

Sure wish we were going to get sun this weekend.

[joshr]

Yeah, as Tuna mentioned, I was out there around those areas last Sunday and had very dirty/silty water--first time I had encoutered that this season...water had been very clear despite all the rain prior to that. That day I headed east to water more exposed to open ocean and found very clear water, but everything was dirty around NH and Shelter

Tuesday got out for a few hours (on vaca this week) and found wave after wave of fish on a couple flats east of Acabonac harbor....just amazing numbers (although mostly on the smaller side with just a few larger fish mixed in). We got a few but was tough to control the drift given wind speed and direction and that made it tough to get good presentations. Anyway, then headed to the Fishfarm where we had truly Bahamian conditions--AMAZING WATER CLARITY AND VISIBILITY! (and dead calm b/c it was so protected from the SE wind)--unfortuantely, no fish. Then headed east of there to one of my favorite flats/shoals...again, bahamian conditions...could see 'em coming a mile away...saw a few singles that we missed and then a nice pod of 8-10 good sized fish...we hooked one nice one, but he came unbuttoned mid-fight...alas. Then had to head in to take over baby duty from my wife.

Btw, since Mike mentioned flies and followers/refusals: I have been having good success this year with very small, sparse flies--size 4s...basically, bonefish flies. Have been getting lots of refusals with anything larger. That said, I know Tuna's go-to fly is a sparkle body sand eel (with dumbell eyes for weight/jigging action) that's about 2.5" (is that right, Peter?) and he does great with that.

--Josh

[Albiemanmike]

Thanks for the info guy's. I spoke to my friend who fishes out that way yesterday and told him of the problems I encountered. He said another guy he knows fished out that way on Tuesday and did real well. I said where cause there wasn't that many guy's out fishing the area I was in. He told me around Gardiners, I just wanted to kick myself because I had thought about going over that way given the water clarity issues. I decided to hang around the Shelter area due to it being a new area for me and just poke around looking and finding new spots. I don't mind not catching fish in a new spot as you really have to get to know an area before you can expect any good results. I should have gone with my gut and went over to the other areas I was thinking about. I also thought that if I tried a really small fly it might help but it was of no real help even when I tried the small flies. I have some tied on size 4 hooks and they got the same treatment chase and refuse. I am used to this type of behavior as I used to fish alot up on the Cape flats a few years back and this was the norm there as well. Like I said though it is a phenominal area you have over there and I could see where it could be real good especially very early in the morning when it is real calm. Would be fantastic top water action first thing in themorning I am sure. Thanks again guy's and I will be back again to give it another go.

Tightlines,
Mike Mayo

[Tuna]

Josh is right, my go to fly is 2 1/2 inches (and years past I used a big half and half on the same flats, a full 3 inches maybe bigger). I have heard of many going to bonefish flies when the fish are picky, have had some luck going small, but basically my overall rule is if what you are trying doesn't work, change up (color, size, weight [for sink] whatever).

Its one of the reasons I like to flats fish - its challenging.

Its also the reason when I used to flats fish Gardiners I used to call it bass watching - as on some days, the real fun is seeing the fish, 'cause no matter what you try you are lucky to get a hookup. I stopped going to Gardiners a lot because of the number of days I would see as many as a hundred bass, yet turn only one fish.

This weekend's forecast stinks, at least for sight fishing (I just thought I'd add that).

[dollarshort]

Who needs to see-um?? Went up to the tackle shop for some hardware at lunch. --123-3 . Perhaps the crappy weather will keep some of th yahoos off the water.

Got the 411 on the Big Bass for ya. Its all down at Capt's. A bit of a poke for you but can give ya the location.

[Albiemanmike]

Please do tell Dollar? Middleground is on fire by the way headed out that way in a few minutes, will let you know how I do.

Tightlines,
Mike Mayo

[Sedotti]

Hi Mike,
I know the East end of Long Island pretty well. I'd be happy to go out there with you some time and fish. You've been very nice to me, inviting me to fish the Housatonic with you, so I would be more than happy to help you here. Hope you're doing well.

my e mail address is marksedotti@hotmail.com

[Albiemanmike]

Mark,
Nice to hear from you again. I sent you an email regarding my offer, it still stands! Hope to talk soon.

Tightlines,
Mike Mayo