Flats Sunday

[joshr]

After last couple weekends going out to the Gulls and doing OK, decided Sunday to put the flats boat in the water and take advantage of the excellent conditions. Started out just east of Napeague and had a 3 decent shots, 1 good follow, no hookups. Then went into Napeague way in the back....Amazing visibility with crystal clear water conditions and very low water....but water was still too low for back there....saw a couple but no real shots. Headed to another spot in the front of Napeague where we picked off two dinks. Then went over to Cartwright, which for some reason I never fish anymore. Anyway, good numbers of bass on the flat there (and tons and tons of sandsharks too); I had heard it's been fishing better than it has in years. Seems true...a lot of singles, a few pairs and one big school (which we didn;t see til they were past us....damn!) My angler missed some good shots (not naming names), so we didn't connect there although did turn a few. Water clarity was outstanding and I'm amazed at both how low the water temps are still in the bay and how many fish are still up on the flats....what a weird season so far. All this was during an incoming...wonder if there are still fish in the shallows on the outgoings....ususally very tough by mid-July, but the water just isn't that warm at all yet this year.

--Josh

[Albiemanmike]

59.9 deg. off the southside. 66.4 around Gardiners/Tobaccolot. 61 deg. at the Gulls on Sunday. I was thinking the same thing very strange year so far, will be interesting what effect it has on the exotics this year. Still very little bait around the shallows and off the beaches. Could be a real late season this year or a real early end. Time will tell. We almost went over to Napeague on Sunday on our way over to Gardiners from Montauk but decided to just go to Gardiners and then North to the Gulls. By that time we were pretty fried from all of the sun and lack of catching. Nice to see you had some success on Sunday it was a beautiful day to be on the water.

Tightlines,
Mike Mayo

[joshr]

I actually saw a fair amount of bait Sunday, but it was VERY small fry of some kind. We were obviously in very skinny water so it may all have been tight to the shore like that. But given the number of bluefish schools I saw working in various parts of the bay as we motored from place to place, there must be something out there in the more open bay water too.

--Josh

[Tuna]

The bait situation is weird - I'm not seeing a lot in Montauk Lake (normally, this time of year I would), but there is obviously a lot of bait around - just look at all the schools of blues feeding on the surface everywhere.

Great to hear about the water temps to the west - I'd still like to do some more wading the flats this year, gotta remember to bring my wading boots just in case.

I don't know why, but I think we are setting up for a killer fall assuming the storms don't come in like 1999. I think the arrival of the bait out east was late, but there's a lot of it, now much of it small, but I think over the next month we'll be seeing more and more.

But who knows, its been an unusual season and anything could happen.

[dollarshort]

Heya Mike..... wondered if you have been heading out off the Middle Grounds or Branford lately?? Thinking of shooting up there on Sunday. Interested?? Let me know. PM through the other Forum.. AKA Steelhead.