5/27-30: Good and Bad out East

[Tuna]

Best friend Bob was coming Friday night to fish with me and I had a few days to scope things out.

Thursday was heaven. Sun came out and then disappeared as I waded Smith's Cove, but I saw one lunker near in calm water and nailed it - first fish to go way into the backing.

Sun came back out and after catching a few rat blues at the ferry, I waded North Haven. I scared a few lunkers in real shallow water, but managed a second keeper of the day and a 24 inch or so fish. I also hooked what I thought was a giant bass but wasn't thinking clearly. It hit different. It pushed its head out of the water in a half jump. It spit out an eel that was in 4 pieces. As I got it near me, I noticed it had a forked tail. Big long fat head thin body early season blue, hooked in its head just above its mouth.

There were fish feeding on the flat this time - crashing bait now and then. Hadn't seen that this year.

I was gonna quit around 3 PM when clouds arrived, but the sun reappeared and I drifted a new flat and saw a few true lines of bass (you know, 4 or 5 fish in a pod). Hadn't seen that for a while. Got a 24 incher, then later hooked and lost another keeper.

Pure heaven. Called Bob and said get ready to catch fish wading.

I waited for the sun Friday - until it came out after 6 PM, at which point I thought it was too late to flats fish. Too bad I didn't fish structure - nice day.

Saturday was pure sun all day, but big NW winds. Bob and I waded North Haven and saw only a few very lazy uninterested bass. I hooked and lost a small blue.

We waded Jessups. Saw only a few uninterested bass.

Picked up the anchor at Jessups, drifted and I saw one lazy fish, got it to hit, then saw the wind had wrapped my line around a cleat. Thought I could get it off in time. No go, it broke off.

Sunday was pure sun too. Bob and I were tired from wading miles the day before. We drifted Nichols Point, saw some bass, and I took a small one there. Bob, bored of my obsession with sight casting, blind cast his way to 2 sea robbins (at least he wasn't skunked for the weekend).

Off to North Haven. Drifted a bit. Saw a few bass side. I took one there.

Then I decided to wade outside Coecles. Beatiful wade. Not a fish to be seen.

Then I decided to wade Ram Island. Beautiful wade. Not a fish to be seen.

I love to wade, but you cover less ground and see less. I think I'll be mixing it up over the next few weeks (wade hald day, drift the other).

[joshr]

I got out a bit this weekend as well. Fri evening, my father and I waded the flat just east of Acabonac about 6:45-7pm for maybe 30 mins before dinner....I got 2 bass and he got one...brids were working pretty hard, lots of bait. 2 of the 3 fish were total dinks; my second one was maybe 23-24 inches. A spin fisherman I saw there earlier in the day was not doing well, but said he had been hammering them there earlier in the week.

Saturday was a family day on land.

Sunday put the flats boat in the water with my Dad at Mill Creek in Noyac about 9:30. My first decision was 'do I fish Jessups while we're right here and save North Haven til a little later when the water is a little lower and the sun a little higher or do I go straight to NH b/c I know Peter (Tuna) and others will hit that flat soon? ;-)' Decided on the first approach. Conditions were awesome...great visibility, just enough ripple on the water to keep fish from being to edgy. No other boats anywhere near us. Was shocked to see just a couple dinks on the whole flat. Bummer. Headed to the Sag bridge to fish east side of NH from south to north. Got there and sure enough Peter was at the end of that drift (and was landing a fish as we got there) and some other flats boat I didn't recognize was in the middle of the stretch...damn. But we decided to give it a shot anyway. Saw nothing in the first few parts of the drift--places I usually see a lot...then had two great shots at two very happy/unagitated BIG fish in very shallow water over sand. Dad missed the first shot; second one a few mins later, he got the fly in the right place and fish followed right to the boat....was sure he was gonna eat....but spooked at the boat with gills flared. Definitely a 30"+ fish. Ouch.

Saw only a couple more spooked fish at the end of the drift. Depressing to have such great spotting conditions and see so few fish on a go-to flat. At the time, I chalked it up to having been the third boat across the flat, but sounds like Peter didn't see any more than we did there that day.

Tried a few other spots I like on NH, but the water was kind of murky there and saw very few fish. Made a last effort back at Jessups but further north this time...saw a few fish but no real shots.

Not a good day of flats fishing, especially given the spotting conditions and time of year. Hope it gets better. I'll probably start fishing further east if I can get out again soon.

--Josh

[fmw]

Here's my weekend:

Fri: Got out to Sammy's Beach at dusk. No sign of terns working along beach. Headed right to inlet. Note to all who fish Sammy's: due to plovers, they've closed down the road through the dunes. If you want to fish the inlet area, you need to walk down from the main parking area. That being said, they've nicely reconstructed the bulkhead. First cast with sink line, saw a 30-36" fish swirl as I was pulling my fly out of the water. Five minutes later, caught a 30" and a real nice fight as it fully took advantage of the fast tide running through the channel. Fished twenty minutes more, but nothing else.

Sat: AM went back to Sammy's, but not so early, fished maybe 7:30-8:30 and again went to the channel. Caught maybe 8 fish. Almost all were dinks or super-mini-dinks. Occassionally, keepers were following hooked fish. Then it died as the speed of the tide picked up. Said hello to Peter as he was leaving the harbor.

Given strong winds, bagged boating. Around noon, when visiting Main Beach to buy seasonal beach pass, was surprised to see a major bluefish blitz underway. Of course I had no rod with me. Went back several hours later and got into them off Georgica. Solid 4-5 pounders chasing what appeared to be either large bay anchovies or juvenile herring (???) (fish looked like bay anchovies, but were the size of large spearing). The blues were really blowing bait out of the water and tight to shore at times.

Sun.: In the AM, went back to Sammy's again for just one super dink. Saw Peter again. In afternoon, went out in boat. Still really windy out in Montauk. Tried casting off Caswells. Nothing. Blues around the south side and off the point. Alot of effort to try to catch up with them caught a few cocktails. But it got very annoying very quickly given the chop, etc. Maybe next weekend, I'll have to start heading back towards Gardiners.

[Tuna]

Josh - I thought that might be you when I was catching a bass at NH. When I had approached that flat, I had seen the other boat and decided to take a very short drift near where you saw me. Its a spot that had fish Thursday. Fewer fish Sunday, but I saw one side, then cast to a different fish and got one of my few sight casted fish since Thursday.

Any thoughts on why it was so bad?

My observations -

The high that came in Friday night was strong. Does that sometimes put the fish off?

Water temps had dropped. I wasn't checking a lot, but Saturday at Jessups it was only a bit over 60. I find the bass more active on the flats in high 60s and hovering around 70.

[joshr]

Hey Peter...waved to you but didn't want to get too close since you guys seemed to be into fish. We did see a few when we got to that area as well. The previous week Ted and I saw a couple pods just south of there where the creek flows out, but the water was too low to really fish that when I got there this week.

I was really surprised by how few fish were on those go-to flats. Re strong high pressure: I have often found that the first day of a new high is lame and then it's good after that, but that is part of why I expected Sunday to be really good....it was the second day of the high. So much for that theory. Obviously a few days of prevailing NW winds this early in the season is a candidate problem since it's usually the warm/humid summer SW pattern that gets things going in the early flats season. I also was not seeing much bait--definitely no thick clouds of sand lances...much more bait where/when I was wading east of Acabonac. Your water temp theory is probably the right answer, although I was struck that the water didn't feel nearly as cold as I expected it to be when I launched the boat. And with a very sunny day like that and an outgoing tide, the "relative temp" should have been pretty warm on the flats...if it had been an incoming tide, would make more sense that the flowing water would be cooling the flats and taking fish off them. Who knows? These critters are incomprehensible! Doesn't look like it will warm up much this week.

--Josh

[fmw]

Josh: Was it sand eels that you were seeing around Accabonac?? I haven't seen them yet. When they show up is really when the east end spring/early summer action is at its best. You can tell when they're around because that is when the terns really settle in and are diving full bore along the shorelines.

[joshr]

Yeah, was a mix of sand eels and spearing off Acabonac...don't know if the thick clouds of them are around yet, but the terns were really working up and down the beach and you could see the little lances in their beeks as they picked 'em off out of the water.

--JHR

[wally gator]

Fished Sat., Sun. and Monday morning and was not excited with the results. I worked my normal run out of Mill Creek to Jessups and then work my way west out to Cedar or Nichols. Picked some fish, and samll ones at that, at Cedar Bch Pt , Paradise and Mashomack. Plenty of bluefish around everywhere, but not a lot of bass. Guys in my marina have been taking large bass trolling in the slip and large weakfish just east Jessups in about 65 ft of water.

I saw a few boats working right in Sag on the North Haven side. Shall I presume the posters above??

About the most exciting thing was seeing Jimmy Buffet's seaplane scream down the bay and lift off less than 100 yds from my boat. Tough life.

[peteD]

Stripers are hitting tons of shrimp at night on the outgoing tide to Gardners.

[tom crowley]

Tried all the creeks between Orient and Greenport on the out going tide on Sat. --Nada.Went to the point today -nothing . Going to the race on Fri night but that will be without flyrods

[bonesnbass]

Tuna, I can tell you love to fish, can I ask why you leave such detailed fishing reports. You put in your time and work hard, do you want to see other boats and anglers on these spots when you get to them the next time. Or arrive on a piece after its been fished, maybe thats why your not seeing fish on some of these flats you visit. I just don't understand, call these guys your close to and share, it sure ain't gonna help the fishing, the flats are pressured enough. Be general, talk bait, or tidal tendencies, let people learn like you did, time, effort= knowledge. Its more satisfying , sorry, I just don't get it, please explain BNB :confused:

[Tuna]

Hi BNB, I tried to PM you re: a post on the New England board (again, I am sorry if I ever fished a flat you were already on) but couldn't (the system said you do not accept PMs).

First, I ain't posting where I found the new flat last Thursday, and I do not plan to post any new flats I find.

Second, why I post so much detail in reports (and why I only do it on this site and this forum).

My pop.

I know that sounds like a weird answer, but here's some more.

When my pop was still alive, he was my best friend and fishing buddy.

Sometimes he could fish when I couldn't.

Sometimes I could fish when he couldn't (like when he lay dying of cancer, but other times before that).

As we fished together so many times, all that was needed to share fishing experiences when we were not together was a description. If he described what he saw on a trip I wasn't on, I could picture everything, almost like I was there. And vice versa.

When he died, I was in denial (in a way I still am, but in a more positive way - he is alive in my heart, he is there on the water with me [as my brother and I put his ashes to the sea as he requested]).

One of my responses was to start posting details of my fishing reports. Not like he could read them, but heck I was not exactly straight in my head.

And I found that some folks who read the reports were getting the same pictures my pop and I used to be able to form from our descriptions of fishing to each other. In particular, I remember getting emails from someone who used to fish Shelter Island but now lived in Boston. He said he could picture the fishing as if he was there, and something along the lines of my posts were a gift to him.

I also found that as I gave information, I received it. A lot. I stand on the shoulders of those who have learned things and given them to me.

I also needed proding to find new flats. Once I had found some I now post about, I just kept going back to them. Over the years, others joined me on those flats. This did effect the fishing. I then found new flats (sometimes from people who found flats from me, sometimes by exploring).

Although I have claimed that there are always more flats to find, there is limited geography. Eventually my fool posts will lead to no more new, unfished flats to find. So I decided last year I will not post new finds (I found 2 new flats this year so far). I have given enough where's.

I would be banned from most sites for the detail I provide. I got away with it here, I think, because this forum is not large, but the waters it covers are.

I will continue to post about the flats I gave away 5 years ago and the flats everyone knows about anyway (its no secret the bass sometimes are at Gardiners, for example). But no new ones. I will continue to post details of fall fishing, as there are no secrets there (yes, the albies and bass do feed at the point in the fall). But no new flats hints.

I am sorry if my posts ever effected your fishing negatively. The flats I started posting about 6 years ago were empty when I found them, so hopefully I did not.

Anyway, I hope some of the above makes sense even if you do not agree with my reasons.

[danny]

hey tuna, good answer. not that you had to answer, but good on ya! i have spent tons of time on the water in one of the most pressured waters in north america--the florida keys. and some people take info and abuse it, while others are smart, appreciative, and cool about it. sometimes i tell people stuff, if i think they can handle it, that is, if i think they won't beat the hell out of the fish, or run them over, etc. i hate that snobbish, uppity flyfishing vibe that is so prevalent (i feel like it's up here in new york, too). so i share info, too, when it's appropriate. and in the past 20 years, those flats have gotten CROWDED, though i doubt it's because of me. also, i lost my dad about 6 years ago, and it's funny... he wasn't even a fisherman, but one of my most fun memories of him is taking him out into florida bay and watching him laugh like a little kid while fighting big jacks.

[joshr]

Couldn't agree more with Peter/Tuna. I think there is almost an unspoken sensibility on this forum that strikes the perfect balance on this issue--we all talk openly about what we find at the locations that are old news and that we all (and many others) still hit as old stand-bys. There's lots of very open talk about what we see at Sammy's Beach, North Haven, Jessups, Acabonac, inside 3 Mile, Goff Pt. etc. Those places are totally overexposed anyway and by speaking openly about them we are able to help each other figure some things out--where the bait is, what general vicinities concentrations of fish seem to be, and just share some good stories as all good stotries require some detail to be interesting without doing any damage to each other's fishing.

BUT, we also are all conspicuously mum about details from other places. Can it possibly be that we all only hit the well-traversed territory? No way! I have lots of spots I fish that few others do...I can say I found a few myself and I was directed to others (some by people in this forum in private conversation or while fishing together). I'm sure all the R-T regulars have found some nice little shoal, flat or beach where they have consistently found fish and that they are delighted to see nobody else really fishes. And we should keep it that way.

Anyway, i think we strike just the right balance in this forum between sharing information and interesting stories/reports while also steering clear of X marks the spot in less well known areas. And I think Peter has really led us to that general approach with his terrific reports that help us all spend 10 mins on a depressing Monday morning at the office escaping with him.

My $.02

--Josh

[AndyF]

Mondays would be much worse without Peter's report, especially after those weekends (which for me seem to be increasing) when I'm not able to make it on the water. Keep them coming.

[Albiemanmike]

Peter,

I thought about not responding to this post but felt the need. I have met you and fished with/around you and it is my feeling you are a very good fisherman and an all around very nice guy. I feel lucky to have made your acquaintance and consider you a friend. Now to the point at hand, I have heard this debate going on 30+ years of fishing and I just don't get it? Have I fished a spot and been besieged by party crashers? YES! Did I lose my mind over it? NO! Is it a big ocean? YES! In my experience which I respectfully say is quite extensive most folks who "steal" spots don't hang around long and as you know you need more than just a spot to catch fish and be successful. Flats by their very nature are some of the hardest places to fish effectively and thus just going to a flat you read about on the net isn't going to help you much. Will it cause you some consternation when you arrive and find others already there, maybe but who cares they will probably be gone the next time around. Fish by nature will keep returning to the same good feeding areas time and again, sometimes on the very next tide. Do I think that information should be extremely specific? NO! But to not share info at all is not the answer and counter to what fishing is all about. I have in the recent past shared info that was shared with me by BonesandBass, I posted this on a website (Here? Can't recall) and infuriated Mr. B&B. I felt horrible and made my apologies known and frankly posted this info only after I thought the fishing was done for that area/season. I have not since had many conversations with B&B and this is fine, I made my peace with the situation and I cannot change what is already done, I have since significantly changed my web habits and post very little anymore for fear of reprisals. I feel this is unfortunate but if people are going to get their feathers ruffled over something I post then I just won't post. I have a close web of friends and correspond/talk with them via phone and email and this is how I share now. My motivation for posting in the past I am sure subconciously was a little bragging but more importantly conciously it was my enthusiasm and excitement about my passion for fishing than anything else and I just wanted to share that with alot of folks I have met on the net. Are there issues with lurkers causing crowding and litter? Sure there is but you will find that everywhere internet or not, and frankly these guy's are not passionate about this sport and will be here today but sleeping tomorrow. Keep sharing Peter I for one enjoy coming home from a hard day to read your exploits on the water and your observations of them. You just can't please everyone and I have stopped trying, it just isn't possible. By the way thank you again for the winter time respite VHS tape I enjoyed it very much and hope that I can make the cut this season:brow . By the way if it were not for your postings I would never have explored that area last season and experienced the beauty of that whole area, you could easily spend a lifetime just fishing in and around Shelter Island Sound it is huge! I fished yesterday in Eastern CT. and after two skunkings in a row I was finally rewarded with an outing of catching. I found and caught fish at every spot i stopped at and the quality was good as well. Rocky reefs were the ticket to the fights and squid was the menu item on tap. I took a nice 34" fish on the fly (and promptly broke my 10 wt. in two--126-3- ) but had my backup with me. Landed 2 others which were twins @ 39" 25 lbs. the last one came home for dinner, his belly had a fresh squid in it as well as a partially digested eel. I did not keep count but I am comfortable saying it was 3+ dozen fish none of which were under 25".

Keep up the postings Peter and email when you have to I will do the same and I look forward to seeing you soon!

Mike Mayo

[bonesnbass]

I've had cancer and can relate and I am a survivor. Tying flies in my bed at Sloan Kettering to hit (THE RIVER) the big Delaware, bald with a stocking cap on my head. And I'm sorry bout' your Pop. I just think theres many lurkers on the site, and I think people should earn their stripes. I've been fly fishing 31 years and am 44 now, flyfishing the salt since 79', sight fishing the flats since 91',learning curve much slower back then but rewarding. It just bugs me and I don't mean to offend or start a war. Its just awesome to be alone on a flat with a friend casting to bass in 1-3' of water while a red fox walks the beach. I'll take one bass on a flat to twenty bass on a sinking line any day. Last two days have been awesome, 35" fish yesterday and 3 30-32" today amongst the fish taken. Bait, not much, some spearing and reddish shrimp, not many robbins either. Horseshoe crabs horny with the moon, haven't seen a sandeel yet, fish eaten good. I won't speak out again, tight lines, BnB

[Albiemanmike]

Bones,

I was not aware you are a cancer survivor, I am truly and honestly happy that you can be counted in the survivors group. I lost my best fishing buddy of my life when my Pop passed on from cancer May of 2002 from cancer, lost my mother at 49 in 91' from cancer as well. I hope and wish for you continued good health and a long and happy fishing life. Kind of makes these discussions somewhat trivial in the long run. Are you fishing across from me now on those flats that Kev shoiwed me? I was over there last Thurs. night on a rare after work run to test out new LCX-15 MT fishfinder, never marked any fish around any of the usual spots but diud not make it up inside. Did do very well yesterday out east, lots of squid and sand eels.

Mike M.

[Tuna]

BNB, I am happy to hear you survived to fish another day.

I have no problem with your post, and I understand the general concern for posting so many specifics and doubt I would get away with it on any other forum (and no longer try on the other sites where I post under a different name - there I post political crap and more general fishing posts).

I actually thought about your post a lot and although I will continue to puff my chest and try to give others fishing stories, I continue to think the shrinking geography of the area will keep me from posting more details of new spots I find.

I thought about your post Friday as I was wading NH. I waded one direction, then saw who I think was Paul D bring his flats boat to the other side of my boat, a sweet spot I was saving for higher sun. Paul never used to fish NH - some of the guides followed me west last season and they must have had some luck. As it was Paul who told me to find my own dang flats, I hope one day to return the comment, although Paul (in a variety of ways) helped me through a tough season, when my pop was dying, and I have learned a lot from him.

I too prefer a single sight casted bass to a day of catching fish on structure.

If I ever cross you on a flat, give me a piece of your mind. In the mean time, keep fishing and mark each day a victory against C. Life is short no matter how you cut it - its good to stay focused on the days you have.