Despite some wet, windy or overcast weather, fishing has been great here in the UK… er I mean Seattle. Uhmm.. I guess I mean New York and Jersey. Hasn’t felt like New York. Truly, downright wet weather has only minorly hindered the great fishing we have been enjoying. A couple tidal cycles has been enough to clear up any sediment we’ve had in the water. Flats fishing has taken a little bit of a beating due mostly to the lack of sunlight. Sunday should be clear-er, so that will provide some much needed site fishing for many a weekend angler. Jamaica Bay, Breezy/Rockaway has been fishing great, especially early AMs. Jersey anglers are taking trophy bass on a regular basis. Montauk surf had a really huge bass (57#) taken a few weeks back. Also, I have an unconfirmed report that there was a 59 taken in East Marion on the North Fork this past monday or tuesday AM also. The story that I heard entailed the 60+ pound fish regurgitating baitfish until it was no longer a 60+ pound fish. Hopefully we’ll have less sweetwater, maybe a little sunlight for shallow water guys in the upcoming weeks.

Peconic Bay

Capt. Andrew Derr reports:

Once again, we have had limited amounts of sunlight for quality flats fishing, but when we have had it, like we did over the weekend, the site fishing has been great. Fish in the teens and twenties are a common sight right now as we are relishing perfect water temps right now on the east end. Sand eels are showing up in good numbers in addition to lots of spearing and crabbies. These fish have not been picky, in the least. We have been experimenting with some really cool fly patterns (toadfish, crabs, fur shrimp, etc…) with great results. On cloudy days, we have been fishing the rocks and structuuure around Plum, Shelter, Gardiners, and Robbins to name a few. Some of these days have ended up being really amazing with some of our largest fish of the season. A little cloud cover can really relax the fish and they become less aware of what is going on around them. So, despite a lot of cloud cover, this season has started off fishing great for us. Water temps are lower than normal for this time of year which means we’ll have these fish around for longer before they move further east following those low sixties temps. That is one of the cool things about this fishery. The fact that the fish continue to move througout the spring and summer allows us to fish so many different beautiful and productive areas of water. Days still available for flats fishing and Montauk fall run. Come on out and catch fish.
-Capt. Andrew Derr
www.longislandonthefly.com
c212.495.9062

Nice selection of crab flies from Capt. Andrew Derr

Peconic Bay striper from Capt. Andrew Derr

Jamaica Bay/Metro

Capt. Brendan McCarthy reports:

As you can see it has been quite a week. as long as there are not alot of boats (see “fishing on weekends”) and you go out for first light, we have crushsed them this week. Richard Rosen, Carmen Calvalerri, Tom and Irwin Knapp, Alan Rosen and the boys from Juniors Cheesecake, Aaron Garvey and Joe Labbs all had bang up days… 

Alot of silversides, Bunker and squid around. Lots of great Popper  action as well. Not doing all that well on the heavy sink lines ironically but all thed fish have been on the surface so….

Have a good one
Capt. Brendan McCarthy
www.Urbanflyguides.com

Capt. Chris Hessert reports:

June is rocketing out of the gate! six hour charters are averaging 30/35 bass!, sometimes by 9 AM! We have had crappy weather which is fine w/ me…that cloud cover sure helps on keeping the action going! About 20% of those bass are 33 inches + and up to 23/4 pounds…very fat and clean!  The new moon phase is just going to confirm even better action! those super pigs south of us, will hopefully start to show!, gear of choice…six inch storm shad and chartuse and white flies, 4 to 6 inches…then there is the bazooka of lures, Frank Crescitelli’s  “Bunka Boy” lures, pretty sweet action on these. Incoming tide has had the bigger fatties, out going has also had a respectful yield of bass. Fish finder screen is red with marking the bait…tons of it!

3 boys under 5 and little sleep…gotta get while the gettin is good!

Capt. Chris Hessert
www.manhattanfly.com

New Jersey

Capt.Terry Sullivan reports:

 

 

Tom P. with a nice jersey striper - Capt. Terry Sullivan

The weather and tides were big factors this past week. Weak morning tides pushed the bite back to the late afternoons for a few day and those who adjusted were rewarded with some awesome bass fishing. But big thunder storms also played into the mix keeping many boats at the docks for a few days, including myself. Bluefish seemed to have disappeared with all the rain. I suspect they are regrouping some where offshore, with all the mossbacks around its only a matter of time!  Some of this weeks highlights were Tom Pennimpede’s dad first 40 lb, Juan Martinez with his best at 36 lb. Good fishing.      

 -Captain Terry Sullivan
(732) 899-6245
http://www.flatsrat.com

Western Sound

Capt. Robin Calitri reports:

Sorry guys for missing last week but the fishing has been so good that I couldn’t slow down.  Huntington and CS are holding plenty of fish and April Henry had a good inning catching her first bluefish and striped bas on the fly.  She had fish up on top where CSH meets LI Sound. 

Bill Herzig took grandkids Ashley and Andrew out for a day in Northport.  The fisherman were fine but the captain couldn’t put them on fish.  Better luck next time.

Mate Scot Calitri and I took Andrew  Solomon and old Redbone friend out of Acabonic.  Andrews first real cast was rewarded with a keeper bass on a popper off Gardiners.  We then played with some bluefish and then ran to the Gut.  It was a wonderful, action filled Bassaholic time.  We finished back at Acabonic with blues and bass on top.  Nice job Andrew.

The Weiss crew of Joel, Charlie, Karen and Holly did and evening trip to the Bayville area.  It was good. Old fashioned mayhem with bass and blues on top.  It is incredible to see four rods engaged in battle.  Weisses rule!

Bob Merrill of Sno Haus fame had just returned from a trip to Belize where he landed a 20lb permit on the fly.  He joined Mitch Bernstein and I for a blitz of the River.  There wee a few blues and many bass to 18 pounds. We released over 10 keepers. Most of which were taken on 6-8weight fly rods.  Olive and white and charttreusse and white worked because of the small sand eels.

So, you can talk fishing or read about fishing but now is the time to go fishing. 

BEST,
Captain Robin Calitri,
LongIslandFlyFishing.com