Long Island, Metro NY - Long Island Surf Fishing Reports

Bob from Bob’s Bait and Tackle let me know he hasn’t heard of any herring or striper reports but he did let me know the shop will be open throughout the winter months building and repairing rods along with maintaining reels. Bob will be attending most major winter events with his tackle selection. Give the shop a ring at 631-842-7573 to inquire about any of the things mentioned above.

Bob Rose at Bob’s Bait and Tackle in Amity Harbor reported lots of bluefish action this week along Robert Moses, Demo, Gilgo and down around the Wantagh bridges on bunker chunks, metals and poppers. School bass are along most bay shorelines and in the State Channel from Gilgo to Jones Beach. The bass are taking swimming plugs like SP Minnows, small Mag Darters and soft plastics at night, and topwaters at dawn. Some bass along the oceanfront on worms. Bob added that he has a good supply of Fishbites Curly Tail Grubs in stock.

Brenden at Captree Bait and Tackle reported blues were pretty much everywhere again this week, especially along the backside of Captree, Moses and Demo. Blues also in the surf on the Demo Bar and along Gilgo this week. Diamond jigs and poppers have been scoring the blues. A couple of bass in the 32 to 34-inch range were reported from the Sore Thumb area and Gilgo. Saul bucktailed a couple of slot fish on the back of Demo during the week. Fluke to 4 pounds came off the Captree Pier on bucktails and Gulp on Saturday.

In Southold, Chris from Blue Water Ventures said bass, porgies, weakfish and some fluke have been on the Sound and bay side. SP Minnows, bucktails and swimming plugs have worked, while soft plastics have been best for the weakfish.

Carmine from Campsite Sport Shop informed me that the only shore action he heard of was white perch in some tidal creeks on the island. He predicts we should have some decent surf action in the shops area by mid-April.

Phil at Cow Harbor Bait and Tackle in Northport reported some nighttime schoolie action along local Sound beaches with fish to 28 or 30 inches taking soft plastics, Bombers and SP Minnows. Some good size blues to 10-12 pounds have been feeding on schools of peanut bunker at first light inside area bays and harbors like Northport and Duck harbors. Small weakfish to 20 inches have also been active inside the harbors for those targeting them at night with small soft plastics. Cocktail blues are providing sporadic action along Sound beaches during the day on small metals like 007s. Phil added that local waters are well stocked with peanut bunker and spearing.

Blaise at Duffy's Bait and Tackle in Glenwood Landing reported customers have been scoring bass on swimming or popping plugs at dawn and dusk at Prybil and Crescent beaches. There are also a fair amount of cocktail blues around.

Scott at East End Bait and Tackle in Hampton Bays reported cocktail blues and a few school bass on the Shinnecock Inlet jetties at dawn and dusk. There was some good action with school bass during the week east of the inlet. Fluke are taking bucktails tipped with Gulp on the back ends of both jetties on the last of the incoming and start of the ebb. Triggerfish are also coming from the jetties on squid or clam baits on both sides of slack water, along with a few porgies.

Paul at Paulie’s Tackle in Montauk said that Brandon Sausalie scored a 31-pound striper and is the current leader in the Surfmasters Tournament. Paul said the bass are scattered around but the better action has been in the South Side rocks. Blues are along the sand beaches, up front, on the north side and on the bay side. Clams and tins are taking bass on the sand beaches from town through Napeague.

Frank from Bernie’s Bait and Tackle in Sheepshead Bay spoke of spotty action with big blues in the Great Kills area of Staten Island, Canarsie and back around the Cross Bay bridges. They are falling to bunker chunks, metals and poppers. Lots of bass, mostly schoolies, in the back of Jamaica Bay. Some also coming from Breezy Point and the Red Hook area with the better action at night on white or bone swimming plugs and darters, and some on topwaters at dawn and dusk. If you are looking for some porgies, hit Beach Channel Drive with worms or clams.