Memorial Weekend Fishing Forecast • Weakfish Surprise • Bluefish Blitz • Lakes to Reefs

Many anglers have reported a mixed bag of activity throughout the Island. Weakfish have been surprisingly lively. Many anglers are fishing from Ocean Beach, Peconic Bay, and Great South Bay and Shinnecock Canal have all produced weakfish.

Striped Bass have been reported in the south shore inlets and back bays.

The North Shore has produced some quality fish, with Porgies being caught at from Wildwood State Park and Peconic Bays.

Moriches and Shinecock Inlet  have produced some great Fluke fishing as well.

Bluefish have been all around the bays and inlets. People are still catching bluefish at Smith Point County Park and Cupsogue Beach County Park off the beach. Using a diamond jig has been doing very well. Super strike poppers have been very effective and are really fun to use .

Fun fish around Long Island are here too! Blowfish, Sea Robbins: Blowfish Size Limit-Bag Limit-Season: No Restrictions. Excellent eating!! Blowfish feed on sandworms, squid, and clam.  puffs up into a ball in self-defense by inhaling air or water.  Sea Robin Size Limit-Bag Limit-Season: No Restrictions. Sea Robins feed on sandworms, squid, clam and will take lures too. Fun to catch and fine to eat.

Attached is a list of some "Fun Fish Around Long Island." Most are edible and plentiful too. So enjoy the summer and tight lines. (PDF) Part 1

Attached is a list of some "Fun Fish Around Long Island." Most are edible and plentiful too. So enjoy the summer and tight lines. (PDF) Updated Part 2

Activity hasn’t changed much when it comes to Striped Bass fishing. The fishing has been solid with a nice mix of  some teen sized fish and above. Soft plastics has been effective when fishing off bridges. Using a white bucktail with a white eel tail has worked very well at the inlets. For the best fishing experience, try fishing the end of the incoming and the beginning of the outgoing tides.

Fluke fishing has been decent in the bay this week. The shorts to keeper ratio are still high, but there is still plenty of action. A combination of squid and spearing has been solid. Gulp has been attracting many sea robins, with a few flukes in the mix. I recommend hitting up Narrow Bay, at this is time of year for some decent fish.

Once again Porgy fishing has been hot. If you want quality and quantity, go to the North Shore or Peconic Bay. A mix of clams and sandworms has been very effective, with people reaching their limit in no time. Chumming will help extend the bite and keep the fish in your area longer.

Breaking News-Surf Report:
Rob Bresloff, and James Cogger caught a 33 and 34 inch striped bass on 5/16/24 south shore bay in mastic beach. As well as more than half a dozen slot and just over slot stripers.

just reported..Bluefish at Patchogue and Bluepoint docks on bunker!!

The local lakes have been active with bluegill and perch. Nightcrawlers are the primary bait fished with a small float. Another alternative if you don’t want to use live bait are, small hair jigs and plastics.

The lake of the week is Great Patchogue Lake  also known as mill pond is located right in patchouge and is one of the best lakes in the area. Great Lake contains excellent fishing for bass, pickerel, crappie and perch.Shore fishing is productive but limited.  If you are able to use a kayak or boat it is a great choice. This lake can be fished from both the front and back side with shore access along the roe blvd bridge. The best way to fish this lake would be bait like live shiners or night crawlers. Lures will also work great with spinners, senkos and top water baits like poppers and jitter bugs all producing great results.

Wreck of the week
This weeks reef is the Hempstead reef located 3.3 miles south of Jones beach state park. This is an artificial reef made up of sunken ships, barges and pieces of the old tapenzee bridge. This reef offers excellent fishing for species including seabass, porgy, bluefish, cod and ling at its deepest this reef is 70ft. The best way to fish this spot would be to use bait like clam or squid because of the the mentioned species will eat them. Using clam chum is also a great way to fish this reef. See more NYSDEC Artificial Reef Guide (PDF)