CURRENT FISHING SCENE AT MONTAUK, NEW YORK

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6/4/2006

This spring got off to a poor start. Due to a fracture (or two) in my foot, and installing a new engine, my first charter began May 17^th. The Taglish group had a limit of bass plus, with fish to 25 lbs. The fluke fishing has been a disappointment this season. When fishing for fluke looked its best, the weather was at its worst. Only during these past few days has there been signs of improvement. Bass fishing remains good. Most trips give up limits with fish from 25 to 37 lbs. A lot of bird activity, which usually offers a chance of diamond jig fishing. My largest bass on a jig so far has been 35 lbs. On one combo trip, 5/29, besides a bass limit of 12 to 37 lbs. we also managed a bushel of blackfish and a few seabass for the Frank Krist party.

7/11/06 The weather continues to be wet and cool. Water temperatures are down. To-days inshore temperature was 63. Overall the bass fishing has been slow, slow for what we normally catch. On some half days my charters have managed a limit of bass, on others we do not, full day charters catch their limit of striped bass. As of late, beginning 7/3 I have been trolling my big homemade tubes. These lures traditionally take larger bass. In the past 2 weeks I have had bass to 40 lbs, with at least 10 fish in the 30 lb. class. The tube caught bass have been averaging around 20 lb. Using live porgies for bait is not the answer this year. Porgies are not available in the usual areas close to the bass fishing, making it difficult to gather the bait and still fish in a half days charter. Barring that, catching the bass on live porgies isn’t any easier than trolling. Fluke fishing is behind, we have fluke a plenty, but not at 18 inches. Also the south side of Montauk, known for big fluke is overrun by dogfish and fishing has been confined to rip areas to avoid the dogfish. What has impressed me is a superior angler, Doug Mercer, who has booked me for several FLY LINE SHARK CHARTERS. In four days of shark fishing we have had a total of 12 on the fly line. Two of the sharks were mako. One of 125 lbs. and one of 100 lbs. All this with a 30 lb.test tippet. I find this to be an exciting way to fish for sharks. Any fly line buffs can reach me at 631-324-8820 for more information.

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