The Fishing Report: Angling Success is No Fluke

“Summertime and the livin’ is easy.”
”Fish are jumpin’…”

For those familiar with American composer George Gershwin, and his
lyricist brother who wrote the song, those first few lines might
aptly describe angling conditions presently taking place in our local
waters. Both the inshore and offshore bite has accelerated, in spite of
a hot, humid spell of weather. Most impressive has been
the fluke, especially near Fire Island Inlet, Shinnecock Inlet,
Orient Point and Montauk.

Out of Fire Island Inlet, members of the Hook & Ladder Co. from the Babylon Fire Dept. were on board the Yankee III on Sunday when non-stop fishing rewarded them with 10 keeper fluke inside the inlet. The previous day went equally well for a private boater who skimmed through  Fire Island Inlet shortly before dawn and connecting with a 10.5-pound., 30 inch long doormat on a 9" pink tsunami squid.

Over the weekend, a 10.4-pound fluke was reeled in aboard the Island
Princess which fished inside the inlet on an outgoing tide. The early
morning trip was one which included a wedding bachelor party and one of them caught the giant fluke.

Saturday was a banner day for a  fisherman on board the private charter Island Gal. Using a new lure and a whole squid, J.J. almost lost his 8.25-pound. fluke when the lure  disengaged. Capt. Lou saved the day by quickly netting the prize before it swam away.

On the Capt. Whitaker, Saturday's slow start improved with the
afternoon's incoming tide. Two keeper fluke were taken on the first
drift, just east of the bridge.

On the Northstar II out of Captree, a family of five went home with three keeper fluke: 20.5 inches and two more at 23" inches. The Captree Princess took about two dozen ocean fluke and Scott Raines had the 6.68-pound pool fish, while Bob and Geri Steward took their limit of impressive flatfish.

Reports from Pete over at Suffolk Bait & Tackle in Babylon noted this past Monday saw Matt Franklin fishin aboard his dad's boat Sea-Life and reeling in bluefish up to four-pounds.

Pete said the shop had weighed in some impressive fluke caugh by Storm Romano, his father Anthony and his mom Danielle. Storm had the largest catch, weighing 5.50-pounds. Although that was an impressive fish, Jimmy Flynn's mammoth 9.l3-pound fluke was the shop's largest report of the week.

Pete said snapper fishing has been outstanding at the local docks and spearing is the best bait bet.

July 28-through July 31 is slated for the 55th Annual Babylon Tuna Club Tuna Tournament. Festivities will be held all weekend at the Babylon dock and proceeds will go to servicemen and women, as well as local veterans. For more information, visit this website or contact Artie at 516-369-5320 or Brian at 631-834-2060.