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fishing report north fork

Photo by Andrew Derr — Long Island on the Fly

stripers north fork fishing report

At the Mattituck Fishing Station and Marina on Mattituck Creek Liz Caraftis told us action continues off Hortons Point and the Motel on stripers for anglers using live eels and bunker. Stripers seen at the Station were fish in the mid-20s. Scup fishing is still good in 30-35 feet of water with mixed sizes to 16 inches. Notable catches during the week included one 24-inch fluke taken on a live eel and some Atlantic croakers taken by scup anglers.

Steven at WeGo Fishing in Southold explained that the ebb was best for fishing the Race now. The spectacular catches on the July moon have dropped away, but eels and bucktails still produce respectable stripers in the 20s and 30s. Anglers looking for fluke generally head for Gardiners Island where there are scup as well. Porgies have also settled along the beaches out East and in the Peconics off Sag Harbor and Noyac as well as on the Middle Grounds. Jessups Neck has plenty of cocktail blues.

Bob Haase at Orient by the Sea Marina told us there are bass in daytime catches in Plum Gut and the Race along with lots of blues. Better weather has made a big difference in daytime angling.

Back west at the Rocky Point Fishing Stop Matt told us fluke sizes were smaller with 20 throwbacks per keeper. Blues are rare, and stripers are best fished from the beach at night. Scup action is just fine though porgies are smaller. Most notable catch of the week was a six-pound “stargazer” (probably a monkfish).

Shinnecock Bay features a fluke ratio (keepers: shorts) of about 1:10 according to Scotty at East End Bait and Tackle in Hampton Bays. There are some ocean fluke, too, in 30 feet of water east of the inlet. Blues can be found in the bay and outside the inlet as well. Ocean beaches have a few schoolie bass to 30 inches. Offshore shark fishing is still good with browns, blues, makos hammerheads and a tiger shark in the reports.

The Silly Lily Fishing Station on Moriches Bay estimates four or five keeper fluke in a catch of 50 with the best fish topping seven pounds. Action is in the East and West Cuts and between Buoys 15 and 29. Spearing-tipped bucktails work well. There are blue claw crabs in the coves and triggerfish on the Rockpile and off the buoys.

Want more fishing? Check out northforker’s guide to fishing, boating and all things nautical.

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