Western Sound, Nor'east Saltwater, 8/5

• The bite in the western Sound continues to be dominated by big bluefish! These big choppers continue to blitz the bunker schools both morning and evening. There are still a few bass holding in the rocks, but they are feeding strictly at night. One nice surprise has been some big fluke taking bunker chunks under the working schools. The local points are still holding some quality fluke, along with plenty of nice sized scup. The snappers have also invaded the area and they are the perfect way to introduce kids to fishing, so head down to the local dock or marina and let them have a go at it!
• Captain Joe from Moontide Charters hit the bluefish hard while drifting the bunker schools inside Manhasset Bay. “We were lucky if we got a bunker to the boat in one piece,” Joe said. These trips are non-stop action with plenty of surface attacks which make them even more exciting. Captain Joe also mentioned a very solid fluke bite off Hart’s and Huckleberry Island, with bigger fish taking bunker fillets and large Peruvian smelt. The porgies seemed a little thicker this week now that the blues are completely focused on the massive schools off Hempstead and Manhasset. Give Captain Joe a call to get in on some awesome fishing and beat the dog days of summer!
• John at Jack’s B&T had the blues blitzing a stone’s throw away from his shop. This is great news for all those anglers heading out on John’s skiffs! “We had guys heading out on the skiffs and coming back in early with their limit of big bluefish, along with some porgies and fluke,” John said. There were also a few bass taken earlier in the week during the night bite. The fluke continue to hold off the local points, with squid, snappers and bunker strips yielding the bigger fish. Bobby and Ritchie ran down to Greenwich and returned to Jack’s with their limit of fluke to 26 inches. Get out and enjoy this beautiful weather and catch some fish while you’re at it!
• Captain Steve from the Molly Roze was also out enjoying all the bluefish action not too far from his home port in Mamaroneck! “There are some big blues starting to work these bunker schools in the western Sound,” Steve said. There are also a few rogue bass still cruising the shores off Mamaroneck, Rye and Greenwich. Anglers are scoring on these bass with both fresh chunks, and plugs and poppers. The fluke bite continues to be consistent off the local points, with bunker strips, Peruvian smelt and snappers yielding the bigger fish. The porgies are still scattered a bit with all the bluefish around, but they are starting to ball up on the local rock piles and reefs away from the working schools. Give Captain Steve a call to get in on some awesome western Sound fishing aboard the Molly Roze.
• John Knight from Hudson Park B&T reported plenty of bluefish in his neck of the woods. “We have fish from 8 to 10 pounds with the occasional 15 working just about every bunker school in the western Sound,” John said. There are also smaller blues and bass working over the peanut bunker and snappers under the birds. The bass are still roaming the rock piles in search of an easy meal, especially off Hewlett’s and Barkers. The porgy bite slowed down a little (I’m sure it has nothing to do with the bluefish) but drifting around until you start landing the fish, then dropping anchor is a good scouting method. The fluke are on the upswing, with fish, to 25 inches coming to the net on bunker strips, Peruvian smelt and squid. Stop in and see John for some of his pre-cut bunker oil soaked squid strips before heading out to the fluking grounds, it’s worth the trip!
• Captain Chris from the Island Current Fleet was happy to report that the bluefish are working the local bunker schools on a daily basis in the western Sound. Captain Chris was also happy to report a couple of nice fluke taking chunks meant for bluefish under the working schools earlier in the week. Thursday, Tricia Sementa and her group had a ball bailing the bluefish out of the working schools just outside of City Island. Friday, Bella Alden and her party also did very well while fishing the bunker schools just east of the bridge. Saturday, Frank Munzo and his group also hammered away at the blues right outside Manhasset Bay. Sunday, Jose Arc’s party had a steady pick of porgies while fishing off Stamford; the turn of the tide finally brought some bigger scup over the rails. Captain Chris has both boats available for private charter, so give him a call to book a trip aboard the Island Current Fleet.
• John from Glen Cove Sports reported that the kids in the Glen Cove area are having an absolute ball landing snappers from every local dock and marina! There is also some very good porgy action to be had off Prospect Point, Weak’s Point, Oak Neck and Matinecock, with heavy chum being key to the hold the fish. The blues and schoolie bass are still working the snappers and peanut bunker in tandem during the early morning and evening. The warmer water has pushed the bigger fish deep; some sharpies have been able to find them using deep swimming plugs and bucktails. Glen Drewes chunked up a feisty 10-pound bluefish while chunking the mouth of Hempstead Harbor. Bill Mueller also did well while chunking the mouth of Hempstead, with over 10 blues to 12 pounds and 3 bass to 39 inches. Jimmy V. tossed a bucktail off Barkers for his limit of fluke to 26.5 inches. Dennis Finn also limited out on fluke to 25.5 inches while fishing Peruvian spearing off Whitewood Point. Jose Torres fished clams off Morgan’s Park and landed 12 scup to 3.8 pounds! Keith had the catch of the week by landing 6 bass to 32.2 pounds inside Manhasset Bay.
• Captain Tim from the North Star II had a phenomenal week with some jumbo porgies coming over the rails! “The bite really picked up on the CT side of the Sound from Greenwich all the way up to Norwalk,” Tim said. Clams and worms were doing a number on these big fish, with worms out-producing toward the end of the week. The bluefish bite is red-hot right outside City Island. “We hit the blues hard on all of our night trips right off Hart Island,” Tim said. Give Captain Tim a call to book your spot at the rail aboard the North Star II.
• Captain Pat from the Shamrock IV also had a very good week with the bluefish in the western Sound. “The fish are really concentrated making for some very exciting fishing once the lines hit the water,” Pat said. Pat also ran his sunset fluke trips off the local points with some very good results. “It seems like a whole new body of fish moved into the area this past week,” Pat said. There is also an abundance of food for them now that the snappers have made their way into the western Sound. Give Captain Pat a call to hop aboard the open boat or to book the whole boat for an awesome outing on the western Sound aboard the Shamrock IV. (by Craig koiproski).