Scales and Tales

Fluking continued it's torrid pace along the south shore on Friday and Saturday. Inside Fire Island Inlet, plenty of action kept rods bent on the morning tide. Outside, there are fewer shorts, but the action is still fast-paced and the percentage of keepers is better. Capt. Paul Risi, of the Trade Winds II out of Captree (www.tradewindsfishing.com,) said he has been picking between 150 and 300 shorts on each full day ocean trip, along with 28 to 35 keepers. Most of the action has been south of Fire Island Inlet.

Out in the Moriches, there are still plenty of short fluke in the main east/west channel, especially around buoys 14 and 15. For a better shot at keepers, head one-half mile southeast of the inlet and drift in 35 to 50 feet of water.

With small snappers now roaming both Great South and Moriches Bay, this should be a good time to try using the baby blues for doormat fluke bait. Remember, however, there is a 10 fish limit on blues of all sizes.

Michael Potts, skipper of the Montauk charter boat, Blue Fin IV (www.bluefiniv.com,) has been trolling limits of striped bass on a daily basis, with most fish falling to parachute lures. According to Potts, "there are stripers in most of the rips at Great Eastern, on The Flats and at The Elbow.

Offshore, Potts has been having good luck wtih sharks, a bit south of Block Island. "We've had makos, plus some blue sharks, on each of our past four trips," revealed Potts. "The biggest mako weighed in at 208 pounds. The blue sharks have ranged between 100 and 180 pounds."

I received a phone call from Captain Neil Delanoy this afternoon. The skipper of the Captree open boat, Laura Lee (www.captree.com,) was excited about what he called "the best fluke fishing he has ever seen!" This from a captain with a lot of years on the water.

"We had 812 fluke on the morning trip today, fishing right under the Robert Moses Bridge," said Delanoy. "We kept 15, up to 4.44 lbs. and many people caught and released between 20 and 30 fish. Eight-year old Natasha Daeger caught 32 by herself!'

According to Delanoy, the best action has been on the last of the flood and the first of the ebb. That means the fishing should be best in the morning for this weekend, and in the afternoon next week. If you have been waiting for the perfect time to take the family fishing, this may be it.

As you can see from today’s Newsday cover story, the brown tide is still blooming on Great South Bay. While nobody enjoys fishing in discolored water, sometimes there isn't much choice. Experts note that the brown tide does not seem to harm fin-fish, so you might still catch a few if you try hard enough. Here are a couple of tips to help the cause.

● Fish near inlets. The brown tide is generally less intense where ocean water enters a bay or harbor.
● Fish on rising tides. Again, clean water from the ocean floods into the bay, diluting the tide at least a little bit.
● Use bright- or black-colored lures. Chartreuse, florescent orange, hot pink and pure black are more visible in murky water than white, silver, tan, olive, green or “natural” minnow colors.
● Use big lures to provide a larger, more easily seen, target.
● Choose lures that make a rattling sound when retrieved. If using soft plastics, insert a small, inexpensive, fishing rattle, available from bait and tackle shops or on-line catalogs, into the body of the lure. The clanking sounds emitted as you retrieve will help predator species zero in on the target.
● Fish with real bait. Fresh whole clams and bunker chunks work well for stripers and blues. Live killies or strips of squid attract fluke. School weaks and kingfish will strike sandworms, strips of squid or pieces of clam. A chum pot full of ground clam or bunker can work wonders with porgies, weakfish and even fluke when you fish at anchor.

If you've taken a look at our Newsday cover story about the brown tide on Great South Bay, you might also want check out my recent video clip: Fishing Through The Brown Tide. From www.newsday.com, go to Explore LI and then click on "Outdoors." You'll see the clip toward the bottom of the screen. Hope it helps.

Just got a call from my buddy, Paul Demchuk. Despite the wind this morning, he and fishing partner, Gary Zuhoski, decided to make the run to Hortons Point in search of stripers. The trip paid off big-time as Paul decked his biggest bass ever, a 35-pound cow. Gary also had a keeper. Several more nice bass, plus some hefty blues to 10 pounds, rounded out the morning.

Fishing on another boat, but within shouting distance of his Dad all morning, Demchuk's 15-year old son, Jordan, drilled a 21-pounder with his pal, Rob Pisano.

"All the fish were caught on live eels during outgoing tide," noted the elder Demchuk. "It was a bit rough on the Sound today," he added, "but we stayed out there and gladly took the pounding."

Plenty of action taking place in the Nor'east Fluke Smack Down. Some nice Long Island entries, but a lot of competition from across the Sound and down along the NJ shore. Leaders as of 2:15 p.m. on Sunday are as follows:

Place; Name; Weigh Station; Weight in lbs.:
1. John Schopey, Jack's Shoreline Bait & Tackle, 11.28
2. Walter Morgis, Westlake Fishing Marina, 9.85
3. Joe Fischler, Crabby's B&T, 9.5
4. Jack Castella, Westlake Fishing Marina, 9.35
5. Karen Sorrentino, Captain Morgan's Bait & Tackle, 9.21
6. Patrick Mcendrick, Barnegat Light Bait & Tackle, 8.69
7. Diane Moore, Causeway Bait & Tackle, 8.58
8. John Morelli, Snug Harbor Marina, 8.0
9. Scott Andalome, Captain's Tackle, 7.8
10. Marc Deptula, King Cove Marina, 7.56

A few nice stripers were caught at Horton's Point this morning. Check back later for details.

Slipping through the cracks last week was news of a 15.6-pound fluke caught in the ocean west of Moriches Inlet on Sunday, July 5th. John Yander of Middle Island was the angler. Some might call him lucky, but John's previous best summer flattie weighed a bit over 10 pounds so I figue a bit of skill has to be in play here. The huge doormat took a live killie and squid strip combination in 50 feet of water.

"For a big fish, there were no complications once I lifted it off the bottom," said Yander. "It fought okay, but I've had eight- and 10-pound fish fight harder. John Willis gets the assist for a perfect job with the net."

Yander was back out yesterday, this time working outside Moriches Inlet "toward Westhampton." He reported fast action but tallied only one keeper among 40 shorts.

Day one of the Nor'east Fluke Smack Down complete. Current standings, from www.noreast.com, are as follows:

Place; Name; Weigh Station; Weight in lbs.

1 John Schopey, Jack's Shoreline Bait & Tackle: 11.28
2 Joe Fischler, Crabby's B&T: 9.5
3 Jack Castella, Westlake Fishing Marina: 9.35
4 Patrick Mcendrick, Barnegat Light Bait & Tackle: 8.69
5 diane moore Causeway, Bait & Tackle: 8.58
6 John Morelli, Snug Harbor Marina: 8
7 Eric Hannon, Westlake Fishing Marina: 6.9
8 Bob Reese, East End Bait & Tackle: 6.48
9 Allan Beaudion, Jack's Shoreline Bait & Tackle: 5.8
10 Brian Knight, Causeway Bait & Tackle: 5.62

Had a chance today to catch up with John Montione at J & J Bait and Tackle in Patchogue. He said that blue claw crabs were starting to show pretty well at the docks between West Sayville and Bellport. You'll need to pick through a few to gather a meal, but enough keepers are in the mix. Even better, dock fishermen using two- to three-inch segments of sandworm have been catching tasty kingfish. Most of the kings are just big enough to provide a decent fillet.

I can confirm the at the kings are biting, having seen a few taken on Thursday at Cranbury Dock in Mastic. Snappers are also flooding the eastern portions of Great South Bay, but the tiny bluefish measure only four or five inches long at this point.

Top fluke in Nor'east Smack Down Fluke Mania contest later tonight. Check back.

Poking around the North Fork today, from Mattituck Inlet east to Town Beach in Southold, I noticed plenty of small baitfish holding just outside the surf line. The bait was thick this morning, and is still fairly consistent as of 3:45 p.m. Cocktail blues to about four pounds are making occassional charges into the schools of tiny spearing. Anglers tossing 007's are connecting with the choppers with pleasant frequency. I had a few myself this afternoon, although I was tossing a Yo-Zuri popper with a mackerel finish. The bait and bluefish combination is set up well for solid action this evening. Give it a try if you have the time.

Check back later for a Nor'east Smack Down Fluke Contest report.

A few notes on West End action as the weekend gets under way:

Fluke fishing has been decent in Ambrose Channel with the better scores being made on the on the first quarter of the ebb. Not too much action, but a fair number of keepers with some pushing six pounds. Jamaica Bay has also produced a few keepers, mostly in 25 to 40 feet of water, and in the shadows of the bridges. Local spearing have bee out-producing Pruvian baitfish in most areas. A green teaser, tied a foot above a white-bucktailed fluke bullet, has been the hot ticket on big fluke in most areas.

On the striper front, the Tin Can Grounds are producing a pick of fish, although skippers with solid GPS numbers can put together a good catch. More important than tide has been getting out at dawn or dusk. The morning bite has been over by 8:00 a.m. while the evening bite starts around 7:00 p.m. Bunker chunks have been the top bait, although some sharpies are now clam chumming at the bridges.

Bluefish are still inside Jamacia Bay, taking bunker chunks on the bottom at the North Channel and Atlantic Beach bridges. Cocktails show ealry and late, most days, at Jones and Debs inlets, but also sometimes put in an appearance at at the top of the ebb. Cast a Hopkins Shorty or a blue/white Atom popper for the cocktails. Breezy Point has offered a occassional bluefish blitz at the start of ebb tide.

Some big stripers have fallen on the east end over the past few days. Several fish in the 40-pound class have been pulled from The Race, east of Orient Point. At least one fish topping 40 pounds was taken over the weekend from around Ponquogue Bridge in Shinnecock Bay. Over at Montauk, Mike Didyk of Westbury drilled a 51-pound, 50-inch striper at 9:30 p.m. on Saturday night. According to Jack Yee, Didyk used a darter at Ditch Plains to dupe the huge bass while casting from a rock in front of the Montauk Shores trailers.

Saturday witnessed a big fluke caught inside Manhasset Bay aboard Captain Steven Laura Fallon’s charter boat, Swedish Princess (www.fishswedishprincess.com.) Fallon had set up to dunk bunker on the drop-off at Plum Point when Phillip Aurfielo sank the hook into the 29-1/2”, 10-pound doormat. The big summer flattie inhaled a bunker chunk and is one of the largest to come from inside the bay in recent memory. Fallon’s fares also accounted for a dozen stripers to 20 pounds during the outing.

Speaking of the bass, Fallon noted that big bluefish had driven the stripers and bunker out of the bay a few weeks ago, but both the baitfish and linesiders have returned. “The bass bite is solid right now,” he noted, “my fares have decked approximately 100 stripers over the past week.”

Fishing in the Shinnecock area full hit stride over the past few days. According to Scott Jeffrey at East End Bait and Tackle, Hampton Bays, a new body of striped bass moved into Shinnecock Inlet and around Ponquogue Bridge. Incoming water has seen the best catches made with surface plugs, clam and live bait. Most fish are in the 22" to 25" range, but a few keepers are mixed in as well. There are also plenty of cocktail blues both at the inlet and inside the bay. Look for diving terns to give away the choppers. Toss small, slender tins to score.

If bay fluke are your desire, Jeffery recommends hitting the flats and channel edges around Rampasture Point, or in the East Cut. For ocean fluke, try in 40' to 50' of water off The Cheese House. Bucktails and fluke bullets are both working well with the summer flatties.

Speaking with Captain Brennan reminded me of another point porgy anglers should note: Be extra quiet when setting up in shallow water. If the scup, as porgies are also called, are in less than 20-foot depths, you’ll need to quietly double anchor well uptide and then drop back slowly until over the fish. Look for porgies to hold over submerged rock piles and mussel-covered humps on the bottom.

More to come. Check back.

Dave Brennan, Captain of the Greenport open boat, Peconic Star (www.peconicstar.com,) is one of Long Island’s top porgy skippers. He offers this tip as an important first step in becoming a porgy expert: “Hook ‘em before they bite.”

It’s no joke. If you wait for a porgy to try and rip the bait from your hook, you’ll likely miss the hit. That’s because scup, as porgies are also known, usually taste a bait before they strike in earnest.

“Porgies swim up to the bait, gently taste it and spit it out once or twice, before trying to tear it off the hook,” explains Brennan. “As soon as your line hits bottom, lift the sinker up two or three inches and feel for extra weight at the end of the line. If the line feels a bit heavy, start cranking – that’s a fish mouthing your bait."

There is no need to strike hard, added Brennan. Swing your rod and you’ll pull the hook right out of the fish’s mouth. Most porgy sharpies simply give a smooth and stead lift to set the hook.

The Peconic Star is currently fishing for fluke, but will make the switch to porgies on Wednesday.

More to come. Check back later today.

Montauk fluke are hot now, too, with some real bruisers decked over the past few days. The Viking Fleet (www.vikingfleet.com,) Lazy Bones (www.montauksportfishing.com/lazybones,) Miss Montauk (www.missmontauk.com,) and Marlin 6 Princess (www.marlin6princess.com,) have all hung doormats weighing in excess of 8 pounds, with several over six pounds on some days. Of course, the stripers are always hot at Montauk, and both the charter and private boat fleets are scoring well with linesiders to 40 pounds.

On the West End, a nice set of fish has just moved into the New York Bight. The Howard Beach open boat, The Angler (www.theangler.com,) had excellent fishing with a good number of keepers on Thursday.

You might remember Sigmund “Ziggy” Nogiewich from a column last June. He was 91 at the time and still fishing hard aboard the Captree open boat, Laura Lee (www.captree.com). I’m happy to report that Ziggy is still fishing and still catching. Now 92, he drilled a 41-pound striper aboard the Laura Lee while fishing for sea bass last Friday. The big striper inhaled a tiny size 2/0 gold, beak-style porgy hook. No doubt Ziggy used all his experience to make that point stick until the bruiser was lifted over the rail.

I spoke with Captain James Schneider of the Huntington open boat, Captain James Joseph (www.jamesjosephfishing.com,) while he was on the water Wednesday afternoon. To prove his point that the fluke were biting fast and running large, he put nine-year old Thomas Gritthart on the phone. The excited youngster had just taken the lead in the daily pool with a 28”, 9-1/2- pound doormat caught at Target Rock. “I love party boat fishing,” Gritthart told me, “my dad and I go out at least once every week.”

Gritthart’s fish topped the 8.9-pounder that Bill Mazer drilled just seven minutes into the trip. Schnieder’s fared pulled 60 keepers on Monday, 50 on Tuesday, and 27 on Wednesday with just 10 anglers aboard. Over 20 keepers were already in the box by 1 p.m. on Thursday.

The big fluke, explained Schneider, have been around the Northport/Huntington area for more than a week - but they are steadily sliding into deeper water. “We first found them in 12- to 15-foot depths, tight to the beach,” he revealed. “Today, the best action and biggest fish came from 17 to 33 feet of water.”

The skinny: Get on these fluke now before they slip away.

More to come. Check back later today.

“Dear Tom,

“The new fluke regulations stink!” The unreasonably high (20.5”) size limit for the summer flatties is bound to turn people away from fishing. Add in the current high price of fuel at the dock and you’ve got a double-whammy.

“If I thought the fluke population was truly in trouble, I would have no problem supporting more strict regulation. However, it is obvious to most recreational anglers that there are plenty of fish around. I work in a south shore tackle shop and receive constant fishing reports. Many anglers are hooking 20, 30 or even more fluke each trip, with catches made both in the bays and in the ocean. Most of the fish have to be thrown back as they measure less than 20.5 inches – but there doesn’t appear to be a shortage of fluke on any front.

“Simply put, the data is a joke. It’s undoubtedly inaccurate. I realize that fisheries managers are bound by law to use the ‘best data available,’ and to act to manage the resource based on that data, but when it is obvious that the 'the best data' is wrong something has to change.

“The bureaucracy in charge has proven itself inept. If the data is so far off, it should be their job to come up with a better way of gathering accurate information. The only way to prompt such change is to let them know we will hold them accountable. I urge all recreational anglers to contact their legislators, congressmen, senators – even the governor - and let them know how you feel. Attend fisheries management meetings and make some noise. If you aren’t willing to stand up for change, bad decisions will continue to be the rule and your prospects of taking home a fish for dinner now and then will grow less and less each year.

“- Chuck Adams, Causeway Bait and Tackle, Wantagh, NY.”

“Tom,

“As captain of an open boat, it is hard to find anything positive in the new fluke limits. The bureaucrats have turned this fishing almost into pure sport. Still, there are plenty of fish around and although you may need to toss most of them back, your chances of catching the biggest fluke of your life have never been better.

“I think anglers need to look at fluke fishing differently than in the past. If you are trying to equate a trip with how much table fare you’ll bring home, you’ll likely end up disappointed. If, on the other hand, you rate the trip on how much action and fun you had, you’ll probably head home very satisfied. Think of it like golf; you play 18 holes and go home with nothing more than a score card – but you judge the day on how well you played, time spend with friends, and the overall enjoyment of the outing.

“Come on out and enjoy a day for the sake of fishing. Have fun hooking-up, being with friends and family and challenging yourself to catch your biggest fluke or sea bass ever. If you end up heading home with some fillets, so much the better.

“Sincerely,

“Captain Dennis Kanyuk (Super Hawk, Point Lookout)”

“Hi Tom,

“I really enjoy your Newsday fishing column. Thanks for the update on this year’s fluke regulations.

“As a simple lay person that fishes - and especially enjoys targeting fluke - I eagerly awaited this year's regulations. Last year we would have to cull through 40, 50 even days of 100 fluke to get a couple of 19-1/2" keepers. What are they thinking with 20-1/2" minimums in 2008?

“As a recreational angler, I am not privy to the scientific data that the decision makers use as a base for the regulation changes. I have to rely on observation, anecdotal experience and common sense. I have a few questions that maybe the fisheries management people could help me understand:

“1. It seems to me that a slot limit would make more sense. Especially if, in the process of trying to get that keeper, there will be a lot of (16” - 20") shorts caught. Shorts are often gut-hooked and anglers are not surgeons - so the majority of these fish will die. Why not allow one or two gut-hooked fish in the 16"+ range?

“2. If the biology of a fluke presents that the larger fish are usually the healthiest
- and female - why stress the gene pool by targeting these fish?

“3.How is it justified that a commercial dragger can keep fish of lesser size - but a kid fishing with his grandfather in the safety of the bay or on the backside of an inlet must release almost every fluke caught?

“4. Where are the data to support that keeping four fluke at 20-1/2" will have less of a negative impact on the fishery than (3 or 4) fish of mixed sizes? How about spreading out the lifecycle?

“5. Our surrounding states have what seem to be more reasonable fluke regulations. Why are NY's rules so draconian?

“Thanks,

“- Ed Behan
“Blue Point, Long Island, NY”

“Dear Outdoor Tom,

“It’s disturbing to see a 6-1/2” difference between the 2008 fluke size limit for New York’s commercial fishermen (14”) and the recreational size limit (a whopping 20-1/2”).

“I feel strongly that fisheries managers lulled the recreational fishing community into a false sense of security, back in 2007, by convincing us there would be a full season of fluke fishing if we agreed to an increased size limit at that time – then they shut us down anyway. What’s to stop them from cutting the fluke season short again this year after we have – once again – agreed to increase the minimum size of the fish we take home?

“As for a potential saltwater license, I would offer my support if assured that the money collected was to be earmarked directly back to the fishing resource to improve fishing habitat, enforcement, stock status, data collection, angler access, etc. Unfortunately, I have no faith that the money will be used for such purposes. More likely, it will be added to a general fund and ‘raided’ when the state needs cash – which is just about all the time.

“I enjoy the coverage. Thanks for keeping the recreational community informed.

“- Ken Morse, Tight Lines Bait and Tackle, Sag Harbor, NY”

Long Island's summer flounder season is well underway at this point and anglers are enjoying fast action at most ports - even if keepers have been tough to find. To be sure, there are more legal fluke being creeled than most would have thought. Still, anglers have a lot to say about the new regulations - and about the proposed saltwater fishing license. Consider some of the following messages I've received in recent weeks:

“Dear Mr. Schlichter,

"I have been both an experienced recreational fisherman as well as a professional fillet man/production manager employed at the Fulton Fish Market for more than twenty years. This particular combination has presented me with a dual viewpoint of the commercial catch, as well as my personal experiences with rod and reel.

“My livelihood is no doubt dependant on the commercial catch. It is fact that fluke landed from New Bedford, RI, NJ, NY and, especially from Virginia and the Carolinas, are the primary source of flatfish during the winter months. I have personally filleted hundreds of thousands of pounds of these fluke over the past twenty years. Restrictions on the commercial catch of fluke as well as most other species of flat fish, while intending to preserve the stocks, have also lead to tons of dead by-catch shoveled over the side while pushing the businesses of fresh fish and fillet to the verge of extinction. All that being said, the concept of recreational anglers decimating the fluke population one fish at a time while we may purchase 3000 pounds of medium-sized fluke usually no bigger than 14-18 inches - three times a week - is, in my opinion, beyond absurd.

"I in no way mean to point a finger at the commercial catch or wish to see it restricted any further. Instead, I point at the various agencies charged with the management of this most valuable resource, and what appears to me to be a fragmented approach lacking unification and common sense. I thought this view from the other side might offer you a different perspective on the 20.5” size and two fish fluke limits.”

"- Vincent DiPalma"

"Dear Tom,

“With our Nation’s current sad economy and the ever increasing crude oil mockery – the timing for the Saltwater License issue couldn’t be worse. Sadly, we are living in a world of uncertainty and we just have to take the hits as they come. I’ve been fishing for many years and have witnessed the evolving cycles and the entire biomass mishaps. With the current laws and regulations, I feel the fishing industry will be in a complete halt in less than ten years!

"I believe that the sport fishing world needs desperate help in many areas. For starters, we need enforcement, better research, reporting assessments, and a balanced distribution (for all commercial and recreational parties) with intentions to preserve and protect our fishery.

"However, I just hope that the funds derived from the proposed license do not end up in our state’s desperate stimulate budget package where recreational anglers get nothing for it (in other words, “general funds” or the 'black hole.')

"All in all, I do believe we need help and if the saltwater license funds are dedicated and will help our fishing economy, thus preserving the sport, I will endorse it wholeheartedly. But if the funds are to be mishandled, I will have no other choice but to swallow another created hard found fee.

“- 'Crazy' Alberto Knie
"Sportfishing Contributor / Consultant, Lindenhurst, NY"

“Dear Outdoor Tom,

“Most fishermen know we were out-maneuvered by an extremely well-funded charitable trust, preventing the Magnuson Act from being an important conservation law. Instead the act will cause great harm to both commercial and recreational fishermen. The spirit and intent of the law, which is to protect fisheries, is at first glance, noble. But the arbitrary rebuilding goals and inflexible language will bring an end to a tradition that is older than the very government that passed the law.

“If fluke stocks were truly in trouble I would not be writing to you. There is only a perception of fluke stocks being in trouble. I believe this perception came about by unethical scientists bought and paid for by a large charitable trust fund. The demanding language of the law was a manifestation of this science. It is a severe ethical breach of scientific protocol for a scientist to tailor and skew the results of a study to meet the needs of the organization paying for the research. I remember reading the interpretations of a study published in all the daily newspapers while the Magnason Act was being debated. It stated the total collapse of all fisheries was eminent in the very near future. This interpretation was published in newspapers and not in scientific journals. There was no peer review prior to its publication. The interpretation was used to support passing of the Magnason Act. The research was later rebuked by many reliable scientists because of a flaw in collecting the data.

"I have been fishing both commercially and recreationally for over forty years never have I seen as many fluke or heard as many stories about abundant numbers of fluke up and down the coast, as I do these days. When I started out as a deckhand in the early 1960’s, I heard stories of fluke being caught in the 1950’s but didn’t see any until the 1970’s.

"Prior to operating my own party boat, The Osprey IV, I bought and sold the catch of four draggers working out of Port Jefferson. There would only be an occasional fluke mixed with the other fish in their catch. It wasn’t until the early '80’s that there was sufficient fluke to make it a directed fishery. Draggers are not the enemy, currently they are only allowed to keep 90 pounds of fluke. There are many steel hulled draggers rusting at the dock because the regulations do not allow them to keep enough fish to run the boats profitably.

"The current fluke travesty is so complex, I am sure someone will write a thesis for a PHD on it. We have a serious problem to address. It is hard to amend or overturn a law once it is passed. Making this particularly difficult is the belief that this law is based on valid science. The science is flawed but the law calls for the use of the “best available science.” It makes no exceptions for science that is flawed. Flawed or not, many Senators and Congressman received money and endorsement from these trust and conservation organizations. Therefore they are reluctant to risking being against conservation. We need to work out our differences with commercial fishermen. Fighting the commercial fishermen takes time and resources away from the real culprit - ignorance of the magnitude of the fluke biomass and the unethical tactics of the conservation groups.

"Just to put the 20.5 inch fluke limit in another perspective: I worked on a cattle ranch during college. If the rancher sold his best and biggest breeders and kept only the small cows and bulls, what kind of herd would he have in a few years?

"Tom this will have to be categorized as my opinion because I did not have time to document all of my sources. If one had the time, they could, and would, find that what I am saying is true.

"Regards,
"- Captain Stew Cash (Osprey IV, Port Jefferson)"

"Dear Tom,

"A saltwater license is not a bad idea, even though everyone knows our good friends in Albany will surely find a way to divert as many $$ as possible from the originally-intended recipients.

"No, the biggest problem with a SW license is that it will be a regulatory nightmare unless NY, NJ, CT, RI and perhaps, MA, can all agree on the following points:

"A) Uniform possession/size limits, at least in areas of contiguous boundary waters, and

"B) Reciprocal recognition of each State's licensure.

"As long as the contiguous States reserve the right to set their own regulations in their territorial waters, they will just as surely enact legislation adding fines for fishing without a license in 'their' waters, and predatory and retaliatory 'enforcement' actions will ensue - not to mention adding yet another layer of onerous licensing fees for non-resident anglers.

"A regional license is the only sane approach, and a regional task force needs to be created to hammer-out the details. And that means possession/size limits guided by real science, real statistical data, and an eco-systemic management plan. Moreover, input from BOTH recreational and commercial interests needs to be advisory only. Vested interests should have NO say in the final management determination.

"Sincerely yours,
"- Richard E Steinberger, MD, Oakdale NY"

The Fire Island Inlet bluefish and striper action around Robert Moses Bridge has been hot most of the spring and shows little sign of letting up at this point. If you’ve been thinking of heading out to give it a shot, Neil Delanoy, captain of the Captree open boat Laura Lee, thinks this weekend has the potential for some real solid evening catches.

“The late night action has been very good of late,” said Delanoy, “with anglers catching plenty of blues and some stripers on Bass Assassins. This weekend’s tides look especially inviting with a 6:00 p.m. departure time just about right.”

Several boats at Captree have evening trips for bass, blues and weakfish scheduled for this weekend. In addition to the Laura Lee (www.captree.com,) consider the Jib VI (www.jibvi,) Island and Bay Princess (www.islandprincessfishing.com,) or the Fish Finder (www.captreefishfinder.com).

PHOTO CAPTION: Tom Wares dragged a 50.5-pound brute out of the surf off Napeague. (Photo courtesy of JackYee.com).

Many anglers think of the fall season as prime time for connecting with big stripers. The month of June, however, also gives up plenty of cow bass - and if catches over Memorial Day weekend are any indication, the big bass invasion is underway.

Sunday saw Rob Cipriano drill a 48-pound cow while fishing aboard the City Island open boat, Island Current II. On Monday, Tom Wares dragged a 50.5-pound brute out of the surf off Napeague.

“Late May and early June always see some monster bass in the western Long Island Sound,” said Chris Cullen, captain of the Island Current. “That’s because warming water pushes the bunker out of the shallows. They begin schooling at mid-Sound and the stripers quickly follow.”

Cipriano drilled his fish while suspending a fresh fillet of bunker five cranks above the bottom in 55 feet of water, mid-way between Hempstead Harbor and Rye. Pete DiNome was at the helm when the big bass struck. The huge fish was weighed in at Jack’s Bait and Tackle, City Island.

“We get fresh bunker delivered to the boat each day,” said Cullen, “and I really believe having fresh bait helps entice the biggest bass.”

Cullen noted that the bass seem to bite best in this area on the first two hours of the ebbing tide, and during the first hour or so of the flood.

“The blues hit hardest when the tide pushes fast while the stripers prefer the slower stages,” he summarized. “Right now, nighttime bass action is hitting stride – and the blues are plentiful as well.”

The big east end striper beached by Wares fell for a clam bait at high noon in the choppy surf off Napeague Beach. It hit at the start of the flood and took the avid surf fisherman 20 minutes to land.

“I’ve been fishing Montauk since I’m eight years old,” said Wares, “and I’ve been waiting to weigh in a cow like this since the day I started.”

After working the exhausted striper into the wash, Wares grabbed the sinker on his bottom rig and started to pull the behemoth ashore – but the leader snapped! Luckily, the surf rolled the big bass into shallow water where the 50-year old tackled the fish before dragging it up onto the beach. The big bass was officially weighed at Johnny’s Bait and Tackle, Montauk.

CAPTION FOR SECOND PHOTO: Rob Cipriano drilled a 48-pound cow while fishing aboard the City Island open boat, Island Current II. (Photo courtesy of Island Current Fleet).

The new 20-1/2” minimum size limit has undoubtedly made it more difficult to bring home a few keeper fluke this year. Still, the season is off to a decent start with a fair number of legal fish reported. By now, most fluke fans know the basics for catching keepers: fish in 30- to 50 feet of water; use large baits like Peruvian spearing or six- to eight-inch strips of fillet cut from sea robin and bluefish; and choose a fishing outfit strong enough to work heavy sinkers. Following are few more tips worthy of consideration:

● Fish hard at the start or end of the tide, and during periods of slack water. Smaller fluke are generally aggressive right through the tide but larger doormats feed most intently as the current softens.

● Shorten your drifts to concentrate over the most productive water. Many boaters like long, easy drifts that allow for coverage of a lot of water. Big fluke, however, are often bunched tightly in small areas. Mark any spot that produces a keeper and return quickly to probe it again and again. My drifts often measure 100 yards or less. Sometimes, they measure less than 30 yards.

● When fishing inside a bay, harbor or inlet, try several drifts outside the main current. Look for eddy water, drop-offs and pools where a slowing current and greater depth allow baitfish to dive for the bottom. Big fluke often lie in wait at such ambush points. Try fishing down-current from a large bridge abutment, bulkhead or rocky point.

● Anchor near structure to tempt doormats. Those same rough spots that give up sea bass in summer and blackfish in the fall hold big fluke. Instead of drifting across structure, try anchoring slightly uptide and then slowly working a bait down-current to probe productive edges. Sometimes it helps to get your bait close to the structure and simply let it sit still for ten or fifteen minutes. Sea bass and blackfish are often found in the densest part of a wreck, rock pile or reef but large fluke prefer to settle five to ten yards from the structure’s edge.

Fluke fishing came alive at Montauk on Saturday with a solid shot of keepers, plus fast action with shorts, bringing out smiles. Mixed with the fluke were plenty of bluefish to 7 pounds, plus some big sea robins.

“Our morning trip saw very good action along the south side in 50 to 60 feet of water,” said Mike Vegessi, captain of the Montauk open boat, Lazy Bones (www.montauksportfishing.com/lazybones.html). There seems to be a nice body of fish stretching from the lighthouse west to Montauk Village. Most of the fleet was in on the fun today.”

Considering the heavy shot of wind and rain that cut across the East End on Friday night, the Montauk scores are very encouraging. Often, it takes fluke a day or two to settle back into their feeding pattern following nasty weather. Vegessi's morning fares tallied a dozen keepers to 7 pounds while his afternoon trip produced saeveral more. Fluke bullets tipped with squid and spearing were clearly the best offering.

Anglers setting out from North Fork ports found a pick of keepers to 7 pounds off Greenport and at the Greenlawns. Some fluke fans managed three or even four keepers while others missed out completely, save for shorts. Squid strips were the top bait in this area. A bit east, action continued strong around Gardiners Island with most anglers taking home a keeper or two in the 4- to 5-pound class. White fluke bullets tipped with spearing scored well, as did six-inch strips of bluefish fillet.

On the North Shore, Friday’s half-day trip aboard Port Jefferson’s Celtic Quest (celticquestfishing.com) witnessed a baker’s dozen of keeper fluke to 7 pounds for four fares. Plenty of shorts added to the fun in 20 to 25 feet of water between buoys 9 and 11. Bucktails tipped with white spearing were the most productive offering on the half-day trip.

On the western Long Island Sound, Captain Chris Cullen of the Island Current Fleet (www.islandcurrent.com,) was thinking about targeting fluke today. The City Island skipper never got to the flatfish because the bluefish were so ferocious. “The choppers have just been evil the past few days,” explained Cullen. "It has been wild fishing for blues - and we've had stripers to 25 pounds also slamming our bunker chunks. The best action has been in 40 to 50 feet of water at mid-Sound, between Rye and Hempstead Harbor."

Private boaters working in 20- to 25-foot depths have been scoring with short fluke, plus a few keepers, from Hempstead Harbor east to Smithtown Bay. Green bucktail teasers tipped with spearing have worked well when positioned about six inches above a chartreuse or rainbow Spro bucktail. The entire western Sound, from Oyster Bay to Flax Pond, is packed with small sand eels and many anglers have noted that fluke are stuffed to the gills with the small baitfish. A few more warm days and this area should ignite.

As many anglers expected, opening day of fluke season saw mixed results. The hot spot was north of Gardiners Island, where quite a few keepers in the 4- to 6-pound class were caught in 20 to 60 feet of water.

“We had a really good day,” said Mike Boccio of the Prime Time III, in Orient (www.primetime3.com). “At least 45 keepers came over the rail and several anglers filled their limit with chunky 4- to 7-pound summer flatties. More than a hundred shorts helped keep the rods bent throughout the day.”

In addition to the fluke, Boccio’s fares scored with plenty of 2- to 3-pound bluefish – the perfect size to bring home and cook on the grill. Cliff Deptula limited out with fluke, drilled a few blues, and took home a 6-pound weakfish. Jim Betz and son, Emerson, age six, combined for six keepers to 4 pounds. Boccio called Emerson "the star of the day," noting this was the budding angler's first fishing trip and he bested several of the boat’s regular customers.

Inside Peconic Bay, anglers working the Greenlawns area scored with a few keeper fluke to six pounds but found mostly toss backs in the 17- to 19.5- inch class.

Anglers working the south side of Montauk managed a pick of fish to 9 pounds but keepers were sparse and action, in general, was slow.

On the north shore, fluke scores were decent off Port Jefferson. The Celtic Quest (www.celticquestfishing.com) managed several keepers and a mess of shorts for a small crowd. Anglers working around Mount Misery Shoal found fluke bullets tipped with spearing drew a fair number of strikes and produced a keeper here and there. Smithtown Bay offered a slow pick but several keepers were taken on spearing and squid combos in 12 to 20 feet of water. The waters from Smithtown Bay east to Wading River are loaded with bait and many anglers reported shorts and keepers alike were spitting up small sand eels. This area seems primed for fast action in the near future. A few days of warm weather should help kick catches into high gear.

Fluking was hindered along the south shore by an ocean heave resulting from high winds and rain earlier in the week. Shinnecock saw some decent scores with some keepers taken in 35- to 60-foot depths. Plenty of 19 – to 20-inch fluke were caught and released. Very few keepers were reported from Moriches west to Jones Inlet and action with shorts was surprisingly picky. The water in this stretch was still discolored from the last round of rain and wind. When the water clears up, catches should improve.

While fluke fishing was disappointing along the south shore, it should be noted that mixed bag bottom fishing was quite good. The Point Lookout open boat, Super Hawk (www.superhawkfishing.com), had a fine mix of sea bass, blues, stripers, blacks, porgies and even cod while working in 40 to 75 feet of water on Thursday. Captree’s Laura Lee (www.captree.com) also scored well.

If you’ve heard rumblings about a potential new International Game Fish Association (IGFA) world record weakfish caught from Staten Island’s Raritan Bay surf, you’ve heard about the real deal. The 19-pound, 12-ounce brute was beached by angler Dave Alu (right in the photo), from Jackson, N.J., at 2 a.m. on Wednesday, May 7.

“It was just a magnificent fish,” said Alu's guide, Captain Rich Swisstack, Jr., of Shore Catch Guide Service (www.shorecatch.com). “We were targeting stripers with bunker chunks but my partner, Dave Torrick, and I, knew some really big weakfish were around because we had caught and released several 11- to 15-pound monsters during the past week. Still, I never expected to see one this big!”

According to Swisstack, 40, from Clark, NJ, the big weak took a bunker head and fought like a striped bass. When it first rolled in the surf after the 15-minute battle, it didn’t look like a weakfish at all.

“The head on that fish was so large,” explained Swisstack (left in photo), “that I thought we had a red drum. As I lifted it from the water, it seemed to grow bigger and rounder. The body shape appeared more like a king salmon than a weak.”

Swisstack cradled the fish in his arms and carried it up the beach. When the huge weak pulled the scale on his fish gripper past the 19-pound mark, Swisstack began to realize the enormity of the trophy. Goose bumps on his arms, he held the lunker for the lucky fisherman to examine. Alu, who has fished from boats for over 30 years but was on his very first surf fishing expedition, was amazed to see a weakfish so large. After taking a long look, he smiled and suggested the fish be released. A short discussion ensued, the decision was reversed, and the pair headed off to record an official weight at The Tackle Box in Hazlet, NJ, when the shop opened around 6:00 a.m. They later recorded an identical weight at Michael’s Tackle in Great Kills, NY.

“I was completely shocked at the size of that weakfish,” said Alu, 38, “but I didn’t realize it might break the world record. Rich and I worked hard to pick the right night to get out. I guess being patient and playing the tides really paid off because we also caught six bass with three stretching the tape past 40 inches.”

Swisstack noted that Alu did a nice job of fighting the big weak, making all the right moves at the right times. “I’m just thrilled to be involved in the catch,” he added. “My dad, Rich Swisstack, Sr., was probably as happy as me and Dave when he found out. He taught me most of what I know about fishing – including how to find the fish. I just want to tell him, ‘Thanks.’”

For the record, the big weak was caught with a 10’ St. Croix spinning rod, Daiwa Emblem Pro 5500 reel, and 30-pound test, yellow Stren Super Braid line. The IGFA filing will be submitted soon. If the big fish is accepted, it will displace the current record holders. That’s right holders: two are tied at 19 pounds, 2 ounces. The first was caught in Jones Inlet by Dennis Rooney on Oct. 11, 1984. The latter was pulled from Delaware Bay, by William Thomas, on May 10, 1989.

(Dave Alu shows off a potential IGFA world record weakfish caught from the shore of Raritan Bay. The huge tiderunner weighed in at 19 pounds, 12 ounces -- Photos courtesy of Alberto Knie and Shore Catch Guide Service)

In Friday’s column about cod fishing aboard the Montauk charter boat, Bluefin IV (www.bluefiniv.com,) I noted that persistence pays off when it comes to finding the action. Once the cod are located, however, you must still convince them to bite. The following tips from Captain Michael Potts should help:

● “I like a high-low rig for cod. Load up the bottom hook with a soft piece of clam. Place a smaller, hard piece on the top hook. Bergalls peck at the bottom choice most of the time and the big, soft bait should appease them. The top hook catches more cod. Bait it with a rim section of clam. Double the hook through the tough meat, leaving a little stringy trailer hanging free from the exposed barb.”

● “Light pecks usually indicate bergalls – fish through them. Big cod offer a more solid bite. If you think a cod is mouthing the bait, lift up slightly to load the rod. Set the hook only if you feel substantial weight.”

● “When cod chase herring or sand eels, diamond jigs can work well. Rather than yo-yo a jig straight up and down, cast away from the boat, allow it settle to the bottom, and then retrieve slowly. The jig should parallel the sea floor as you retrieve. This keeps it in the strike zone longer. I like day-glow orange tails on my diamond jigs.”

● “If dogfish are a nuisance, remove the skirts from your hooks. Colorful skirts and teasers increase the number of bites, but dogfish seem attracted to them even more than cod.”

● “If you aren’t sure how to rig up or entice codfish, blackfish, stripers, fluke, or just about any other local species of fish, take a few charter trips and learn how to do it right. A couple of trips with a good skipper can save you years of frustrating trial and error.”