Scales and Tales

If you thought the fishing action seemed a bit slow this week past, you weren’t alone. It’s not unusual for catches to slip slightly toward the end of June as various fish species transition from their spring to summer patterns. Stripers, weakfish and fluke seem particularly prone to feeding shifts, the first two moving to deeper water as temperatures increase while the latter may perk up over shallow flats.

That would seem to be the case in Shinnecock Bay where stripers, which were on the eastern flats, have worked their way back into deeper waters around the inlet and off Ponquogue Bridge. At the same time, fluke have come alive in the shallows, smacking bucktails along channel edges at mid-bay.

In the Moriches area, the fluke bite has been slightly better inside the bay than in the ocean. The keeper ratio is better inside, too, especially around buoy 14, where several fish in the four to six-pound class have fallen to bluefish and sea robin strip baits. If you are looking for stripers, get out early and work the west bar, just outside Moriches Inlet, with clam baits.

Up inside Great South Bay, fluke have been responsive from Fire Island Inlet east to the Fire Island Lighthouse. A few weakfish have fallen to sandworm baits off Ocean Beach. According to John Mantione, at J & J Bait and Tackle in Patchogue, blue claw crabs are in good supply in the eastern bay at Blue Point, Mascot, West Sayville and Patchogue docks. There are also plenty of crabs being caught on rising tides at Babylon Town Dock.

On the West End, some keeper fluke have been caught in the shadow lines around the Atlantic Beach and Marine Parkway bridges. Fluke are best in 50-foot depths southwest of Jones Inlet. The large stripers that had been patrolling the south shore in search of bunker between the Jones Beach Needle and Cedar Beach have become difficult to find, as have the bunker. Some decent bass have, however, fallen to clam chum and bunker chunks at the Wantagh and Meadowbrook Bridges. Night tides have been the key.

On the North Shore, the waters outside of Hempstead Harbor and Oyster Bay are still producing plenty of bluefish, plus some stripers, on bunker chunks. Look for the best action to be early and late in the day. Fluke are around, but picky anywhere west of Port Jefferson. Porgies are now setting up off most prominent points with Eaton’s Neck and Oldfield producing well for those anchoring in 20 feet of water.

Heading east, Jordan Demcheck and his dad, Paul, have been culling keeper fluke from among a reasonable supply of shorts, in 20-foot depths about a mile west of Mattituck Inlet. Bluefish continue to visit the beaches between Wading River and Southold just about every evening, although they do take a night off now and then. Poppers and tins have both tempted the blues. Out at Orient, stripers remain hot and heavy in The Race while blues dominate the action at Plum Gut. Fluking is decent off The Ruins and around Gardiners Island. Porgies are now the mainstay inside Peconic Bay. Try for the scup off the southwest corner of Robins Island, or in South Race.

Over at Montauk, the charter fleet is hauling limits of stripers on a daily basis. Most of the linesiders are falling to trolled tubes, umbrellas or parachute lures, but some have fallen to chunk bunker. Fluke fishing has been inconsistent in the North Rips and along the south side, but a pleasing number of fish weighing more than six pounds are coming over the rails. The open boat Marlin 6 Princess (www.marlin6princess.com) ran offshore on Thursday where more than 60 cod to 37 pounds, plus 20 big pollack and dozens of ling, hit the deck.

Speaking of offshore action, Rob Michalowski and his father, Joe, took their 24-foot Hydro-Sport center console out to the Glory Hole on Wednesday. At 10:00 a.m. they enticed a 480-pound thresher shark to inhale a bluefish fillet in clear, 60-degree water. The big whiptail took four hours for the father and son team to bring to the gaff – and then it took six hours to tow in to Bay Park Fishing Station where Mark Keller served as the official weigh-master.

In my last blog entry I wrote about using black Jitterbugs to imitate cicadas when targeting largemouth bass. My son, Ryan, and I proved the theory again last night, catching six solid bigmouths. Ryan drilled the top fish for the evening, a very healthy six-pounder, which he gently released. Like stripers and weakfish, largemouth bass are fond of feeding after dark during the summer months. They are also suckers for big night crawlers, which is what Chris Moffett used at West Lake in Patchogue to fool a 6-pound 10-ounce bigmouth on Wednesday.

Correction:
In today’s Outdoors Column, “State sues feds over unfair fluke limits,” the minimum size limit for New Jersey fluke was incorrect. The correct minimum size is 18 inches.

I remember seeing my first hatch of the 17-year cicadas back in 1973. Just entering my ‘teens at the time, I was already a die-hard largemouth bass fan, and enjoyed catching pickerel, bluegill and pumpkinseed sunfish as well. It was sometime during that June when I read a piece in a fishing magazine about “matching the hatch,” for trout. The basic theory held that trout favored whichever hatching fly or terrestrial insect was in the greatest supply at the moment, and matching your flies to that particular insect would virtually guarantee fishing success.

Well, it didn’t take long before I was casting grasshoppers, butterflies, moths, caterpillars and just about any creepy, crawly bug I could find to the captive audience of fish in Sayville Mill Pond, Bayport’s Lotus Lake, and even Cow Pond, a small puddle toward the south end of Sayville’s Broadway Park that once held a few panfish, bass, bullfrogs and leopard frogs. Cow Pond has dwindled to a tiny puddle over the years, and biologists fear that leopard frogs may by now be extinct on Long Island, but the lessons learned fishing that summer have held with me to this very day.

So it was that I found myself thinking back to those glory days while examining cicadas from the woods of Ridge late last week. As I pondered how to match their size and shape, I recalled using them for bait that long ago summer. When the hatch ran its course and my supply of free bait came to an end, I struggled to keep the action alive by tossing various surface poppers. Eventually, I settled on casting a small, black Jitterbug. I would toss it out near weed beds, twitch it gently once or twice, and then reel it back with a slow and steady retrieve. The bass smacked that little lure right through the end of the summer – and I was forever hooked on topwater action.

I’m happy to report Jitterbugs are still included in my freshwater arsenal, and they still work great, especially for tempting largemouth bass after dark. Over the past two weeks, however, I’ve been throwing a one-quarter-ounce size during the day on several ponds and the surface strikes have been furious, especially in the late afternoon when cicadas are most prone to take to the air. My guess is that the cicadas have become the hatch to match on some freshwaters in mid- and eastern Suffolk County. If you have a black Jitterbug rattling around inside your tackle box, break it out for a few casts. You may find the response tremendously explosive.

Sunday, June 15, is Father’s Day, which means many of us will be shopping in a panic over the next few days. If you are looking for the perfect gift for your outdoors Dad, consider that he can never have enough fishing, hunting, boating or even camping gear.

With time running short, your best bet is to head to Dad’s favorite tackle or outdoors shop. If he’s known at the counter, chances are the help can steer you in the right direction. Even if your Dad prefers to remain anonymous when purchasing bait and gear, you can at least pick the brains of staffers to get ideas.

Following are just a few possibilities to consider:

● A couple of small, clear utility boxes are a great, inexpensive gift for Dads who need organization in their fishing life. Dad can pop his favorite lures in a box or two and keep them in the truck or on the boat, where they will be easy to find when needed.

● Hunters can be very particular about their gear, so stick to gift cards or small accessories. $15 to $30 will get you some scent eliminating soap or cover scent, which is always in need by hunters targeting deer or bear. A hot seat for stand hunters, or hand warming packets, are also useful. For $50, you can buy a decent hunting knife.

● Surf Fishing Dads can always use another plug bag, belt pouch or pork rind holder. Bronco, Precision and Aqua-Skinz all make plug bags that hold up well over time. Plug bag prices start at about $30 and rise accordingly, depending on size and style.

● A nice fishing shirt is something Dad isn’t likely to pick up for himself. Dress him up in comfort with a lightweight, breathable shirt designed to be cool in the high humidity of summer while also offering protection from the sun. Columbia and Simms offer durable, good-looking fishing shirts sporting specialized pockets for leaders, pliers and small items of tackle. Fly fishermen will be just as happy with a quality fly-fishing vest. Expect to spend $50 to $100.

● To keep Dad looking cool while maximizing his opportunities for just about anything from trout to tuna, give a pair of polarized sun glasses. These help anglers see deep into the water while also protecting the eyes from harmful UV rays, stray hooks, branches, etc. Check out Flying Fishermen, Action Optics or Costa Del Ray, ranging in price from $25 to $250. Buy scratch-proof glass lenses if you can afford them.

● Serious anglers love to read and learn about their favorite past time. Pick up a copy of The Complete Kayak Fisherman by Ric Burnley (Burford Books, $16.95); Fishing Soft Baits in Saltwater, by Pete Barrett (Burford Books, $16.95); Long Island Fly-Fishing by Angelo Peluso (WW Norton and Company/Countryman Press, $21.95); or The Art of Surfcasting with Lures, By Zeno Hromin (www.zenohromin.com, $17.95) and Dad will not be disappointed. If a video or DVD seems like a good idea, check out Captain Al Lorenzetti's Fishing For Trophy Striped Bass (www.skimmeroutdoors.com, $24.95.)

● Tackle shop gift cards are the answer if you simply feel overwhelmed when selecting an outdoors gift. $25 will buy some fresh fishing line, a couple of lures or bait for two or three inshore trips. $50 will let Dad choose a suitable tackle box, pliers or net. For $100, Dad can treat himself to a new pair of waders or a decent fishing rod.

● If Dad already has all the fishing gear he can handle, send him out for a free day of open boat fishing. Take him yourself, if possible, or buy a gift certificate to be used whenever Dad has a free day. A family of four can fish together on an open boat for less than $200 at most ports.

● One last idea: top off the fuel tank in Dad’s boat or SUV. With a full tank, Dad can spend a day heading wherever he wants to go – knowing you spared no expense when it came to his Father’s Day gift.

“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”