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 15 fish limit on blues of all sizes.