Gone Fishin’: Fishing Success is No Fluke

Summertime, and the livin’ is easy. Fish are jumpin’….

For those familiar with American composer George Gershwin, and his lyricist brother who wrote the song, those first few lines might aptly describe angling conditions presently taking place in our local waters.

Both the inshore and offshore bite has accelerated, despite a hot, humid spell of weather. Most impressive has been the fluke, especially near Fire Island Inlet, Shinnecock Inlet, Orient Point and Montauk.

Out of Fire Island Inlet, members of the Hook and Ladder Company from the Babylon Fire Department were on board the Yankee III last Sunday when non-stop fishing rewarded them with 10 keeper fluke inside the inlet.

The previous day went equally well for a private boater who skimmed through Fire Island Inlet shortly before dawn and connected with a 10.5-pound, 30-inch-long doormat on a nine-inch pink tsunami squid.

Over the weekend a 10.4-pound fluke was reeled in aboard the Island Princess which fished inside the inlet on the out-going tide. The early morning trip was one which included a wedding bachelor party, and one of them caught the giant fluke.

Saturday was a banner day for a fisherman on board the private charter Island Gal. Using a new lure and a whole squid, J.J. almost lost his 8.25-pound fluke when the lure disengaged. Captain Lou saved the day by quickly netting the prize before it swam away.

On the Captain Whitaker Saturday's slow start improved with the afternoon's incoming tide. Two keeper fluke were taken on the first drift, just east of the bridge.

On the Northstar II out of Captree, a family of five went home with three keeper fluke: 20.5 inches and two more at 23 inches. The Captree Princess took about two dozen ocean fluke, and Scott Raines had the 6.68-pound pool fish, while Bob and Geri Steward took their limit of impressive flatfish.

Reports from Pete at Suffolk Bait and Tackle in Babylon noted this past Monday saw Matt Franklin fishing aboard his dad's boat, Sea-Life, and reeling in bluefish up to four pounds.

Pete said the shop had weighed in some impressive fluke caught by Storm Romano, his father Anthony and his mom Danielle. Storm had the largest catch, weighing 5.50 pounds.

Although that was an impressive fish, Jimmy Flynn's mammoth 9.l3-pound fluke was the shop's largest report of the week.

Pete said snapper fishing has been outstanding at the local docks, and spearing is the best bait bet.

The 55th Annual Babylon Tuna Club Tuna Tournament will finish . have been all weekend at the Babylon dock, and will go to servicemen and women, as well as local veterans.

Editor's Note: Patch would love to include your fishing tales in the next fishing report. E-mail Richard Smidt here.