Gone Fishin': Striper Season Looks Stellar, Blues Running Well

The blues are running, the flounder season is over and the bass are loving clam bellies.

Pete from Suffolk Marine/Bait and Tackle in Babylon Village, reports Chris and Tim Falco fished on the Fishfinder for both blues and striped bass, using “white bass assassins.”

Young Tim landed an 11-pound bluefish and also netted the pool winner, which was especially celebrated since this was Tim’ s first time ever aboard a party boat.

At the end of flounder season, which concluded at the end of May, Tom Cunningham reeled in four flounder at the OBI pier, and was able to keep two fish for the dinner table.

There are also tons of striped bass and bluefish all the way from Demo to Kismet, using white and pink assassins, as well as Storm Swim Shads.

Local anglers using clam bellies are seeing the best results with bass, both in numbers and size. Matt Navarro fished on Captain Dave’s Proline charter and caught a good-sized striped bass, weighing in at more than 40 pounds. It was quite interesting that on the same date, stripers were also weighed in at the shop at more than 37 and 41 pounds, respectively. Those are great indicators for what should be one of the best striper seasons in recent memory.

Suffolk Marine/Bait and Tackle is now stocking Ocean Tackle International (OTI) jigging and popping rods, as well as fresh bunker, live eels and live spots.

“The winds and the rain really put a damper on things a bit, but there was a huge 45-pound bass brought into the shop, which was taken on live bunker at the inlet,” said Pete, adding, “there’s also big bass and blues from Fire Island all the way in.”

John, at Trophy Tackle in Babylon, reported that flounder action closed with a big bang last week while the bluefish action continued in the Fire Island Inlet.

Lots of anglers plugged away in the West Bar for striped bass, especially since a multitude of bunker were reported just outside of the inlet.

John said there’d been a lack of fish earlier in the week due to the weather, but the amount of striped bass near Fire Island Inlet and Robert Moses on live and artificial lures, was significant.

There are blowfish to be had, just about any place you cast a line, as well as sea bass and flounder – although neither can be caught now because sea bass season doesn’t start until June 13 and flounder season is done. However, bluefish are everywhere.

Reports from John at Babylon Fishing Station included striped bass action being red-hot just prior to the holiday weekend, with many fish in excess of 40 pounds.

Live bunker’s proven to be the best bait of choice. The largest caught was a 45-pounder taken by Gary Geick. “The heavy winds moved in and played a factor in fishing this week, but that’s expected to change as the weather improves this weekend.”

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