There are a lot of very exciting reports finally coming in! It feels like Aqua-Christmas on the Peconic Bay and the presents are big fluke and porgies.
The feel-good story of the week comes from my friend, Chuck Heilman. He let me know that he was on The Capt Bob V out of Mattituck on fluke opening day, May 17. His son, Lucien, wanted to take his grandfather fishing for his 75th birthday. Grandpa Charlie Heilman wound up catching the largest fluke and won a season pass on the Capt. Bob! Chuck says the whole trip was young Lucien’s idea.
Captain Jon let me know that fishing has been getting better every day on the Capt. Bob. On May 21, the pool fish was an 8 1/4 pounder and the second place fish was 6 1/2 lbs. Jon believes fishing is about to break out on the L.I. Sound.
Phil Kess, on the vessel Fishy Business, says fluke and porgy fishing has been outstanding, and he has even done some bucktailing for bass. Fluke and porgy remain the standout species for the moment and Phil is focusing his efforts in that area. The Fishy Business will be sailing open boat on Friday, May 22 and on Memorial Day.
Captain Mike Boccio, from the Prime Time III, sent me some great reports from Orient Point. The boat has been limiting out on porgies to 4 lbs. and catching huge fluke, with the largest being caught by Kevin Chan, at 12.45 lbs. The Prime Time III is sailing open boat every day.
The Brooklyn Girl had similar reports with limits on porgies to 4 lbs. and big fluke to 10 1/2 lbs., with many fish close to that size. Some customers are also limiting out with fluke. Brooklyn Girl is sailing open boat Friday evening for a Captain’s Choice trip of fluke/bass/blues. There is also availability on Memorial Day for a full day fluke trip.
The Orient Star II is having similar luck with limits on porgies and fluke in the Peconic Bay, fishing off of Southhold. Captain Dan also reports bluefish being caught and one weakfish. Most of the fluke are being caught using squid/spearing combos.
In Greenport, the Peconic Star fleet is sailing two boats, one for fluke and one for porgies. Captain Dave Brennen said he had a porgy on the May 21 trip that weighed 3.8 lbs. AFTER it had been gutted and bled. The porgy boat is limiting out regularly. On the fluke boat, they are also seeing those giant fluke to 10 lbs.
The fly fishing scene is heating up, as well. Captain Rob Thompson reports that he had Christian Sloan and his friend, Bill, out fly fishing this past Sunday. They had 15 short bass. The pair were throwing heavy Clouser’s minnows in the Orient Harbor area. The key was getting deep with smaller flies, said Capt. Rob, who said has some availability this Saturday and Monday.
Do you have an exceptional trip to report? Email me at eelocalreports@gmail.com and I can include your story next week.
Tight lines everyone, and go get after it this weekend. Fishing is hot on the North Fork!
editor’s note: a previous version of the story incorrectly identified the person in the main photo.
Brian Nigro is a lifelong avid fisherman and former charter boat captain. He’s fished from Alaska to Mexico and lots of places in between, but his favorite place to fish is right here on the East End.
